Murkkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Swiftstep hopped up onto the Tallrock. The tom's eyes held a joyful twinkle in them. Another kit was ready to leave the nursery to begin their training as an apprentice. The tom put on a serious face before beginning the ceremony. He was internally excited for the young cat. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather underneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!" Swiftstep called with an authoritative tone.

Murkkit blinked lazily from inside the nursery, settling a little deeper into the comfortable moss. Outside, some cat was yowling about an apprentice ceremony, but he couldn't really make himself care at the moment. At least it'll be less stuffy.... Another yawn, his eyes closing into slits and then all the way. The outside could bother about itself.

Having been sitting near the edge of the gathered crowd, Smokepelt looked around for his adopted kit, but he wasn't anywhere to be found. Usually, kits were front and center when the time came for them to receive their new names, but of course, not Murkkit. Letting out a sigh, the tall grey and white tom made it into the nursery where he spotted the young tom's sleeping pelt. "Get up. You look like a mousebrain," Smokepelt growled, lightly whacking the tabby's side with a large white paw before exiting the den and sitting back among the crowd.

Somebody whacked him in the side, bringing Murkkit out of his doze with a start and a hiss. What...?! His eyes narrowed into furious slits as he glared at his father. What kind of cat just stalks up to you for no reason, whacks you, calls you a mousebrain, and then just leaves like nothing happened?! Growling under his breath, he figured that Smokepelt probaby wanted him to go outside for some reason. Maybe the old cat's finally becoming an elder. He snorted something and wandered outside, making sure to look as indignantly dignified as he could.

The brown tom looked down at young Murkkit before continuing, "We all gather here today to make one of our kits an apprentice. Murkkit, please step forward." Once the small kit did so, the deputy nodded approvingly and then began to speak again, "Murkkit, 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 Murkpaw. Silverstreak will be your mentor. I know that he will pass down everything he knows on to you."

Murkkit stood for a moment, stunned. My apprentice ceremony? Since when? Quickly composing himself, he stepped forwards smoothly, after an almost unusually long pause. He puffed out his chest, letting his tail rise as Swiftstep pronounced his mentor. Silverstreak? Who in StarClan is that? A small tightening of his eyes and quick twitch of his ear gave away his confused displeasure, if only for a heartbeat. At least they probably won't be like Smokepelt,

Finchpaw smiled as he watched Murkkit get his apprentice name. Murkpaw. The orange tabby sat under the Tallrock, tail twitching contentedly. He remembered befriending the young tom some time ago, and was proud to see him grow in the clan. Finchpaw lifted his head to the sky like the rest of his clanmates to shout the young tom's new name. "Murkpaw! Murkpaw! Murkpaw!" He nodded to Murkpaw, flicking his tail toward Silverstreak, Murkpaw's new mentor, as if showing him what to do.

A movement caught the edge of Murkpaw's vision, and he looked to see Finchpaw flicking his tail towards Silverstreak. Ah, that's right. He stepped up to the tom, waiting for the strange tradition of nudging each other and licking fur to get over with so he could go back to sleep.

(ooc: short post, can't think of anything to write X()

Watching in silence as his adopted son became an apprentice, the old warrior hoped that his mentor would teach the younger tom well. With RiverClan's numbers growing by the second, WindClan certainly needed strong warriors who would be able to protect their clan to the fullest.

OOC: uh Hazel hasn't been on since like November 14th... just lettin' ya know 'cause idk how training will go for Murk...?

OOC: I've been super busy tutoring kids at my local library as well as studying for finals. I'll post up the hunting topic today as soon as possible! Sorry for my terrible activity decline!

IC: Silverstreak got up and strode over to Murkpaw with a grin. Then, he bent down to touch noses with the other. His deep blue eyes were sparkling with a nice warmness. "Hey there! Your training with me will begin at dawn! Try not to be late 'kay?" The tom nudged the younger with a shoulder as he flashed him a grin before he walked away with a small bounce in his step.