Emberheart's Elder Ceremony

The sun’s orange rays seemed to ignite the lush forest around the ThunderClan camp. Cats of all ages meandered about the large clearing with joy and delight in their eyes. His amber gaze fell onto the dark form of his son, to the light form of Hailpaw… and the ginger form of Emberheart. A she-cat whose service to the clan was utterly undeniable. She had been a steadfast teacher, and an excellent role model. Now he wondered, if he would get the luxury she was about to recieve.

It had been a quiet affair. Her request had been asked of only the night before. Oakstar was loathe to lose a good warrior, but there was no sense in denying her. If she felt like her time was truly right, then he would not make her do more.

"Let all cats gather beneath High-rock for a clan meeting!" He yowled. His words simple, but inviting. His pelt was smooth, showing no sign of alarm as he decided the littlest kits could see this if they wanted to. There was no reason why they shouldn’t.

The decision to retire was one that pained Emberheart greatly, but it was also one she'd realized she needed to make. Though she'd kept pressing onward, she could feel her seasons as a ThunderClan cat catching up to her; and it wasn't fair to keep up her duties as a warrior if it meant dragging entire patrols down with her. No, it was best to retire peacefully, while she still had her dignity. Besides, it was an honor not every cat got to receive - as she listened to Oakstar's voice, she made sure to remind herself of that. An honor, not a punishment, and one she'd never been entirely certain she'd get to experience.

Despite the lingering hesitation she still felt, she kept her head high. Like her decision to join ThunderClan as an apprentice, all those seasons past, it was a little bit scary... But it was also exciting, and that was the feeling she tried to hold on to. Looking to the future with optimism.

(StarClan only knew the next time she'd experience any kind of excitement.)

Mossbloom padded out into the main clearing, looking out over the Gathering cats. A meeting with even the smallest kits, for a few heartbeats she wondered what the meeting could be for. Had something happened that everyone needed to know about? Her stomach twisted at the sudden though of something terrible having happened, the forest had seen far too much bad and things were just starting to settle down for the better, it seemed.

Dacepaw, who had been chittering at a beetle just out of her reach on one of the walls of the apprentice's den, perked up at the sound of Oakstar's call over camp. She had experienced several ceremonies in ThunderClan by now - though not one of her own yet - and immediately recognized a subtle difference. All cats? she wondered excitedly, and she quickly turned to scamper towards the Highrock. What could this be?

Dustcloud's ears perked at a call that was not familiar to her at all, one that called the entire Clan to the small clearing in the center of camp. She had no clue what might be going on, for she hadn't heard anything about it from Oakstar. Her fur immediately ruffled as she walked to sit next to Emberheart, a fellow senior member of the Clan. "What do you think this could be about?" She whispered quietly, keeping her eyes trained on her mate. He didn't seem alarmed, so that was good, she supposed.

Oakstar smiled comfortingly at his clanmates. The way some of them padded over as if expecting the worst made him that much more aware of how rare this ceremony really seemed to be. He didn’t fully remember an elder ceremony, and had only seen a couple cats retire from warrior life. In that sense, Emberheart had accomplished something many warriors could envy. A long life, and while it wasn’t free of strife, she lived.

"It has been a long time since this clan has this ceremony." He began, eager to dismiss any further thoughts or concerns of danger his clanmates might possess. "Emberheart. Is it your wish to give up the rank of a warrior and go to join the elders?" Although he knew the answer, he was also aware that the stars needed to hear it as well.

Dustcloud's approach was welcome, but Emberheart didn't respond to her question beyond a quiet laugh. "You'll see."

And then Oakstar called out again, this time including her name.

"Yes," Emberheart spoke, the words rolling off her tongue before she was even sure of what it was she'd said. And it surprised herself to find that she meant it, even after her earlier thoughts. "I think I've fought long enough." There was more she wanted to say - there always was - but held her tongue. Her answer, and nothing else, had been presented to the stars.

After the tortoiseshell she-cat found herself a place to sit - leaving room for her friends, of course - she apprentice glanced around briefly as the Clan gathered. Dacepaw was starting to like how familiar the faces were, even on cats she didn't really know very well at all. When Oakstar called the meeting to order she gladly turned her green-hazel eyes to look at him, shining with interest and curiosity. She barely had time to wonder what kind of ceremony he could mean. The dark tabby tom's voice was strong, but it held some strange wistful tone, as it called out to Emberheart, asking if she wished to join the elders.

As many cats likely did, Dacepaw's head quickly turned to seek out the named warrior's grizzled, dark red pelt. There was no hesitation, no fear or uncertainty or regret in the she-cat's voice as she confirmed his question. "I think I've fought long enough," Emberheart answered with a strength that surprised Dacepaw, and suddenly she found herself drinking in the warrior's features. Indeed, her life as a warrior was apparent in her raked ears and pelt littered with scars. Sparkfrost had a couple scars... Dappleshine, too. Dacepaw had heard stories. What were Emberheart's?

He nodded solemnly, glancing up at the first stars that were beginning to show beyond the gentle glow of the descending sun. His gaze lowered back to Emberheart as he spoke.
"Very well. Emberheart, you have been a good and loyal warrior for many moons. I look forward to enjoying your company, and hope that you will be able to pass on your wisdom and stories to the youngest cats. StarClan honours all that you have done for us, and I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest."

He bowed his head a final time, ending the ceremony as he leapt down from High rock to walk up to Dustcloud from where she sat next to Emberheart with a purr. His beloved… he wondered grimly if he and she would retire… would they have such a luxury? He hoped so, desperately.
"Congratulations Emberheart." He offered. Forcing back the grim question.