Shrikepaw's Warrior Ceremony

The kits still hadn't been located, something that Ivystar couldn't take her mind off of. She still had a Clan to lead, and she certainly could be doing a better job than she was. When Nightwolf confirmed to her that Shrikepaw was ready to become a warrior, it had truly caught her off guard. Apprentices ranking up was the last thing on the tabby she-cat's mind, but she trusted Nightwolf's judgment and knew that if a ceremony was deserved, a ceremony should be rewarded. So, that being said, she leaped up to the Willow Branch and yowled, "All cats old enough to catch their own fish, gather beneath the Willow Branch for a Clan meeting!"

The only logical explanation in his mind was a meeting about the kits. It was the stormcloud above the Clans. Ceremonies, especially warrior ceremonies, would not be something especially important right now. Shrikepaw kept in mind every time a meeting was called that it could be his, but his hope grew smaller and smaller, and he wondered if Nightwolf would ever pay attention to their training. This was a little different because he had recently journeyed to the Moonstone. The vital step every apprentice took, usually right before their warrior ceremony.

Shrikepaw approached the crowd and ducked his way to the front. He sat down hesitantly. There was a growing spark of hope that told him it could be the day. His gut told him it could be the day. I'll try not to be disappointed if it isn't, though.

Ivystar, noting that Shrikepaw had joined the growing crowd, waited a few more moments before officially beginning the ceremonial process she'd grown so familiar to. Once a sizeable group of cats had joined them, she nodded and mewed, "Despite the hardships that our Clan is facing, our myriad of apprentices have continued to excel under the leadership of their mentors. Nightwolf has come to me privately to confirm that Shrikepaw has earned his warrior name. Shrikepaw, if you believe this to be true, step forward now and your ceremony will begin." The tabby she-cat's gaze was fairly distant, but her tone was firm and clear.

Shrikepaw’s ears rose at the mention of apprentices and mentors. This had to be a warrior ceremony, and he was the best choice. The logical one. His pelt was as sleek and groomed as ever, and the tabby felt pretty confident about himself in that moment. He listened to Ivystar and realized he’d never actually been to a warrior ceremony before. They said ‘I do’ at some point, he knew that much, but she hadn’t asked him to say anything now. It’s fine; I know I’m ready to become a warrior. All I need to do is step forward like Ivystar asked. Shrikepaw took a glance at the cats around him and took a few steps away from the group of his Clanmates, into the center of their semicircle. He remained standing. He wasn’t sure what to think or feel yet. Maybe things would change when he got his name.

With a nod, Ivystar continued the ceremony. "I, Ivystar, leader of RiverClan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Shrikepaw, do you promise to uphold the Warrior Code and to protect and defend the Clan, even at the cost of your life?" The fluffy grey she-cat mewed, green eyes locked on the apprentice below. This was a critical moment in every warriors' life, and he'd remember it for the rest of his.

"I do." There wasn't the thinking or reflection that another ceremony might have possessed. Shrikepaw was expected to say the words, so he did. He had already been following the code (mostly) and was loyal to RiverClan. Was being a warrior going to change that? Or was it just a title? The tabby's claws unsheathed and sank into the dry ground. Maybe if Ivystar got this over with he could find out.

Ivystar nodded with a twitch of her whiskers, recalling the name she'd chosen for the tom. [color=#33cccc "Then I give you your warrior name. From this day forth, you will be known to all as Shrikfrost. Riverclan honors your courage and spirit. Tonight, as tradition demands, you will hold a silent vigil while the rest of the clan sleeps. Until then, however, we celebrate the rise of a new RiverClan warrior."[/color] She leaped from the branch, meeting up with the newly named warrior and resting her chin on the tom's head for a moment before retreating to the entrance of the warrior's den so the Clan could celebrate.

ooc; for some reason I never got the notification that you'd posted, I'm so sorry for the delay! ;;

"Shrikefrost! Shrikefrost! Shrikefrost!"

Wisteriabloom cheered for her friend, who was now a warrior. He had earned it, there was no doubting that. Even though Nightwolf would get pretty much all the credit for training Shrikefrost, she was still proud of herself, but she only showed it with a very small, smug smile. It had been her who first taught him how to fish, so she felt part of his glory. "Well done Shrikefrost!" She said to him with a friendly nudge, "How do you like the new name?" For her at least, it would take some getting used to.