Deerpaw's Warrior Ceremony

(ooc: this topic takes place BEFORE the tribe gathering that details the return home)

The sun had set once again on the mountains, casting jagged shadows throughout the cave. Finchstar had grown tired of waiting here days after days, his paws were restless, constantly pacing the stone. The tom wanted badly to leave this place, to search and find his missing clanmates. But the sounds of the clans and tribe cats mingled around him, he could taste their scent, feel their resolves. It was important to rest. Some of the wounds left by the dogs had still yet to heal. Finchstar remembered his last trip to the moonstone before the beasts attacked. He was with Deerpaw, a stoic apprentice whom he respected. The tom remembered watching him press his nose to the stone, just as Swiftstep had watched Finchstar, then Finchpaw, not many moons before.

The dogs had attacked the group of cats not long after, and through the haze, Finchstar remembered the russet figure of Deerpaw, fighting as if he had the strength of all of LionClan. Is he ready? Finchstar asked himself, not having done a warrior ceremony before. It would seem the time to do it, but with no elders or proper guidance, the tom would have to cough up a ceremony from pure memory.

Grinning away the doubts, the leader padded to Deerpaw's side and rested his tail on his shoulder. "So much has happened to us these past sunrises. Are you perhaps looking for another adventure?"

Without waiting for an answer, Finchstar leapt upon the nearest rock, a ways away from the tribe's caverns, not wanting to disturb them. "All cats old enough to run the moors, gather together for a clan meeting!" His voice was muted, granting a careful courtesy to those already sleeping. Finchstar watched Deerpaw with interest, a smile on his maw as the tom padded forward.

Deerpaw's claws itched more than ever to feel tough grass between them again, these mountains, bare and rugged were so foreign to his paws. The sheer faces of rock, descended sharply into cliffs and ravines were invisible walls, keeping him from doing what he desired to do most: run. His calloused pawpads, used to the force and friction of sprinting through the moor, struggled to grip the wet stones surrounding the entrance to the cave behind the waterfall. And he didn't need to be a RiverClan cat to know how cold that water was; the snow had only just begun to melt in this strange land.

A tap caught his attention. 'Ah, Finchstar.' He stared quizzically at the ginger tom as he spoke. What did that mean? Bewildered, he watched as his leader leapt onto a stone and called for a meeting. With no clue as to what he was talking about, Deerpaw made his way forward, into the crowd of mostly WindClan cats gathering around.

Shimmer on Silver Pool was restless, as she had been lately. Stoneteller had told her that her kits were going to come within the half moon, and the first time kit-mother was sure she felt it. Not that they would come that day, but that they were now seriously thinking about "leaving the nest" as it were. The tabby brown-and-white she-cat had tried pacing in the nursing den, but she'd gotten bored. As it happened, she walked out to an event. A ginger-and-white tom who had arrived to the Tribe with more Clan cats was standing atop a small boulder, gazing down over where most of the Clan cats waited.

"All cats old enough to run the moors, gather for a Clan meeting!" the tom called with authority. Shimmer racked her brain, thinking of what her mate Frost on Cracked Stone had told her. Oh, this must be one of the leaders - maybe the WindClan cat, Finch Star, since he is speaking of moors, the Tribe kit-mother thought, and before she knew it she was walking towards the collection along with another small throng of cats, her pale hazel eyes sparkling with interest and excitement. If any cats were looking at her judgementally for being there, she was blissfully unaware, enraptured by whatever Clan thing was unfolding.

A throng of cats had begun to gather under the small rock Finchstar was perched on. His whiskers twitched at the seeming confusion in Deerpaw's eyes as he approached. Curiously, some tribe cats had also begun to join the group. A rather pregnant she-cat stood out to Finchstar, and he remembered her presence when WindClan had first arrived in the mountains, broken and bloody. What was her name? Shine? Silver? Shimmer, perhaps? Finchstar offered the she-cat a nod nonetheless, wrapping his tail over his paws.

Up here, hovering above his clanmates, Finchstar felt it almost surreal. So long he had watched as Brindlestar gave out names to apprentices, but now it was his turn. He was glad Deerpaw would be his first.

"Deerpaw." Finchstar spoke, watching the russet tom with friendly eyes. "So long have you been stoic in the face of danger. Even now, with our camp flooded, and our pelts torn, you stand steadfast." Finchstar took a deep breath, watching the sky, wondering if the same stars that hovered behind the red hue, were the same ones that stood over the forest. "We're here today to grant you your warrior name. Step forward, please." The leader's yellow eyes narrowed with interest, pelt pricking. He hoped with the wind that his words would be sufficient.

