Patchkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Another dusk ceremony. In the absence of the sun, the day’s mugginess had eased into something bearable. Thrushnose paused behind the Highrock to stretch. Though the apprentices’ den was already full to bursting (and given the recent heat, she could only imagine how coveted the nests closest to the den’s entrance were), there were still more kits set to move in. Tonight’s would be the last of Waterlily’s litter… Strangely, the only one not named after something with wings. She didn’t know Patchkit well; still, she had to wonder what the soon-to-be apprentice would make of sharing a den with all of her siblings again. Seating herself at the Highrock’s edge, the striped warrior curled her tail loosely over her paws. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!”

Patchkit had been staring at the Highrock since quite a bit before Thrushnose even jumped up, just knowing that it was her turn to become a 'paw and take her place in the apprentice den with her siblings. When the deputy called the Clan together, she was the first to arrive in place, skidding to a stop in front of the Highrock. Her leaf green eyes were wide, greedy to be promoted. She wondered who her mentor would be, not for the first time or even the tenth time that day.

She didn’t even have time to look for the kit of the hour before a black-and-white blur came streaking toward the Highrock, kicking up sand and dust in her wake. That answered Thrushnose’s question, in a sense. At least Patchkit was excited about some part of this, whether that part was having her siblings as denmates again or the thrill of apprenticeship itself. “One of our kits has reached the age of six moons; today, she will become an apprentice.” Thrushnose leaned forward, her tail unwinding enough to thump at her side. “Patchkit, step forward.

“From this moment on, until the day you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Patchpaw.” She paused until her gaze settled on a pale, mottled pelt. From what she’d heard, her daughter and the newly named Patchpaw might have a few things in common…not too much for them to get along, she hoped. ”Badgermask will be your mentor. I trust her to pass everything she knows on to you.” With that, the ceremony was over; Thrushnose leaped down to join her Clanmates, already missing the cool stone under her paws.

Dutifully, Badgermask had attended this apprentice ceremony like she had all the others, admiring her mother's confidence and poise up atop the Highrock's edge. She was lounging on her haunches towards the back of the crowd when Thrushnose said her name, and the she-cat's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't been expecting an apprentice, least of all so soon, but... she didn't hate the idea, either.

She rose to all fours, padding over to where the newly named Patchpaw stood, and lowered her nose to brush against the young she-cat's. "We can start training tomorrow," she told her quietly, glancing up towards her mother with an appreciative expression.

Patchpaw stood tall, her long tail straight up with pride. She was going to be able to leave camp now! And all kinds of fun more grown up things. When Badgermask approached her, she tilted her head up to return the nose brush and nodded. Tomorrow would be perfect, as now that the ceremony was over, even her excitement couldn't fight off the tiredness now overtaking her.

"Tomorrow sounds perfect." she mumbled, turning her sights towards the apprentice den and the task of finding her own nest.