Cinderkit's Apprentice Ceremony

"Let all cats old enough to hunt their own prey, gather beneath the willow branch for a clan meeting!" The tom called on the top of the Willow Branch. His green eyes soon searched for his first-born kit, Cinderkit. Although he wasn't the first to receive his apprentice's name, he was as important as the rest of his kits. Jaystream loved all of them with all his heart and he prayed for a bright future for all of them. He wanted them to be happy... because that was his mate wanted. A happy family... with him.

He tried to shook those sad thoughts off his head. Today was a day to celebrate, not to mourn. Cinderkit was going to be an apprentice, just like Robinpaw, Stormpaw, Hailpaw and Orchidpaw.

Cinderkit weaved his way to the front and sat down. Every single time, he prepared himself to become an apprentice. And every time, it was someone else. He sighed. Maybe Jaystream wanted him to be a kit forever.

"Cinderkit, please step forward." The deputy knew that his son was probably hurt because he wasn't the first to become apprentice even if he was the first-born of his litter. But now it was his moment.

"Cinderkit, 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 Cinderpaw and I'll be your mentor." The tom left the branch and met his son's gaze with a smile. As he closed his eyes, he touched his nose with his own and then he stepped back. He had the same eyes of his mother... But the warrior promised to himself that he wouldn't face the same fate as his mate. "We will start training tomorrow. Be ready."

Cinderkit's gaze went up as he stepped forward like Jaystream told him to. At last, he was going to be an apprentice! His eyes widened more as he heard the deputy's words. Jaystream was his mentor! His eyes looked up into green ones.