Softkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Matching mentor to apprentice was Loonwhisper's most cherished duty as a deputy. His organization and forethought in this matter was as strict and regimented as the turning of the sun and moon, and he felt that it was inarguably the most important aspect of his role in the clan. This careful organization was his best habit. Loonwhisper woke up each morning quietly observing every warrior, running over each in his mind with a fine toothed comb, looking for subtle changes in their body by which to make the final call, crafting the finest patrols RiverClan could offer, day-to-day and moment-to-moment. If only he were better at anything else. He felt duck-footed, still. What's more, the current state of the clans was stunting him.

At least he found solace in this, his most recent pairing. "May all cats who can fish in the river gather under the Willow Branch," he mused. "We have a very important meeting."

Softkit had been settled down in the nursery. The she kit often prefered the confines of the nursery. Well that is til the heard the call of the deputy. Being old enough for a few days now she was technically required to attend. Quietly pushing the shell she had been messing with away and got to her paws as she moved leaving the nursery quietly and lingered at the nursery entrance quietly quietly smoothing down the messy fur at her chest.

Loonwhisper peered down at the gathering swath of pelts until he spotted the smaller frame of a soon-to-be-named apprentice. With all cats in place, he lifted his voice high to the heavens, or rather as high as he could muster. "Softkit, you can come closer. Hoo, hoo."

Sitting on such a buoyant branch felt terribly uncomfortable, so the tom elected to shuffle his paws until he was laying across the long pedestal, his tail sweeping to and fro like a feathery pendulum. "Softkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is now time for you to become a warrior. From now until you have learned RiverClan's ways, we will call you Softpaw."

He paused, allowing the congregation to stew in the anticipation of the apprentice's new mentor. Finding the tom among them, Loonwhisper blinked once, then twice. Their eyes met in such a way that the deputy was nearly uncomfortable, but just nearly. Try as he may, he could not discern what his peer thought of him. They were very similar in age, yet set so far apart. Returning his focus to the ceremony at hand, Loonwhisper spoke again: "Jayshriek, you will mentor Softpaw. As a large stone in the center of a stream stands firm and never yields, you are also tenacious. Honeytongue taught you well. You will return the favor in Softpaw, and nurture her so that she will rival you as another strong river stone."

This meeting ended with just a hint more confidence. "That is all," he purred, and with that he swung down from the branch and passed the mentor-apprentice pair, hoping that his careful observation had paid off in the end. But, every deputy had his bias. As much as he had worked this match in his head, it was also a sort of offering. Jayshriek was not a cat one might regard as amicable, especially given such dire times, but Loonwhisper, ever patient, saw a chance of fellowship in the tom soon yet.

Softkit could only blink as she was being addressed directly by the deputy. Slowly timidly she stepped closer to where she was looking up at the deputy. She blinked taking in that this was her apprentice ceremony and her ears lowered some before hwr eyes sparkled some quietly. Her new name was now Softpaw and her mentor was Jayshriek. Her gaze looker to the crowd for just a moment.

The somber evening air, wreathed in stifling undercurrents of long-familiar tension and unwelcome, was gently disrupted under the beguiling entrance of silky fur flourishing softly against soft earth, a faint grating sound resonating low and hot against the quiet backdrop of continuously weeping conversation. Smokey and smudged, nothing more than a dark wraith of gently feathered tufts and haloed night-rich fur, Jayshriek was quick and quiet in his ensuing steps forward- perpetual crease and rift billowing below the brow as he returned Loonwhisper's curious stare, honey and wine gaze alight with some unknowable tendrils of emotion.

Worthy of responsibility, the idle thought blossoms low and resentful in the base of his skull, but not truly worthy of responsibility.  

Dismissing the perilous tremor of distaste and long-simmering irritation perpetually seated within the lowest fathoms of his skull, Jayshriek drew to a halt before the newly-named Softpaw, a big dark blotch against the pale backdrop of the winter skies, looming above the pale bundle of fluff currently situated a pawstep or so away. The little cat hesitantly standing before him was a far cry from the familiar self-assuredness of Moonpaw, a quiet and reserved energy billowing around her narrow shoulders. Perhaps not the best match ever made, in terms of training capabilities. "I look forward to training with you, Softpaw."

Sorry didnt get notified of the reply))

The pale she cat had stopped her search when she seen whom she assumed to be Jayshriek. As the tom had approached and stopped only a meer pawstep away the newly named Softpaw looked up to her mentor as he spoke . Despite her shy and not so confident demeanor she spoke up her voice tryibg to take a not so shy tone depite it coming out soft spoken"I look forward to doing my very best"She said as she meant every word.