Curlyfeather’s Elder Ceremony

"Let all cats old enough to capture their own prey join here beneath the Jaggedrock for a clan meeting!" Littlestars voice could be heard effortlessly as it rang across camp.

Curlyfeather couldn't hear Littlestar, but she knew what this was about. After all, she had sat outside the medicine den all day waiting for this to happen. Without her hearing, she had been a pretty miserable excuse for a warrior, despite her denial of it. And now that she wasn't able to effectively use one of her hind legs, she would be hopeless. A moon ago, she would have feared this day for so long. But now she accepted it. After all, it was better than being den. Joining Cedarstorm and finally having the freedom to relax didn't seem too bad. This decision wasn't a selfish one. It was a part of clan life, and though she would rather be a strong warrior with all her legs and ears working, this was what she had to settle with. Now that she had gone through the worst part of her life and came out more hopeful, she was sure she could deal with it. Maybe being an elder wouldn't be too bad.

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

"I do." Curlyfeather couldn't quite make out what Littlestar was saying, but she realized that it ended in a question. And she was definitely looking at her. This was what she had been waiting for. The words she spoke were what she knew she was supposed to say for the ceremony, and she really had no idea if they made sense in context or not. But that was the least of her concerns. It was time. Finally what she knew would be inevitable was happening. Oddly enough, she wasn't as terrified and humiliated as she had always thought she would be.

Littlestar smiled sympathetically down at Curlyfeather, 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.