Hickorypaw's Warrior Ceremony

After a lonesome evening spent basking in the mournful solitude of Featherlight's grave, Brindlestar was just returning to the sanctity of WindClan's camp ahead of the rapidly dwindling light of dusk. Watching as the eerily bright gazes of her Clanmates drifted after her in place of minding whatever tasks that had previously preoccupied them, her steps did not falter as she hurriedly made her way towards the looming stone nestled deep within the heart of the shallow clearing. Following a previous discussion with Swiftstep, she had been pleased to learn that an older apprentice by the name of Hickorypaw was finally ready to find his true place within the Clan. With the constant threat of war lingering like the sun, they needed more Warriors.

It was evenings such as this, where the Clan as a whole was able to direct their attention to a more hopeful horizon, where Brindlestar felt more at peace. The jovial proceedings often helped ease the stubborn thorn of grief that had taken up permanent residence within her heart following the loss of her daughter and grandmother. Pulling herself atop the Tallrock in a single, fluid motion, the scarred she-cat shifted her weight before yowling out the ceremonial summons, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Tallrock!"

Hickorypaw stopped what he was doing and began to make his way over to the meeting place. Once there, he sat down and looked up at Brindlestar with a curious expression. He wondered what the topic of this clan meeting would be about.

As he passed Hickorypaw to get to the front, Swiftstep nudged his apprentice and give him a proud smile. He hoped the younger got a slight hint. The brown tom was very proud of how far Hickorypaw had come. It was time for the tall apprentice to join the warriors.

"We gather here today to make one of our apprentices a Warrior." Brindlestar began once more, only pausing for the briefest inhale. Blinking down at the familiar features of her Clanmates, her gaze blatantly sought out the smokey colored apprentice by the name of Hickorypaw. Evenly holding the young tom's eager gaze, she only acknowledged the younger cat's obvious excitement with the faintest of nods. Even though her own Warrior Ceremony had been quite some time ago, nearly seasons now, she could still easily recall the overwhelming sense of excitement and apprehension. "He has proven himself worthy to climb the ranks of WindClan and receive his Warrior name."

"Hickorypaw, please step forwards."

Hickorypaw sprang up at the leader's command. The tom was confused when Swiftstep gave him a prideful expression but now he knew what he meant. The apprentice puffed out his chest and confidently stared up at Brindlestar, waiting for her to continue with the ceremony.

Tail sweeping out behind her a leisurely arc, Brindlestar's steely gaze remained trained upon Hickorypaw. Even though the expression worn by the young tom was more than viable proof, she still needed to be certain that the apprentice was capable of handling the strains and burdens that often accompanied Warriorhood. Sharp gaze picking apart the smokey tom's mindset, the Leader remained silent for another beat before speaking once more. "I, Brindlestar, Leader of WindClan, call upon my Warrior ancestors to look down upon this Apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a Warrior in return." Gaze lifting to the sky as she summoned the presence of her ancestors, the brindled she-cat's face only turned away from the rapidly cooling sky to question Hickorypaw with the most weighted part of the ceremony.

"Hickorypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"