Emberkit's Apprentice Ceremony

The first of Beecloud and Robinloft's kits. At any other time, he probably would have felt happy for them. Not that he didn't, it was just... mixed with the now-usual dread twinging in his stomach as he crunched over the frosty ground of the ravine's floor. How many of these kits are going to be marred by the Asylum? Of course they'd try to instill their ideals into the youngest members of his Clan, even if only mostly passively. How many of them would end up believing in it, like the young tom - Griffon - who'd been raised by them? His eyes drew up to the pale leaf-bare sky as he paused beneath the Highrock's shadow, a flitting bird dancing against the still sky, dark branches stark, like cracks in the perfect evenness of its cold blue. The faintest of breezes, bringing the scent of chill and ruffling his thickened pelt, danced through the air, bringing a raspy rustle from all around, like dead things whispering at the edge of hearing.

You're grim today. Leaping to the top of the rock, a pale glimmer of sunlight slanting through the trees to land partially on his paw, he tried to shake it off, quickly panning his eyes over the camp and ignoring the interested eyes of Asylum onlookers. For some reason, a few of them were fascinated by the traditions of the Clans - most of them in a mocking, leery sort of way. At least none of them had the stupidity to say it to his face. Their stares made his fur prickle enough as it was - there was something about performing a ceremony like this in front of sneering strangers that was worse even than all the eyes of his Clanmates looking up at him. Something that also happened to make his claws itch.

Opening his maw, he called, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!"

Emberkit Smiled up at robinloft as she groomed his thick fur. Emberkit didn't mind the loving attention as it was a battle of cuteness within the litter. It was like their own unspoken competition on who could get the most love. As the meeting was finally called, He padded out into the cold of camp. Emberkit Stayed close to his mother as he didnt want to bump into any asylum cats.

The fiery tom was smart enough to not mess with the asylum cats, the rest of his siblings, Not so much. Emberkit sat down in the front and looked up at the ginger tabby, the deputy. Emberkit never really saw much of the clan, as he was always tired during the day, so he took this moment to see his clanmates. When it looked like everyone arrived, emberkit looked back up to minkstream.

Gingerkit padded behind Emberkit and sat down she gave his cheek a quick kick and gave him a quick good luck before sitting down to watch the ceremony. She was old enough to have her apprentice ceremony as well but today was the day her brother became an apprentice! She was so happy for him and knew she would soon be joining him in the den.

Slatekit followed behind Gingerkit and Emberkit purring. She too gave Emberkit a quick lick on the cheek and a good luck before sitting next to Gingerkit. She was so proud of Emberkit! She hoped soon that her best friend would save her a spot in the apprentices den next to him and Gingerkit so the three of them can be together all the time.

Minkstream watched the young tom-kit step out of the nursery, a few of his siblings following along. I'll have to find mentors from somewhere for all these kits.... At least they had a few more warriors without apprentices right now, that would hopefully make it a bit easier. I'm sure if we run short some of the Asylum pelts would be happy to take on one or two, He thought with a bitter mental snort. Anything but that.

The end of his tail swished behind as he opened his mouth again, eyes steady on the kit in the clearing. "Emberkit, step forward."

When the tom had done so, he continued, "You have reached the age of six moons; ready to join the Clan's ranks as an apprentice. Emberkit, from this moment until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Emberpaw. Your mentor will be Kitefire."

The she-cat was young, but he had a feeling she'd do well - she was driven, smart, and if Emberkit turned out to be as firey as his name hinted, he had no doubt she'd be more than a match for that. Hearing issues or no. He leapt down again to the cold grass, calling the new apprentice's name with the rest of the Clan as he threw a couple of hard glances at some of the onlooking Asylum cats. You watch. We'll keep our way of life - our apprentices will be ours, not yours.

Emberpaw smiled as he padded towards kitefire to touch noses. At long last,he was apprentice and the first one out of this litter also. Maybe that would show eaglekit that not everything depends on being physically strong, he also needed brains. "Hope to learn well from you!" He mewed with a smile.

After emberpaw was done talking with kitefire he padded towards gingerkit and slatekit, giving them both a lick on their heads. "Soon ladies, you will join this amazing tom in the apprentice den." he mewed flicking his tail on their backs as he went to get motherly love from robinloft, as she was grinning with sadness in her eyes.

Kitefire blinked in surprise when her name was called. It was stifled at first, admittedly her gaze had glazed over, until her head tilted in the proper direction to pick up on the sound. With her ceremony done, there was no reason for her to be needed for a ceremony. But Minkstream had other plans in mind it seemed. An apprentice was named... and he was to be hers to train. The young tom headed in her direction and she briefly touched her nose to his, "We will head out tomorrow, then. I'll train you up right." Her expression faltered slightly. This would be a strange apprenticeship under the circumstances.