Cheetahkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Murkystrike stood atop Jaggedrock, surveying the bustling clan. Batglow and Moonshine's kits had reached the age to become apprentices, and tonight they would receive their new names and mentors. "ShadowClan! Please gather in the shadow of Jaggedrock." Her yowl echoed over the camp as she searched for the subject of her summons, the small black spotted she-cat named Cheetahkit.

Cheetahkit's large, triangular ears swiveled in her sleep.

Blood washed over in her dreams. Leaking over her vision like tar. The girl was a warrior, fighting her enemies in the marsh right outside camp. Her pearly claws sliced down the faces of her many opponents left and right (of course, this sort of thing would never happen in the waking world. But here, Cheetahkit was willing to take her chances.) So long as there was blood, it was worth it. Every single bite wound and scratch she received.

Outside the nursery, Murkystrike's yowl resounded throughout the camp. Cheetahkit's hackles stood on end as, slowly, she crept awake. Oh.

Her apprentice ceremony was tonight, wasn't it? She'd figured.

Shuffling out of the den, Cheetahkit padded groggily to her place under the Jaggedrock. "Yes, Murkystrike, I'm here." Blinking slowly, she returned Murkystrike's gaze with steady orange eyes.

Cheetahkit seemed rather prepared as she approached the Jaggedrock, addressing her. The rest of the clan quickly joined, and Murkystrike lowered her head slightly in acknowledgement before continuing. "ShadowClan, I've gathered you here today to witness the naming of a new apprentice. Cheetahkit has reached the age of six moons, and is ready to become an apprentice." She looked down, noting that Cheetahkit had already positioned herself where she needed to be. The she-cat would be a pawful to whoever her mentor would be... A challenge for sure. She paused for a heartbeat before continuing. "Cheetahkit, from this day forward, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Cheetahpaw. I will be your mentor." Leaping nimbly from Jaggedrock, she briefly leaned forward to touch noses with her apprentice. "Take tonight to make your nest and get plenty of rest, training begins at sunset."

As soon as Murkystrike padded off, Pantherpaw appeared, chuckling. She gave a rare grin as she bumped shoulders with her sister. They’d never really gotten along, but they’d get closer over their apprenticeship. It was rather funny, however, that Cheetahkit was such a pawful Murkystrike trusted her to no cat else. “We should hunt together, sometimes. See who’s the best hunter, yeah?” Perhaps she was overconfident- but she was only overconfident with Cheetahkit-paw, and only because she could be such a pain in the tail at times.

As Murkystrike went on, Cheetahkit's gaze remained intact with the tortoiseshell deputy's.

So her mentor would be Murkystrike. Mmm, now why was that? Cheetahpaw had figured the deputy would be all too busy with her two new litters of kits to take on a trainee of her own. Apparently not. Well, no biggie. Cheetahpaw had already spent -- hah, wasted, if you ask her -- her entire kithood being told she was too much of a "handful" or a "pawful" or ugh... Did it matter? So she was loud and obnoxious and at times the complete opposite, to some far-fetched degree. Not her fault cats were too lazy to just put a little extra effort into the youth. Hastily Cheetahpaw returned Murkystrike's ceremonial gesture of the nose.

Well, cool. Great. That was over with. And then Pantherpaw popped up.

Cheetahpaw hardly turned as the black molly approached her, blinking languidly. "Please don't touch me," she murmured and gently shoved Pantherpaw's shoulder away from her own. "Hunting? Perhaps. Though I don't quite care to 'know who the best is,' considering we all know I am." The words were sincere, and if Pantherpaw wanted to be an arrogant brat about it... Not Cheetahpaw's problem.

Quietly, she stood and began in the direction of the apprentice's den, eager to fetch some more much-needed sleep for the night.