Aspenkit’s Apprentice Ceremony

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Jaggedrock for a Clan meeting!" Scorchfang called, standing on the ceremonial rock.

Aspenkit nosed his way out of the stuffy milk-scented nursery, his gray tabby face set in its usual stoic frown.  Though he wasn't particularly large for a kit his age, the den was beginning to grow somewhat cramped, and he wondered when he would get to follow his sister Brushpaw to the apprentice's den.  He wasn't exactly excited for the day though; more so just expectant.  It happened to all kits eventually, and in his eyes, it was nothing to get overly-excited about, or maybe that was just because the young tom never seemed to be excited about anything.  Wordlessly, he seated himself near the entrance of the nursery and gazed up at the deputy through intense green eyes.  Either one of his denmates was about to be promoted...or it was his turn.

"Aspenkit, step forward," Scorchfang meowed, waiting for the young tom to do as he was told before proceeding. "You have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. Aspenkit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Aspenpaw. Littlestar will be your mentor. As her own apprentice and son Daisypaw is earning his warrior name very soon, I feel she will be more than capable to take you on as well."

Apparently, he had guessed right.  Even though he didn't lose his disinterested expression as the gray tabby tom padded through the crowd towards the Jaggedrock, his eyes seemed to brighten a bit, if only slightly.  Their deep green depths seemed a bit more bold, more intense than before.  He sat down slowly and gazed up at Scorchfang, listening as he went through the formalities.  One ear flicked at the sound of his new name, but when his mentor was announced to be Littlestar herself, he finally showed a bit of excitement.  His mouth opened slightly as if he was trying to gape in shock, but his face quickly reverted to normal.  Padding up to greet the tortoiseshell leader when she approached, he met her gaze firmly and blinked.  The leader is my mentor...with her, I'm sure to learn a lot, maybe more than other apprentices.  She must know things about ShadowClan that no one else does...