Brokenpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Finally, his apprentice was ready. Although Fernpaw had started well before the black apprentice, Rippedstar barely noticed in the recent whirlwind of changes and events. He was far too caught up in avoiding everything to catch such small details. However, as he headed for the tallbranch, he found himself considering that he might need to have some one-on-one training with her sometime soon. His paws barely scuffed the ground and he strode quickly to his place above the clan. Something about the recent confrontation had driven him strength-wise. Some of the inadequacies and loss of will were put to the backburner as he considered his role and his clan's needs. Rippedstar wanted nothing more than to do all he could to care for the cats of his clan and to find a way to lead with the confidence and wisdom of the former leader. He leaped up onto the tallbranch and let out the call. One way to do that was making sure his apprentices were keeping up with training and that they were training up fine warriors. Brokenpaw would be one.

"Let all cats old enough to climb a tree gather beneath the tallbranch for a clan meeting!"

Well, the dreaded day had come. Brokenpaw knew he would finally become a warrior, whether it was his choice or not. At least he wouldn't be stuck doing apprentice training all the time, but now he would be expected to be a willing member of the rest of the warrior duties. Not that he didn't mind hunting at least, but he really had no desire to patrol the borders or get involved in skirmishes. Although, Brokenpaw had learned by now that he was willing to stand up for others, and after the attack on camp, and is actions during that time.. Well, he had begun to understand that another valuable piece of being a warrior would be the ability to defend others who couldn't defend themselves. And he knew that was really the only thing he would be proud of as a warrior.

The hardened apprentice sighed, and walked out of the den toward the gathering Skyclan cats. He looked up at his mentor Rippedstar...so much had changed with him in the time Broken had been under his wing. Who knew what would become of either of them in the coming months.

Rippedstar watched as his apprentice padded forward. A deeply buried pride sparked in his heart for a moment. More than any cat, Brokenpaw had proven himself to be thoughtful and worthy of a title. He would make a great warrior alongside Swiftflight and Blazingfire and the others. In spite of his own iniquities, Skyclan was growing. After nodding stiffly, the leader continued on with the ceremony, "Today, we welcome another apprentice into the ranks of the warriors. He has more than earned his place and it is my honor to present him before Starclan. Brokenpaw, please step forward."

He waited patiently for the black apprentice to step before them and officially began the ceremonial words, "I, Rippedstar, leader of Skyclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this cat. He has trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Brokenpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Although he knew the answer, his blue gaze still studied the apprentice with a mild interest as he waited for the response.

Brokenpaw honestly dreaded the question. On the one hand the answer was 'I would rather not', but he knew it would never be an option to say it. First, because this was the life he was born into, like it or not. Second, because he knew Rippedstar wanted this for him and Brokenpaw respected him enough to not want to let him down. And finally, because after all that had happened recently, he knew that even if he didn't want to sign on to all it meant to be a warrior, he had realized there were a couple things that made it honorable. If this was his fate, he would at least do his best to act as he saw fit and be the voice of reason, and maybe someday others would listen to him. But if nothing else, he could stand his ground for those who needed someone to have their back.

After a very slight hesitation, Brokenpaw lifted his head to meet Rippedstar's eyes. Although it wasn't the boldest lift of a head, but only partially forlorn this time, unlike his apprentice ceremony. He replied, "Yes." He looked back to the ground immediately after his reply. Honestly, at the moment, he felt like the worst part would be everyone congratulating him and recognizing this decision.

Looking down, he allowed himself to nod at the young tom. The name he had come up with was a good fit. If nothing else, the apprentice displayed a care for the cats around him. Even if there was some conflict within Brokenpaw, his own issue to wrestle with, he had a heart to him. There was no doubt and with the assurance of his words, Rippedstar finished the ceremony, "Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Brokenpaw, from this day forward, you will be known as Brokenheart. Starclan honors your thought and hard work, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Skyclan." His blue eyes locked with the newly appointed warrior. He blinked slowly with a nod of congratulations. Later he would personally say something to his apprentice, but for now, he disappeared back into the hollowed out boulder of his den.