Dandelionpaw's Warrior Ceremony

It had seemed like it had only a sunrise since his last daughter had been made a warrior, and he already knew Swanpaw would be following soon after. A wave of nostalgia washed over the deputy. At the thought of it all, he felt so old, even if that was not truly the case. At least Lightkit was around to still make him feel young. Rippedsky leaped onto the tallbranch, his muscles aching from all of the patrols he had done lately. I must be getting old... The deputy thought to himself as he settled onto the branch. As soon as he was ready, the yowl broke from his throat, "Let all cats old enough to climb a tree gather beneath the tallbranch for a clan meeting!"

Dandelionpaw politely moved to her spot around the Tallbranch. She looked up at her father figure, Rippedsky, and saw how tired he was. She hoped that she wasn't a cause in his exhaustion. She hated being a burden, however, she was excited at the prospect that this might be her warrior ceremony. The thing that would mark her transition into warriorhood, to being more than a kit. The white-and-cream she-cat watched intently from below.

Lionpaw looked up from the dove he was chewing on, spotting Dandelionpaw and suddenly becoming more interested in the meeting that had been called. He sat up and groomed his fur to get rid of the blood and then watched Ripped Skies on the tall tree he spoke from, curious as to what was happening this time.

"It is time that another apprentice join the ranks of the warrior. Dandelionpaw, please come forwards." Rippedsky had missed the end of her training as he took on new responsibilities. However, Hawkstrike had given a hand in helping to train her and there was no doubt she was ready. He shot her an encouraging smile as she stepped up to allow for the ceremony to begin. Once more, his voice echoed into the cat filled clearing, "I, Rippedsky, deputy of Skyclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this cat. She has trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn." Like usual, his blue eyes looked up to the stars as he called to the warrior ancestors to recognize her as a clan warrior.

"Dandelionpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" He questioned her, already knowing what the response would be.

"Yes, I do," she told him, staring him intently in the eyes. This was what Dandelionpaw had wanted since she was a kit: to defend her Clan and make sure no kit lost their parents like she did ever again.

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Dandelionpaw, from this day forward, you will be known as Dandeliondapple. Starclan honors your heart and dedication, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Skyclan." Rippedsky announced her warrior name and felt the pride swell in his chest. She now stood as a full clan warrior. His voice joined the chorus of yowls that called the newly appointed warrior's name. After a brief moment, the deputy leaped down to congratulate her personally.

Dandeliondapple stood, waiting for Rippedsky to say what he clearly wanted to. She could tell from the way he was holding himself that he wanted to say something. At that moment, her heart was almost bursting at her pride at being named a warrior. She had worked hard and it had paid off. Her thoughts drifted to her birth parents. Were they watching her from StarClan? Were they proud?

Lionpaw realized it was a moment of significance for his friend, but the naming tradition of the clan was still lost on him. How in the name of the ancestors did anyone remember their own name, let alone clanmates'? This was similar to how a to-be would become a cave-guard or prey-hunter, except they only had one rank: warrior. The cream tom wasn't sure if he was supposed to join in the cheering or if he was supposed to greet the newly-named Dandeliondapple. He wasn't even sure the appointing was over. Instead, Lionpaw stayed in his place and smiled a ridiculous smile because he was happy for his friend despite not quite grasping the reason behind her new name.