Moonkit's Apprentice Ceremony

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Highrock for a clan meeting!”

As Nettlefire stood up on the Highrock and watched some of the, Nettlefire realized for the first time how crowded the nursery had gotten lately, though a few of them would be joining the apprentice's den shortly. She waited as her clanmates gathered, watching for the particular kit who this ceremony was for.

The camp entrance rustled as the little tan tabby entered camp, the results of a successful hunt in her jaws. Cherryblossom set down her catch in the growing fresh-kill pile, and when she paused to mew a greeting to one of her Clanmates, it was only then that she realized that everyone was congregating underneath the Highrock. Nettlefire stood proudly on it, and for a split second, she felt a pang that her father, Houndheart, no longer took his place up there. However, the sadness was short-lived, and with Nettlefire's presence, it meant that the apprentice's den was about to get even bigger!

With a purr of happiness, she bounded over to the growing gathering, and wondered just who was going to be apprenticed, and who would become a mentor that day.

Moonkit padded out of the nursery to the ThunderClan camp clearing, where she would finally be apprenticed. She wondered who her mentor would be. Sitting with her tail curled neatly around her paws, Moonkit groomed her fur like she had done some time before, until she was sure she looked presentable. She pawed the ground nervously, suddenly anxious.

I hope I don't make a mistake, Moonkit thought worriedly. It would be so embarrassing and I would be doing something wrong in front of the whole clan and everybody would see! Oh, StarClan, please don't let me make a mistake...

"Moonkit, please step forward," Nettlefire called.

After the kit had done so, she continued.

"Moonkit, you have reached the age of six moons, which means you are now ready to become an apprentice. From this day on until your receive your warrior name, you will be known as Moonpaw. Cherryblossom will be your mentor."

Cherryblossom certainly hadn't been expecting to become a mentor so soon, especially since she'd been named a warrior only a moon or so ago. Nonetheless, she stood and made her way to the front of the crowd, and took her place in front of the newly-named Moonpaw. Since she was smaller, she didn't have to crane her head down to touch noses with her first apprentice. She smiled warmly at the other she-cat and whispered,
"I'll do my best to teach you well, Moonpaw."

Silently, Moonkit - no, Moonpaw now - touched noses with her new mentor. Cherryblossom seemed nice, though she seemed not much taller than Moonpaw. Brimming with excitement, Moonpaw fought against the urge to bounce around the clearing and shriek at the top of her lungs.

"I'll try my best, too," she mewed firmly.