Copperpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Leopardstar leaped up onto the Highrock and called out to his clanmates, the pouring rain soaking his pelt almost instantly. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!"

As Leopardstar's voice beckoned to Copperpaw and his Clanmates to gather beneath the Highrock, his golden eyes held a slightly dull colour compared to his usual cheery, bright eyes. He hadn't been the same since his trip to the Moonstone, though he had attempted to hide it and act the same as he always did. The humorous, lively tom that was Copperpaw. Yeah... that was him.

The tomcat hardly noticed the rain that battered his fur as he sat down, clearly embedded in his own thoughts. He shook them away and forced himself to look up at his father with a calm smile, awaiting his announcement.

Leopardstar's preoccupied frown quickly widened into a proud smile as Copperpaw appeared, his vivid ginger pelt like a spot of sunlight in the midst of this miserable flurry.  Time had flown by so quickly...it felt like just a few days ago he had found the young tom and his siblings alone and lost in the heart of ThunderClan territory, yet here he stood, about to become a warrior!  At this moment he couldn't have been prouder...but a mournful pang still struck his heart, one he knew would never fully quell.  Copperpaw looked so much like...him.  The resemblance was uncanny, despite the two sharing no true blood connections; yet, every time Leopardstar looked into Copperpaw's eyes, it felt like Reedheart was staring back at him.  Pushing away these thoughts with a brief shake of his dripping head, he called the meeting to start.  "Today, it is my very great honor to award yet another apprentice with his warrior name.  Copperpaw, step forward."  Flashing him a soft smile, Leopardstar's sleek tail waved excitedly despite the rain, anticipation building.

Copperpaw's body rose to his paws immediately out of surprise, yellow eyes widening in surprise.  He... was becoming a warrior? The tom almost couldn't believe it, but here his dad was, towering over him, calling out the exact words to perform a ceremony. Relief washed over him. He didn't deserve this, but he could finally protect his siblings... oh, right, his siblings. A small smirk glanced its way across the cheeky tom, taking one glance at his siblings from afar before stepping forward and smiling back at Leopardstar.

Once his adopted son made his way to the front of the crowd, a low purr rumbled in Leopardstar's voice as the golden-pelted leader straightened his spine and puffed out his chest, the ceremonial words dimmed a bit by the cold downpour yet still holding much power.  “I, Leopardstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn.  Copperpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?”

Copperpaw nodded his head once, "I do." 

“Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Copperpaw, from this moment on you shall be known as..Copperheart. StarClan honors your loyalty and upbeat personality, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.”  With a purr, Leopardstar dismounted from the Highrock and trotted over to meet his son, resting his chin on the top of his head in the customary way.  Once the newly-named Copperheart had responded, he backed away and smiled, though there still remained a melancholy glimmer in his hazel eyes.  "Wear the name well...it's a memory from the past."  The only explanation he offered was an affectionate tail laid across the young tom's shoulder, before stepping back to let the clan greet him by his new title.

Copperheart, the tom repeated inside his mind. That was his name now. Copperheart.

Even though sadness and weariness still rested deeply in his heart, Copperheart easily mustered a wide smile sooner or later as overwhelming happiness flowed into him as he heard his Clan accept him as one of them.

Are you so sure about that, Copperheart? It is only custom for a Clan to cheer out one's new name. You have seen Leopardstar perform the ritual many times. It doesn't mean they actually accept you. You aren't thick-skulled enough to think that, are you?

Copperheart's eyes flared briefly, but when he realized his father had rested his muzzle on top of his head, they rested into a calm half-lidded look as he licked his dad's shoulder, smiling back at him as he stepped away. 
 
"Wear the name well... it's a memory from the past."

The newly appointed tom stared up at his father with curiosity but fondness. Dad... you really do choose the best and worst names, don't you? Copperheart simply blinked and smiled softly at Leopardstar, before returning to the crowding cats around him with a more signature grin.