Mistykit's Apprentice Ceremony

The day had been rather exciting. Two apprentice ceremonies had taken place a bit earlier. Mistykit's apprentice ceremony would be the last one for that day. Everybody would still have plenty of time to resume or begin their daily chores and activities seeing as the day was still surprisingly young. The newly made apprentices would surely be excited to move out of the nursery to sleep with the other apprentices that night. They were growing right before their eyes. It was bittersweet yet it leaned more towards the "sweet" aspect.

Swiftstep leaped onto the Tallrock, now clear-minded, to begin the final ceremony. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather underneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!" Swiftstep called with an authoritative tone. He scanned the area for the she-kit's pelt as he waited patiently for the clan to settle down. By now, he had a small yet noticeable smile on his muzzle.

Barleytuft had sat in the nursery with each of his kits that morning, along with their mother Graybriar, to share the news that they would be becoming apprentices that day. The nursery had been bustling since they were told, and it had taken all the nudging and hovering and reminding in the world to keep them on task while they prepared and waited for the ceremony. They were each fed and groomed, and Barleytuft thought wistfully about when his kits were only a few licks long - much quicker to groom then, and - he had hardly expected - less wriggly as young kits. Now, their minds were occupied with thoughts of their ceremony and too much excitement resonated in their paws at the prospect of finally becoming warrior apprentices.

When he heard his deputy, Swiftstep, call from the Tallrock, all of the kits were immediately alerted. "Now, remember: you may exit the den one at a time and sit right outside the nursery to wait your turn, and don't scuffle in the dirt or you'll be messy and Finchstar might rename you to Mud- or Dustpaw," he teased. He gave them each one more affectionate lick before mewing, "You'll know when it's time."

Then the tom led the way out of the den, looking as excited as though he himself were getting his apprentice name whenever he gazed at his kits.

Graybriar was full of excitement and nervousness, though likely not half as much as that of her four tiny kits- well, not so tiny anymore- who were about to have their ceremonies. Their time in the nursery had flown by, and now they were the age of apprentices, ready to follow in their parents' footsteps. Cloverkit, the intelligent but energetic fireball... his mentor would need to keep him in line while keeping him engaged. Goldenkit, ever enthusiastic and adorable... hopefully her mentor would harness that energy. Mistykit, naive and curious... learning would be easy for her, but retaining the information she was taught might be the hard part. And Quailkit was certain to be an interesting apprentice. She couldn't wait for them all to go out into the world and do great things! They would be the greatest new generation of warriors WindClan had ever seen. "Go ahead," she purred at them, gesturing with her tail when she heard Swiftstep's summons. "Remember, I'm proud of you all."

Graybriar licked each and every one of them until their fur was groomed, satisfying her motherly instincts before she would let them go out to their ceremonies. The two who had inherited their father's fluffy fur were especially difficult to groom- tufts of spiky fur popped up everywhere instead of being smoothed down. But eventually, they were all clean and pristine, and she ushered them out with a parting lick for each kit. When she looked at their eager faces, a warm rush of love returned, and she smiled encouragingly at each one. She had decided moons ago to put her love of them and hope that they would do well above the nagging fears of their death, but it took a little bit of extra effort to shake the nasty feeling away when she remembered Wolfkit and Breezekit. However, she took a deep breath, sat close enough to Barleytuft for their tails to intertwine, and watched happily as her kits began to grow up.

Mistykit had sat beside her parents, Graybriar and Barleytuft, as she was instructed to do by her father. She couldn't help but constantly shuffle about in her seated position. She was so excited!She was finally going to become an apprentice, after six long moons of waiting. But at the same time, she was scared. What if her mentor didn't like her? What if they were mean to her, or expect her to do things she merely couldn't do? She supposed she had the same fears as any other kits becoming an apprentice. Of course her mentor would like her!All the cats in WindClan were so nice! Why would her mentor be any different? But as much as she convinced herself, that underlying fear still remained....

The deputy smiled warmly as he saw the Barley-Gray family gather with the rest of the clan. Once everyone settled, the deputy finally began the ceremony.

"We all gather here today to make one of our kits an apprentice. Mistykit, please step forward." Once the young she-cat did, the deputy nodded approvingly while giving her a small smile, then, he began to speak again, "Mistykit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Mistypaw. Grousefrost will be your mentor. He's a capable and efficient warrior despite having received his warrior name not too long ago. I know that he will pass down everything he knows on to you."

