Petalkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Though the air of unease in WindClan’s camp had faded somewhat since the Gathering, it was clear that the cats who’d been at Fourtrees that night still remembered what they’d seen and heard. One couldn’t just forget a star plunging from the sky. Raventail couldn’t, at least. Maybe that was for the best. Though he trusted Finchstar would lead them through this (if there was a “this” to lead them through at all; part of Raventail insisted he’d dreamed the whole thing), that didn’t mean Raventail could let himself be willfully oblivious to it. He would do better, if WindClan asked. He would be better.

But until then, he wouldn’t let himself worry, either. Today, the oldest of Crowspirit and Spotlake’s kits would take her first step into apprenticeship. How could anyone bother worrying on such an occasion? Raventail scaled the Tallrock in a matter of moments, rocking back and forth as if that could diminish the chill against his paws. Leaf-bare’s plain gray skies were harder to read than the ones he’d gotten used to—surely it was late enough in the day for Petalkit to be awake, especially if her parents had told her what this ceremony was about. ”Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Tallrock!”

(oh I didn’t know the site didn’t use the real sayings, cool. Let all cats old enough to run on the moor gather under tall rock for a clan meeting, I know all the sayings by heart ^_^)

Petalkit bounded out of the nursery with her fur groomed and a smile on her face. The white creamed tabby was looking forward to being an app so she could protect her little sisters and mother from harm. Petal bounded towards the front watching as cats looked at her in amusement glistening in their eyes.

Spotlake watched as Petalkit escaped her grasp. She had been dreading this day for moons. Spotlake grabbed Maplekit by the scruff. "Ok your turn now." She said as the ceramony began. She wrapped her tail around her stomach (which was now big from expecting kits) as she watched Petalkit.

A cream-colored shape bounded into the light, past the forming crowd; apparently, Petalkit knew what this meeting was for after all. Spotlake wasn’t far behind, carrying one of Petalkit’s littermates with an odd expression on her face. As the rest of WindClan gathered, Raventail’s gaze settled on her. He didn’t quite understand, yet, why someone might not be entirely happy to see their kit become an apprentice…but he was starting to. Giving the calico a small smile, he looked back toward Petalkit. ”Petalkit, step forward.”

Once Petalkit had done so (though she didn’t have too far to step), Raventail continued with the ceremony’s familiar words. ”You’ve reached the age of six moons, and it’s your turn to be apprenticed. From now until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Petalpaw.” Choosing someone to train her had been a little difficult; looking at Spotlake, however, he found he didn’t regret the cat he’d settled on. ”Crowspirit will be your mentor. May he pass everything he knows down to you.” Sometimes, a kit’s best mentor was their own kin. Maybe Petalpaw would prove herself as brave as her father…or as reckless as him. Leaping off the Tallrock with a flick of his tail, Raventail joined the rest of WindClan in their chant: "Petalpaw! Petalpaw!"

Petalpaw bounded towards her father in excitement. She touched noses with him as she watch her mother coming towards them.

Spotlake gave rapid licks as she got up to her paws her voice joined the chant before running Over to Petalpaw. "I'm so proud of you. And when your out of camp stick with your father okay?" Said Spotlake as she licked Petalpaw on the forehead.

Crowspirit purred in delight, nuzzling his daughter. "You and I are going to have a lot of fun, kitten. Why don't you meet me by the camp entrance tomorrow, and I can show you your way around the moors?"
He dipped his head momentarily to Raventail, a happy rumble still in is throat. His first apprentice, his firstborn kit.

(Sorry, posting quickly)