Spottedkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Bloodstrike made sure to get up before everyone else to think about who he would give his next kit to for a mentor. Spottedkit had been named by Briarthorn, and a part of Bloodstrike wondered if she had purposely named her after the previous Skyclan leader. The one he had come to dislike very much as time went on. However, he held no animosity towards his children. He climbed the leader's den and his voice rang out across camp once more. "Let all of those old enough to climb a tree gather around me for a clan meeting!" And with that, he sat and watched as the clan gathered.

Spottedkit had been thoroughly enjoying the time she'd spent outside the nursery. As they'd grown older, she and her siblings had been allowed further and further access to the camp, and now, at practically six moons old, they were itching to get out of it. A couple of her siblings had already been apprenticed, and Spottedkit was determined to be the next - at any cost. So when she heard her father's words ring out across the camp, she was the first one in attendance, sitting prettily below him and staring up with hopeful eyes, as if her expediency would ensure that this was her ceremony.

Bloodstrike didn't have to wait long for the clan to gather in attendance. His eyes dropped to Spottedkit's adorable face and he struggled to keep a professional expression. "Spottedkit step forward. You have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to become an apprentice. From today until the day you earn your warrior name, you will be called Spottedpaw. Juniperlight will be your mentor." His eyes went to the black, one-eyed tom. He had been gone from Skyclan for quite some time, but Bloodstrike was willing to give his uncle a chance to prove his skill and loyalty to his clan once more. With that, the meeting had concluded. He smiled a small smile at his daughter before leaping off of the leader's den.

’Spottedpaw…’ Juniperlight stepped forward to meet his apprentice as custom required. He stared into her hopeful eyes with a deceptively blank expression. So it was final, then. His father’s name was now bestowed on his great-granddaughter; a half-blooded she-cat as well. The former leader may have been disgusted by this development, but the black warrior was not like Spottedstar. Instead, a soft smile began to spread over his mouth and his bright yellow eye glinted with the hint of a tear appearing and disappearing in a heartbeat. A purr started up deep in his chest. ”Hello, Spottedpaw. I’m looking forward to training with you. I think we’ll both learn a lot from each other!” He meowed pleasantly, then leaned forward to tap his nose against hers. It was a new season in his life. He could feel new growth within his heart.

So it was her apprentice ceremony! She had needed it to be, and so it had! Spottedkit sat, barely able to contain herself, as the deputy spoke the words she'd heard probably a dozen times since they'd been allowed outside the nursery. Her tiny paws tapped the ground as she sat in place, eyes glittering with excitement. When Bloodstrike named her mentor, Spottedpaw whipped around, searching for the sleek black tom she knew matched the name. She didn't know a lot about Juniperlight, only that he'd gone away for a long time and come back. The elders had always refused to say anymore than that, but now, Spottedpaw could ask him herself!

She bounded over, touching noses as the tradition decreed, and pulled back, grinning at her new mentor. "When can we start?" she demanded, but before he could answer she launched another question. "How long have you been a warrior? Did you know the deputy was my dad?" She pranced in a little circle, her feet and her mouth equally in motion. "I could be leader one day, too, maybe! How cool would that be?!" She looked up at him again, repeating, "When can we start? Can we start now?"

”Hmmm… I’ve been a warrior for… a while. About as long as your father, though I am a few seasons older. And I did know! Bloodstrike is my nephew. I’m sure you’ve inherited his strength or perhaps his determination. You could be leader if you work hard for it and take care of your elders! The leader asks the elders’ for advice now and then, you know. It pays to make friends.” Juniperlight would have winked, but it probably would have looked odd. Instead he smiled wider and tilted his head towards the elder’s den. “Alright, then, Spottedpaw. We can start training right now. Let’s do something really important! I’ll introduce you to the elders and then I’ll show you how to properly get ticks out of their coats.”