Briarpaw's Apprentice Ceremony

The sky was a hazy yellow, glowing with the morning sun. Finchstar watched contentedly as his clan milled about, weaving between them to reach the Tallrock. The medicine den was now occupied by Aspenpaw, with the former medicine cat, Briarpaw, opting to pursue the path of a warrior. Had it been any earlier, Finchstar would have been shocked by his change of heart, but fate, he had learned, was as unpredictable as the wind. "All cats old enough to run the moors, gather beneath the Tallrock for a clan meeting!" The leader watched through the fog as his friends milled about the stone, and slowly let his eyes settle on Briarpaw. He was the one to journey with him as he received his nine lives at the moonstone, something that few cats had the opportunity to witness. But now set on a warrior's path, Finchstar would need to decide on a mentor for Graybriar's first son.

Barleytuft had enjoyed working on the nursery since his kits had been born, reinforcing the walls and finding ways to soften the floor or make the air flow better or whatever he could think of, but he quickly began to realize that his kits would soon outgrow their lodging. Soon they would be receiving their apprentice names and mentors and then their warrior names and-- It was a long way off, but Barleytuft positively gushed with joy at their existence and all the potential they held. They meant the world to him. As Finchstar's voice called the Clan together, Barleytuft was reminded of another of his kin, though not by blood: Briarpaw. The tom had received a message to step down from being a medicine cat and to follow the path of a warrior instead.

As Graybriar's only remaining son from her first love, no doubt she was concerned for him to leave the safety of the medicine den, yet they had always trusted in StarClan. If they told him such things, it must be for good reason. Barleytuft was merely curious about the change of heart. He was called to the path, wasn't he? So why have they now sent him away? Barleytuft wondered, but it was a question he couldn't answer. Instead he desired only to support his Clanmate, so he sat before the Tallrock with his dark hazel eyes glimmering at his leader above.

Briarpaw sat in the nursery, where he had been talking with his mother. After describing the cat who have the revelation to him, she had confirmed  that it was indeed Ashstar, the leader who had accepted her into WindClan. However, despite being older than most of the other apprentices, he was still rather nervous. Briarpaw still questioned the vision he had received at the moonstone. Am I really supposed to become a warrior? Could that old she-cat have been wrong…? He was interrupted out of his thoughts by Finchstar's yowl. It's time. Briarpaw padded out of the nursery, and up to the base of the Tallrock. No turning back now.

The leader watched as Briarpaw journeyed from the nursery, feeling a pang of empathy for the tom. The two were almost similar in age, with fate having pulled them down two different paths. Perhaps Briarpaw would have received his warrior name by now had StarClan not called him to be a medicine cat. And now, they seemed to change their minds, casting him away to be a warrior apprentice once more. Finchstar had come to the realization that fate was not to be trusted, and that life was a harsh thing. But he'd rather eat crowfood then let his hope be crushed by that harsh reality. Finchstar wondered if Brairpaw thought the same. "We've been subject to countless changes since returning home." Finchstar started, thinking of Brookclover. "Some good, and some... unexpected. Briarpaw has received a message from StarClan that he is to pursue the path of a warrior, and now he stands before us, laying down his duties as a medicine cat, and trekking after a new life. It is an honorable thing. Briarpaw, step forward." As he did, Finchstar watched him with intense yellow eyes. "Although your name will stay the same, your duties will change. You will be known as Briarpaw until you receive your warrior name. Your mentor will be Deerhawk." Finchstar was fond of the russet warrior's loyal nature, and knew he would do a fine job. "He is a kind cat, one of understanding and patience, I trust he will pass down all he knows to you."

Swiftstep had been watching the ceremony from the back of the camp as he just came back to camp from a small hunting patrol. He nodded to Finchstar's words as it continued on. The deputy was rather proud of Briarpaw for having stayed strong as a medicine cat apprentice and now pursuing the path of a warrior apprentice.

Once it was over, the tom padded through the cheering crowd to get to the younger. Once he did, he grinned at Briarpaw and began to offer his best wishes, "Congratulations Briarpaw! I wish you well on your new path. You will make a fine warrior." Swiftstep then bumped his shoulder to the apprentice's, respectfully nodded at Deerhawk, and soon began on his camp duties.

Briarpaw walked up to Deerhawk, touching his nose to his mentors. "I'm so excited to learn from you! When do we start?" Then, the deputy came over and congratulated him. "Th-thank you!" Briarpaw said in reply to Swiftstep, his green eyes going wide, as slightly startled by him. "I will work as hard as I can."

Deerhawk's ears flicked with surprise. Not too long ago he too had been an apprentice - though indeed he'd had that name for a strangely long time. Perhaps Finchstar saw a commonality between them? In any case, the lanky tom nodded to the tabby, touching noses with him as was tradition. "Whenever you're ready, Briarpaw. You already know so much, I know you'll be a warrior in no time."

The ceremony, unlike most, did not connote only happiness. Instead, the ceremonial words dropping from Finchstar's maw conveyed sadness, a tinge of bittersweet along with the moving of positions. Graybriar sat next to her mate, watching her oldest son Briarpaw- last kit living from his litter- step up and receive the rank of a warrior apprentice. Though the decisions of StarClan and her son confused her beyond belief, she knew that everything would turn out okay. It had in the past. Briarpaw loved healing, loved being a medicine cat. And now, he would be leaving that position for the usual apprenticeship of fighting and hunting and patrolling. Though the switch was strange, Graybriar was determined to support him through everything he did. Support him, and believe in StarClan. Instead of getting his full name, he was retaining the 'paw suffix, despite being nearly older than the leader of WindClan himself. "Briarpaw! Briarpaw!" she cheered as the tabby tom touched noses with his new mentor, Deerhawk.