Egretpaw's Warrior Ceremony

""Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Willow Branch for a clan meeting!" The familiar phrase had somehow grown foreign to her, perhaps with the knowledge of what this ceremony entailed. It was certainly no apprentice ceremony, that was for sure. Torrentstar's paw still rendered him out of order, which meant that Egretpaw's promotion to the warrior den would be left to her.

Standing tall atop the Willow Branch, Ivybrook waited quietly for the Clan to gather, and for the apprentice to appear before she began.

The young she-cat's heart was heavy even as she stepped away from the fresh-kill pile, having just dropped off what she'd managed to catch on the last patrol. Leafbare bit at RiverClan's toes a little harder with every coming dawn. The clan, they'd... they'd really had a rough go of it, if she was being honest. This time a full season cycle ago, the camp was bustling, loud, and alive. But now they were tiny. Helpless to the seasons' whims. Egretpaw's ears barely caught the words of her deputy. She glanced around, trying to find where the Ivybrook's voice came from, until she finally caught sight of her grey tabby pelt on the Willow Branch. 'What's this about?' The stocky she-cat looked like she'd frozen in place, wondering how long this meeting would be before electing to sit down.

Looking down as the seasoned apprentice took her seat beneath the branch, Ivybrook thought of how much time she'd spent as an apprentice, empathizing with the young she-cat greatly. But here she was, standing on the willow branch, preparing to conduct a ceremony. Egretpaw could do great things, someday. "Today we gather to celebrate yet another ceremony, RiverClan." She began, looking down at Egretpaw with an emotionless face. "I have closely watched over the training of one of our dear apprentices, and I believe it is time for her to take on the responsibility of warriorhood. Egretpaw, if you believe this to be true, please step forward and your ceremony will begin." Emerald eyes carefully watched the apprentice, calculating every move.

Her ears perked. 'Huh? Me?' Egretpaw rose and locked eyes with Ivybrook, her dark gaze unblinking as she stepped forward. Though her face too held nothing, she felt her paws beginning to shake. Was it anxiety? Or... excitement? It was really happening. After all this time, after all these moons of heartbreak, she could finally take that next step in her life. If only Finchstream were here to see this. And Magpiepaw.

The sky called for her eyes, but she did not waver.

Seeing that the older apprentice stepped forward, Ivybrook continued with confidence that it was finally time for her to move into a new stage of life. "I, Ivybrook, deputy of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Egretpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Her emerald green eyes shone proudly on the apprentice, though her face held no emotion as her tail flickered back and forth.

Did she even have to ask? RiverClan was everything to her. They were her home. Where she belonged. Egretpaw took a deep breath of the frigid Leafbare air, and with a clear conviction that came from her very soul, she spoke. "I do."

Nodding her head as the apprentice confidently showed her true respect and love for her Clan, Ivybrook continued. "Then, by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From this day forth, you will be known to all as Egretstorm. Riverclan honors your strength and perseverance in everything that you do." After allowing the name to sink in, Ivybrook concluded the ceremony with a flick of her ear. "As is tradition, you will hold a silent vigil when the moon rises. For now, though, we will celebrate the rise of a newly named Riverclan warrior." Leaping down from the willow branch, Ivybrook joined her Clanmates in celebrating the long-awaited ceremony.