Haypaw's Warrior Ceremony

When Dappleshine had let her know that Haypaw was ready to become a warrior, Olivestar was overjoyed. The golden she-cat had come so far since she'd been found by the Thunderpath all those moons ago, and she was proud of how Haypaw had come out of her shell and grown into being a vital part of the Clan. Now, it was time for her to take the next step, and Olivestar knew that Haypaw was more than ready for it.

With a smile, she realized that this would be her first warrior ceremony since being named leader, and she smiled a bit wider as she climbed the familiar path up to the Tallrock's summit. The breeze that flowed through her fur was still warm with the energy of greenleaf, yet it was cooler than it had been the past few moons, a little preview to the bite that it would soon have, once it grew into the cold fangs of the season to come.

She lowered her gaze to her Clamates below, the familiar warmth of love filling her heart as she called out the familiar words,
"May all cats old enough to run the moor gather beneath the Tallrock!"

Haypaw peered up towards Olivestar as the new leader's voice rang across the camp. It was something she was still getting used to - she hadn't known Finchstar long before he had died, and she still felt...A little confused about the details around Ravensta-Er, Raventail stepping down. She suppose she understood that he just didn't feel like he was being a good leader or something but it was still...Weird on some level. And now Olivestar was leader... She blinked, realizing that this was one of the first times the leader had called the Clan together. Huh, she wondered what it was about... She pushed herself to her paws, padding over to join the gathering group as she shook off the bits of grass that had clung to her pelt as she...Might have been rolling around on the ground when Olivestar had called out.

A small laugh escaped Olivestar as she saw Haypaw pop up to her paws from where she'd been rolling on the ground, and shook off the grass that had stuck to her pelt. As Haypaw approached the rock, the leader cast her gaze around, looking at her other Clanmates as they gathered below. Once the crowd was at a decent size, she continued.
"Haypaw, step forward."

When the golden she-cat had done so, Olivestar continued speaking.
"I, Olivestar of WindClan, ask my fellow Clanmates to look upon this apprentice. She’s trained hard to understand our ways, and I commend her to you as a warrior in return." She then turned to look at the she-cat in question, "Haypaw, do you promise to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Haypaw felt herself freeze as her name was called out, ears slicking back and eyes going wide as she tried to make sense of why she was being singled out... But then she remembered all of the times she had heard those words before - the order to step forward... When a cat was getting a ceremony done. She...She had been an apprentice for quite a while and it had taken some time for her to get used to things...But now she felt like WindClan was all she was ever meant to know, all she ever needed to know to be happy. There had been only one thing missing...

And it seems she was about to get it.

She took in a deep breath as she pushed herself to her paws and stepped forward, paws buzzing with excitement as Olivestar spoke up and confirmed her theories - this was her warrior ceremony, at long last! She was...She was going to be a proper WindClan cat, her place here would be made solid. It...Wasn't as if she didn't feel like she belonged - she had gotten over that fear early on in her apprenticeship but this was...To get her warrior name was the proof that everybody could see - would know at the mere utterance of her name. She wasn't just a WindClan cat, she was a WindClan warrior and had proven herself.

Her ears perked as the question was asked - was she willing to risk her life to protect WindClan? It was...A heavy question, but she had known her answer for a long time. "I do," she responded, straightening up to meet Olivestar's gaze. While she wasn't thrilled by the idea of fighting - she hadn't been thrilled about hunting when she became an apprentice... She had heard how fiercely WindClan - all the Clans - had fought for what they thought was right. And it was... It was awe-inspiring, to hear how they went against the very Stars themselves when they thought they had turned their back on them. Their strength, their will...How could she not want to fight for that? For her friends, her new found family. She hated the idea of fighting, to spill blood... But she knew that if was to protect her Clanmates, she would barely hesitate.

As those two little words left Haypaw's mouth, the smile on Olivestar's face grew a little wider as she saw how eager the golden she-cat was to take her place as a full warrior of WindClan, and with joy in her voice and on her face, the leader called out the final words of the ceremony. She'd taken quite a bit of time to herself, thinking of potential warrior names, searching for the right one to properly embody who Haypaw had grown into. She'd been bouncing ideas off Zinnia for a second opinion, when they'd stopped to watch the sunset, lighting up the sky in glowing red, orange and gold, and that's when the perfect name had come to her. All she could hope for now is that Haypaw would like it.
"Then by the approval of my Clanmates, I give you your warrior name. From this moment on, you will be known as Hayglow. You've come so far since you first arrived to WindClan all those moons ago, and I'm so proud of how much you've grown. We honor your endless energy and boundless joy, and I am proud to welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan.”

She bounded down the path to the ground, and approached the newly-named Hayglow, touching her nose to the new warrior's. She then turned to the rest of the Clan gathered there, and began the traditional chant.
"Hayglow! Hayglow! Hayglow!"

With a timid smile, Dappleshine approached the new warrior as Olivestar stepped back. "Congratulations, Hayglow, you deserve this. Your name suits you." She purred as she gently nudged the she-cat's shoulder before stepping back slightly. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you as much as I should have been. You excelled as an apprentice, and I know that will continue for you in your warriorhood. I'm so proud of your accomplishments, and how far you've come. Do come visit me in the elder den sometime, will you?" She mewed, smiling again before stepping back to Raventail's side and raising her voice in the chant.