The tom's eyes widened slightly. This was... his warrior ceremony? For the first time in a long while a kit-like joy filled his heart. This had taken long enough, yet it still felt so soon. Standing tall, Deerpaw took a step forward, eyes locked with Finchstar's. He was hyperaware, taking in every bit of stimuli so this memory would be pressed into his mind with great clarity. The sharp winds bringing floating seeds up from the valleys dragged his tail along for the ride, and he let it. This certainly wasn't the place he thought he'd be made a warrior, nor the time. But it felt right.

Finchstar had been rehearsing the sacred words in his head ever since he leapt upon his stone. It was Brindlestar who had spoken them first, and Ashstar before her. The leader's yellow eyes gazed at Deerpaw now, full of emotions, excitement, apprehension, but mostly hope. This apprentice, soon to be a warrior was a ray of shining light, like the very sun in the sky. Finchstar hoped with a fire that WindClan could be rejuvenated by this act. It felt right, it felt good. And even if StarClan couldn't see them here, Deerpaw's clanmates would certainly know of his achievements. Taking a deep breath, the orange and white tabby recited the age-old ceremony.

"I, Finchstar, leader of WindClan, 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 as a warrior to you in return." The tom sighed, yellow eyes narrowing. "Deerpaw, to you promise to uphold the code, and protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

There was no other option. He would give his own life for any member of WindClan, no question. They were his friends and family, those he'd known for seasons, and hopefully more yet. Even... even if the clan were small now, with so many dead or missing, they'd rebuild. And by StarClan was he going to be part of it. "I do."

The kit-mother sat among the other cats, though many remained standing. Shimmer hoped they wouldn't take offense, but she felt a little woozy simply from the excited jaunt over from her den and thought it might be the most respectful not to interrupt by fainting. Finch Star, seated atop the boulder, seemed to notice her for a brief moment; if he was displeased by her presence he made no display of it, and Shimmer on Silver Pool wouldn't likely have taken it to heart anyways. Her curiosity was too great. The Clan leader went on to say a name - to speak kind, encouraging words of honor about a cat, "Deerpaw". Shimmer found herself following the ginger-and-white tom's gaze to the form of a startled-looking russet tom.

"We're here today to grant you your warrior name. Step forward, please," Finch Star instructed, gazing with warm, admiring eyes, and Shimmer watched as the tom obeyed, looking as though he were drinking in the world with his whole body. The Tribe kit-mother realized with a soft chirp what was happening: He is no longer going to be a to-be! Shimmer thought, and suddenly she felt her pelt begin to warm with pride for this young tom she had never met. Her thoughts drifted immediately to her unborn kits and when they might become prey-hunters or cave-guards, but Finch Star's strong voice brought her back to the present.

The leader spoke some ceremonious words that were unfamiliar to Shimmer, but they were just vaguely reminiscent of the words that Stoneteller spoke. The tabby she-cat simply listened as he asked the to-be, "Deerpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Shimmer looked expectantly to the ginger tom, and he responded, "I do." The words sent a tingle up the Tribe cat's spine, and she looked back at Finch Star with eyes shimmering like stars as though she were receiving her own warrior name.

"I do." Deerpaw's words rang throughout the cavern, sending a chill down Finchstar's spine. It seemed even the apprentice's aura had changed. No longer was he a pupil, but now a fully grown warrior, strong, trustworthy. Finchstar offered the russet tom a wide grin, feeling pride swell in his heart. What an honor it was to walk beside a cat such as this.

The leader's yellow gaze flickered to some of the tribe cats' as well, increasily curious about their presence. I wonder what they think of all this... He gave the pregnant she-cat from earlier a smile, dipping his head.

It was time. "By the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Deerpaw, from this moment forward, you will be known as Deerhawk. StarClan honors your cool-headedness, and loyalty to your clan. I am proud to welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan." As cheers rose up from Finchstar's surrounding clanmates, the leader caught the newest warrior's eye. "I am honored to walk beside you." Finchstar spoke, breaking the swift moment of seriousness with a wide grin. He leapt down from his perch and joined in on the celebration, shouting WindClan's newest warrior's name into the sky. "Deerhawk! Deerhawk! Deerhawk!"