Bearpaw's Warrior Ceremony

"All cats old enough to catch their own fish, gather beneath the Willow Branch for a Clan meeting!" Ivystar called out with a slight hint of pride. She sat atop the Willow Branch already, watching her Clanmates gather below her, heeding her call. Today, another of Ivystar's apprentices would be leaving their den and joining the warriors for good. Bearpaw, the tom who'd shown up on the border caked in blood and dirt, had trained and proven his loyalty, and now was his time to reap the benefits of such arduous work.

Bearpaw heard his mentor call out to the clan and immediately bolted for the willow. He'd been practicing his swimming and catching fish, and had become fairly good at it. After some time, he developed a taste for the odd, scaly creatures as well. Bearpaw's coat was sleek and shiny from the amount of fish he'd eaten during his time here in Riverclan, and the water rolled off of his pelt like duck feathers. He was taller now too, still with his paws and ears looking a bit too large for him in his gawky, young adult stage, but soon he would fill out and look more like a cat than... whatever insect he resembled now.

The large tom sat beneath the willow branch and looked up at Ivystar with a small smile. He had a feeling that he knew what this would be for and he couldn't be more excited for the meeting to start.

Once Bearpaw had energetically made his way to the clearing beneath the branch, Ivystar gave him a small encouraging nod and after allowing the gathering crowd to simmer down, she began, "We've gathered here today to witness the rise of RiverClan's newest warrior." Once the chatter had come to a stop, the fluffy silver leader continued, "Bearpaw, if I am correct in my belief that you have completed your training to the fullest extent and have earned your warrior name, step forward now and your ceremony will commence." Bearpaw's familiar pelt caught her emerald gaze, and it remained trained on him as she waited for him to respond accordingly.

Bearpaw couldn't keep the smile of of his face when his name was called. He stepped forward, eager to start his warrior ceremony. He'd done it... he had proved that he was part of Riverclan now. Still, he couldn't help but feel a tiny bit uncomfortable with so many eyes on him. Putting his chin up, he shrugged his nervousness away. This was part of the tradition, and he would honor it. I'm ready...

"Very well," The she-cat mewed with a slight grin tugging at her muzzle. "I call upon our warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Bearpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend the Clan, even at the cost of your life?" She meowed seriously, looking down on the excitable apprentice, soon-to-be-warrior, below.

"I do." Bearpaw's answer came without hesitation. He'd trained hard for this, even so far as overcoming his fear (and hatred) of the river. He wanted his warrior name. He had earned it just as much as anyone else... and he wanted to impress Swiftpaw with it but that was besides the point.

Nodding, Ivystar continued with the final stretch of the ceremony. "Then I grant you your warrior name. From this day onward, you will be known to all as Bearspirit. RiverClan honors your compassion and ferocity. As tradition demands, you will hold a silent vigil tonight while the rest of the Clan sleeps. Until then, however, we will celebrate the rise of a new warrior." Leaping from the branch, Ivystar approached her now former apprentice and rested her chin on his head for what would likely be the final time. "I'm proud of you, Bearspirit." She mewed quietly so that only the tom would hear it. After a brief moment, she slipped away so that the rest of the Clan could celebrate with him, and congratulate him on his new name.