Hornetkit's Apprentice Ceremony

When she had found she was expecting kits, she hadn't fully realized that the day would come when her duties as a deputy would result in her making the choice of who to trust her young family to. However, the day had now come, and as she made her way to Jaggedrock, pulling herself on top of it, she called the clan together. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Jaggedrock!" Most queens would be with their kits now, putting the final touches on their careful grooming before their ceremony... Yet here she stood atop the stone above the clan to call them together as witness to her son's apprentice ceremony. Hopefully Mistyfalcon was able to jump in to help Hornetkit prepare... And to give Basilkit company.

Rosethorn had been in camp, letting herself recover, both physically and emotionally, after her meeting with Galloway. Now, she pushed that meeting to the back of her mind as she watched the son of her friend get ready to become an apprentice. She regretted not interacting with the kits, after all, she loved kits, but at least she could be here to watch them take the next step in their lives.

Webshadow poked his head out of the den at the familiar call, pulling himself out into the open. He spotted Rosethorn and padded over, settling next to her. He gave her a smile, then turned his attention to the deputy, eager to see how the ceremony went.

Murkystrike strode toward the jaggedrock, and Mistyfalcon turned towards Hornetkit with a quiet mutter to stay still. Murkystrike would've made sure the kit looked his best if she could, but she was their deputy as well as their mother, and would be in charge of doing ceremonies. Therefore getting the stubborn (and understandably excitable) kit ready fell to him. It was strange to think of their kits becoming apprentices already. He was sure that said something about his age... And he didn't quite like that.

Mission accomplished (or mostly... he hoped, he thought Murkystrike wouldn't kill him, anyways, Mistyfalcon sat with Basilkit, eyes settled on Hornetkit for a moment before lifting to Murkystrike on top of jaggedrock as the clan waited for the ceremony to start.

"No fair Hornet, I wanna be an apprentice toooo!"  Basilkit's whine followed the family out of the nursery, the little tortoiseshell batting at her brother's tail in an attempt to annoy him.  However, her smile gave away the truth behind her words, and before Hornetkit went up to the Jaggedrock she wrapped her paws around his shoulders and reached up to give him an affectionate nuzzle, flattening down a little tuft of fur on his head that their father hadn't caught.  "Good luck, don't mess up!"  With a purr, she went to sit beside Mistyfalcon, leaning against him as she tried to calm her overly excited heart.  It's okay, it'll be your turn soon.  You just have to grow a little bit more, get a little bit stronger...then I'll be right alongside Hornet again like always!  The affirmation though, no matter how many times she said it, always seemed to ring hollow.  Deciding to distract herself instead, she focused on her mother upon the Jaggedstone, the sight both expected and strange.  She'd known for a while that Murkystrike was the deputy of ShadowClan, but actually seeing her doing the job...it was amazing.  Glancing around she saw some of the warriors gathering, though she didn't know their names.  Will one of them be Hornet's mentor?  Or, maybe my mentor someday?

Hornetkit was used to hearing the sound of Murkystrike's voice. Whether it was telling him to go to sleep, or to 'stop eating bugs.' But today, her voice came from the Jaggedrock, not just as mother, but as deputy. It took everything in the kit's willpower to stay still as Mistyfalcon groomed him. He didn't do it as well as mum did, a few hairs stuck up here and there, but Hornetkit looked handsome today, lanky, with a ring of kitten fluff still lining his neck. Basilkit whapped at the tom's tail as they padded out into the nettle-strewn clearing. "Basilkit stopppp!" He whined playfully, cuffing her around the ear. In all seriousness, Hornetkit wished he didn't have to be apprenticed alone today, but he was sure that Basilkit would join him soon. She was just a little small, and that's okay! The camp began to fill with lots of cats Hornetkit had pestered before. He was sure they knew his name, based alone on the amount of questions he'd ask each leaving patrol. Today he finally got to join them! Halting under the Jaggedrock, the tom could barely contain his excitement, looking up at his mother.

Murkystrike's gaze fell on her family, and she smiled at their interactions as they joined the growing crowd. Her heart swelled with pride in the way her kits behaved, and her throat choked up a little at what she knew was coming. As an apprentice, Hornetkit would be going out of camp, usually without her... Even more so once he became a warrior. The thought was terrifying, but it was the natural state of being a clan cat. The clan had gathered now, and it was time. "ShadowClan, I've gathered you all here today to witness the apprentice ceremony of Hornetkit. Hornetkit, please step forward." She waited with bated breath as he did so before continuing. "Hornetkit, you have reached the age of six moons and are ready to become an apprentice. From this day forward, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Hornetpaw. Your mentor will be Foxspark. He is cunning and loyal, and I trust that he will pass these qualitites on to you through your training."