Brick’s Warrior Ceremony

With the slightest bit of pride in her step, Ivystar approached the Willow Branch and leaped up to it, turning and settling on it. For just a moment she simply watched her Clanmates as they navigated camp, nodding gently to the occasional questioning glance. After some time, she spotted Brick from across camp, and called out, “All cats old enough to catch their own fish, gather beneath the Willow Branch for a Clan meeting!”

Today was as usual for Brick as she went about her duties. Though she hadn’t been scheduled for any patrols today, she still kept herself busy in camp; various old nests got cleared out and the freshkill pile was checked over for any bits of crowfood. She did the most she could, otherwise all she could think about was Loonwhisper having gone missing. Her best friend in the clan, simply gone. The only other cat who could understand her thoughts as she had them, as unusual as they apparently could be. Brick’s ears twisted back momentarily. Her chest ached with worry. All she - or anyone - could do now was pray to StarClan for him to come home safely.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Head Ivystar’s call, and she sat with her paws tucked under her chest, almost completely engulfed in the hare pelt upon her back.

Ivystar observed as her Clanmates gathered around the base of the tree, doing a mental headcount and thanking the stars when she was positive that she wasn’t missing anybody that wasn’t currently on patrol. Loonwhisper’s disappearance had been an odd occurrence, but since then she’d been more serious than ever about making sure everyone was where they needed to be. Wherever the tom was, she hopes that he was okay. With a slight sigh, she cleared her throat and trained her eyes on the apprentice in the hare pelt. “I’ve gathered everyone here today to witness the rise of a new warrior. This she-cat has trained for many moons to get where she is today, and has more than proven her loyalty to the Clan. Brick, if you share my belief that you have trained to the fullest extent possible and have earned your warrior name, please step forward now and your ceremony will officially begin.”

She didn't quite understand what Ivystar said at first. Brick had to replay her leader's words in her mind to gather their meaning. She, worthy of becoming a warrior? Her eyes flitted subtly to the other cats around her in the case she had simply misheard her own name, but found herself the one being looked at. And Head Ivystar was looking at her expectantly. So it really was her! The young tortoiseshell fumbled a bit as she quickly stood and moved forward with an unsure smile twitching at her lip.

Once Brick had moved to the front of the crowd, Ivystar gave her a reassuring nod and with a twitch of her whiskers, began the ceremony. “I, Ivystar, leader of RiverClan, call upon our ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of a warrior, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Brick, do you promise to uphold the ways of a warrior and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life? Remember, you are pledging your loyalty to the Clan." Ivystar mewed, confident that she already knew Brick’s answer.

Though the words were common to each warrior’s ceremony, thus perhaps losing their power to some, Brick absorbed the gravity of this oath with a subtly flicking tail. Her full loyalty would always remain with those she cared about the most. In the past it had been with Head Eris, Captain Lyralei, Captain Iniko, and Captain Theron, as well as her similarly-aged fellows, many of which who turned out to be former - stolen - clan kits. Her loyalty had been with Raisha. But now she was here with RiverClan, with cats who had been far more patient with her than they needed to while she was struggling to find a new place to fit in in this world without the Asylum. Her mouth opened a crack before she realized one other thing she had to do to cement her sincerity.

Brick took her front paw and dislodged the hare pelt from her head, leaving it crumpled on the base of her neck and revealing her unmarred tortoiseshell face. “I do!”

With a simple, small smile, Ivystar nodded gently and mewed, "Then from this day onward, you shall be known to all as Harebounce. RiverClan honors your enthusiasm and creativity. As is tradition, you will hold a silent vigil tonight while the rest of the Clan sleeps. Until then, however, we will come together to celebrate the rise of a new warrior." After leaping from the branch, Ivystar approached the Harebounce slowly and rested her head of the young she-cat’s, whispering some words of encouragement. “You put your faith in RiverClan and RiverClan puts its faith in you. You are part of the Clan now, forever and always. Don’t you ever let anyone tell you differently.”