Harepaw and Flamepaw's Warrior Ceremony

Leaping up onto the Highrock in a single smooth bound, Leopardstar took a deep breath and called out to his clan, voice reverberating against the stone walls of the ravine.  "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!"

Harepaw's ears perked, a jolt of excitement running through his body. He had already spoken with his mentor about this, and he knew what was coming. Now the real question: was he nervous or excited or scared? Or all at once? The young tom shook his head as if to shake away the crowding thoughts. He'd survived too much to be scared now. Enemy warriors, fellow apprentices, an angry owl and a particularly unkind StarClan molly had all been rough, but he survived them all, and a ceremony for the sake of tradition wouldn't kill him. The dusty apprentice made his way near the center of the clearing, green eyes peering up at Leopardstar.

Flamepaw had been observing Harepaw as he made his way to the center of the clearing with an aura of excitement encasing him. Was this his warrior ceremony? The she-cat couldn't help the smile forming on her muzzle. She got up and padded over to him. She was definately going to be there to cheer for him. He was her first real friend.

"Will this be your warrior ceremony? You seem real nervous and excited for this meeting." whispered Flamepaw as she sat next to him. Her vibrant orange orbs held slight excitement as she waited for his response. He truly deserved this.

Despite the deafening internal conflict of the recent past few days, and the complementary scars over his eye, Beartooth managed to feel a small spark of happiness as he watched Harepaw's expression. Between the look on his face and the call from their leader, even the clueless mass of a warrior that he was pieced together the situation slowly. He offered the most genuine smile he had within him towards his friend. Beartooth was truely proud of the younger cat and was gratedul that they would finally soon be sharing a den once more. Padding closer slowly, his paws hesitating due to the presence of another cat, the tabby tom settled down next to his friend without a word.

Once most of ThunderClan had emerged from their dens - including the cats of honor - Leopardstar flicked his tail, signaling for silence.  "On this fine day, we are gathered to witness two of our hardworking apprentices take their first steps into the life of a warrior.  Harepaw and Flamepaw, please step forward."  His hazel gaze falling upon the two adolescents, the leader shot them a proud smile.  Both apprentices had come far during their moons of training; with their warrior names, they were sure to go even further.

Harepaw returned Flamepaw's smile with a tilt of his head. "I'm pretty sure it is! I hope so, anyway...!" He meowed, pleased to have her support. It seemed misadventures were a good way to bond with others. His tail curled when Beartooth approached, and he was pleased to see the stoic warrior smiling at him. The fresh scars on his friend's face gave him a pang of sadness, but Harepaw remained grinning and buzzing with excitement. They could talk more personally later. He gently bumped his forehead against Beartooth's shoulder and purred wordlessly, a little too overwhelmed to say anything. And then Leopardstar called his name and Flamepaw's as well, and he was suddenly less excited and more nauseous at the thought of everyone staring at them At least Flamepaw was by his side and he wouldn't be standing alone. Harepaw obediently stepped forward, stomach beginning to ache.

Flamepaw purred and was about to speak when she heard Leopardstar's booming voice that the meeting would be about Harepaw and her's warrior ceremony. A look of shock and slight nervousness was plastered on her face as she scrambled up onto her paws and wordlessly followed her den-mate. She then stood up straight next to him and anxiously looked up at the leader. She couldn't help but take a peek at the tom next to her as she waited.

Once the ruddy-pelted tom and swirled tortoiseshell she-cat had stepped forward out of the crowd, Leopardstar wasted no time in kicking off the formal part of the occasion, drawing himself up to his full height and puffing out his chest as he yowled the ancient creed every warrior in the forest undertook; whether these two obeyed the promise they were about to make though, he could only pray.  "I, Leopardstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices.  They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn."  His hazel eyes fell intensely upon the two fully grown cats below him, wordlessly communicating the expectations that came with this oath...and bringing to light the dismal shadows of broken vows that festered behind his pupils.

"Harepaw and Flamepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

Harepaw wasn't sure he liked the look the Leopardstar had. It was definitely more menacing than he expected, which had him recoiling visibly so that all the clan could see. Now his stomach ache was flaring into full-on nausea, and the young tom was worried he might throw up in the middle of his own warrior ceremony and embarrass Flamepaw. He took a deep breath at the leader's ceremonial question. He'd heard this so many times, there was no way he could mess this up. "I do." He meowed as loudly as he could, although he was the victim of a voice crack the moment he bagan the first word. 'This is so horrible..!' He thought to himself, desperately avoiding looking at Flamepaw as his pelt grew hotter by the moment.

(occ: short but I didn't want to hold you up too long)

“Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Harepaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Harefoot. StarClan honors your kind heart and dedication, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.” Leopardstar leaped down from the Highrock and rested his chin atop the new warrior's head, completing the formal rituals for the tom, before turning to Flamepaw.

OOC: I forgot I hadn't posted yet! :0

IC: "I do" spoke Flamepaw with as much confidence as she could muster after Harepaw had done so. She felt her entire being shake at the thought of being a warrior in the next few moments. She felt strangely calm having the tom next to her. He helper her keep calm without even knowing it. She smiled happily after hearing Harepaw's warrior name. Harefoot was a great name. She wondered what hers would be as she waited for her turn.

(occ: it's okay ;)

Leopardstar smiled down at his daughter's apprentice, before nodding.  “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name.  Flamepaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Flamerose. StarClan honors your loyalty and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.”  Once again, he rested his chin upon the newly-named warrior's head, before backing away with a congratulatory purr.  "Tonight, both of you will keep a silent vigil over the camp.  I wish you well."