Sunkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Blizzardstar leaped onto the Highrock, war or not, injuries or not, ceremonies should still be a priority “All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under the Highrock for a clan meeting!”.

Leafstorm smiled weakly and padded towards the Highrock. His once-bright eyes, now sunken and dull, were focused on the fluffy white leader. Although he had been able to find brief flashes of happiness over the past few days, he had sunken back into a depressed, haggard state.

Sunkit excitedly licked himself, though his fur was so long that every time he licked his chest, his fur got caught in his mouth. Too jittery to continue, Sunkit bolted out of the nursery at his leader's call, skidding to a halt below Highrock. Today was the day he would finally begin his training to become a warrior! And someday, he was going to be able to help his clan in the way only a warrior could. That day may be far away, but today was the first step, and the brown kitten couldn't be any happier.

Once enough cats were gathered beneath the Highrock, the white leader finally decided to go on "Sunkit, please, step forward”.

Heatherpetal approached the gathering cats, and she quickly took notice to the little brown kit standing before Blizzardstar. She gave a little small purr. Sunkit was so very kind and optimistic, she was sure that whoever the Clan leader decided would best suit to be his mentor would find training him to be fun. Maybe even a nice distraction from the current events.

Sunkit stepped forwardly eagerly, meeting the eyes of his leader with a low purr. He blinked slowly, relishing the moment.

Blizzardstar smiled at the kit before talking again “Sunkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Sunpaw” She took a quick glance at the warriors gathered before picking one for the new apprentice “Your mentor will be Heatherpetal. I hope she passes down all she knows on to you” With that she jumped off the Highrock, dismissing the clan.

The newly-named Sunpaw blinked at the abrupt departure of the leader, but quickly forgot it when he turned to face his new mentor. Heatherpetal, he thought to himself. That's a name I can learn to respect!

Heatherpetal blinked in utter disbelief. She was going to mentor Sunpaw? So many thoughts raced through her mind all at once. She was mentoring such a kind and wise little cat! She, Heatherpetal, once a lonely rogue and an outsider to ThunderClan, was going to teach a Clan-born cat the ways of the warrior code? What an honor! Blizzardstar must really trust her.

Oh, no. What if she messed up? Was she really qualified to train an apprentice? What if Sunpaw grew to dislike her, or worse? What if she took him out for hunting training and he was killed by a fox or a badger? What if she let him stray too close to ShadowClan's borders along the Thunderpath and got hit?

...No. She had to think positively. She would do just fine. Sunpaw already liked her, and she liked him, and they would develop a healthy relationship together.

Taking a deep breath, Heatherpetal approached her new apprentice and gently touched noses with him. "I'll do my best to be the mentor you deserve."

Sunpaw blinked when his new mentor touched noses with him, then licked the tip of her nose. "Ha! You're gonna be great, I just know it!" Sunpaw bounced excitedly on his toes, then stilled in a rare moment of seriousness. "Heatherpetal... thank you. I will try my best, and someday I'm gonna be an apprentice that you can be proud of." The cat's brown eyes shone warmly as he looked up at his new -dare he say- friend.