Cedarstorm’s Elder Ceremony

Littlestar leaped up onto Jaggedrock with a bittersweet expression across her features. Tonight they would be gaining an elder. Cedarstorm had come to her den to talk about her retiring, and though the she-cat absolutely deserved the rest of an elder, the moment was also tinged with sadness. It only felt like a moon ago that Cedarpaw has become Cedarstorm, but maybe the just proved how old she was getting. "Let all cats old enough to capture their own prey join here beneath the Jaggedrock for a clan meeting!"

The she-cat wasn’t the oldest warrior in Shadowclan. She knew that. But unlike other clanmates, a disease that no medicine cat could treat was now making her muscles and bones hurt every time she had to crouch for a hunt or to fight. Cedarstorm loved her warrior life. It was everything she desired as a kit and she worked hard to be the best warrior she could be. The tabby knew she wasn’t a good mother... most of her litters died before reaching warriorhood... but she was indeed a worthy fighter and hunter. She trained Tansyheart, and she was proud of her. To be honest, Cedarstorm wanted to keep being a warrior but Starclan has decided a different thing for her and it was time to rest.

Slowly, she walked to the leader and looked at her with bright blue eyes, ready for her last ceremony. This was it. Her last moments as a warrior. At least... she hoped to live long enough to share a pacific life in the elder’s den with her mate, Crowfur, once he would join the Elders too. For now, Rowantalon, her father-in-law, should be enough.

Crowfur felt really emotional right then and there. His mate was retiring to the elders den but not because she was old. Only Starclan knew why this was happening to her. He would support her for as long as they lived. The tom gave his mate a small but comforting nuzzel before stepping back and sitting down a few lengths behind her. He could only watch as Cedarstorm quit her life as a warrior and join his father and her sister in the elder's den.

Brushpaw watched with somewhat narrowed eyes as her mother took a front-and-center place under the Jaggedrock, readying for her elder ceremony. She hadn't been under the impression that Cedarstorm was that old... had warrior life truly wearied her that much? Well, now she'd be taking care of her mother along with the other elders, just one cat less to try and treat her like a kit. She'd grown up rather quickly, she was almost warrior age- though the thought was somewhat saddening, she didn't really need her mother... not that Cedarstorm had ever truly understood her daughter's heart.

Littlestar looked down warmly on Cedarstorm before opening her maw to begin the ceremony. "Tonight, we gather to celebrate one of the fiercest, most loyal of she-cats and the legacy she will leave behind. Cedarstorm, is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go join the elders?"

Her blue eyes wanted to cry but she suppressed that. The fluffy, tabby she-cat stood up proudly in a straight and strong pose as she glanced her eyes on the small leader. She had lived a good life as a warrior and even if she wanted to keep going, her body wouldn't allow it. It was no time to cry. She had suffered greater losses... and tonight, she had to act as the pride and strong warrior she always had been. "I do." She mewed, her voice didn't even tremble as she said those two words that would define the rest of her life. Cedarstorm's mind and body needed to rest for her own health. For now... she knew her legacy, her kits and her mate would take good care of Shadowclan while she was gone in the elder's den.

(oof so sorry;;)

Littlestar smiled sympathetically down at Cedarstorm, and with a small nod to her, she let the last words of the ceremony tumble out of her mouth. "Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest." The small leader dipped her head in respect for the now elder before her voice was added to the chorus of voices yowling the she-cat's name.