Leafkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Dawnhawk was up early, embracing his typical schedule that he liked to keep. He no longer stayed in the warriors den. He had his own setup in the forest away from camp that the Asylum had set up for him. He wasn't foolish enough to sleep in the same den with cats that probably wanted to cut his throat. He made his way across the frosty ground to the leader's den, indifferent to how early it was and how some warrior's shifts might just be ending. "Let all cats old enough to climb a tree gather before me for a clan meeting." His voice rang out across camp. It was time to start assigning mentors to kits old enough to be apprentices. Still, the cold in the air concerned him. The kits weren't as well equipped for cold temperatures like adults. He would make this ceremony swift so that Leafkit, soon to be Leafpaw, could retreat into the apprentice's den to stay warm.

Wolfstar had heard the summons a hundred times, and from a half dozen cats. Tinystar, Foxfire, Spottedstar, Bloodstrike... but when Dawnhawk's voice rang out, calling for a clan meeting, it made the hair on the leader's spine rise. He'd been dozing, half-asleep in the warrior's den, having moved there to be close to the clan, close to his family, in case they needed him, when it roused him from his state of rest. His head snapped up, a low growl rumbling in his chest.

Sliding into the camp, Wolfstar ignored the cold that cut across him, and stared up at Dawnhawk with the hatred of a thousand stars burning in his gaze. The tom was staring at the apprentice den, waiting. An apprentice ceremony? How dare you. How dare you stand there and pretend like you belong.

His claws slid into the dirt, ears plastered angrily against his head. There are few things I wouldn't give to rip you off that rock and slice you to shreds, you mange-ridden foxheart.

Still, if this was an apprentice ceremony, it had to be done. Flowerthorn and Foxfire's kits were nearing that age... a sad testament to how long the Asylum had been here, how long his son had been missing. A pang of grief still shot through him every time he thought of Bloodstrike. He'd yet to name a deputy, and he wouldn't. Not until he knew for sure. For now, he was forced to sit back on his haunches and watch a traitor perform those duties.

Leafkit knew little about Dawnhawk, only that her mother warned her about him. She smoothed out her fur, trying to look as pristine as possible, as she slunk out of the nursery. It was her time to shine.

She sat down, tail twitching in anticipation. She had promised her mother that she would be the best warrior SkyClan had seen. And Leafkit had every intent to make that happen.

Her hazel eyes met those of Dawnhawk, the traitor. Please StarClan, make me ready. She worried about his presence possibly tainting her ceremony- but surely the stars would understand?

Flashkit stepped forward, greeting his sister with a paw to the shoulder, slightly shoving her. Flashing (no pun intended) a playfu grin to her, he looked up to Dawnhawk, any show of affection he had for his sister disappearing at the sight of the supposed traitor. "Hey, you'll be careful, right, sis? You know what mom said. That cat can't be trusted. And it isn't just mom saying that, either. Take care of yourself."

He looked around the camp, curious what cat would be her mentor. Please, stars, don't let it be an Asylum cat! He honestly did not doubt Dawnhawk would solely assign known allies to him as mentors. "convert the kits", he assumed. Well that was not happening to him, or his siblings! He would make sure of it.

Dawnhawk caught the glares and sneers that at this point he had grown quite accustomed to. His eyes dropped down to the patchy calico looking kit, though no emotion registered on Dawnhawk's face. Without even so much as a blink, his attention was focused on the crowd around him. He could practically smell how furious Wolfstar was, but unless the leader wanted to take on the responsibility of Deputy as well as everything else going on here, he'd be quiet and allow Dawnhawk to take some responsibility off of him.

"Leafkit, step forward." He called out commandingly, once he was sure that the kit's mentor was in sight as well. "You have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to be come an apprentice. From today and this day forward, you will be known as Leafpaw. Your mentor will be Sunflower." Dawnhawk's eyes sparkled coldly, like icicles in the gleaming sunlight. "Sunflower... I know you're not the bravest warrior... but I'm sure you will prevent any harm from coming to this apprentice even if it costs you your life... because to abandon this apprentice in anyway will cost you more than that. I hope I've made myself clear." He gave the cowardly, gangly warrior a crude smirk before standing and leaving the area. He didn't care what anyone had to say, because no one's opinion but his mattered now. If they dared attack, he'd let the nightstrikers beat them until they were a pile of jelly.

Leafpaw nodded dumbly, noticing the palpable scorn in the air.

She turned to Sunflower, and walked up to him. She dipped her head quickly, as a show of respect, and went back to where she was seated previously.

As much as she didn’t care for Dawnhawk, she worried over his words about her new mentor. Would he really abandon me?

She took in a deep breath and gave a weak smile to her brother. This was where it’d all begin.

Having been cowering near the corner of the crowd, Sunflower's name was called and a pit grew in his stomach. Mustering up enough bravery to get up from where he sat hunched over, he slunk his way to the front of the crowd. Dawnhawk's words pierced his pelt like the cold Leaf-fall winds, but the lengthy warrior said nothing, seeing as though he'd rather keep his pelt and besides, it wasn't as though Dawkhawk was wrong... Turning to the newly named Leafpaw, the shivering warrior simply touched her nose without a word before making his way away from the crowded area.