Swiftstep hopped down from the Tallrock to congratulate the new apprentice after the clan began to cheer. He was confident that Grouse and Misty would make a great team.

"Congratulations Mistypaw! I'm sure Grousefrost will train you well. You'll make a fine warrior under his guidance. I can't wait to see you receive your warrior name one day." Swiftstep smiled at the apprentice after he finished speaking. Then, he respectfully nodded to the warrior before beginning to chant Mistypaw's name.

Goldenpaw sat with her family, tail still quivering in excitement. It was Mistykit's turn now, and as her sister stepped forward she watched in excitement, lightly pushing against her father, Barleytuft's legs. Grousefrost was named her mentor, and she peered over the crowd to find the warrior among them. He looked like he would be a good mentor, for sure! Pleased and satisfied with the mentor her sister had received, she raised her voice with her family's, cheering as loud as she could for Mistypaw, just as she had for Cloverpaw.

Cloverpaw sat beside his sister, Goldenpaw, still staring with excited eyes up at the deputy standing on the Tallrock. The tom had given Cloverpaw his own name earlier in the day, and more recently Goldenpaw. Now only Mistykit and Quailkit remained, and the small silver tom wondered who would be called next. The apprentices den better be ready for a full litter! At last Swiftstep called forward another kit: Mistykit, his twin sister. They weren't really twins, for she had a face, belly, and legs of white, but Cloverpaw had always liked to call her that. He would've nudged her forward if Barleytuft hadn't been watching - he was as excited for her to get her name as he'd been to get his own!

Swiftstep spoke with confidence, declaring a tom named Grousefrost as her mentor. He hadn't heard of that tom, either, but surely Barleytuft would know. Still not as cool as the leader, Cloverpaw thought smugly to himself, but in the moment he simply shouted his sister's new name: "Mistypaw! Mistypaw! Mistypaw!"

---

With Cloverpaw and Goldenpaw already named, Barleytuft looked lovingly on his two remaining kits with a look of love and encouragement. Soon their turns would come - it would just take patience. Swiftstep at last called out for Mistykit, and Barleytuft purred, bending over to give his daughter's flank an affectionate and encouraging lick. She moved forward and he watched with loving eyes as she received her new name: Mistypaw. When Finchstar named Grousefrost as Mistypaw's mentor, Barleytuft chuckled slightly. "I'm sure he'll be a very efficient mentor," he muttered with a grin to his mate beside him. Then he joined in praising, calling his daughter's name with the rest of the Clan.

This was going very fast. All her kits would soon be apprentices, and well on their way to warriorhood. And she would be out of the nursery again. Graybriar offered Mistykit an encouraging smile as she was called forward, and the smile still on her face widened at the sound of "Mistypaw". Her second daughter, lovely and shy but also very excited. Hopefully, Grousefrost- the somewhat stoic young son of Brindlestar- would be able to guide and teach the young tabby she-cat. She chuckled a little bit at her mate's comment, nudging his flank, then chanted Mistypaw's name with such love and pride that it would go all the way to StarClan.

Mistypaw. The name rang in her ears as it was chanted by the cats around her. Her parents. Her siblings. Her Clanmates. They were all chanting her new name. It was so overwhelming, but it was a rush she welcomed. A big smile spread across her face. She watched as Cloverkit and Goldenkit had become apprentices. And now, she had finally joined them. It only took 6 incredibly boring moons, but they had all made it. Soon Quailkit would be an apprentice, and then the apprentice's den will be full of the barley gray litter. She couldn't wait! She rushed back over to her family. Yes she went to her family instead of her mentor, she doesn't know how this stuff works. She would much rather celebrate with her loved ones than a warrior she didn't even know, though.

Grousefrost watched the ceremony in silence as it began. The cold blue stare was even and uninterested until the briefest moment.... his ears twitched as his name was called. Startled, he raised his head proudly and looked down at the small apprentice several tail lengths away. Watching as she was greeted and chanting appropriately with the other cats. 'Hopefully she'll be more useful than a clump of fur.' He thought as he padded forward to greet her properly.

"Mistypaw." His tone was plain, and blunt. A harsh contrast to the congratulatory words of other cats. "Training begins at dawn." His blue eyes looked at her fluffy pelt, narrowing slightly. "Be groomed and ready. There's no time to meander." He looked up at Graybriar, tilting his head politely to the queen.

"Strong litter, Graybriar. Very efficient, well done." With those blunt words, he turned and padded towards the entrance of the camp.