Puddlekit's Apprentice Ceremony

Mistyrain mounted the Tallbranch, pausing for a moment to gaze out over the clearing before she called out. "Let all cats old enough to climb a tree gather beneath the Tallbranch for a Clan meeting!" The more she did this, the more accustomed she became to it. At first, she remembered how strange it had felt to be atop the Tallbranch, naming apprentices. Now, it was just another part of her everyday life. She scanned the crowd of cats that was gathering, trying to spot the kit who would receive his name today.

Leisurely performing his favourite activity, Puddlekit idled on the uneven ground, eyelids screening his eyes from the blazing sunbeams. He felt mellowed, at ease. Kithood was easy. No cat expected anything, you were practically free from stress and duties. Although he had slightly outgrown his nest in the nursery, the bi-color kit dreaded his ceremony, and the responsibilities that followed. Couldn't one just relax inside camp, and bask in the serene warmth?
At the familiar call, his fluttered his saffron eyes open, a faint twinkle shining in them. Was it an important announcement? Grinning goofily, the tom positioned himself to stand in a clumsy, maladroit way. Strutting to sit by the back of the gathering crowd, he gazed lazily at the deputy, wondering what declaration would follow.

Once the gathering was sufficient and she had spotted the kit among the rest of SkyClan, she began. "Puddlekit, please step forward." She paused for a moment, nodding encouragingly to the kit. "You have reached the age of 6 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 Puddlepaw. Fernpetal will be your mentor, and I hope that she will pass on to you everything that she knows." She nodded again, the ceremony completed. As she raised her voice along with the rest of SkyClan, she leaped down from the Tallbranch to congratulate the new apprentice.

"Puddlekit, please step forward."

He felt paralyzed. Numb. Shocked. This was it - the day he absolutely dreaded. His heart was throbbing unpleasantly, and his vivid eyes rounded with unease. He knew his ceremony would arrive eventually, but he would have preferred to have had it delayed for perhaps three more moons. I'm not ready for this.
Trembling, doubtfully reluctant, he stepped a single pace forward. Stop shakin'. All the she-cats will think you're a stupid, cowardly mouse-heart. Imperceptibly inhaling, he adjusted his stance, so he looked superior and confident. Yes, that'd make him look strong.
Batting his eyes several times, still unconvinced that he'd be named an apprentice quite soon, he forced his eyes to soften to look cool. He gazed, unusually solemn, into the deputy's eyes.

Puddlepaw.

The name sounded so new, so unknown, yet it just sounded so right. He wasn't a kit anymore, those days were officially finished. He was an apprentice.
But he absolutely despised it.

Roles and responsibilities would roll down at him, overwhelm him, overpower him. He wasn't ready. He was still a kit, or at least he wanted to be.
Skimming the faces of his clanmates, he identified his mentor. Strutting, masking his anxiety, he barely had to extend his neck to meet her nose. He was tall, muscular and large. Perhaps he had an adequate build to become a warrior.

But he didn't have the adequate attitude. Not yet.