Nutkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Leaping up onto her announcement perch, Fishstar took a seat and then raised her head. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the willow branch for a Clan meeting!"

Fallowstripe scurried to the Willow Branch. She ducked under a tangle of wooden limbs, and smiled up at Fishstar. An apprentice ceremony, I bet! Who will be the mentor? I hope it's me! Fallowstripe, quivering with excitement, eventually managed to root her lithe body to the slightly dampened, RiverClan ground.

Squirreltuft trotted lazily after Fallowstripe, green eyes bright and sparkling in contrast to her body language. Her ears pricked, she settled beside the young warrior, gazing up towards Fishstar.

"Hey, Squirreltuft," purred Fallowstripe casually. She sat leisurely beside the ginger-tufted she-cat. Her eyes glowed. The picturesque landscape shone before their oculars. Fishstar looked royal atop her perch, and Fallowstripe smiled faintly.

Nutkit hurried out of the nursery. A clan meeting? What is this about? She looked up at Fishstar excitedly.

"Nutkit, please step forward," Fishstar beckoned as she caught sight of the young cat.

Nutkit was just able to hold in a gasp of excitement. This must be her apprentice ceremony! Proudly, Nutkit stepped forward and faced her clan leader. She wondered who Fishstar had assigned as her mentor. Nutkit stood attentive for the clan leader's next words.

"You have reached the age of six moons and are now ready to be apprenticed. From this day forth, until you recieve your warrior name, you shall be known as Nutpaw.." The leader paused for a moment to think of a mentor. It seemed to come quickly to her. "..Dawnsong will be your mentor."

The newly named Nutpaw smiled joyfully. She was finally an apprentice! Nutpaw looked around excitedly and spotted her new mentor.

Finchpaw (who was totally there the whole time) began to cheer out her friend's new name excitedly. Purring, the silver and white tabby dashed up to Nutpaw and nuzzled her shoulder in congratulations. "Yay! We can train together now!"

Dawnsong had been among the gathered cats, listening with a smile as yet another kit received their apprentice name and title. She was about to go up and congratulate the lucky kit when she heard her name being called as the mentor. Her eyes went wide in disbelief and she paused for a moment before grinning and padding up to touch noses with her new apprentice. Great Starclan, my first apprentice! "Gee, Nutpaw - I promise to teach you the best I can!" she gave another smile to the young cat and a purr of glee.

Nutpaw smiled and tried to look as calm and happy as she could. In reality, she was feeling a little overwhelmed by it all. But that didn't extinguish her excitement and pride.
"I'm so excited for that too, Finchpaw!" Nutpaw replied to her best friend's congratulations. Then as Dawnsong walked over to her, Nutpaw's heart raced.
"Thank you, Dawnsong. I promise to be the best apprentice that I can!" Nutpaw purred to her new mentor.