Duskpaw's warrior ceremony

A cold wind blew across the camp. It ruffled Oakstar’s dark tabby pelt, letting him tremble for a moment before he padded over towards high rock. It was time for another cat to receive their warrior name, and biting weather or not, it had to be given. Duskpaw, had waited more than long enough. The she-cat had been a good and solid apprentice. Beartooth’s apprentice. Grief stung his chest with the cold as he let out a pained breath before making the call.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Highrock for a clan meeting!" He yowled, voice calm over the small icy gust that blew. Snowflakes rustled in the air, tossed up by the breeze as he waited for cats to approach for the ceremony.

Dacedream's thick, pale tortoiseshell pelt was bushed out against the cool air that pervaded camp. She had been resting in the warriors den when Oakstar's voice sounded out. Her ears perked and she sat up in her nest, glancing around for movement from other warriors present in the den before heaving to her paws completely and heading out. The wind immediately pierced her fur, and she let out a squeak of discomfort before gathering herself, giving her fur a good shake, and heading out to sit before Oakstar. If Houndheart wasn't doing a ceremony, was something wrong? What was Oakstar going to say? She glanced around for her loves.

"Dacedream!" Duskpaw shouted, sprinting out of the apprentice's den to brush up against her fuzzy friend. "I'm cold." She whispered, leaning into the she-cat's frame. Duskpaw gazed up at Oakstar with curiosity. She did not usually attend meetings. Duskpaw was usually too preoccupied with worms or birds. The world was too vast to miss. But most recently, Duskpaw was out of camp when Dacedream's warrior ceremony happened. The apprentice padded in late to see the clan already dispersing. She was angry with herself and sad she hadn't been there to see Dacedream receive her name. Duskpaw pressed herself closer into her fur and swallowed. She hadn't missed a meeting since.

The sight of Duskpaw's fuzzy brown pelt racing over immediately set Dacedream purring, the monster-roar of a purr bouncing faintly off the walls of camp. "Hi Duskpaw!" she mewed, and upon hearing the apprentice's complaint she immediately added cheerily, "Not for long! I'll help!" Dacedream gladly welcomed her friend into her thick pelt, even going so far as to drape one foreleg over Duskpaw's shoulders to hold her close to her chest. The recently named warrior didn't feel upset by the fact that Duskpaw had missed her ceremony; she was mildly disappointed, but with everything that had happened recently she barely thought of it. After all, she didn't like ceremonies nearly as much! Duskpaw had a whole world to explore, and Dacedream was happy just to share it from any distance. Still, she asked curiously, "Do you know what's happening?" She glanced around for Houndheart again, thinking that he would know.

The large tom smiled down at the two she-cats among the gathering crowd. Despite the wind and it’s bitter chill, this was a good occasion. A happy one that he allowed himself to feel joy for.

"Duskpaw, step forward." he called, his amber gaze a little apologetic at the knowledge that she’d have to leave Dacedream’s probably warm pelt to endure the cold alone, both for this moment… and her vigil. He contemplated the idea of perhaps finding a warmer spot in camp to let Duskpaw carry it out in than the center.

"I, Oakstar, leader of ThunderClan, 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 them to you as a warrior in their turn. Duskpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Duskpaw shook her head to Dacedream's question, eyeing the fuzzy tortoiseshell with interest. "No." She whispered. But then Oakstar called her forward. A ceremony. Duskpaw's ceremony. She would get a name like Dacedream and Houndheart had. A small glimmer of joy sparked in the she-cat's heart, and she gave a little bounce as her paws led her to the base of the Highrock.

"--Even at the cost of your life?" Duskpaw gazed up to Oakstar, feeling small compared to his large frame. The apprentice's fascination with life and death had proved fatal, but she thought it fair. Beartooth had died at her paws, a trade. Beasts had been killed as well. Duskpaw had taken many lives now, she wondered if they died for their clan. She swallowed and wondered why they had to. The dusty gray she-cat frowned and supposed that she would succumb to the balance someday as well. Some cat would need to come and kill her, it was how living went. But Emberheart's words echoed in her mind. Emberheart had survived, she had lived long enough to become old and die.

Duskpaw began to hate her duty. She was a killer, she had to carry the balance. But how could Duskpaw be an elder if she was going to die? Her green eyes closed and her tail flicked ponderingly. She wasn't scared of death. She wasn't scared of anything. Duskpaw only wanted to live and see the world until she couldn't. She'd fight until there was a cat strong enough to kill her. But that would be a long time. "I do." Duskpaw mewed solemnly, knowing someday she'd bleed as Beartooth did.

As Duskpaw spoke the familiar words, Oakstar lifted his head proudly. His voice clear for all in the clearing to hear.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Duskpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Duskrain. StarClan honors your thoughtful nature and determined spirit, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." His head tilted back down with a smile. Honouring the newly named Duskrain with warmth in his gaze as he leapt down from high rock to join in the cheering of his clanmates.

His eyes caught a slightly less snowed on patch of land at the edge of the clearing, and he padded towards Duskrain.
"It will be a cold night. You may do your vigil anywhere within camp… over there," He gestured with his white tipped tail, "seems a little drier than the rest. You may take this afternoon off from patrol to rest." He smiled, then dipped his head and padded away towards the gathering patrol.

