Crowkit's Apprentice Ceremony

We meet again. Minkstream narrowed his eyes at the rock standing against the sky marbled with white wisps, his tail swishing once as the breeze ruffled through his pelt. He didn't know how many of the things he would end up doing, but with Cedarheart's litter growing to six moons with the usual speed, there were bound to be a lot.

Cedarheart's new litter....

An uncomfortable feeling swirled inside him as he leapt, his paws easily bringing him to the top in a move his not-quite RiverClan build made considerably easier. They didn't have a father. Not one that had come forward, anyway. He wasn't about to pry, but his gut held a hint of suspicion that not all was right. I know what it's like to grow up with something like that hanging over your head. I won't bring it up.

He stepped forward, the feeling of discomfort at being the brief center of attention a little easier to ignore this time, and narrowed his eyes against the breeze blowing into his face. Flicking a look over camp, he watched for the kit's dark, marbled pelt.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the High Rock!"

Yellow eyes narrowed in the gloom of the nursery, searching, searching, sweeping back and forth to try and locate the flicker of movement he'd just seen in the corner of his vision. It was here, somewhere, he knew... there! Crowkit sank into an instinctive crouch, his long tail straight behind him, as he zoned in on the intruder that had invaded the nursery.

His ears tilted forward, watching the thing scurry along the edge of the den, and with one patient foot in front of the other, Crowkit stalked, until finally he was close enough to pounce! Forepaws slapped the ground on either side of the berry-sized beetle, and by the time Minkstream's voice called out, it was already halfway in his mouth.

A clan meeting? Crowkit's eyes glistened with curiosity. He could attend, right? His victory over the beetle proved to him that he was capable of catching his own prey, and so the marbled tabby sauntered out into the camp with the beetle still buzzing against his tongue, just in case someone challenged his presence.

The edge of his mouth twitched up as he spotted the kit trotting out of the nursery, and Minkstream had to fight back an amused grin inadvertently threatening to break out at the sight of a beetle buzzing halfway in the little tom's mouth. For just a moment, it almost made him forget he was standing on top of the High Rock, but the expectant looks of cats below quickly brought him back to reality.

He cleared his throat, his maw opening again. "Crowkit, step forward."

When the tom's yellow eyes came to his, Minkstream continued, "Crowkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it's time for you to learn the ways of the Clan as an apprentice." It was more confident than last time, at least. Though since he was the only one saying these words anymore, he still had no idea whether he was saying it right or not. "From this day forward until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Crowpaw. Your mentor will be Pinefrost."

Cheers started to ring out for the new apprentice, and he leapt back down again, letting out a quiet breath and wiping sticky paws against the grass. Another one down, only a whole lot more to go. He glanced up, catching sight of the mentor and apprentice and feeling the corner of his lip twitch up in spite of the tension still leaking slowly out of his stomach. He had to admit, if there was one thing that he really enjoyed about this, it had to be that moment between warrior and 'paw. Some things aren't so bad.

The first of Cedarheart's litter had gone to Pinefrost; something the russet warrior took great pride in. His name rolled off of Minkstream's tongue with little hesitation, and the tom quickly locked eyes with his new apprentice, Crowpaw. Pinefrost weaved his way through the crowd with a handsome grin on his face, proud to be able to mentor his nephew. The warrior had been waiting for such a day, as it was the next advancement after becoming warrior. Pinefrost never doubted himself for a second, and was confident he could bring Crowpaw up as a fine warrior, spunky as the kit was. "You ready to have fun, 'paw? What'll we do first?"

Cedarheart had settled at the apprentice ceremony after being notified that her kits would become apprentices. She wondered which one of them would be earning the ‘paw title today. She sat down, looking at both her kits and Minkstream. She wondered if any of them suspected who the father was. It was something most were curious about, surely.

It was lucky Smallbean was brown, like her, so many cats just assumed her kits got the pelts of their mother. Watching with a smile as Crowpaw was apprenticed, she grinned. Pinefrost and Crowpaw would be a great match. ”Crowpaw! Crowpaw!” she chanted, eyes gleaming.

Walking up to her brother, and to her kit, she mewed, ”Congrats, both of you.” and gave them each a loving nuzzle.

The moment his name was spoken aloud, Crowkit's head snapped up and his mouth dropped open. The beetle, sensing an opportunity for freedom, buzzed and fluttered out of the kit's grasp, its wings lopsided and sticky with saliva. Crowkit bolted after it, trapping it between his paws again and standing there, with his attentions rapt on Minkstream as he continued.

His apprentice ceremony! Yes! Crowkit had to suppress a whoop of victory, and he met the deputy's eye with a wide grin plastered across his face. Who would be his mentor? He swept his gaze around the gathered cats, his eyes landing on Pinefrost just as his uncle's name was announced behind him. Pinefrost would be his mentor.

The beetle forgotten now in his excitement, Crowpaw got to his paws and darted forward, somewhat clumsily smashing his nose into his newly-appointed mentor's. "I'm ready!" he told him. "I wanna do everything - can we go now? Do you think I'll be a good hunter? When can I learn how to fight? Do you think we'll meet any rogues out there?" The apprentice's eyes widened, his tail sticking straight up in the air. "If we do, do you think we can chase them off?"

Before Pinefrost even got the opportunity to answer, Cedarheart was there, and Crowkit closed the distance between them, rubbing his cheek against her shoulder and purring loudly.