Maplepaw's Warrior Ceremony

For the first time since the plague had fallen on the Clans, Raventail took his place atop the Tallrock. It didn’t feel entirely right to stand here for this reason, but it grated less than it had a moon ago, and it would be even easier a moon from now. One day, he’d be able to put his discomfort aside; one day beyond that, there wouldn’t be any discomfort at all. But for now, he could only memorize the ceremony’s words and trust time to do the rest.

He hadn’t doubted for a second that Zinnia would make as capable a mentor as any WindClanner. As far as he knew, his Clanmates felt the same. If anyone needed proof, they had it now. But Zinnia’s work alone hadn’t gotten her apprentice this far. Maplepaw herself had put in the effort through a difficult leaf-bare and a newleaf that somehow managed to be more turbulent than the last. Though every apprentice worked for their warrior name, their circumstances were rarely the same. Raising his nose to the clouds, he yowled, ”Let all cats old enough to run the moor gather beneath the Tallrock!” After the exhaustion and fear of the last few moons, a proper celebration for a new warrior would make for a nice change of pace.

Maplepaw was excited.  She figured that this was her warrior ceremony, for there weren't many other ceremonies happening at this time.  She wondered what her warrior name would be.  She walked into the clearing, wondering if this is how all apprentices feel when they get their warrior name.  As Maplepaw watched the rest of the Clan gather in the clearing, she was anxious to start the ceremony.  

When she realized that she was shaking a little, she took a couple of deep breaths to calm herself.  This is not how warriors acted, especially during their ceremony!  Then Maplepaw realized that she wasn't a warrior yet, and went back to being excited.

Clovertwist raised his head at Raventail's call, feeling worried for a moment about what the meeting might be about before he realized he didn't hear concern or fury in his leader's voice. Clovertwist's whiskers twitched and he made a soft hum of acknowledgement before standing and beginning to approach the Tallrock. He watched as the thick-furred apprentice Maplepaw scampered in, practically vibrating with excitement. Clovertwist blinked as he saw her and wondered if she knew something he didn't. The realization hit him a moment later: her ceremony! The tom immediately began looking for her mentor, Zinnia; the former loner had seen a pawful of warrior ceremonies by now, but this one was going to be special. Clovertwist's kinked tail flicked as he waited, a flicker of warmth in his belly, for what was to come.

Though she'd had little chance to interact with the she-cat outside of routine patrols and camp shenanigans, Morningpaw had always quietly admired her older sibling; Maplepaw had always been so brave and kind and- really, the kind of cat Morningpaw aspired to be. So when Maplepaw grew nearer to becoming a warrior, it was not with envy that she regarded the other apprentice (for she too desired to be a warrior- but envy had never been in her nature), but pride. For a moment, Morningpaw thought that perhaps Raventail's call was for something else, something darker- but no, the knowing look and kind voice of her leader reassured her that this was, in fact, news to bring joy. A ceremony, then- and who else's ceremony could it be, at this time of year? So she took her seat beside her Clanmates, her tail gently swishing behind her in the grass, and gave Maplepaw a knowing grin at the other apprentice's visible anticipation. She's going to make a great warrior, I'm sure of it- but in her position, I think I'd be just as excited!

When the time came for a kit to become an apprentice, enthusiasm was their near-universal response. For warriors-to-be, however, the reactions varied. Some met their new responsibility solemnly, others fearfully, others still with outright confidence or excitement. From the look on her face, Maplepaw seemed to fall into the last group. She’d clearly figured out what this ceremony was for. Raventail muffled a quick cough with his shoulder, then looked out over the crowd. Enough cats had gathered, and so he began the ceremony with a tired-but-bright smile, his tail waving behind him. ”Maplepaw, step forward.”

