Hickorykit's Apprentice Ceremony

Nettlefire was back up on the Highrock. The clan had had a fairly large number of kits born recently, which meant apprentice ceremonies were starting to pick up again. She stood in her spot, poised and ready to make the familiar call:

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

Now that Batbite and Minkstream's kits were nearing apprentice age, Cherryblossom found herself hoping for another apprentice now that her last apprentice had been promoted. She still mourned Moonlight's untimely passing, but she knew that the warrior was safe in StarClan. As Nettlefire called the familiar summons, the little tabby looked up from her grooming, pushed herself to her paws, and trotted over to the Highrock, settling below it as she looked up at the deputy.

More and more of Hickorykit's siblings were becoming apprentices, and the quieter and quieter the nursery became. She watched on as they earned their new names, smiling proudly at their achievements. But...when would it be her turn? She wanted to join them and begin her training, too. Hickorykit looked up from where she was watching an ant on the ground at Nettlefire's call and, since she was technically old enough to learn to catch her own prey, she joined the gathering of cats around the Highrock. Once she was settled, she turned her wide gaze up to the deputy, waiting for what she would say next.

"Hickorykit, please take a step forward," Nettlefire said, once the kit had settled among the crowd. The deputy surveyed the gaggle of various warriors and apprentices who made up the rest of the group before continuing on.

"Hickorykit, as you have reached the age of six moons, you are ready to become an apprentice. From this day forward, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Hickorypaw. Your mentor will be Cherryblossom," Nettlefire concluded. She gave a nod to the warrior, who she had spotted among the crowd.

Quailpaw had been watching the ceremony, thinking that it was one of his siblings'. And he was right. Now Dock was Hickorypaw too. Quailpaw ran towards his younger sister and playfully batted her on the shoulder. "Now we can train together Dock! I saved you a nest right next to mine!" Said Quailpaw, a huge smile on his face.

Cherryblossom popped up to her many-toed paws as she name was called, her hopes having been fulfilled as Nettlefire called on her to be the mentor to the newly-named Hickorypaw. She found the new apprentice in the crowd and wove her way through her Clanmates to approach and touch her nose to Hickorypaw's. She smiled at the deep ginger and white she-cat, and murmured,
"I'll teach you everything I know."

Hickorykit let out a little gasp as her name was mentioned. So this was her ceremony after all. She rose to her paws and stepped forward, soaking in the ceremonial words. At the naming of her new mentor, Hickorypaw blinked and raised her head, searching the crowd for the pale warrior. She didn't know Cherryblossom very well but the older she-cat seemed nice. Before she could make her way over to her, however, her brother batted her with his paw. Hickorypaw grinned and bumped him with her head, a soft purr rising from her chest. "Oh, thanks! I'll be sure to swat you if you snore too loud," she mewed, a sly, playful look in her eyes. Once Quailpaw left, Cherryblossom was right behind him, and leaned forward to touch noses with the apprentice. Hickorypaw leaned back in to the touch, unable to contain the huge smile on her face or the way her tail swayed with excitement. "It's nice to meet you, Cherryblossom. I'll be sure to learn everything you know from you...!" She cringed a little outwardly, that was an awkward way to say that. "So, um...we start tomorrow right? I'll wake up bright and early."

Cherryblossom just chuckled as Hickorypaw stumbled over her words, and at the question, she nodded.
"Yep, you can spend today getting to know your fellow apprentices and pick out a nest in the apprentice's den. We'll start training tomorrow."

Minkstream watched proudly as another of his kits went out and got apprenticed, this time to Cherryblossom. He had no doubts she'd teach Dock well. Approaching to hear her talk with her new mentor, he fought back a grin at her phrasing, greeting Daris with a touch of his tail-tip. "That shouldn't be too hard with a nest already made for you." He smiled at her. "You'll do great."

Lirista had watched her siblings get new names from afar, the crowd of bigger cats making her just a little nervous that she'd get stepped on or squished, but now she crept over. A twinge of envy made itself known as she looked at Daris and Dock, and she glanced from one to the other. "What's it like in the apprentice den?" She asked, glancing nervously up at Cherryblossom. The other cat wasn't too big, but still bigger than her, even if she was close to apprentice age. Not to mention she didn't know her much. She turned her eyes back to her siblings as Minkstream talked about the nest. "Have you got one for me, too? Am I getting apprenticed soon?"