Leafpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Beechface padded from her den, leaping up to the top of Wolfstar's den with a flurry of snow disturbed by her movement. Today was another warrior ceremony, and another warrior ceremony that Dawnhawk would not be doing.

She worried for Wolfstar. He was resting, but that fall had taken more out of him than either of them had realized at first. For now he was at least stable and Beechface did what she could to keep him comfortable. They were talking again, at least, though conversation was awkward and uneasy at best. Yet... He trusted her to do warrior ceremonies, preferred her to do them over Dawnhawk. Maybe that meant he was actually trying something, though Beechface still couldn't fathom what his plans were in naming the golden tom as deputy.

"Let all Skyclan cats old enough to climb a tree gather before me for a clan meeting!" Beechface's yowl rang across the clearing, and her eyes scanned the gathering cats for the soon-to-be warrior among the crowd.

Leafpaw approached when she heard the call, waiting for others to arrive. There was a certain electricity in the air that hung around her, especially after having her dream with StarClan in the medicine den.

She knew Beechface from her time nursing bruised ribs, and it was a pleasant surprise that she would be officiating whatever business was next. Instead of that traitor Dawnhawk.

She flicked her tail, the winds cutting into her fur. Leafpaw’s ears twitched in anticipation, wondering to herself if today would be the day. Surely not, not with Asylum still around. Right?

A quick smile crossed Beechface's expression as she spotted the apprentice in the crowd.

"Leafpaw, please step forward." she called. She waited a moment for the pretty she-cat to do so before continuing.

"I, Beechface, medicine cat of SkyClan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Leafpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?" Leafpaw had a good head on her shoulders. Beechface just hoped that the she-cat wouldn't wind up in the medicine den again any time soon.

This couldn't be happening. The shock was evident on her face, but her paws willed her to step forward. She made eye contact with Beechface, seeing a small smile. I guess she does believe in me.

Such was odd for her. Sure, she had been pretty self-assured, and her brothers could definitely testify to her sharp tongue, but the concept of having her Clan believe in her was touching.

Her hazel eyes blazed, realizing she would remember this moment for the rest of her life.

"I do," Leafpaw meowed back, an edge of authority on it. She was going to be a warrior! Her, a warrior! She cemented her paws into the ground, looking up at her medicine cat.

"Then by the power of Starclan, I give you your warrior name: Leaf-frost. Skyclan honors your loyalty and passion." With the formal ceremony concluded, Beechface leapt to the snow below, padding forward to rest her chin on Leaf-frost's head.

"Congratulations, Leaf-frost. Wolfstar would've done this if he could. Just... Try not to wind up in my den so soon." she stepped back, grinning, allowing the rest of the clan to congratulate their newest warrior.

Leaf-frost sat, her heart swelling with pride. "Don't threaten me with a good time," the she-cat meowed with a snicker, offering a head bump out of friendship. "I'll come by less beat up next time."

The newly minted warrior smirked, her heart full. She had made it!

She girded her nerve, knowing that she would have to sit vigil. It would be cold, but she was so ecstatic that it didn't really matter.