Littlepaw’s Warrior Ceremony

This was a strange place to hold a warrior ceremony. There was no Jaggedrock for starters, but there didn’t seem to be any high points along the shore the cats had been washed to — no high points that displayed enough structural integrity to reassure anyone it wouldn’t collapse underneath them.

So instead, Scorchstar padded up to a small boulder jutting out from muddied sand, partially buried after the flood, and gave a quick hop up onto it. Clearing his throat, he then yowled the traditional call to his Clanmates, ”Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Ja— uh ... before the Shore Boulder for a ShadowClan meeting!” Right then, he decided this boulder would be the place where he would make any more important announcements.

Littlepaw didn't know how to feel about this.

About any of this really.

They have swept away from their homes, countless were dead, her brother was dead, and her leader was doing her warrior ceremony now? Displeasure curled along her spine, she should have been over-joyed to be having it, but the circumstance was a solid wall between her and happiness right now. She wished that she could have had a happier ceremony, a happier time really, she was getting sick of mass-death. But this had to happen she supposed, to show that they were still strong despite being out of a home and over half of their clan-mates dead or missing. She was just a means to an objective, just like she was born to be.

Littlepaw's claws dug into the ground, a silent show of her blooming anger and frustration. She waited for Scorchstar to continue on, not a cat showing their face to her leader's summons. Slatestrike was dead, Burnstag was off Starclan knows where, but he was around she knew that. Flintfang was off doing whatever it is he did, and everyone else? No idea. She'd just have to deal with it, just like she had been dealing with everything, and let whatever her fate is do what it wants.

Asterspark had been approached by his father a little earlier that day concerning Littlepaw's progress during her training. He still didn't see himself to be the best mentor by any means, but that didn't mean that his second apprentice wasn't ready to become a warrior, because he knew that she was. She had been training long and hard for this moment, and even though these weren't the circumstances any of them expected her warrior ceremony to be held in, he would still be there for her.

Padding through the small crowd of cats that was mainly composed of ShadowClan, the bluish-gray warrior sat down beside Littlepaw and smiled at her, wrapping his tail around her comfortingly. "You've done very well, Littlepaw. I know you will become one of ShadowClan's best warriors."

---

"Today we gather to give an apprentice her warrior name. Littlepaw, step forward." Scorchstar watched and waited as his son removed his tail from Littlepaw's back, and once she did as she was told he continued on with the ceremony. "I, Scorchstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Littlepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Scorchstar's call echoed along the shore, stirring the breeze. It wasn't much different from the call of Leopardstar, whom Flintfang had become accustomed to. Both were leaders, both spoke with authority and gathered respect in a subtle way. But the tom's interest only sparked as the ShadowClan leader called Littlepaw forward. Her warrior name? It was the first thought to arise in Flintfang's mind. Normally a strange ThunderClan tom would never take interest in a ShadowClan ceremony. But today's situation was different. Picking his way over the mud, Flintfang found a seat in the corner of the crowd, so as not to be noticed. His affection towards Littlepaw was illegal by Warrior Code rules, but the tom had never felt much value in those, so why should he now? A smile graced his maw as the dilute tortoiseshell stepped forward, he wondered what she could possibly be thinking.

Littlepaw perked up a little at her mentor's appearance and encouragement, his tail wrapped around her and she pressed against him softly, greatly appreciative of his kindness. Littlepaw gave a soft exhale, barely audible to those farther than Asterspark. Giving him a nod, she turned to look up at Scorchstar... here she goes. "I do."

It wasn't as full of conviction as all her other clan-mates seem to had, her anger still curling viciously in her gut. She didn't quite turn away from Scorchstar, but her eyes flickered to Flintfangs presence... oh. He showed up too? A small smile finally cracked her maw, her anger loosening its grip on her just a little more. This was alright, this was okay. She could do this.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name,” Scorchstar meowed, offering the half-Clan molly a kind, supportive smile. ”Littlepaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Littlesun. StarClan honors your perseverance and adaptability, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." He stepped down from the boulder he had once stood atop of to give the ceremony and rested his muzzle on her forehead.

---

Asterspark chuckled softly with a grin. Littlesun was such a charming name. And it suited her well, too. He gave his now former apprentice an affectionate nudge on her shoulder with his muzzle before initiating the chanting of her new name. "Littlesun! Littlesun!"