Firekit's Apprentice Ceremony

She had just done her first apprentice ceremony a few sunsets ago, and now Murkystrike was looking forward to doing even more. The nursery was fairly full, and the litter that Shira and Foxspark had brought to ShadowClan shortly after their arrival was ready to be apprenticed. This should help free up room in the nursery, but it would certainly mean the apprentice den would get full. She would have to check in and see if they would need to expand it temporarily, once they made their new nests. Leaping up to the top of Jaggedrock, Murkystrike took a deep breath as she balanced herself carefully before calling out. "ShadowClan! Please gather in the shadow of Jaggedrock."

Firekit, now more legs and big heavy paws and oddly sized ears than she was a few moons ago, galumphed out of the nursery, though she may not have grown into her limbs, her fur was clean at the behest of her mother, Shira. Firekit moved to take her place in the spot where she witnessed so many ceremony receivers to have sat. She puffed out her chest as she sat, politely wrapping her tail over her paws as she looked up at Murkystrike.

Murkystrike grinned as she saw Firekit bumble their way out of the nursery. It seemed she still had a bit of growing into herself ahead of her, but Shira has done a magnificent job in rearing them this far. Now it was up to her to choose a warrior to train them to care for themselves and others... And she thought she knew just who to choose. After giving the clan a few more moments to gather, she spoke again. "We are gathered here today to witness the naming of a new apprentice. Firekit, please step forward." Pausing to allow the young she-cat time to rise and take her position, Murkystrike smiled down at her as she continued.

"Firekit, you have reached the age of six moons, so it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day forward, until your training is complete and you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Firepaw. Emberleap will be your mentor. I trust that he will guide your paws and teach you the way of a warrior with kindness and strength." Having trained Emberleap herself, she knew his demeanor well. Hopefully pairing Firepaw and him would prove to be both a pleasant experience as well as a learning opportunity for them both.

Firekit- now Firepaw nodded and dipped her head towards Murkystrike, her eyes wide and shining as she turned to look for Emberleap. Once found she stretched up to touch noses with her new mentor, her fur shuddering with the excitement of going out to see the world, or at least more of her home.

Webkit had found a spot near the edges of the crowd to watch, near where the other younger kits had gathered, watching with wide eyes as his older sister received her new name, as well as her mentor. He had seen a ceremony before, but this being his sister, plus her excitement being almost palpable.. he couldn't help but smile as he watched her greet Emberleap. It was hard to believe they were becoming apprentices already, and that he'd be following her pawsteps soon. Although quieter than the others, he joined his Clanmates in cheering her name.

Gathering around the Jaggedrock with the rest of ShadowClan had just about become second nature. He joined the others only a few heartbeats late, settling down and sitting up straight. At Murkystrike’s beckoning, a striped ginger she-kit stepped forward. The resemblance was impossible to ignore. Emberleap hadn’t talked to Spark…er, Foxspark or Shira since their arrival, unsure what to say or how to even start wrapping his mind around his fellow Asylum trainees having kits—and now those kits were becoming apprentices. It could make a cat’s head spin.

Another shock arrived on the first’s heels. Him, a mentor? He hardly knew how to be a warrior! But of the two cats who could have been involved in this decision, Murkystrike knew what to expect from him, and Flintstar…was Flintstar. He’d trusted them this far. Emberleap, pushing hesitance aside, bent down to tap his nose against the brand-new apprentice’s. It felt just as strange the second time. “Firepaw, it’s—nice to meet you?” Was that right? Casting around for something more mentorly-sounding, he took a step back. “We’ll head out next sundown, so make sure you get plenty of sleep before then, all right?”