Thrushkit's Apprentice Ceremony

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

Nettlefire's tail flicked back and forth gently as she waited for cats to gather around the Highrock so that she could continue with another apprentice ceremony. She was happy that there had been quite a number of them lately; it still remained her favorite part of being deputy.

Six moons had been more than long enough for Thrushkit to notice a pattern in Nettlefire’s meetings: they always seemed to end with one of Thrushkit’s denmates leaving the nursery for good. Most recently, it’d been Hickorypaw. She’d seemed happy to join Quailpaw in the apprentices’ den; Quailpaw had been just as excited, if not more, at the idea of training beside her. No cat could stay a kit forever. When Thrushkit really thought about it, she knew that wasn’t what she wanted. Some parts of living in the nursery had started to grate on her; she couldn’t imagine spending six more moons there. But…was she really ready to leave? Maybe she wouldn’t have to answer that today. When the call came, she obeyed, carrying the mouse she’d been chewing on with her as she sat among her older, taller Clanmates.

Quailpaw perked his ears up when he heard Nettlefire call a clan meeting. Quailpaw bounded over, knowing it was his older sister's time to shine. He sat down not too far from her, excited that Mermurr was going to be joining him and Dock in the apprentice's den.

"Thrushkit, step forward, please," Nettlefire said, calling out to the kit who sat among the crowd.

"Thrushkit, having 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 Thrushpaw," The she-cat paused briefly. She had been wanting to have an apprentice again. So why not now? "I will be your mentor,"

Nettlefire left her place on the Highrock and went down among the crowd to greet her new apprentice. "We will start training soon, Thrushpaw. I look forward to it,"

A swooping sensation filled Thrushkit’s gut just before her name rang out. Though she’d hoped for more time, part of her had expected this. She laid the mouse down beside her, then stood. As she padded toward the Highrock, her eyes caught on her brother’s, and she paused midstep to take a steadying breath. Right. Quailpaw and Hickorypaw, Daris and Dock. No matter what changes this step forward would bring, she wouldn’t be alone—and she’d still be Mermurr. This didn’t have to be bad just because it would be different.

In front of the Highrock at last, she fixed her gaze on a spot just beneath Nettlefire’s eyes, and all at once, she was Thrushpaw. Where Nettlefire usually named the new apprentice’s mentor, there was a heartbeat of silence. Then Nettlefire made her decision. Thrushpaw blinked. What could’ve possessed the Clan’s deputy to pick her? She’d talked to Nettlefire before, but she hadn’t thought she’d made much of an impression. Maybe she was wrong. Either way, it was an honor—one she’d prove herself worthy of. As Nettlefire reached her, Thrushpaw tapped her gray-brown nose against the deputy’s the way she’d seen her siblings do. ”Me too,” she said. To her surprise, she meant it.

Quailpaw waled over to his sister to congratulate her. "Thats so cool to have the deputy as your mentor! Theres a nest saved for you next to mine and Dock's!" Quailpaw mewed excitedly, even more happy for his sister then he was before.