Egretkit's Apprentice Ceremony

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Willow Branch for a clan meeting!"

Intense green eyes bore down from among the willow tree's boughs. Their owner, the RiverClan deputy, stood overlooking the central clearing. Once, as a kit, he might have dreamed of the view from the Willow Branch; now it was a reality for him, and the novelty had quickly faded away. He had a job to do. He would do it. Fortunately for his clanmates, the meeting he was calling now would be an apprentice ceremony. The kit that he had in mind was Egretkit. One of Finchstream's litter, she had long outgrown her place in the Nursery.

Head high and fur groomed to perfection, Egretkit practically pranced out of the nursery. Today she'd finally join her brothers in the apprentices' den! She sat below the Willow Branch, practically trembling. Whether it was from the cold or pure excitement she wasn't sure. Probably both!

When Scorchclaw saw fit for the ceremony to begin, he lashed his feathery tail to call for silence. The RiverClan deputy directed his gaze to Egretkit in the crowd. After a moment's pause, he called her forth. "Egretkit, step forward." The young she-cat was obviously excited. A sharp eye would have been able to tell that much. Her tiny form was gently shaking. Upon noticing that detail, the corner of his maw twitched ever so slightly. His serious expression barely shifting, he continued, "Egretkit, 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 Egretpaw, and Ravenflight will be your mentor. She is a loyal, kind-hearted warrior who will guide you over the next few moons. I wish the two of you the best." As the ceremony drew to a close, he leaped off the Willow Branch.