Lionkit and Sandykit's apprentice ceremony

Ashstar leapt on top of the Tallrock. Though WindClan had a large shortage of warriors- and she was partly to blame- the flow of fresh young WindClan kits kept coming, a fact for which she thanked StarClan daily. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!" she yowled decisively.

Lionkit almost ran out of the nursery. He had heard the elders' stories, and he had decides that he was going to be the perfect apprentice: strong and handsome, smart and kind, but modest, too. There was only one problem- he wasn't perfect. In order to fix that, he needed one of the best, strongest cats as a mentor, like the leader or deputy. Or at least a pretty she-cat. Curling his fluffy ginger tail around his paws, he gazed up at the leader.

Sandykit padded out of the nursery with a smile on her face that never seemed to leave and went go sit down under the tall branch. She wrapped her tail around her paws and looked up at Ashstar, waiting for the meeting to begin. She knew this was her apprentice ceremony and she was excited. She had no worries about her ability to be a great warrior as long as she had the right mentor.

Ashstar nodded. "Lionkit, Sandykit, please step forwards. "

Lionkit stepped up, heart in his throat.

Smokepelt watched the crowd of cats as Ashstar called two kits forward. One of those kits was hit own. It felt like just yesterday that he'd adopted her into his life after her mother had passed, and he couldn't wait to see her grow up. Looking to the sky, the deptuy wondered if Sandykit's real mother was watching over her. I won't let you down, he thought silently.

Sandykit stepped forward as Ashstar told her and Lionkit to. She glanced around behind her, looking for her dad. When she spotted him, she smiled before returning her determined and excited blue gaze on Ashstar. She was excited to show him what a great apprentice she'd be and she hoped to make him proud.

"Lionkit and Sandykit, you have reached the required age and are ready to be apprenticed. Until you receive your warrior names, you will be known as Lionpaw and Sandypaw. Your mentors will be Spiderfur and Falconstone, respectively. I hope they pass down all they know to you." The leader leapt down from the Tallrock.

Lionpaw loved his new name, but the joy was somewhat spoiled by the announcement of his mentor. Spiderfur? That quiet old she-cat? Why, she had no interesting qualities! She wasn't important or influential! She- Then he calmed down. This was meant to be a test of his tolerance, then. He probably wouldn't be mentored much, anyways. After he received a prophecy from StarClan or singlehandedly saved the Clan from a badger or defeated an enemy warrior or rogue, or some other such heroic task, they'd give him a warrior name immediately. He touched his nose to his mentor's, trying to give off an eager, if respectful, aura. "I look forwards to being your apprentice," he murmured. "I'll learn all I can."

The newly named Sandypaw purred happily at her new name. She turned around and spotted her mentor. She padded up to him, a slight excited skip in her step, before reaching up and touching her nose to his. "I can't wait to learn everything I can from you!" she mewed cheerfully, her eyes shining eagerly.

Falconstone's eyes widened in surprise. He? A mentor? He stood slowly, taking in his new apprentice, Sandypaw. He looked up to Ashstar, watching her walk away. It must be a gift or an encouragement to continue after losing everything. It was a very welcomed one; he needed something to focus on. With a grin, Falconstone touched noses with Sandypaw. "I'll take you on a tour right now."

Spiderfur blinked. Lionpaw was rather boistrous, wasn't he? But if Ashstar thought it was a good placement, then she wouldn't doubt her decision. The little warrior tilted her head down slightly to touch noses with the apprentice. "I'm sure you will. Training starts tomorrow at sunrise." She remained a bit distant, wondering how best to train the tom. However, and to be completely honest with herself, he reminded her of her late son, Harepaw. It threw her off.