Tigerpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Redfall's offspring had been one of many things that Wolfstar had been uncertain about in the past few moons. He knew what the russet tom had done to Wrenspring, and stars knew it made him angry just to think about it, but there had been so many other things to do, and to handle, and with Redfall's disappearance, the crime had just... faded into the background. He knew that at some point, Redfall would have to pay for his misgivings... be it here, at his paws, or in StarClan, but Wolfstar had to admit... his kits were proving themselves to be strong, capable apprentices. Today, he planned to make the odd-eyed apprentice, Tigerpaw, a warrior. It was no surprise to him that Bloodstrike had expedited the young tom's training. He of all cats knew his son's relentless drive for success, and there was no exception here.

"Let all cats old enough to climb a tree gather before me for a clan meeting!" his yowl split the morning air, and several birds took flight from the tallest branches of a tree right outside the camp. Wolfstar watched them fly, long tail twitching once. There were fewer and fewer birds already in the territory, and Leafbare would continue to drive them away.

---

Tigerpaw was asleep near the elder's den. His long coat kept him warm through all but the coldest of nights, and last night, he had found himself insufferably warm curled between his denmates... an inconvenience that had led him to seek cooler refuge outside the den. His dreams had been full of foxes, chasing him, nipping at his heels, and he was always just too slow to completely escape their murderous fangs. He knew another apprentice had been killed by them... one of the leader's own kits... and whispers had been whirling around the apprentices' den about what was going to be done about it. Tigerpaw didn't want to fight a fox. He had seen the beasts once, at a distance, while on patrol. They were big, and they looked mean.

But it wasn't fox-dreams that woke him from this slumber, but Wolfstar, calling for a clan meeting. Tigerpaw blinked sleepily, shivering once as he uncurled himself and shuffled towards the center of the clearing.

Before long, the clan was gathered at his paws, and Wolfstar continued. He had a patrol to do after this, and wasting time was not something the dark tom had ever liked doing.

"Tigerpaw, please step forward."

---

Tigerpaw tilted his head, feeling suddenly uncomfortable within the leader's stern amber gaze. His ears flattened, and he crept forward, wondering what he'd done wrong, but an upwards glance at Wolfstar saw the leader's expression change from severe, to approving, and the confusion roiling within Tigerpaw only deepened.

---

"We are gathered here, to give one of our apprentices their warrior name and rank," Wolfstar said, noticing that the ginger tom seemed uncomfortable, perhaps even a little embarrassed, to be the center of attention. "I, Wolfstar, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down upon 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. Tigerpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

---

Tigerpaw didn't know what to say. This, like his apprentice ceremony, had caught him completely by surprise despite the fact that he'd known it was coming. He ducked his head, paws shuffling uncomfortably as Wolfstar rattled on above him, and when posed the question, he couldn't help but feel the blood drain from his face. Ah, mousetails. He was supposed to answer? Now? On the spot?

Come on, don't be a featherbrain, Tigerpaw. You've seen this done a bunch of times, you just say yes! he scolded himself.

"I... I do." He choked the words out, forcing himself to stare directly into the leader's eyes as he did. Wolfstar seemed to believe him.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Tigersong, SkyClan honors your determination and willpower. Congratulations." He slid down and padded forward, and Tigersong lifted his head, nearly straining to touch the tall leader's nose with his own.

Smokefeather's ears perked at Wolfstar's voice, and she carefully untangled herself from where she'd been curled outside the medicine den. A meeting? Hopefully it was for the foxes that had been stalking the clan since their return. Something needed to be done about them, and the sooner, the better. For Sagelight, for Dustpaw.

Wolfstar spoke again, and Smokefeather felt a flash of bitter, irrational resentment burn through her. A warrior ceremony, but it wouldn't be Dustpaw's.

A warrior ceremony was something to celebrate, though. The moment didn't need to be ruined by her grief. A tight smile crossed her expression as Tigerpaw was called forward. The kit she'd taken under her wing when Redfall had brought him and his siblings to Skyclan had earned this moment, he'd worked hard and had grown into a respectable member of the clan.

Wolfstar gave the tom his warrior name, and Smokefeather's smile grew. Tigersong. It was fitting, she thought. Her own duties had mostly kept her away from the tom and his siblings once they'd become apprentices, but she'd kept an eye on them from afar.

"Congratulations, Tigersong, you earned this." Smokefeather stepped forward as the chants died down a bit, tail lightly brushing his shoulder before she stepped away.

Bloodstrike had a feeling that he knew what this meeting was about. He had said nothing but good things about Tigerpaw, and Tigerpaw had certainly earned it. He wasn't pure Skyclan, but no one would know that now. The recent death of his daughter gutted him and he fully intended to rid his territory of foxes, but for now, he would keep his composure and carry on about his duties. He wasn't Spottedstar. He wouldn't cry and mope around and shut himself away despite the death of his daughter. Tigerpaw had earned this! Bloodstrike would be there regardless of how much his chest ached.

He sat down among the crowd and wasn't surprised in the slightest when Tigerpaw was given his warrior name. Tigersong... fitting. Powerful and humble at the same time. Once Wolfstar had given Tigersong his congratulations, Bloodstrike got to his feet and padded over to his former apprentice.

"Congratulations Tigersong." He said, echoing his father and his mate. "Skyclan's strength has grown thanks to your hard work and determination. I'm proud of you." Bloodstrike tipped his ears forward respectfully, then walked away to allow other warriors to welcome him into their ranks.