Redpaw's Warrior Ceremony

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Jaggedrock for a Clan meeting!" Scorchstar called from the top of the ceremonial rock.

Redpaw scampered out of the apprentice's den, not noticing the mussed fur on top of her head. Finally, she would catch up with Poppyheart and become a warrior! It was so exciting! What would her warrior name be? Fur ruffled, green eyes shining the apprentice sat eagerly under the Jaggedrock and gazed up happily at her leader.

"Today we gather to give an apprentice her warrior name. Redpaw, step forward." Waiting for the overly excited apprentice to do as she was told, Scorchstar continued with the ceremony. "I, Scorchstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Redpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Redpaw stepped forward, heart pounding, as her ceremony began. She listened closely to every word, drinking them in as if they were cool water in the summer. She couldn't believe this was happening! As he called for her to make the promise that her father and mother had done before her, she swallowed hard, then spoke up. "I- I do," she squeaked, unable to make her voice as strong as usual. She was about to become a warrior!

Scorchstar nodded in approval with a smile. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Redpaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Redwing. StarClan honors your warmth and enthusiasm, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." He leaped down from the Jaggedrock to approach the newly appointed warrior, resting his muzzle on her forehead.

"Redwing! Redwing! Redwing!" Poppyheart's cheer erupted from the gathered cats, grinning so widely his cheeks began to ache. He rushed out from the crowd to press his fluffy flank fondly into his crush's side. "Congratulations, Redwing! Your new name's amazing! Now you and I can do all sorts of fun things together!"

Asterspark hadn't cheered nearly as loud as his other Clanmates -- he didn't even come close to being as loud as Poppyheart -- but he still cheered, albeit quietly, all the way from the back of the crowd. He really wanted to approach Redwing to properly congratulate her, but... he couldn't. Not with Poppyheart there. Not with Poppyheart pressing his flank so close into hers. Not with his eyes glowing with such love and joy for the cat he obviously had a crush on. It would hurt too much. And he knew Poppyheart would make it as uncomfortable as he possibly could for Asterspark.

"Heh... Congratulations, Redwing..." he murmured with a half-smile. With one last glance over his shoulder, trying to quell the growing heartache in his chest at the reminder of all he had lost, he slipped into the warriors' den and disappeared into the darkness of the interior.

Redwing. She loved it. Her smile grew with every word that the leader spoke, and when he came over, she licked his shoulder respectfully before backing away. Pride and joy filled her heart, which was already about to burst with happiness, at the sounds of cats cheering her new name. When Poppyheart appeared, she felt like her grin would split open her face. "Thank you so much, Poppyheart," she purred, blushing a little, but still smiling. She was lucky to have such an amazing friend. "I can't wait!" However, a tiny bit of sadness tinged her smile... she just wished Aster spark could have been there, too.