Once she had done so, the dark tom continued, addressing his Clan first. ”I, Raventail of WindClan, ask my fellow warriors to look upon this apprentice. She’s trained hard to understand our ways, and I commend her to you as a warrior in return.” His gaze settled on Maplepaw herself, warm despite the question he knew he had to ask. Even in the best of times, the warrior’s oath carried a certain weight. ”Maplepaw, do you promise to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?”

Olivestone had been letting the sun's warmth soothe her tired muscles from a day of hunting, and pricked her ears as Raventail's voice called out from the Tallrock. Sure enough, the black-and-white tom stood proudly upon it, looking down on the camp and his Clanmates with warmth. With a smile, she pushed herself to her paws and settled down beside Morningpaw, wrapping her tail around the apprentice. As Raventail called Maplepaw forth, she saw the brown she-cat approach the front of the crowd, looking up at their leader above.

Though Maplepaw was shaking, her voice was surprisingly calm and steady.  
"I do," she replied, speaking the words spoken by many apprentices before her.  Though the words seemed simple, when she spoke them, Maplepaw felt the meaning behind them.  Those two words, along with hard work and training, could make her a warrior.

Zinnia watched with pride as her apprentice was called forward, a sense of relief washing over her in the way it often did when she thought about Maplepaw. She hadn't failed her apprentice the way she feared she would; instead, she stood here now, ready to be a warrior like any other. Raventail called out the ceremonial words, and Maplepaw responded in turn - it was something special, something precious, that they gathered together to celebrate each new warrior. Just as it was an honor to have helped one take her rightful place.

Whether it was nerves or sheer anticipation that made her shake, Maplepaw tempered it well. When she spoke, her voice came out calm and clear. Raventail smiled. Of all the ceremonies he’d heard about, he only knew of one where the apprentice in question had given a different answer. Even if they were expected and ordinary, even without the weight of an ancient code dragging them down, there was still something special to the words. ”Then with the approval of my Clanmates,” he said, ”I give you your warrior name. From this moment on, you will be known as Maplewhisker. We honor your kindness and loyalty, and I am proud to welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan.”

Raventail made his way to the sandy ground, careful not to slip, and took his place in the crowd. ”Maplewhisker! Maplewhisker!” The fog of exhaustion in his head couldn’t stop him from joining the others as they called Maplewhisker's new name. For at least a moment, they could well and truly set recent events aside. Maplewhisker was WindClan’s newest warrior, and nothing mattered more.

By now, Maplepaw, no, Maplewhisker was shaking so hard that she couldn't contain her excitement as the Clan shouted her name in support of her new name and position within the Clan.  She looked around tho the cats who had gotten her this far.  Zinnia, who had been her helpful mentor and had taught her how to hunt and fight.  Larkflight, who has been her friend in these trying times.  Her parents, who had raised her.  The Clan, for being supportive.  As she saw all of these cats who had been there for her, she wanted to thank them.

"Thank you," she said her voice coming out a lot quieter than she had anticipated.  This was her Clan, WindClan.  No tragedy or "Righteous Few" could take that away.  She stood there, newly-named, in the center of the camp.  Her camp.  Her Clan.  WindClan.

The Clan had gathered in a short span of time, Zinnia included, and Clovertwist looked happily up at as Raventail called the waiting Maplepaw's name - her apprentice name, one of the final times she'd be called by it. The less-traditional words of the WindClan ceremony barely registered to the warrior anymore; it was strange how something that had been the same his entire life could change so swiftly yet so gradually at the same time. The promised words were the same, though, and Clovertwist looked to see Maplepaw trembling even as she vowed them steadily. He smiled with a bit of pity - but an endearing pity, more like sympathy - as Raventail called to the Clan with her new warrior name: Maplewhisker. Clovertwist nodded in agreement, smiling, at the kind words used to describe her. He chanted her name proudly when Raventail leaped off the rock. "Maplewhisker! Maplewhisker!"

"Maplewhisker Maplewhisker!" Spotlake joined in the cheering. "I'm so proud of you."