Sleetpaw, Stormpaw, and Snakepaw's Warrior Ceremony

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the willow branch for a Clan meeting!" Fishstar shouted.

He'd never felt a nicer sting.

Sleetpaw padded out toward the middle of the clearing, head held high, as if to flaunt his new cuts and matted fur. Cobwebs were plastered across his flank and bound tight around his legs where he'd been clawed and bitten, already staining with new blood, but he felt invigorated as he took his place underneath the willow branch where Fishstar perched.

Shellwater watched with a smile as Sleetpaw strutted up to take his place- it was about time the tom got his name.

Stormpaw and Snakepaw exited the apprentice den and sat below their adoptive mother. Stormpaw knew what was happening, and the anticipation was clear in his eyes, but Snakepaw looked more tired than excited. The prospect of having more duties didn't excite him all that much. He supposed it was cool that he'd be able to tell apprentices off, though..

---

Once the three apprentices of the hour had arrived, Fishstar said, "Sleetpaw, Stormpaw, and Snakepaw, please step forward."

Sleetpaw turned and met Shellwater's gaze, flicking his ears with a cocky purr of acknowledgment, and then turned back to look up at Fishstar. He'd waited his entire life for this day... Right now, it took all the warrior in him not to shake like a kit getting his apprentice name. The tom stepped forward for all the Clan, side by side with Snakepaw and Stormpaw.

"I, Fishstar," she started, eyes sweeping over Sleetpaw and her sons, "leader of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in turn. Do you all promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

"I do," he answered without a moment of hesitation, eyes burning bright.

"I do," Stormpaw and Snakepaw said in unison.

---

"Then by the powers of StarClan," Fishstar went on, glancing up at the sky, "I give you your warrior names. Sleetpaw, Stormpaw, and Snakepaw, from this day forth, you shall be known as Sleetfang, Stormheart, and Snakegaze. RiverClan honours your loyalty, determination, and battle-courage." With that, she leaped down off of the willow branch to congratulate them.