Cedarfur's Elder Ceremony

Shaking a bad feeling out of her pelt, Ashstar made her way to the top of the Tallrock. Why did her friends have to age while she didn't? It led to a lot of these bittersweet moments. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather underneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!" she yowled halfheartedly.

Making his way to the clearing at Ashstar's call, the tall tom sat down with a wince. Ever since his hunting incident, nothing was the same anymore and it pained him to know that he may never hunt on the moor again. Holding back his emotions, Cedarfur looked up to the leader, sadness sparkling in his eyes.

Ashstar looked down at the tall brown tom, wincing at his obvious pain. "One of our oldest, most respected wariors has recently suffered a horrible injury, making him at incapable of running of hunting, and he has requested to retire into the elders' den. Cedarfur, please step forwards."

The tall tom got up in an awkward sort a way, shakily making his way toward the Tallrock. He wished that he was able to stand up tall and proud but the pain in his back was unbearable and the tom needed to sit down before the pain got too overwhelming. Looking up to Ashstar, Cedarfur stayed quiet although he wanted yowl in anger and sadness. This wasn't the reason he wanted to retire to the Elder's den, and he wished that he could've prevented his long lasting injury.

Ashstar smiled sympathetically at her mate's brother. "Cedarfur, is it your wish to join the elders?"

The tom gave a nod and met Ashstar's gaze, a small, somewhat hopeful smile upon his muzzle. "It is," he replied.

Spiderfur watched with tears in her eyes. Her father shouldn't be retiring. To her it was far too early, even though she could see the injury would prevent him from doing his duty for much longer. A contradictory sense of relief came to her as she sat in the crowd. Cedarfur wouod be much safer in camp, although she understood perfectly well how much he wanted to remain a warrior.

Ashstar blinked back a drop of sadness. Cedarfur had lived a good, productive warrior life, yet it wasn't his time.... But it must have been StarClan's will. "Very well. Cedarfur, your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest." She leapt down and touched her nose to her mate's brother's. "Icestorm is proud, I can tell," she murmured.

Cedarfur touched noses with a leader, trying to hold back his emotions. "I may be an elder, but I'll still support the clan in any way possible," he meowed softly. When she mentioned Icestorm, a pang of sadness added on to the horrible feelings about becoming and elder but he shook them away. No, this was no time to feel bad for himself. If anything, he needed to stay optimistic and hopeful that there was a reason for his retiring.

Letting out a purr, he nuzzled Ashstar once more on her cheek and looked to his nephew who was sitting in near the edge of the gathered cats. The deputy didn't seem to be taking his eldership very well, but who could blame him? Everyone eventually lost something and for Smokepelt, it was his family.