Frostpaw's Mentor Change Ceremony

Murkystrike stood atop Jaggedrock, shoulders hunched slightly as she prepared to call the clan together. Rosethorn was dead, having passed from a sudden inability to breath. Her paws shook, chest aching against the tears and grief at the she-cat's passing. "ShadowClan! Gather in the shadow of Jaggedrock." She yowled, voice cracking as she blinked her eyes dry of the tears that threatened to fall. Her stomach lurched at the thought of having to assign a new mentor to the young cat, even if their ceremony had only been a few sunsets before.

Frostpaw emerged from the apprentice's den quickly, he knew what this would be about. Only a few days into his apprenticeship, his mentor had died. It was unfortunate that it occurred, but life must move on. To become a proper warrior, he needed a mentor. Thankfully, Murkystrike had not hesitated too long, despite her clear discomfort in the matter. It was regrettable that she had to deal with the grief, but it was something that had to be dealt with eventually. The short tom sat close to the front so he could see, perhaps he would get a more permanent mentor this time.

It didn't take long for the clan to gather, she was certain that they all had an inkling of what was coming. She took a deep breath to steady herself before continuing as she found Frostpaw in the crowd. "ShadowClan, it is with a heavy heart that this meeting is called today. Rosethorn has passed to walk among the stars, leaving behind her apprentice Frostpaw. As he is just at the beginning of his training, I have decided to assign a new mentor to him. Frostpaw, Shira will be your new mentor. I trust that she will pass her knowledge and experience on to you throughout your training, just as Rosethorn would have." The words rang a little hollow, the deputy trusted Shira and quite liked the other she-cat.... But the loss of Rosethorn had cut deep.

Shira gathered with the rest.  She wanted to see how Murkystrike was doing.  Shira herself hadn't really known Rosethorn too well, but she was pretty sure that Murkystrike did.  She wanted to help her friend, even though she didn't really want to deal with emotions, she still wanted her friend to know that she cared.

When her name got called to get an apprentice, it wasn't exactly what she wanted, but she didn't think it would be right to say anything.  She walked up to the apprentice and briefly (she didn't like doing this) touched noses with Frostpaw.  "I'll give you a little bit to get ready or whatever and then whenever you're done your training will start."

She left the apprentice to go to do whatever he wanted for a little bit and she walked up to her deputy.  "I just want to make sure you're doing okay."  She said.  She wasn't good at the whole feelings thing, but she thought she should try to be better.

Frostpaw gave a simple nod to Murkystrike, then turned to Shira. He didn't know this cat, he hoped that she would be an adequate mentor. He touched noses with her quickly, dipping his head. He listened to her words, retorting with a quick, "Understood." With that, he turned and padded away to the apprentice's den. He had nothing to do until his new mentor was ready to teach him. So long as she taught him well, this would be a quick, and efficient, process.

Murkystrike blinked as Shira approached her after the ceremony, a small smile briefly forming on her face. "I'm... Doing as well as I can. It was a shock." She mewed quietly, tail tip flicking under the long fur. "Rosethorn wouldn't have wanted us to dwell too long though.... So I suppose we must continue on with her in our hearts and minds."