Basilkit's Apprentice Ceremony

"Let all cats old enough to climb a tree gather beneath the Tallbranch for a Clan meeting!" This was it. Spottedleap's first ceremony as deputy. He stood on the Tallbranch overlooking the camp and noted that the ceremonial words were simple and rolled naturally off his tongue. The concept of responsibility was still new to him, and it took awhile for him to actually gather the courage to scale the sacred tree, but he did it and called the words. And he was excited to see Basilkit's reaction to her ceremony; having his own kits made him look at the youth of the clan in a new light that he had not foreseen.

While it was strange that Mistyrain no longer stood on tallbranch, the she-kit thought little of it as she bounded over. If the deputy was giving an announcement and Tinystar was in good health, it could only mean one thing: a ceremony. Over the moons, Basilkit had abandoned kitten fluff for a sleek coat. Her enthusiasm had tamed slightly with maturity nut her eyes shone bright as ever. The prospect this was her ceremony was a wonderful thing. Ever since she was only a moon old, her gaze had peered longinly through the break in boulders that comprised the entrance. Soon she would explore with Foxfire. Soon she would be the greatest warrior. Settling back onher haunches just below the branch, Basilkit peered up, only losing focus to smoothe her coat for a moment and to glace around for her best friend.

The deputy smiled down at Basilkit, a calm grin that pulled at the edges of his mouth. The clan had gathered and the kit herself was obviously aware of the meeting's purpose. "Basilkit, please step forward." He allowed her a moment to do as she was told and then continued. "Basilkit, you have reached the age of 6 moons and are now ready to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Basilpaw. Daylily is to be your mentor; she will teach you the ways of the code. Congratulations." Spottedleap steadied himself and then jumped down to the ground, calling her new apprentice name with the clan.