Firekit, Gingerkit, and Sparkkit's Apprentice Ceremonies

"Let all cats old enough to capture their own prey gather underneath Jaggedrock for a clan meeting!" The tom called proudly as he waited for three young kits to join him. ShadowClan was growing stronger with each day.

Gingerkit trotted out of the nursery, a beaming, self-confident smile on his young face. His white-tipped tail flicked jauntily as he made his way into the center of camp, making sure to place himself directly under the Jaggedrock so everyone could see him. "Come on, Firekit! Sparkkit, get over here! Magpiewing's waiting!" he called out excitedly, emerald green eyes sparkling with happiness. It was finally time for his apprentice ceremony! Flamestrike and Littlebrook must be so proud of him. And there was no one he'd rather have it alongside than his brothers. There would be no more bored days in the nursery for him- he'd be an apprentice. He'd learn to hunt and fight. He'd defend his Clan with the skills he knew deep inside he had. He's be the best ShadowClan warrior that the fires had ever known! Ecstatic, the orange tabby tom waited impatiently for his ceremony to begin.

Sparkkit lazily tottered out of the nursery, eyes glinting in the sun. "I'm coming, i'm coming. Don't scream your tail off, Gingerkit," the small kit sighed, pushing past other random cats to get to the Jaggedrock. Yawning, he sat himself down next to his brother, looking up expectantly at the Shadowclan deputy. It was his big day - but he just wished it hadn't been in the morning. "Hey, there sure are a lot of cats in Shadowclan," he muttered to himself.

Flamestrike watched with interest as his kits bounded out of the nursery. Gingerkit was clearly ecstatic at the prospect of beginning of training. He remembered many moons ago finally getting his too. The rogue-born tom had been more shocked than excited when he had received both his apprentice and warrior name. Despite his perpetually numb mood lately, the warrior felt a spark of happiness at seeing his sons growing up. It seemed like it was only yesterday that they were being born out in the territory. Since then, with everyone in the clan oblivious to the fact these were Honeydrop's kits, they had grown up just like any other. He was grateful to take part in raising such fine young kits.

His green eyes scanned the clearing for his mate. She needed to be present for this too. It bothered him that she was denied the privilege of raising the kits as her own, but it needed to be done for all of their sake's. Regardless, Flamestrike had planned to sit next to her for this occasion. Playing the role of Littlebrook's mate constantly made him miss being with Honeydrop. However, they could probably get away with being together just for this moment. No cat would suspect them to be mates simply for talking. He settled down fairly close to the Jaggedrock. Flamestrike looked up at Magpiewing blankly as he waited for the familiar words to be spoken. Soon, all of his kits would be apprentices.

Magpiewing smiled down at the kits. "Firekit, Gingerkit, and Sparkkit, please step forward."

Firekit followed his brothers and when he finally sat down, the deputy called for them. His green eyes widened with happiness and he stepped forward with a puffed up chest. His fluffy tail was up proudly as he watched to the cat that was going to make them apprentices. He gazed the flame colored pelt of his father close to the Jaggedrock and tried to look more serious to impress him. However, Firekit couldn't stop his trembling and excited paws. Finally it was his time to be an apprentice and show the whole clan that he and his siblings would the strongest Shadowclan warriors.

Gingerkit stepped up, excitement shining in his eyes, making them big with wonder. His whited paws twitched as he stared up at the ShadowClan deputy. He returned his father's smile as he came near and nudged his brothers happily.

Honeydrop sidled out of the medicine den, quiet as a whisper, to watch her kits' ceremony. It had been unimaginably hard for her, watching her sons grow up oblivious to their mother, oblivious to the fact that their very existence broke the warrior code they valued so much. Her golden dappled pelt glimmered in the sunlight as she made her way silently over to Flamestrike. The Clan knew them as friends, and nothing more, and she had to keep up appearances. But it was hard not to slide her tail around his strong shoulders as they watched the result of their love. It was hard not to lick the out-of-place tufts of fur on Gingerkit's head that stuck up so stubbornly. It was hard not yo be able to say she was proud of them. Her motherly instinct burned inside her as she gazed upon her three orange kits, so much like their father. The medicine cat's amber eyes shimmered with suppressed tears. Honeydrop would never have her happy family.

