Olivepaw's Warrior Ceremony

As new shoots of grass began to sprout in the frosty dirt, Finchstar could feel the winds of change. He refused to acknowledge the ever-hungry cloud that hung above their heads known as StarClan, and the tom did not feel guilt for going against their new desires. Zinnia had received an apprentice. SkyClan warriors now called WindClan their home, and now Olivepaw, a rogue-born fighter, would receive her warrior name. It was a cheeky statement, a passive aggressive battle against the sky, but it was the game Finchstar played best. If not to spite the short-sighted stars, then to award Olivepaw for her diligence. The she-cat was more than ready to earn her name, and proved to be a soul that Finchstar admired. As he stood on the Tallrock now, the tom felt strong. Not him in himself, but in his clan, in the love that wove them together. "All cats old enough to run the moors, gather beneath the Tallrock for a clan meeting!"

Olivepaw bounded into camp, returning from a run where the wind was at her heels, and she swore she'd be able to fly if she had ran any faster. The scent of warmer winds and new growth gave a spring to her step, as if she didn't already have one, but the coming newleaf sparked more energy in her, and she was going to take advantage of that to serve her Clan.

Upon seeing Finchstar on the Tallrock, she gave a happy trill, darting forward to sit with her gathering Clanmates. She could barely contain her excitement, kneading the thawing ground with impatient paws, but managing to sit still as she gazed up at the orange and white tom standing on the Tallrock.
This has to be my warrior ceremony! Oh, I wonder what name Finchstar is going to choose for me!

As Finchstar called the Clan together, Clovertwist raised his head from the small vole he'd been tucking into, pausing with a mouthful to listen with perked ears. Oh, I bet it's a ceremony, the silver tabby tom mused, finishing his bite with deliberate slowness as he thought. Certainly not Downpaw - not after everything. Maybe one of Spotlake's first litter? Clovertwist pushed the vole aside into a clump of grasses to come back for it later and rose to his paws, kinked tail swishing contentedly behind him. He quickly made his way to sit in front of his leader, giving Finchstar a cheerful nod before letting his gaze wander across the slowly gathering Clan. Could be Olivepaw, she's been training hard, he thought, smirking at the sight of her eagerly kneading paws, or Ferretpaw, too, for that matter. There was nothing to do but wait, and so wait he did with his dark-ringed tail twisted in a tangle around his paws.

A large smile stretched across Finchstar's maw as he gazed down at Olivepaw, now kneading the ground with eager gray paws. As the rest of WindClan began to file in, Finchstar returned Clovertwist's nod with a cheerful one of his own, tail curling in joy. He imagined the starry form of Barleytuft in the crowd, imagining that he now held a place near Brookclover, Elmskip, and his two sons in the optimistic thing he called his mind. Newleaf was coming, bringing new hope. "WindClan." Finchstar began, voice bright and cheerful. "Moons ago, a rogue cat was taken in by Patrick and Elmskip, stars bless his soul. She carries a bright heart and a brighter future, WindClan is better due to her presence." Finchstar gazed at Olivepaw with inquisitve yellow eyes, hoping StarClan would hear his words. No matter her bloodline, she is WindClan as the rest of us are. "It is time we recognize this cat as a warrior. Olivepaw, step forward."

Clovertwist had no concerns whatsoever about the abilities or loyalty of his rogue-born Clanmate, Olivepaw. She was a kit when she arrived in the Clan; even if she hadn't forgotten her kithood as an outsider, she should be protected by StarClan's grace and the warrior code itself, shouldn't she? No warrior may neglect a kit in pain or in danger, even if that kit is from a different Clan. Patrick and Elmskip had simply been doing the right thing when they brought Olivekit home. She became Olivepaw and she went through all the steps and all the training, just like any Clan cat. When her name was called, Clovertwist gave her his brightest, most encouraging grin as he watched her step forward, then looked up to Finchstar again to wait eagerly for the words that were soon to come.

A warm glow filled Olivepaw as Finchstar began to describe her with kind words, and she grinned in pure joy back at Clovertwist's encouraging smile. When Finchstar called her name and told her to step forward, she could hardly contain her excitement.
This Is my warrior ceremony!

With another happy trill, she stood and bounded forward, turning to face her Clanmates once she was out of the crowd.

Softpaw let out a small trill of happiness for the gray apprentice. Olivepaw had always been very sweet, and the little she-cat was happy to see her receive her warrior name. She deserves it.. Casting a glance up at the sky, she furrowed her nonexistent brows in a scowl, Don't you dare rebuke her, thought Softpaw, She is more than worthy.

As if reading her thoughts, Downpaw padded over and rested his tail on her shoulder. "Not even StarClan could deny Olivepaw's worth," he assured her, glancing back at his soon-to-be former denmate. Downpaw wasn't jealous, he knew he'd need to wait. Besides, Olivepaw was older than him. She'd been an apprentice when he and Softpaw were born!

