Palekit's Apprentice Ceremony

It was time yet again for an apprentice ceremony, and Olivestone was glad to have more ceremonies to conduct. The familiar words in mind, the deputy retraced the path up to the Tallrock's summit, taking a moment to let the warm greenleaf breeze blow through her fur and her whiskers. She thought of the tom-kit that that would be gaining his apprenticeship and smiled, before opening her mouth and calling out the the camp below,
"Let all cats old enough to run the moor gather beneath the Tallrock!"

Palekit was in his usual spot, watching his clanmates go about their business in the camp. When Olivestone called for the clan to gather at the Tallrock, the kit jerked his head up, staring at the deputy. Is it my turn already? Realistically, he had known for a while that his apprentice ceremony was coming up soon. He had spent the past quarter-moon preparing himself for it so that he wouldn't succumb to his anxiety when the day came. However, having it actually happen made the butterflies in his stomach return full-force.

It wasn't as if he didn't want to become an apprentice; far from it, in fact. Palekit wanted so badly to become an apprentice in the hopes that, when he learned some skills and saw what Windclan territory was really like, his fears would be lessened and he wouldn't be so terrified of everything. By the time he became a warrior, he might even be able to participate in battles without running away in terror..? (Even the idea of having to fight another cat in his future made Palekit want to curl up and hide in the nursery forever.) Actually getting to that point, however.... thinking about what it would take to get there was when fear took hold of the poor kit's small body. Facing his fears would take courage Palekit wasn't sure he had in him, but taking things one step at a time wouldn't be so hard, right....?

With this thought and a nervous gulp, Palekit stood up and started walking towards the Tallrock, feuled by both anticipation and anxiety in equal measure.

When the deputy cast her gaze around and found Palekit in the crowd, she smiled at the apprentice-to-be, and waited a few moments for the Clan to gather below her. When she was satisfied by the size of the crowd, she continued the ceremony.
"Palekit, step forward."

When the lilac-spotted kit did so, she continued, giving him an encouraging smile.
"Palekit, you have reached your sixth moon, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Palepaw. I will be your mentor, and I will teach you everything I know."

She followed the path down from the Tallrock, moving to take her place in front of the newly-named Palepaw, lowering her head for him to touch noses with her. When her obliged, she turned towards the Clan and raised her voice in the traditional chant.
"Palepaw! Palepaw! Palepaw!"

Palekit nearly fainted when he heard his name called out. With shaking legs, he managed to make his way forward to stand below the Tallrock. Taking a deep breath, the apprentice-to-be turned his head skyward, blinking against the sunlight, to look at his deputy.

Though the newly-named young cat had expected this to be his apprentice ceremony, he hadn't expected Olivestone herself to decide that he was worthy of becoming her apprentice. He gaped at his brand-new mentor, who was currently making her way down the Tallrock to stand in front of him. In a daze, Palepaw followed Olivestone's lead and touched noses with her. She pulled away and began the chant of his new name, but the young tom could barely hear the clan's celebration over the woosh of blood rushing through the vessels in his ears.

Palepaw's eyes darted around, taking in the sight of all of his clanmates celebrating him, and he felt as if he might faint again. Anxiously, he caught Olivestone's eyes. "Are... are you sure??" he whispered, incredulous. "I- What should I do now?"