Willowkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Nettlefire stood in her increasingly familiar spot on the Highrock. There were quite a number of kits who were old enough to be apprentices now.


It's good, she thought It means that despite everything, we're still growing. We're still strong.


“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Highrock for a clan meeting!” she called out, ready to begin.

Willowkit knew who’s ceremony this was going to be. She leaped to her paws immediately, and sat at the bottom of the Highrock. “I’m finally old enough to be an apprentice!” She thought giddily. She was also slightly nervous and scared. What if she didn’t hunt anything for her clan? What if she couldn’t fight well?

"Willowkit," Nettlefire said, finding the little kit among the crowd. "Please step forward,"

The silver-gray she-cat noticed the young cat looked just a little bit nervous, though that was to be expected. She tried to shoot her a friendly smile to make her feel more at ease. With most cats, she probably wouldn't make much of an effort to calm them-- she always figured controlling your nerves was a necessary skill one had to learn to do without help-- but she'd always had a soft spot for kits.

"Willowkit, having reached the age of six moons, you are now ready to become an apprentice. From this day on, until you earn your warrior name, you will be called Willowpaw. Dawngaze will be your mentor,"

Willowkit stepped onto the Highrock, comforted by the deputy’s try for a smile. She waited for her mento to arrive and touch noses with her. “This is it. I’m officially an apprentice.”