Emberpaw's Medicine Cat Ceremony

Gorsefeather shook his apprentice awake with a nudge, hoping that they could leave before the whole clan awoke. These sorts of ceremonies seemed to gather well wishers like flies, and while that was good and all, the calico preferred that they weren't distracted by half the clan. After all, they had to reach Highstones in time for the moon to be high. It was better to be a little early than turn up late and waste a day.

In front of the ginger tom, he dropped a parcel of travelling herbs he'd made only days before. He trusted that he didn't need to explain to him what it was since they were leaving for Emberpaw to receive his full medicine cat name.

While waiting for Emberpaw to stir, Gorsefeather ate his own herbs with a few quick bites, the taste barely registering from moons of eating the foul stuff.

Emberpaw's eyes flickered open as he was nudged by his mentor. The tom stretched and slowly stood up, eyes wide with questioning before he saw the herbs set before him. This must be for my medicine cat ceremony! The medicine cat apprentice scarfed down the herbs, ignoring the nasty taste which threatened to gag him. He, of course, knew the herbs and what they did. "Are we ready to go now, Gorsefeather?" The red-furred tom asked quietly, blinking his grey eyes at the other tom.

OOC: Sorry this is late.

OOC: I swear I thought I posted in this. Sorry.

"Yes, let's be off then." The calico tom stretched his limbs, fur bristling then settling back down for the long journey ahead. It was still Greenleaf, but the Leaf-fall nippy weather was starting to filter in slowly. As a medicine cat, he wasn't too fond of this weather, and hoped the warmth of Greenleaf would keep for a little while longer. To many died in the last Leafbare, he wasn't keen to find out how many more would die this time. But now wasn't the time for such thoughts, his apprentice was becoming a full Medicine cat, and he was proud, he guessed.

"We head for Highstones. Lead the way, you should know by now."

Emberpaw nodded and padded out of camp, his muscles rippling under his fur as his strong legs carried him through the moors. Maybe he was built to be a warrior, but he was definitely destined to be a medicine cat. The tom's bushy tail wagged back and forth behind him and his fur blazed like a fire in the sunlight. The apprentice wondered what his new name would be as he jogged along, not wanting to go too fast and look over excited. Emberpaw forgot where to go for a second as he came to the bottom of a hill, but suddenly remembered the way and steered to the right a bit. Few, that would've been bad if I had forgotten the way. He chuckled to himself, then padded a faster as the Highstones came into sight. The soon-to-be medicine cat stopped at the entrance to quickly groom his fur and see if Gorsefeather was still with him.

Gorsefeather followed behind, impressed at his apprentice's memory to find the place so quickly without an issue. The calico took the lead from there, leading the young tom through the darkness into the dark, damp cave where they'd meet their warrior ancestors and speak with the Medicine Cats of the old.

"Come, Emberpaw." The tom beckoned with a paw once he sat next to Moonstone. Once the apprentice did, he spoke before the rock. "I, Gorsefeather, medicine cat of WindClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help he will serve his Clan for many moons. Emberpaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?"

Emberpaw plunged after Gorsefeather into the cave. Once they reached the Moonstone, he stood in awe once again like the time he had first saw the beautiful thing. He followed his mentor's command to sit by him. The ginger tom faced the Medicine Cat, excitement bursting through him. Emberpaw nodded, his fur clean and shiny for once in his life. "Yes, Gorsefeather, I do," he answered with sureness as the Moonstone's light cast a dim glow onto the red-furred tom.

"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Emberpaw, from this moment you will be known as Emberleaf. StarClan honours your diligence and intiative, and we welcome you as a medicine cat of WindClan." Gorsefeather placed his muzzle on the tom's head and then stepped back so Emberleaf could lick his shoulder. He said once the tom was ready. "Now place your nose against the Rock as always to be accepted by StarClan."