Birdpaw's Warrior Ceremony

"Let all cats old enough to climb a tree gather before me for a clan meeting!"

The sun was just beginning to go down, crickets taking up their chorus around the outskirts of camp falling silent as Wolfstar yowled his summons. Today, a SkyClan apprentice would become a warrior for the first time in what seemed like eons. Wolfstar sat down at the entrance of his den, long tail streaming behind him, and waited.

Birdpaw lifted her head at the sound of a clan meeting being called. Wolfstar sat at the entrance to his den, and she padded forward to gather with the rest of her clanmates. Wolfstar seldom called the clan together at random, so this had to be something important. A ceremony, maybe, and Birdpaw hoped that if it was, it would be hers. She'd been an apprentice for long enough and had trained hard, surely she'd gain a warrior name sooner rather than later.

He waited silently until the clan was mostly gathered before him, and his eyes finally settled on Birdpaw with a reassuring smile. "Birdpaw, please step forward." Once she'd done so, he continued. "We are gathered here, to give one of our apprentices their warrior name and rank," Wolfstar said, "I, Wolfstar, 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. Birdpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Birdpaw blinked in surprise as her name was called. First alarm shot through her, then she grinned as Wolfstar continued to speak. She wasn't in trouble... This was her warrior ceremony! She was becoming a warrior! At last!

"I do." She answered, managing to keep her voice steady despite the excitement that surged through her.

---

Beechface sat just outside the medicine den, and quickly dropped her gaze, attempting to hide a wide grin at Wolfstar's words. She was pretty sure she was failing but for once, she didn't quite care. Her kit... Ravenclaw's kit... Was becoming a warrior, and that was something to be proud of.

Wolfstar nodded in approval, smiling to himself. He was so proud to see so many of his kin rising through the ranks within SkyClan. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name..." Wolfstar faltered there. He hadn't actually thought of a warrior name yet, he hadn't done this in such a long time he was out of practice. What about Birdleaf? Birdface? His brow furrowed slightly, panic beginning to set in though he did his best not to show.

A robin above him chirped a small melody, and Wolfstar blurted out before he could help himself. "Birdsong! SkyClan honors your kindness and optimism, and I have all the faith that you'll do the clan proud."

Birdpaw listened as Wolfstar spoke, face practically lighting up as he finally said her new name. Birdsong. She was Birdsong, now, and she'd strive to make the clan proud of her.

---

"Birdsong! Birdsong!" Beechface joined her voice with the chorus of chanting clanmates, unable to hide her grin. She stepped forward, lightly brushing the newly-named warrior with her tail, "Proud of you, kid. You've worked hard for this." She said quietly before quickly melting back into the crowd.

"I'm proud of you, Wolfstar, you chose a decent name for once." Beechface smirked at her grandfather, gaze turning towards her grandfather. Maybe it was mean to poke fun but after Copperfox, part of Beechface had dreaded the names he would choose for future warriors. Especially the names of her own kits. Not that anyone needed to know that.

"BIRDSONG! BIRDSONG!" Muddypaw eagerly watched his cousin's warrior ceremony. He hoped that would be him soon enough, but he knew not to be too optimistic. It felt like she had become a warrior so quickly. Or maybe he was just slow. Still, this was her day, and he didn't want to spoil it. "So you're are warrior now! What's it like!" He bounded up to her almost immediately. "I'll miss you in the apprentices' den!"