Mothkit and Silentkit's Apprentice Ceremony

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

Silentkit inched out from the comforting shade of the nursery and peeked her head around the corner, ears pinned in mild worry. That was her father out there, calling each and every clan cat to attention with the voice of a true leader. Was she supposed to go too? Was this the day that she and her sister finally became apprentices? Her tummy twisted with anxiety. What if she wasn't ready? She couldn't go up there in front of all those cats!

Mothkit leapt into action when a Clan meeting was called: she was curious about pretty much everything, and made no effort to be subtle in her investigations. But before she could charge into the gathering cats and find herself a place near the front of them, she took a moment to make sure Silentkit was close by. It was a good thing she did, too: her sister seemed frightened at the concept of being up in front of all the other cats. "C'mon, Silentkit! What if it's supposed to be our apprentice ceremony?" They were about the right age, right? At least, she thought so. She thought, for a moment, for an argument that might convince Silentkit to come outside with her. "You can't ever be a Silentpaw if you don't leave the nursery! Don't you wanna be an apprentice?" A hint of hesitation slipped into her own voice with her next words. "I don't wanna be one without you. So let's go out there, and I'll protect you, I promise! It won't be scary if we're together, right?"

Swallowing her fear, Silentkit nodded. Mothkit was right, she couldn't ever be an apprentice if she was too afraid to move. Her mind flashed back to the other day with that calico tom. If she wanted to stay with her sister, she had to learn how to walk with her own four paws... right? Taking a shaky breath she trailed after the dark pelted she-kit, tail low and head ducked awkwardly. She really wasn't sure she could do this... Taking a seat next to her sister, she silently pressed herself against Mothkit's fluffy side for comfort. She just... had to remind herself she wasn't alone right now.

Not that it really helped the twisted knot of sheer anxiety that had rooted itself in her belly.

Scorchstar smiled fondly down at his two youngest daughters, grateful that Mothkit had been there to support and coax Silentkit out. It was clear the two shared an unbreakable bond, and it just made his own choice in mentors that much more fitting. "Mothkit, Silentkit, step forward," Scorchstar meowed, waiting for the two she-kits to do as they were told before continuing. "You two have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. Mothkit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Mothpaw. Poppyheart will be your mentor. Silentkit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Silentpaw. Redwing will be your mentor." Poppyheart had never mentored an apprentice before, and Redwing was the youngest warrior in ShadowClan, but despite their inexperience he was more than certain the two best friends would be able to train Mothpaw and Silentpaw well.

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Poppyheart's head shot up with excitement, and a wide grin stretched across his face. Wowie! He was a mentor to one of his younger sisters! And Redwing was going to train his other younger sister, which meant the two could train their apprentices together! Turning to Redwing, he offered the russet-furred molly an affectionate nuzzle to her shoulder before trotting up to Mothpaw, lowering his head to touch his nose to hers. "Congratulations, Mothpaw! Never fear, with the guidance and attentiveness of the Great Poppyheart, you will become an amazing warrior of ShadowClan in no time!"

Redwing wasn't expecting to hear her name called as a mentor, but apparently Scorchstar thought otherwise. Her eyes widened, and she froze for a couple of seconds, her mind racing. She had an apprentice now! She had just become a warrior herself... At least Poppyheart was a mentor now too. He could probably help her out. The red-furred she-cat walked up to Silentpaw, touching her nose with her own. "I look forward to training you," she neowed simply, a grin on her face despite being partially shell-shocked.

Mothpaw's tail twitched and her eyes widened in excitement as her mentor introduced himself. Not just Poppyheart, like her father had called him when he was named as her mentor, but the Great Poppyheart? With a name like that, he was bound to be a great mentor! "You're the Great Poppyheart? Not just Poppyheart? Is that like being a leader? Or does it just mean you're the best warrior?" she asked, awe in her voice. A thought occured to her, and she gasped. "Can I be the Amazing Mothpaw? Or do I have to be a warrior first?" She would have kept going, as her enthusiasm and energy felt nearly endless in that moment, but she eventually had to stop to breathe. Then, a moment later, she grinned up at him. "Oh! Can we start now?"

Poppyheart let out a mrrow of laughter, a joyful glimmer in his eyes. ”It’s just a title to help keep me motivated to do my very best. But if you’d like one, too, I feel the Magnificent Mothpaw would really suit you. We’ll start training tomorrow; for now, you’ve got a nest to build in the apprentices’ den and a sister to be there for.” He gestured his muzzle over to Silentpaw, who still looked rather overwhelmed.