Sweetpaw's Ceremony

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the willow branch for a clan meeting!" Ivystar called out into the camp, her whiskers twitching with joy as she prepared them all for another warrior ceremony. To think that RiverClan was flourishing like this, she delighted in getting this chance to call them all together. Sweetpaw had more than proven herself to the clan, and now was the time to reward her for her efforts.

Sweetpaw padded out of the apprentices' den and held her head and tail up high with pride. She had groomed her fur until her tongue ached, and she was silky and sleek, her brown fur glistening in the leaf-bare sunshine.

She had made sure to teach herself how to swim as Jaystream had told her during her trip to the Moonstone, and that's just what she did. With some proper practice, she was able to ace the skill, having come natural to her. Which was to be expected since she was pure RiverClan.

And now she was finally ready to become a warrior.

I can't wait to tell Scorchpaw about this... She kept the impure thought to herself.

"Sweetpaw, step forward. It is time for your warrior ceremony." Ivystar meowed solemnly, her whiskers twitching as she waited.

Sweetpaw did as she was told, padding up to the center of the clearing and looking up at her leader patiently and expectantly.

Smokepaw sat down beneath the willow branch, looking at Sweetpaw expectantly. Her wounds from the fox battle hurt like the Dark Forest, but if Sweetpaw hadnt been there, Smokepaw could have died. She shifted her position to make sure she wasn't sat on any of her cobwebs. The medicine cat only just let her out of the den for the meeting, so she wasn't going to waste it. She grinned as Sweetpaw stepped up, full of pride for her denmate. Smokepaw was younger, her warrior ceremony wouldn't be held for a while now. Her tail flicked as she watched the meeting with her stormy grey eyes.

"I, Ivystar, leader 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. Sweetpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Ivystar meowed, her green eyes looking up into the sky. She didn't know if they were watching, but she hoped that they were, and that they would give Sweetpaw strength and conviction.

"I do," Sweetpaw answered confidently. Her eyes blazed with wild excitement.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From this day forth, you shall be known as Sweetheart. RiverClan honours your altruism and compassion, congratulations." The clan began chanting the warrior's name in delight, celebrating with gusto as another warrior joined their ranks. Sweetheart, it was the perfect name for her. Ivystar hoped that she would live up to her name, and be the voice of compassion when embers of anger rose again in their clan. "Now as per tradition, you will hold a silent vigil as we sleep well tonight. I trust you will guard us all well."

Sweetheart bowed her head respectfully to Ivystar. Sweetheart. Her warrior name was absolutely perfect. It was all she had ever wanted and more. She would honor the tradition in refraining from speaking, even before her vigil, to show her leader she really had what it took to be RiverClan's newest warrior.

Vixenstep smiled. "Sweetheart! Sweetheart!" she shouted, making sure the newly-named Sweetheart could hear her. "Congratulations, Sweetheart! You deserve this." she purred.