Baykit's Apprentice Ceremony

Raventail had known being deputy was more than just a fancy title. This, however, was the first time it had been made so abruptly clear. He’d been expecting this particular kit’s apprenticeship ceremony to happen soon; the problem was, he was the cat leading it. Exploring something new got considerably more daunting when that "something new" happened in front of the whole Clan. He wavered at the foot of the Tallrock, trying to remember how Finchstar and Swiftstep looked when they stood atop it.

Well, if there was one thing he was good at, it was climbing—and if he never tried, Baykit would be an apprentice forever. So the dark tom scaled the rock near-effortlessly, fluffy tail trailing behind him as he circled to find his place on the top. He gave his chest fur a few quick licks, then raised his head to look out over the WindClanners milling about camp. Somewhere in that crowd was Baykit, soon to be Baypaw. Okay. How do I start this thing? Raventail took a deep breath. His yowl rang through the morning air: ”Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Tallrock!” Whether or not those were the right words, the Clan had heard them.

The cream colored kit stopped everything he was doing as he heard the deputy call from the high rock. Its time! Baykit though, his heart beating wildly as he bounded up to the base of the rock, like all the other kits becoming apprentices did. His tail twitched excitedly. Excitement flooded Baykit's sense as he was hit with a wave of joy. the day I finally become an apprentice!

As one mass, WindClan drifted toward the Tallrock. He must’ve said the right thing after all. Tail swishing, the dark tom scanned the crowd until his gaze landed on a cream-colored pelt. To Raventail, Baykit had always seemed reserved and soft-spoken, but Raventail could guess from…recent events…that he was every bit as excited to start his training as the next kit. It was clear enough from how quickly Baykit abandoned his previous activity for a seat beneath Tallrock. Well, no point in keeping him waiting. ”Baykit, step forward.”

In the time it took for Baykit to obey, Raventail ran through the words in his head yet again. Thank StarClan for the ceremonies he’d seen since returning from the lake; he would have been lost without them. ”You’ve reached the age of six moons; it’s time for you to be apprenticed. From this day until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Baypaw. Grousefrost will be your mentor.” There was something impossibly strange about assigning an apprentice to the cat he’d trained alongside for so long, but the more he thought about it, the more it seemed…right. ”Trust me,” he meowed, smiling as he turned back toward Baypaw, ”he’s not as scary as he looks. He’ll make a“—he bit back the word efficient—”thorough mentor. May he pass on all he knows to you.” With that, he bounded down from the Tallrock on unsteady legs to join in the chant: Baypaw, Baypaw, Baypaw!

Baykit couldn't believe it, he was at last, an apprentice. Happiness overwhelmed his senses as the tom heard the Clan chanting his name. His body felt light with joy. The cream tabby hoped that his mother was watching from the mighty depths of StarClan, and more than that, that she would be proud of him.

Goldenpaw smiled as Baykit stepped forward and received their new name. He had grown beyond the confines of the nursery, and she shot Grousefrost a small smile as he was named the mentor. The warrior would certainly have his paws busy in the coming days.

Grousefrost watched the apprentice ceremony from the back of the clan. He still wasn’t certain how he felt about being passed up. Though he tried to not the thoughts distract him from his duties. When his name was called, he stood and padded forward with not even a word. Just went up to the apprentice, touched noses, then stepped back.

“Camp entrance at dawn.” He spoke, his voice stiff as he glanced at Raventail, before he quietly padded away.