The gray tabby stepped forward eagerly, and Finchstar's whiskers twitched with youthful amusement. He felt like a kit again. "I, Finchstar, leader of WindClan 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 as a warrior to you in return." There was only hope ahead, nothing - and no one - would take that away from them. "Olivepaw, do you promise to uphold the code, and protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Olivepaw held her head high, and let Finchstar's words wash over her, and when she opened her mouth to speak, the only thing she could feel was certainty about devoting her life to serve her Clan, no matter the cost.
A fleeting thought drew her attention to the sky, and while Silverpelt didn't shine yet, she thought of her departed father. She was indebted to the toms that brought her and her brother into the Clan, and she wanted to do them proud, even if one of them watched from the starry skies that glowed above every night.
I'll make you proud, Elmskip.

With uncharacteristic seriousness, yet still excited, she mewed, "I do."

The two words that crossed the apprentice's lips carried more than just the oath of her own. Finchstar had watched many a cat say these same words, each meaning them with such ferocity. It was an oath that united them all, and yet it set them all apart as well. Olivepaw's eyes showed a different emotion from all the apprentices before her, and yet she also stood in a long legacy of cats. Her bloodline didn't change this. Proud, yellow eyes shining, Finchstar took a hearty step forward on the Tallrock and spoke.

"Then by the powers of...." No, not StarClan. StarClan didn't see Olivepaw's true worth. Finchstar would no longer dedicate his ceremonies to a force that didn't unconditionally view all the cats of the moor as valuable. No, he would pledge his allegiance to love. "Then by the powers of love, I give you your warrior name. Olivepaw, from this moment forward, you will be known as Olivestone. The moor honors your kindness and optimism, and I am honored to welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan."

Finchstar leapt down from the rock before the cheers of his clanmates could even reach the sky. He padded to Olivestone's side and brushed his cheek across hers. "You, friend, have caused me more thought than you know. But it is all for the better." The tom gave the gray tabby a wide smile, throwing his maw to the sky to shout;

"Olivestone! Olivestone! Olivestone!"

The newly-named Olivestone couldn't help but let out a purr at the name that Finchstar had chosen for her. With a great big smile, she returned his cheek rub and basked in the Clan's chanting of her new name.

Briarthorn emerged from the warriors den, hearing Finchstar's call. As he listend, he started to become excited. It's Olivepaw's warriors ceremony! Even if she was a rogue at birth, she was one of the most deserving cats to be called a warrior. Even briarthorn was only one fourth WindClan, but that had never stopped him! He was slightly confused as Finchstar said "power of love" rather than "power of StarClan", but he understood his reasoning. StarClan had been being a bit of a jerk recently, at least some of them. StarClan is not going to be happy about this... But are they ever? Briarthorn padded up to his former apprentice. "Congratulations, Olivestone! You will make an amazing warrior!" Maybe even as good as me, he added in his head. "Olivestone! Olivestone! Olivestone!"

The sound of Downpaw's certainty when he commented on Olivepaw's worth made Clovertwist's heart feel even warmer, though he didn't look back to his young brother or comment anything else. Finchstar's voice rang out over the clearing, the same words that had been said for countless ceremonies before. When given her oath, Clovertwist looked at Olivepaw expectantly; the gray tabby wasted no time in replying with a deeply heartfelt affirmative. The emotion in her face was clear, and Clovertwist wondered if she was thinking of her late kin looking down on her and her ceremony now. Elmskip would undoubtedly be proud of her from the heavens. The young tom prepared himself for the chanting that would soon come; Finchstar began to accept her vow, and then he paused.

And then he spoke... the wrong words.

Clovertwist felt his breath catch as he blinked up at Finchstar, his expression flooding with a combination of surprise and mild alarm. He froze completely, uncertainty momentarily halting the excitement he'd felt for Olivestone even as Finchstar continued speaking. Love. No longer by the powers of StarClan, who had condemned a certain kind of love as impure, but by the powers of love, the warrior was given her name. A warrior.... trained to fight.... was declared fit to do so by the powers of love. Finchstar's voice went quiet and Clovertwist knew it was time to begin calling Olivestone's name, but for a moment he was still stunned into an uncomfortable silence. Was the entire forest determined to twist in on and against itself? Was everything Clovertwist know doomed to become unrecognizable? Was it Finchstar's right to change it?? He... He was the leader. The leader's word was law

After a moment, he shifted awkwardly and, feeling a bit less unnerved, began to call his Clanmate's new name. "Olivestone! Olivestone!" he called, but his heart hadn't been as into it as it would've been a moment before if Finchstar had said the traditional words. As soon as he was able, Clovertwist went quiet again and wandered away, feeling utterly self-conscious and confused.