Mosskit's Apprentice Ceremony

The cold was bitter, even underneath his dark brown tabby pelt. He hunched against it, trying to warm himself as a late wind of leafbare rattled through the camp. The abysmal weather conditions weren't very friendly nor inviting. Yet this chill could not delay the inevitability that some cats, would age. Especially the young kits, though they looked like tiny scraps of fur lost in the snow. He stood slowly, shaking his pelt free of snow as he padded toward high-rock and leapt onto it with a shiver as the cold of it lanced through his paws.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath High-rock for a clan meeting!" He called loudly. The wind was slightly calmer for the moment, though the trees above still waved with the highest breezes while he waited for the little calico she-cat to approach the gathering cats as well.

Mosskit poked her head out of the nursery at the call before recoiling slightly at the chill that still encompassed the camp. She shivered in excitement, these meetings were always fun to watch, and someday it would be her that everyone gathered for! She stepped out of the nursery, fluffing her fur out to go stand next to her mother, her pelt brushing against Falconwing's as she sat beside her. Turning her head up to the tom she had come to recognize as Marshstorm, the deputy of her adopted clan, she waited to hear what news this meeting would bring.

"Mosskit, step forward." He called as he recognised the quiet little calico's face. He smiled down at her despite his fluffed up pelt against the cold as he called out the traditional words. "Mosskit, you have reached the age of six moons. It is now time for you to become an apprentice. From this day on, until you recieve your warrior name, you will be known as Mosspaw." He announced, a clear tone of joy in his voice as he looked at Falconwing and nodded approvingly. The she-cat could rest easy now, one of her young adopted kits could now begin their journey towards Warriorhood.

"Your mentor will be Emberheart." He turned his attention to a ginger she-cat among the crowd of cats. "Her courage burns bright, even in this deep cold. May she teach you well from it." He shivered as another gust of wind rolled through. Snowflakes falling fatly from the trees above them as he concluded the ceremony.

The weather was less than favorable, even for a cat with long and thick fur such as Emberheart's. Still, she was fond of Clan meetings most of the time, the kind that brought apprentice and warrior ceremonies. When Marshstorm called on Mosskit to step forward, she knew she had guessed correctly. A new apprentice was always welcome, especially in leaf-bare when they needed as many cats providing for the Clan as possible.

When her own name was spoken as Mosspaw's mentor, she felt a small surge of pride. She would do her best for this apprentice: to teach her what she knew, and as Marshstorm had stated, hopefully teach her to take courage. Emberheart approached the newly-named Mosspaw with a smile on her face despite the chill. She bent down to touch noses with her new apprentice. "I look forward to teaching you all that I know."

Mosskit's eyes widened as Marshstorm called her forward. Me? Is today the day? She tentatively stood up from beside her mother, gazing up at the deputy. Upon noticing his smile she seemed to fill with confidence, her paws carrying her forward with her head held high until she sat before the clan, tucking her tail over her paws. Her eyes flickered between joy, nervousness, and excitement as she listened to Marshstorm speak her new name for the first time. Emberheart... She turned towards the she-cat as she approached and stood, reaching her nose up to meet her new mentors with a timid smile. "I promise to always work hard to make you proud." She took a step back, gazing at Emberheart with respect before turning to look at the clan, specifically trying to meet the eyes of her mother, father, and sister. Her tail waved in happiness towards them as a clump of snow falling from the trees above landed on her head with a wet plop, but she shook it off quickly, not even feeling the cold anymore. I've found my own home, filled with people who want me around. Her tail curling in joy, she turned back to Emberheart. "When do we start?"