Ashpaw's Warrior Ceremony

"Let all cats old enough to catch their prey, gather beneath the willow branch for a clan meeting." Ivyfall called out into the clearing. Tonight's clan meeting was no ordinary one, it was the day that an apprentice became a warrior, no longer a kit to be coddled. They were to join her in the warrior's den, after a long vigil of course.

Ashpaw rose at Ivyfall's call, joining her beneath the Willow Branch. She was an aged apprentice now, she knew her warrior ceremony would be coming up. The question was, could it be now? She shook her head. That was impossible. There was no way. A kit to be apprenticed maybe, or a different cat's ceremony. She want even ready for her name, right? Yet, that small spark of hope that she tried to smother stayed inside her, the hope that after these long moons she would finally join the warriors of the clan.

Jaystream padded into the place the gathering, where her mother was calling. He sat down, wrapping his tail around his paws, and glanced at his young apprentice with a smile from behind. She had been training so hard that it wouldn't be a surprise for him that Ashpaw would soon become a warrior, like him.
The tabby tomcat turned his sight back to the deputy, waiting patiently for her announcement.

"Ashpaw, please step forward. It is time." The deputy meowed, her eyes twinkled as she waited for the usual look of surprise that overcame apprentices.

Ashpaw gasped. This was it! She stepped forward, a dreamy look on her face. Her warrior ceremony. After moons of training, hunting, swimming, patrolling, this was her time.

"I, Ivyfall, deputy of Riverclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn." Ivyfall spoke as she looked up at the stars, she called upon StarClan to listen to her, to guide this apprentice to warriorhood. This decision would bind her eternally to the clan, and to break this solemn oath would condemn her. She'd seen what happened to Dark Forest cats, she prayed that Ashpaw was honest in her choice. "Ashpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend RiverClan, even at the cost of your life?"

Ashpaw smiled, a proud look on her face. She looked to the side, seeing her mentor among the crowd. She remembered when she had been here before, a scared little kit, shy, afraid, nervous to take on the world. She remembered her first hunting patrol, how proud she was as she caught prey for the clan. The swim in the river. The countless patrols. Streampaw... Her smile fell as she remembered her friend, the friend that would never stand here. Sighing she rose her gaze up to the sky. "This is for both of us," She softly murmured. Then, her gaze falling back to the deputy, her frown moved up into a serious expression. This was it. The final moment. And with that, she whispered, "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Ashpaw, from this moment you will be known as Ashfeather. StarClan honours your dedication and fortitude, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Riverclan." There was always something magically about saying these words after seeing how an apprentice resolved themselves and became warriors. Ashfeather had that look in her eyes, the eyes of a cat that had endured much to get where she was today. "Ashfeather, as per tradition, you will hold a silent vigil tonight as the clan gets a good night sleep. But for now, celebrate with your kin and clanmates your new name and position."