Dacedream had little more than a moment to take in Duskpaw's response of unknowing and frown. The Clan had gathered and Oakstar's voice rang out through the clearing again. The name that he called immediately made the tortoiseshell warrior looked aside, her eyes shining. "Duskpaw! That's you! It's your ceremony!" Dacedream trilled with delight, beaming at her lover even as she leaned away to give her the freedom to answer her summon. Duskpaw bounced to her paws and swiftly stepped forward, centering herself before Oakstar. Dacedream could barely contain her joy; her purr's intensity had increased twofold as she gazed affectionately after Duskpaw. They would share a nest again after tonight!

She listened to the ceremony as if in a pleasant greenleaf dream; the words that were spoken at her ceremony were spoken at Duskpaw's ceremony, just as they had been spoken at uncountable ceremonies before theirs. It was remarkable, and it was significant. Oakstar presented the oath, then, and for a moment Duskpaw was quiet. Dacedream thought it was brave and beautiful: a true display of Duskpaw's intelligence and thoughtfulness and dedication. When Duskpaw gave her answer it would be the truth. The apprentice's tail twitched a few times before at last her voice rang out, solemnly swearing her loyalty for the rest of her life.

Oakstar's head raised, and Dacedream beamed, looking at him with anticipation and pride. Now he could see how ready she was - he would make her friend a warrior now! Dacedream's love, her best friend, was no longer Duskpaw, but Duskrain. Dacedream's paws worked at the ground as she sucked in a deep breath and held it, feeling ready to explode with excitement. The moment that Oakstar leapt down from the Highrock, the tortoiseshell warrior blurted out, "Duskrain! Duskrain! Duskrain!" She launched herself to her paws and threw herself at Duskpaw's side, headbutting the she-cat's neck with affection. Her whole body was vibrating with her typical purr. "I'm so happy for you, you're the toughest beast-fighter in the whole forest! Now everyone will know!"

The ThunderClan leader approached the newly named warrior and Dacedream paused her nuzzle-attack and praise to look at him with gratitude and happiness. Oakstar suggested a bit more of a sheltered place to do her vigil, mentioning a cold night to come. Dacedream's ears perked up, and she immediately turned her head back to Duskpaw, declaring, "Duskrain, we get to share a nest again! I can show you where my nest is and I could help you get some moss to add to it for after your vigil, if you want." She looked into her love's deep green eyes hopefully.

Duskpaw stared up at Oakstar solemnly, green eyes determined as she answered a silent vow of her own. She was now not Duskworm - but Duskrain. A smile meant her maw at Oakstar's decision. She would have never thought of Duskrain as a name, but it was much better than Duskworm. Dacedream's call sounded behind her, and soon the rest of the clan joined in. Her friend complimented her fighting, and Duskrain grinned widely, returning Dacedream's headbump with one of her own. "Thank you Dacedream! I'm a warrior!" A loud hearty purr rumbled from the little cat, her claws flexing from excitement. All of ThunderClan cheering her name was more exciting than a squirrel!

Oakstar approached the two she-cats and Duskrain turned with a grin, burying her head in the leader's chest with gratitude. "Thank you Oakstar!" Duskrain squeaked, tail high. Dacedream spoke of moss and nests and Duskrain almost jumped with excitement. The apprentice's den had been lonely with Houndheart and Dacedream gone. But now she'd get to be warm in both their pelts! "Oh sure Dacedream! We can go explore the forest, and find some worms too!" The newly appointed warrior closed her eyes with bliss, feeling the forest whisper to her. A giggle escaped her maw as she butted Dacedream's head once more. Her life would be full of adventures.

Dacedream was elated to see a broad grin shining on her lover's face. Duskrain. It was a beautiful, captivating name for a beautiful, captivating cat - but Duskrain was more than that, and both she-cats knew it. She was strong and beautiful, and dangerous to those who misstepped with her like the beasts and the enemy Clans. Duskrain was a river of power and certainty. Dacedream loved her. She loved everything about her dusty brown tabby friend. Dacedream nodded in vigorous approval of Duskrain's warriorhood, and just as her head stopped shaking she heard Oakstar's voice speaking clearly to the newly named warrior. Dacedream followed the flick of her leader's tail as he gestured towards a more sheltered spot of camp while declaring that she would need to sit vigil and, perhaps, that area was the best place to do so.

Duskrain seemed plenty satisfied with Oakstar's solution. She dove forward to give the leader a reverent, thankful nuzzle, leaving a slight cold breeze on Dacedream's side as she watched the exchange purring. Immediately her love turned around again, and Dacedream's eyes sparkled with joy at Duskrain's eager affirmative response. "Okay! That sounds great!" Duskrain's beautiful green eyes fluttered shut, feeling the cool sun of leaf-bare on her face; Dacedream simply stared lovestruck at the pretty new warrior's face and the way the light glinted on her whiskers and stripes. Even the scars around her eyes from the fox held a beauty from raw power and intensity. The two she-cats butted heads and Dacedream waved her bushy tail towards the camp entrance. "If I find a worm first," she declared as she began to trot towards it, "I get to sleep between you and Houndheart tonight! You can sleep in the middle if you find one first." She looked eagerly at Duskrain for approval.