Duckkit's Apprentice Ceremony

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the willow branch for a clan meeting!" Ivystar called out to the clan with a new sense of duty and honour. No longer called by her old name, she was a newly named leader with nine lives to show for it. And today, she got the joy of naming another kit to a paw. It was Nightfrost and Owlfeather's only kit, a little tabby. She prayed that this kit would live a long and happy life, her parents would have wanted it.

Duckkit padded out of the nursery with a calm smile on her face. Apprenticeship was a big deal in the Clans, and the other kits had shown nothing but excitement when the term 'apprentice' was brought of. Of course, Duckkit was overjoyed, too. She'd finally have the chance to leave camp and explore the territory, she'd meet other apprentices, and she'd learn how to hunt and fight for the Clan and her life. With a small sigh, the kit sat down near the front of the crowd of gathering cats.

"Duckkit, it has come to my attention that you have reached the age of six moons. From this day forward, until you earn the right of warriorhood, you will be called, Duckpaw. Your mentor will be me, I will teach you alongside Ravenpaw, who's mentor, Stormheart died tragically last moon. I trust that you two will prove yourselves worthy, and learn much from me." Ivystar wasn't one to toot her own horn, but she had taught her fair share of apprentices. And she had high hopes for these two, they were both good cats. She looked forward to teaching them both.

Hopping down from her perch, she went over to touch noses with her apprentices.

Ravenpaw looked up to touch her nose to Ivystar's, glad to have a mentor again. It was exciting to have the Clan leader for a mentor! She looked at Duckpaw and smiled. It would be fun to have another apprentice training so close with her, too.

A small flash of timidness flickered in her eyes, but she let it be replaced by a confident and proud look. Duckpaw lifted her chin with a small, calm smile. She should be happy that she was being mentored by the leader, right? All cats in RiverClan looked up to Ivystar, right? Rising from the spot she had been sitting in, she waited for Ravenpaw to step back from touching her nose to Ivystar's before Duckpaw copied the same action.
The brown apprentice caught the gaze of Ravenpaw's and she responded to the smile with a smile of her own. Maybe this would give her a chance to bond with another apprentice.

Ivystar leant in to touch noses with Ravenpaw first, before turning to do so with Duckpaw. Three apprentices, that was going to be a bit of work but she'd have to juggle it. They were all bright young cats so she had no concern of them keeping up. Just finding the time would be the main issue.

"Sleep well tonight, you'll both be getting up early at the crack of dawn for a hunting patrol."