Briarpaw's Warrior Ceremony

...So this was it. Flintstar stood ridge at the top of the Jaggedrock, eyes falling toward the apprentice's den. Finally, one of his younger siblings were to become a warrior. He sighed softly, hoping that Thornstar was watching and proud. He...He had tried his best to care for them in her absence but he just wasn't sure if he was managing. He didn't know how to care for them, how to be there for them. He... He just hoped that they didn't hate him. He sighed, pushing down his doubts as he raised his voice for the Clan to hear. "ShadowClan! Gather in the shadows of the Jaggedrock!"

Despite how long she'd been an apprentice, Briarpaw didn't expect to become a warrior any time soon. She knew she'd completed her training for the most part, because Shadestrike had taught her everything that she could, and she'd been to the Moonstone to speak with StarClan. In spite of that, she just couldn't fathom becoming a warrior. Being an apprentice was all she was used to, and being thrust into the life of a full-time warrior didn't sound too appealing. So when she heard her brother summon the Clan, she hardly batted an eye, padding to the outside of the apprentice's den to watch a kit earn their apprentice name, or to see one of her denmates become a warrior.

Flintstar's tail thumped the stone beneath him, the barest hint of his unrest. This was a higher honor than most of his littermates had gotten - only he and Sparkfire had ever gotten their warrior names...Not that he sure it mattered, with he being the last to remain of Thornstar and Asterspark's children. "I've gathered you all here to witness another warrior join our ranks," he said, sweeping his gaze across the camp until his eyes landed on his half-sister. "Briarpaw, please step forward.

"I, Flintstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Briarpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Briarpaw's ears immediately folded back against her skull when Flintstar's sweeping eyes landed on her, and she instinctively shrunk back towards the apprentice's den. Then she heard her name, and it was all made that much worse. She could feel the eyes of a dozen other cats boring into her, and all she wanted in that moment was to turn back and start the day over from the very beginning. After several moments of simply sitting there, she slowly took a few steps forward, ears still pinned to her head. "Yes." She said shortly, not wanting to draw any more attention to herself than she already had.

"Then by the powers granted to me, I give you your warrior name. Briarpaw, from this moment you will be known as Briarthorn," he meowed as Briarpaw - now Briarthorn - spoke the two words needed. It had spent some time trying to think of what her warrior name would be...But in some way, Briarthorn had reminded him the most of Thornstar so it was only fitting that her name paid honor to their beloved mother. "We honor your strength and loyalty and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." As he finished, he jumped down and padded over to his sister, resting his chin on her head. "...Thornstar...Mother would - is - proud of you and the other leeches," he said softly, recalling the fond nickname that Thornstar had given to her last litter. He ha never been one nicknames but he knew it had only been out of love that Thornstar had given it - it seemed only right to use it right here, right now. "...I hope I've been doing right by you and the others," he added, even more quietly before he pulled away, glancing away in an almost sheepish manner as he dipped his head to Briarthorn.