Sunkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Even though his mood wasn't the best after his mate's death, the deputy still managed to climb the willow branch to announce another ceremony. He was still the deputy and had a job to do. And, if he ended this faster, he would be able to go back to the medicine cat den where his kits were under the care of Goldeneye. "Let all cats old enough to hunt their own prey, gather beneath the willow branch for a clan meeting!"

Guided by the gentle nudging of a somewhat familiar Queen, Sunkit hesitantly took her place beneath the willow tree, her uncertain gaze fixating on the somber Jaystream seated above her. Resisting the urge to tuck her tail between her legs, the little tabby instead forced herself to straighten up in front of her Clanmates- even if all she felt like doing was fleeing back to the safety of the nursery.

Reedclaw sat among the cats as Jaystream called the clan together. The tom loved to see the kits receive their apprentice name and their mentor, it meant the clan was growing stronger.

"Sunkit, please step forward." He called to the young kit with tired but yet kind eyes. His clanmates didn't need to see his sorrow and sadness. He had to stay strong as deputy, even if he was destroyed inside.

"Sunkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and now it is time for you to be apprenticed. From now on you will be known as Sunpaw until the day you're ready to become a warrior. Your mentor will be Lilytail, who recently finished Dewshine's training. She might be young but she's a good mentor for any young cat so please to learn what you can of her." He remembered how nervous he was when he gave the white-furred she-cat her first apprentice. But this time it was different. Dewshine turned into an amazing warrior and Jaystream hoped she could turn Sunpaw in a loyal Riverclan member as well.

Lilytail's eyes widened and then crinkled with a powerful burst of joy. Oh boy! Her second apprentice! She walked (more like skipped) to Sunpaw and bent down to touch noses with the apprentice. "I will train you to be an amazing warrior! Just you wait! We'll have fun doing so too. I can't have a bored or sad apprentice train to be the best now can I? I will wake you up early so we can begin training!" she purred softly before headbutting the she-cat and prancing into the warrior's den, filled up with pure happiness. Her first apprentice had grown so much! She was super proud of Dewshine. She couldn't wait to see what Sunpaw became as time passed on.

Gazing up at Jaystream with wide eyes, Sunkit's nervous fidgeting left uneven marks in the soft earth underpaw. Rolling her shoulders slightly, the fluttering sensation in her belly heightened at the Deputy's words. She was Sunpaw now- but did she even like how that name sounded? She was okay with staying Sunkit forever. Swinging her gaze around to gaze at the eager white she-cat who was approaching, she stiffly reached out to touch noses with Lilytail.

The kindness in Lilytail's gaze soothed Sunpaw's frazzled nerves, but the thought of inevitably being forced to leave camp still left her feeling uneasy. She didn't want to disappoint such an exuberant cat!