Poppykit's Apprentice Ceremony

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the willow branch for a Clan meeting!"

Ivybrook's voice rang out across camp as she leaped onto the branch with ease, her thick pelt fluffed up against the cold. Her feathery tail hung low as she sat, waiting as her Clanmates gathered around her. Surely, Poppykit knew to come out now. The silver deputy had been sure to alert the queens in the nursery whenever one of the kits had come of age and it was their turn to move into the apprentice's den, so hopefully she'd see the cheerful face of the little one soon enough.

Applekit padded out grumpily. Now both of his siblings were becoming apprentices. He sighed and sat, watching, his eyes full of jealousy. He looked up at Ivybrook. “I want to be an apprentice.” He muttered angrily.

Nightkit walked towards his brother's side. "Your turn will come after us. And then we'll all be sleeping in the apprentices den tonight." Nightkit said reasurringly. "Ivybrook is just going from oldest to youngest."

Applekit bit his lip, unsure of the statement. “Yeah....I guess. I’ll probably be next.” His emerald eyes went over to Poppykit, and he felt bad for moaning. She seemed so excited to start becoming an apprentice.

Poppykit had carefully groomed her own pelt, allowing her mother to help her brothers out. The three kits were all getting their apprentice names, and the tortoiseshell was doing her best to keep some air of dignity to her. After all, she was the mature one out of the three of them. She was excited, though, and her eyes were gleaming with emotion as she padded forward and looked up at Ivybrook. She wondered who would be her mentor. Along with her excitement and happiness, anxiety clawed at her stomach. Could she keep herself safe, let alone her Clan?

Offering a small nod to the she-cat as she approached, Ivybrook cleared her throat and began.”Poppykit, step forward.” When the smaller cat did so, the deputy closed her eyes for a moment, continuing after a reassuring flick of her tail towards Addershade. “Poppykit, you have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day onward until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Poppypaw.” Her shoulder began twitching for a moment. Two brand new apprentices at the same time? She’d had several before, but this could prove difficult... But if it helped Addershade to feel more at ease with his kits in her paws, she could deal with it. “I will be your mentor.” Leaping down from the branch, she gently touched her nose to Poppypaw’s. “Training begins bright and early, get settled tonight and be ready tomorrow.”

Poppykit, no wait, she was Poppypaw now! Poppypaw looked proudly up at her deputy, her eyes gleaming happily at her new name. And then a look of surprise but delight crossed her face at the knowledge that Ivybrook would be her mentor! She couldn't think of a cooler cat to be her mentor, honestly. Maybe Torrentstar. This was a real honor, and she silently vowed to do her best to make Ivybrook proud. She returned the nose touch, nodding seriously when told to get some rest for her early morning the next day. Once all three siblings' ceremonies were done with, she would scamper off to the apprentice den to pick out her new nest, making sure to leave room for Driftingkit next to her, for once he moved over from the nursery.