Specklekit's Apprentice Ceremony

So many kits.... Why did it have to be in Leaf-bare, of all times? Right in the middle of Asylum's occupation? It wasn't like parents would have known what was going to happen, but still - to have so many at such an admittedly terrible time, it was just a little... frustrating. If that was the right word to use when it came to kits, though it wasn't them, mostly just the situation they happened to tumble into.

And quite a few of them would grow into warriors. Knowing only the world that Asylum had brought. Minkstream shook his head, looking out over the Clan from the High Rock, icy clumps of snow still sticking to the shade, and yellowed bits of grass grimly hanging on where it had melted. They're not going to be around that long. We'll have to make sure of it. Soon, something would have to give. They couldn't just give in - stars forbid that he'd just lie down and let them run fox-furred paws all over his Clan. Nettlestar would lead them in some start of a plan soon, wouldn't she? Banishing the thoughts, he focused on the task at hand again, calling out over the camp, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the High Rock for Clan meeting!"

Specklekit ran up to the Highrock at the sound of Nettlestar's voice. He'd become 6 moons not long ago, maybe it was his ceremony! He was very excited, but he didn't know for sure. He sat down near the front to hear everything as well as he possibly could.

(ooc: i'm sorry this ended up a little long but the gist is that you're an apprentice and your mentor is Crowcaller :)

He watched the kit run up, eager as they all were. We can't leave them to grow up like this, surrounded by cats that hate them. Or... did they? A disturbing thought swam to the surface of his mind - would it really be that different to be ruled by Asylum? After everything was said and done, if the Clans gave in and no one who remembered the way things were before lived.... Really, the only difference would be the pelts, and the unification. Which was technically a good thing, wasn't it? No more strife between Clans, no more pointless battling over a group of rocks....

A chill ran down his spine, and he forcefully shook his pelt, as if to rid it of clinging snowflakes. It means losing our way of life. If that happens, we lose everything. Another part of him whispered back in the dark corners of his mind that maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing - maybe their way of life needed to change.

Gritting his teeth, he forced the intruding thought back and opened his mouth, doing his best to focus on the crowd of cats below, and the kit who was the focus of it. His voice came out rigidly controlled, and just a little bit sharper than he'd meant it to be. "Specklekit, step forward."

When he'd done so, Minkstream took a deep breath and continued, the rote words banishing the lingering, unpleasant thoughts back to the corners of his mind. "Specklekit, you've reached the age of six moons, and are now ready to join ThunderClan's ranks as an apprentice. From this moment until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Specklepaw." The words came out easily, almost mechanically, the bright sunniness of the day somehow a bit chillier and even more colourless than it had been a moment ago. He had a vague, brief sense of detachment, as if he was looking down on himself, idly watching this tabby mongrel calling the words of a tradition as ancient as the rock he stood on. Shaking himself again, he added, "Your mentor will be Crowcaller."

Suddenly, he almost couldn't jump down from the High Rock fast enough, his skin crawling beneath his pelt, eyes carefully avoiding the shadows lurking in the corners of the camp as the wind caught in his ears, paws thumping against the ground. That sense of detachment followed him, like he'd been severed from his own body, and he barely noticed himself calling the new apprentice's name with the rest of the Clan, his voice swept up in theirs as the mentor and apprentice touched noses. A shudder ran down his spine, a vaguely sick twist to his stomach. What am I thinking? This was exactly what Asylum wanted, wasn't it? For them to reason to themselves that it would  be just fine if their freedom was eroded, if the only ones around were the pelted cats and all who followed them. The snow seemed to spin without moving, the icy ground suddenly colder than it had any right to be. We're losing ourselves.... Slowly, but.... If he looked up, what would he see - his Clanmates, or cats wearing the pelts of predators and prey?

If he looked at himself in a still pool of icy water... would he catch the frame of a fox?

His eyes shut against the scene for a moment, tail lashing forcefully as he turned and headed for the camp's exit, a few other cats gathering there, waiting for him to assign a hunting patrol. Something had to give. But who could tell which it would be? Someone had replaced his blood with ice when he wasn't looking - every step seemed to leave a trail of snow rather than a pawprint. We can't roll over for these cats. What's best for us... it isn't this. It can't be.

(It's okay)

Specklekit felt a rush of excitement go through him. This was it! He stepped forward, trying to puff his small chest out. It didn't work very well. His fur was ruffled, and he listened to the words. He was Specklepaw now! And Crowcaller was his mentor! He looked around for him, excited to meet his mentor.

The lanky, long-legged frame of Crowcaller could be found at the edge of the gathered cats, his amber eyes glistening as he stared up at the deputy, wondering what this was about. There had been a few apprentice ceremonies lately - there was a whole litter of kits ready to move on in the world - and he figured this was just another. This whole brood of most recent kits had grown up under Asylum rule... and they knew no different. He was curious to know if they would turn out different, more malleable, than the pre-Asylum kits. It seemed he would get to find out himself, as Minkstream named Speckledkit his apprentice, and the dark tom grinned, moving forward to greet him.

Crowcaller himself had no real problem with Asylum. Aside from the original hiccups during the takeover, they'd proven more helpful than harmful, and truly it seemed the clans were even thriving beneath their rule. He knew that he was one of few with this mindset, but perhaps now, there would be another. He smiled at Speckledkit, touching noses with the little tom. "What do you say we get out there now, and see what you've got, huh? No sense in waiting!"

Specklepaw saw a cat coming towards him. That had to be Crowcaller. He had to keep himself from bouncing in happiness, because it was so exciting! He reached to touch noses with his new mentor, having to stand a bit on his hind paws. He was doing fine until Crowcaller asked something. Um. Shy Speckle kicked in. "Su-sure! he stammered, despite the eagerness he was feeling. Shyness always overtook every other feeling, but it didn't last long.