"You have all reached the age of six moons, and are now ready to be apprenticed. From this day forth, until you receive your warrior names, you shall be known as Firepaw, Gingerpaw, and Sparkpaw. Flamestrike will be your mentor, Firepaw, Swiftclaw will be your mentor, Gingerpaw, and Littlebrook will be your mentor, Sparkpaw. I trust they will teach you all they know."

The tom joined in the following cheering with a smile.

Flamestrike was shocked that Magpiewing named him as Firepaw's mentor. However, a soft smile soon over took the surprise on his muzzle. The tom had grown bitter lately due to circumstance and was usually impatient with the younger cats. Yet, he found himself a bit excited at the prospect of being able to train his own son. It still felt weird to him that he was a father. Never had the orange warrior imagine himself a father. Now, it would be even more relevant. He would be training his son. His tail flicked gently against the side of Honeydrop's pelt before he padded over to his new apprentice.

"I cannot wait to begin our training, Firepaw." The warrior meowed lowly to his son as he bent his long legs to touch noses with him.

Firepaw blinked surprise after hearing the words of Magpiewing. Could have heard wrong? All this was just a dream? No... it was real. Firepaw was going to be trained by his own father, the warrior that he had most respected and admired. It was really a dream came true.
The tom looked at his father with a bright smile and waving his tail because of the excitement. He stood up with a puffed up chest and closed his eyes for a second as his father touched his nose with his. He was officially an apprentice and his mentor was Flamestrike. This was the happiest day in all his short life. "Me too. I'm going to do my best!"

As his new name was cheered, and by the deputy of ShadowClan no less, Gingerpaw's chest puffed up with pride. He was an apprentice! He blinked when his siblings got their parents as mentors, while he was given Swiftclaw. While he probably should have been jealous, he wasn't. That gave him the chance to shine and prove himself even more! Plus, Swiftclaw was so cool! His tabby tail swished excitedly as he padded forwards to touch his nose to the strong black tom's. "I'll be the best apprentice you've ever had," he mewed confidently, green ryes sparkling with happiness. This was the best day of his life! He felt his parents' eyes watching him, and he knew they were proud. He loved Flamestrike and Littlebrook more than anyone.

Honeydrop watched with a quiet smile as her kits, bursting with excitement from head to tail-tip, were assigned their mentors. Flamestrike, Littlebrook, Swiftclaw- all good warriors that she trusted with her life. She couldn't have picked better warriors to train her sons herself. It took all her self-control not to pad forwards and pure that she knew they would be great apprentices. Her soft amber gaze would have said it all, had any of them known to look for it. But the medicine cat couldn't afford to have others even believe that she might feel something for Flamestrike, or any kits, especially with the suspicious circumstances regarding their birth. She would settle for this. Her tail brushed lightly against her mate's pelt as he walked by, and then she padded slowly back into the medicine den. She couldn't look at them any longer without running forwards and telling them she loved them.

Littlebrook (who was totally there the whole time) beamed with pride as she heard her adoptive sons' apprentice names, and then she heard their mentors. Purring with happiness she padded up to the newly named Sparkpaw and touched noses with him, "Training will start as soon as you've had something to eat." She meowed warmly, tail flicking towards the fresh-kill pile. As soon as he took off, her soft blue gaze searched for Honeydrop, and she was glad to see the happiness that shone in her amber gaze. She knew it must have been hard not to rush forward and cover her sons with proud licks, though she obviously refrained, Littlebrook admired her self control. She didn't know if she'd have the strength to watch her kits grow up from afar, and every passing day that the golden medicine cat did it, her heart broke for her. She would raise these kits to the best of her ability, and hope above all hopes that one day they'd get to know how amazing their true mother really was.

(this is so late, but i just saw this xc)