Hailkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Leaping up onto the Highrock in one great bound, Leopardstar spun around and yowled out to the camp, his voice echoing against the ravine's stone walls.  "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!"

Hailkit had been waiting far too long for this moment. Ever since she had found out about her apprentice ceremony today, she had been alight with impatience. At Leopardstar's call, her ears instantly perked up. The moss ball she had been brutalizing just a moment ago now held no semblance of attraction to her. She tossed it to one side and dashed over to the Highrock. Her long, white pelt had been groomed just within the range of acceptable. Unruly tufts of fur still stood up here and there. Plopping herself down at the very front of the gathering crowd, she turned her yellow stare towards ThunderClan's leader. The excitement within her eyes was clearly visible.

At last! Beekit, Bearkit, and Pricklekit had already left the nursery. They were Beepaw, Bearpaw, and Prickplepaw now. Having spent six whole moons trapped within ThunderClan camp, with the exception of her excursion to Sunningrocks, Hailkit couldn't wait to become an apprentice. She'd learn to catch her own prey, and more importantly, learn to fight. She had watched with envy as her older siblings had received their new names. Now it was finally going to be her turn.

Once the pale-pelted kit had reached the front of the crowd, he began to speak. "Hailkit, you have reached the age of six 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 Hailpaw. Your mentor will be Leafstorm. He is an experienced mentor and a great warrior, and I trust him to pass down all he knows onto you."

Another apprentice- one of Blizzardshine's kits, he believed. Leafstorm heaved himself to his paws, padding towards the excited apprentice. A faint smile twisted his scarred, graying muzzle. He had been a young apprentice once.
"Training begins first thing tomorrow," He mewed gruffly, leaning down to meet the apprentice's soft nose with his own. He would turn her into a strong warrior, just as he had done with the others. "I'll wake you at dawn."

Throughout the ceremony, the fluffy she-cat could barely keep herself from jumping up and down in excitement. At that moment, her tiny body was full of so much energy that she would be willing to run ten laps around the camp just to release it all. Fortunately, the ceremony lasted only a few minutes. As soon as the last words had left Leopardstar's mouth, the newly-named Hailpaw bounded forward like river water through a broken dam. Leafstorm was not an unfamiliar name to her; he was one of the few ThunderClan warriors that she vaguely recognized. Upon his approach, she eagerly touched her nose to his, perhaps with a little too much force. "You're my mentor?" She asked, yellow eyes sparkling. The scars that crossed the massive tom's pelt especially stood out to her. "I'm so glad! You look strong, Leafstorm! Will I be as big as you are one day?"

At her mentor's words, Hailpaw appeared rather disappointed. "Can't we start today? Tomorrow is still so far off!"