Ebonykit's Apprentice Ceremony

Scarletriver shivered when she realized that today was the first time she was going to lead her first ceremony.  She was nervous to say the least.  She knew how much kits looked forward to the day when they could finally be an apprentice and she was so afraid that she could mess it up somehow.  She tried to comfort herself, making herself think it was going to be fine, but doubt always found it's way back to being the first thought she had.  Especially because she knew that this particular kit was extremely excited for his ceremony.  She walked to the willow's branch and climbed it.

A small chill was in the air that Leaf-fall morning.  She sighed real quick trying to calm herself from her fear and cleared her throat.  "Um, let all cats who are old enough to swim in the river gather for a clan meeting, please!"  She called, raising her voice louder than she ever had before so everyone could hear her.

Ebonykit was sitting in his usual place by the nursery, his head lifting quickly as he was caught off guard by Scarletriver's call. A meeting... A ceremony? He lifted himself to his paws, trotting over to join the gathering warriors with an extra bounce in his lanky gait. He was certainly old enough for it to be his ceremony, he had kept good track of his age to know that for sure. However, there were plenty of other cats in camp. Perhaps another cat was getting a ceremony, or maybe it was just a general announcement.

Regardless, he sat down amongst the group, looking up at the deputy. He kneaded the ground in anticipation, one of the few signs of his excitement as he tried desperately to look collected.

Scarletriver looked out at all the cats gathering.  There were a lot there, but there were two cats in particular she was looking for.  She squinted her eyes and scanned the crowd for the two cats.  Once they were found, the ceremony could begin.  "Ebonykit, step forward please," Scarletriver exclaimed.

Once the kit stepped forward she continued.  "You have reached the age of six moons and you are ready to become an apprentice.  From today until you have your warrior ceremony you will be known as Ebonypaw."  Her eyes flicked towards the mentor she had chosen and then back at Ebonypaw.  "Your mentor will be Bearspirit."  She nodded towards the tom who she spoke of.  "He's an experienced and skilled warrior, who I'm sure will teach you well."

She lowered her voice to her normal volume.  "Congratulations, Ebonypaw."

His large ears perked at the sound of his name, an overwhelming jolt of elation causing the young tom to squirm. It was his ceremony! He couldn't help the gleeful smile that spread across his face, taking a step forward towards the willow to receive his name. Ebonypaw. His apprentice name. He was an apprentice! The thought spun circles in his head, almost unable to grasp it.

Ebonypaw's gaze followed Scarletriver's as he glanced to his new mentor, practically glowing. He briefly nodded his thanks to the she-cat before approaching his mentor with barely contained excitement. He could provide for his clan now, one step closer to being a loyal warrior.