Songkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Another day, another ceremony. Minkstream let out a breath, the cold air turning to mist in front of his eyes before he left it behind to leap onto the icy cold surface of the High Rock. Glitters of frost lay all around, glimmering in the crystal clearness of the early morning, each one perfect, frozen in time.

His call rang out to break the leaf-bare quiet, almost seeming to echo louder than normal. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the High Rock for a Clan meeting!"

Eaglekit eagerly followed his parents and Songkit out of the nursery, an unusually soft smile adorning his face. Today was his sister's apprentice ceremony, and although he was a bit annoyed that his own was so late behind his other siblings, he guessed he could understand Minkstream's logic. After all, they were quite a big litter, so spacing them out made sense. Knowing his own would come in just a matter of days though he sat down happily, purring his encouragement to Songkit

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Songkit gave her brother a nod, purring, as she licked his cheek, eyes shining. It was her moment. Freedom was a heartbeat away and soon the birds who's songs she heard each morning would flutter alongside her. She could join into their chorus of melodies. Oh sweet that moment would be.

For now, the golden she-kit padded forward, looking anxiously at Minkstream as he stood above it all.

He watched as the whole family gathered, Songkit giving her brother a quick lick. It gave him an odd feeling - both warmth at these cats he was a part of, this family he'd joined, and a feeling of churning dread deep in his stomach, an odd sort of fire that made him want to scrape his claws against the stone beneath his paws. Or more accurately, into the pelts of the monsters that lurked at the edge of the clearing. How there could be something as good as this in the middle of all that was happening.... For a brief moment the image of a little flower bobbing up out of the snow caught his eye, and he let his breath escape in a white puff into the air. If there hadn't been these small moments, they probably would have all thrown themselves in a suicidal wave at Asylum by now.

Small moments. One of those still stuck to his mind - one of the reasons for this ceremony. Yes, she'll be ready for this.

Shaking the thoughts off, he turned his attention to the kit as the rest of the crowd congregated and settled in front of the rock. "Songkit, step forward."

When she had done so, he continued, "You've reached the age of six moons, and are now ready to join ThunderClan's ranks as an apprentice. From this moment onwards until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Songpaw." His eyes moved from her to a certain face in the crowd, a soft hint of a smile in his eyes, a touch of warmth bleeding through into the formal words of the ceremony. Sometimes he felt like he spoke them too much - they stuck to his tongue and even affected how he spoke to his Clanmates sometimes. "Your mentor will be Badgermask - she will train you well."

Badgermask was a constant presence in all of ThunderClan's ceremonies. One of these days, she was sure, either Nettlestar or Minkstream would give the command: attack! and together, they would drive the Asylum from their territory, from the clans' territory altogether. So she waited, listening with rapt attentions as her grandfather called this meeting. Would this be the one? Were they ready to reclaim their home?

No.

The dappled apprentice couldn't help but want to shrink as the familiar words of an apprentice ceremony rang out. But she didn't. She stood strong, looking for all intents and purposes like she'd known this was what it was going to be. Like she loaned this much intensity to all of the clans' apprentice ceremonies. Deep down, she was disappointed, but Badgermask didn't bother to show it. Asylum couldn't be shown weakness, not now, not ever.

Her eyes landed on little Songkit just as her own words left Minkstream's mouth, and Badgermask looked up, shock registering on her face for a split second before it gave way to a gleam of pleasure. Songpaw would be her apprentice? Brilliant. Padding forward, the large dappled she-kit leaned down to touch noses with her new apprentice. "We'll start tomorrow, okay?" she assured her.