Ploverpaw's New Mentor Ceremony

As if performing these ceremonies wasn’t odd enough on its own, today’s was for a cat old enough to be Raventail’s mentor. There was no script for this as far as he knew; the only thing he had to draw on was Puddlepaw’s ceremony, and the circumstances for that were too different for him to lean on it much. But Ploverpaw needed a mentor. Though he had probably retained bits and pieces of his training, Raventail couldn’t imagine life with Twolegs offered many opportunities to improve. By Ploverpaw’s best guess, it had been ten moons since his disappearance—ten moons of letting whatever his previous mentor had taught him fade. Thus, there would be a ceremony…even if it wasn’t as polished as ceremonies were meant to be.

Yet again, Raventail wished he’d ducked into the medicine den to visit Swiftstep on his way here. Too late now. He was on the Tallrock, and the thunder rolling faintly in the distance reminded him they didn’t have much time. Rain would be here soon. So, with one last skyward glance, the small tom yowled, ”Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Tallrock!”

Goldengale looked up at the summons from where she had been sitting, grooming her chest and face in preparation for the rain. She shot quick glance around to see if Grousefrost had been nearby before standing and moving over to sit under the Tallrock. Smiling up at her old mentor, she then gazed past him to the storm clouds. Hopefully this would be quick so everyone could take shelter before the worst of the storm came.

Finchstar was quite traditional in some ways, but not in others. Barleytuft wondered how Brindlestar would have handled Ploverpaw's return after being gone for so long. The senior warrior whole-heartedly agreed with his leader's decision, having known Ploverpaw before his disappearance, but minds often couldn't help but wonder. The choice to give Ploverpaw a new mentor was quite Finchstar, and his reasoning was sound: things had change in the nearly 4 seasons since the apprentice had last been home. A mentor would likely do him good to become accustomed to the WindClan that they had become.

The creamy tabby warrior padded up to Goldengale after hearing Raventail's call, and the father brushed against his daughter warmly, seating himself beside her. They were all hoping to be done before the rain, no doubt. Barleytuft smiled at Raventail, though the tom's discomfort was visible. Still not settling into your role, huh? the warrior thought sympathetically. Yet he could be a natural if not for himself.

Ploverpaw padded over to join the other cats. He had been staying outside of the groups of warriors and apprentices for now. He knew that yes he wasn't an apprentice but it didn't feel right to stay with them as of now. He wanted to get used to everything again. Once he had a mentor he felt he could stay with the apprentices. This was a new Windclan and this was the best option so he was okay with it. The gray tuxedo tom sat down among the cats waiting on his new mentor.

WindClan’s collective migration to the Tallrock’s base would never stop surprising Raventail. In the mass of cats, he caught Goldengale’s eyes, then those of her father. He smiled back at them both, quick and tentative, but taking their apparent confidence in him to heart. Maybe he’d be comfortable up here one day… That was a pretty big maybe. And a pretty far-off day. At last, he spotted the long gray-and-white fur of WindClan’s oldest apprentice, and the ceremony began with haste; if Ploverpaw’s fluffy pelt handled water anything like Raventail’s own, neither of them could afford to get caught out in the rain. ”Ploverpaw, step forward.

”First, I want to say—welcome back.” He’d noticed Ploverpaw hadn’t been sleeping near the warriors; understandable, given he was still technically an apprentice. Except Ploverpaw hadn’t made his nest near them, either. Raventail wondered if it was out of confusion, discomfort…or if he was reading too much into it. He gave Ploverpaw a grin, hoping it was visible from the Tallrock’s base. ”Now, since you’ve already got a pretty good name…” Staring over the crowd, he straightened. ”Until you receive your warrior name, Goldengale will be your new mentor.” Here, Raventail looked toward his former apprentice again. If he could handle training another cat shortly after getting his full name, Goldengale could certainly do the same; at the very least, he knew he could trust her to try. ”She’s a brave, determined warrior, and I’m sure she’ll pass down everything she knows to you.”

Normally, he would jump down from the Tallrock immediately after delivering the ceremonial words. Today, he lingered for a moment, trying to get a read on Ploverpaw’s expression. Given the distance, it was a fruitless venture; another rumble from above urged Raventail back to the flat ground below, where he joined his Clanmates in cheering the new—old—new apprentice’s name.

Ploverpaw was called forward, and Goldengale's stomach twisted slightly. She had been with the patrol that had found him at the border, along with Barleytuft and Raventail, and she had been so cold to the tom at first.. She had noticed his remained distance from all of the others, and she hoped that with this ceremony that distance would dissipate, even if only a little bit. Perhaps she could apologize, and go hunting with him. She turned her ears to hear the name that would be called, revealing who would be assigned to be the tom's mentor while he grew accustomed to clan life once more. The next name that was called, however, caught her by surprise. She froze, unblinking, staring up at Raventail. Goldengale... That was... Her name. Her eyes floated down to Ploverpaw as she stood stiffly, walking on legs that felt foreign as she approached him. He was far older than she was, and definitely far more experienced... What in StarClan's name could she possibly teach him that he didn't already know?

She hesitated for a moment, looking at Ploverpaw. Should they touch noses? She was his mentor... But he was far older, would he think it was weird? She didn't want to start off on the wrong paw, more than she already had... Taking a deep breath, she stretched her muzzle forward in a silent offer, mewing quietly. "I promise I will do all I can to help you settle back in, Ploverpaw."

"A fine mentor for a fine apprentice." Finchstar grinned, weaving his way through the crowd to the two warrior-sized cats. The sky crackled in foreshadowing, the promise of rain whispering over the moors. Raventail had chosen well, and yet the leader found his whiskers twitching at the sight of the black tom on the Tallrock. Perhaps he was uncomfortable, and while the role was large, Raventail was brave. Born of the lake, raised by adventure. Finchstar had faith he'd make it through. And even as the sky stood gray, those long lost had been reunited. Ploverpaw stood with Goldengale and the leader smiled. Ironic that the oldest apprentice should be given the youngest mentor. But perhaps there was a sense of poetic storytelling in that. It seemed it would make a good elder's tale after it was all done and over. Cloverpaw would certainly have something to say about it; his sister being mentor to a wanderer. Exciting, in the most invigorating ways. "Best of luck to the both of you." Finchstar mewed, yellow eyes creasing in a smile. "And once again, Ploverpaw. Welcome home. Welcome to WindClan."