Frigidkit's Apprentice Ceremony

"ShadowClan! Gather in the shadow of the Jaggedrock."

Flintstar wasn't going to lie - it had been a bit concerning when he had spoken to Freckleface about Frigidkit, learning how a...Pawful the young kit was. He wasn't sure what to make of all the things he had heard, but he had done his best to think hard on it. But even with that hurdle, it was still a happy day - another kit joining the dwindling apprentice's den. He just hoped that he wouldn't regret who he had chosen as Frigidkit's mentor...

Frigidkit’s tail was high with pride, whiskers carefully groomed and pelt as clean as possible. He had heard that first impressions could often be what made or broke a cat, and this was going to be his “official” first impression before the whole clan. Rarely anyone cared or judged what a kid did, blaming it on young age and inexperience. However, for him, that free pass out of trouble ended today. This was the day that his choices actions would start to have actual weight on his clanmates eyes.

As he approached the Jaggedrock with firm, secure steps and head held high, he realized that for the first time, the large rough rock he had always seen in camp no longer seemed as grand nor imposing…if that made any sense.

He knew why Flintstar was calling for a meeting. He would be lying if he said he had not been snooping around camp the day prior and overheard the queens and a warrior or two mentioning him by name when discussing an upcoming ceremony. He had tried to get closer to Flintstar’s den when Freckleface left the nursery to speak with him, but he still hadn’t been able to perfect the whole “Blend into the shadows” technique and was caught by other warriors before he could make it, which in turn forced him to act like he was hunting crickets between the pine-needle covered ground…which developed into other kits joining and spoiling his plans. Yes, he might have avoided punishment, but he also missed his chance to get a better insight on what to expect.

He sat on the very front with the confidence of a fully grown warrior that had faced countless wars instead of a young cat that hadn’t even received a mentor yet, not really waiting to be asked to step forwards given that…well, he knew, why make things take longer than necessary?

Ah, there he was. Flintstar fixed his even stare onto Frigidkit, watching him carefully as he waited for the rest of the Clan to settle in. In a way, from what he had heard about the young kit...He reminded him a little bit of himself. At least in the sense that they were serious and never truly acted like a kit. He didn't have the...Skill at speaking that the young kit seemed to have gained, but there was still something there that reminded Flintstar of his younger self. "I've called you all here to witness a kit join the apprentice's den. Frigidkit, please step forward," he meowed, blissfully unaware of the kit's desire to skip over that little part of the ceremony. But he waited nonetheless before he continued on.

"Frigidkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Frigidpaw. I will be your mentor." It had been a strange choice to make but he felt it was...The best one. He felt like he was the best suited to deal with the young apprentice for a few reasons, but he suppose it would take time to see how correct his choice was. He jumped down from the rock to pad over, leaning down to touch Frigidpaw's nose. "We will start your training tomorrow," he meowed simply.

‘Oh-’

Well, that was an unexpected turn of events. The newly named Frigidpaw even forgot about the tiny spark of frustration that came from Flintstar telling him to step forward when he was already on the very front of the whole clan when he revealed that he was going to be his mentor.

His ears quickly moved to face forward as the leader jumped off the Jaggedrock, landing in front of him with the grace that came of experience, as silent as the shadows their clan were named after. In an almost unconscious motion, Frigidpaw took a step forward as his nose touched Flintstar’s bigger one, stretching his neck a bit in an attempt to not make him lower his head too much, trying to appear bigger than he really was.

A grin quickly made its way to his muzzle, as words slipped from between his tone in an almost joking way “Does that mean I finally get to leave camp?” Well…at least leave camp the right way. StarClan knew of the many times he attempted to sneak out, and the couple he had managed to only to be dragged back inside not long after.

Flintstar pulled back as the made the brief contact of noses, looking down at Frigidpaw as the apprentice questioned if he could finally leave the camp. "As long as I or another warrior is with you...Yes," he meowed, before his eyes narrowed slightly. From what he had heard Frigidpaw thought highly of himself - perhaps it was quick to snuff out any desire to see the territory on his own before he could be taught how to move around it. "Our territory is not to be taken light. Not only are there predators that lurk but the marsh itself can take the unaware swiftly. If you think you are smart enough to prepared to handle the dangers as an apprentice, I will set this straight - you are not. The world is cruel, you need to be prepared in ways that only experience will teach you. If you think you can handle the unexpected because you are clever, then you are a fool - the type who meet their end quickly. You are an apprentice now - I will not coddle you, Frigidpaw. I will be straight and honest - and you must listen if you wish to live to warriorhood. Now, I will show you the territory tomorrow - teach you where to step and what to avoid. Take the night to...Celebrate, relax, pick your nest. Tomorrow, you will start to see how cruel the world can be." With that, the leader turned and padded away back to his den.