Berrykit's Apprentice Ceremony

The first of the five kits that Goldeneye had brought back was ready to be apprenticed. Berrykit, as the fluffy golden tabby had been named, had reached the age of the six moons. At least, that was what Scorchclaw assumed. It was an approximate guess, as no one knew the exact day the kits had been born. While he had been somewhat reluctant to admit them into the clan, there was no way he would go against the Warrior Code. Seeing as they had been raised like the other RiverClan kits and had barely any memories of their time outside the clan, they would probably turn out just fine. Leaping nimbly unto the Willow Branch, the brown tabby called out, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Willow Branch for a clan meeting!"

The rare large tom left the nursery as a rocket at the call of the deputy of Riverclan. Even if the sky had been weird for the last days and that scared most of the cats in the nursery, he truly hoped that the ceremonies didn't stop. Not now when he was so close to becoming an apprentice, his biggest dream! Berrykit settled down and fixed his eyes on the deputy, waiting for his words with an impatient flicking tail.

It was a time of danger and uncertainty for the clan. Even a day or two later, the sky was still obscured with darkness. Whether it was night or day, an unending stretch of black was the overview. The sun and moon continued to weep red light upon the forest. With a cat like Lichenmask lingering around, it was quite the time to become an apprentice. Scorchclaw felt a complex mixture of emotions as his green gaze fell upon the young cat who would be permanently leaving the Nursery in a moment. "Berrykit, step forward." He stated solemnly, "You have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day onward until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Berrypaw. Your mentor will be Aspenstrike. As his former mentor, I know that he will train you well." Lichenmask wanted to purge the impure from the clans. Then, he would certainly want to kill Berrypaw as well. To murder an innocent young cat in the name of purity was something that Scorchclaw definitely could not accept. Digging his claws into the smooth bark, he silently willed Berrypaw to prove Lichenmask's ideals wrong.

Aspenstrike had been sitting amongst the rest of the clan gathered. He was grateful that even in this time, there could still be new apprentices among them. That brought him more happiness.  Who cared if this cat was a rogue, he had been raised as a clan cat and looked just as normal as the other kits in the clan.

Of course, surprise laced his gaze when he was to be the cat's mentor. He hadn't quite been expecting it but was grateful. He had wanted to mentor one of the rogue kits, he enjoyed them. He joined in with the calling of Berrypaw's new name as he was padding over to the now young apprentice. "Berrypaw, Berrypaw!" He lowered his head and touched noses with his new apprentice. A kind smile broke out across his face, "Training will be tomorrow, whenever I figure out when dawn is."

Aspenstrike! That was so awesome! The young cat turned his face to the brown-furred one and he touched his nose, containing his desire to jump excitedly. Even though the darkness lurked in the whole forest, he was happy and full of hope. No matter what this Lichenmask said about blood and origins, he would prove him wrong. He would prove that Starclan did not desire the death of those who didn't hold the blood of the clans because he would do his best for Riverclan until he dies. This is just his first step for that destiny... "I will make you proud!" He purred with a determined smile.