Softkit’s Apprentice Ceremony

The deputy was purring despite the pounding pain in her head. She wasn’t going to let her brief sickness disturb the joy of naming a new apprentice. “Let all cats old enough to run the moor gather under the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!” She called, suppressing the urge to cough.

Softkit didn't want to go to the ceremony. Her siblings had dragged her to plenty before, and she wasn't really in the mood to watch other cats get apprenticed. She was fine, sitting in the nursery or talking to Auntie Hen, or even being a little sassy to her parents. That was a lot better than watching some annoying kit become an annoying apprentice, who always boasts about their training. But then, for some reason, Sagewillow dragged her out of the nursery (well picked up, but Softkit didn't want to admit how small she was for a six moon old kit) and out into the clearing.

Well this sucks. Everything sucks. My mom sucks. Softkit thought. She didn't want to watch this stupid ceremony. Unless one of her siblings were getting apprenticed, Softkit found no use in staying. Maybe she could sneak away at some point. Yea she could do that!

Hentooth padded out of her den and sat next to… Softkit. Yeah. She glanced keenly up at Goldenfang, who didn’t seem quite ready to topple off the Tallrock yet. Eh. She’d learn her own lesson.

The young medicine cat turned her attention to the kit beside her. Softkit. Hm. Not like the other kits- more quiet. Withdrawn. Not so much around her family, though. And Hentooth rather thought she counted as family- anyways, wasn’t she like real distant related to Sage? Anyways- Softkit. A good ‘un.

As a kit, she’d known there were two types of cats that came by to say hi. The motherly “don’t do that” type. And the “yeah, let’s sneak outta camp” type. Now that the kits were being apprenticed… well… Hentooth grinned. The pranks would be on. Swift would regret her every life decision. As long as they kept it somewhat hidden from Ash (who apparently had no sense of humor), well… she was already planning a rabbit trick.

She glanced down at the kit again. Eh, she’d better say something. “Hey.” Good. If Soft was in a talkative mood, she could be. If she wasn’t, well, that was fine too.

Softkit’s dissatisfaction was clear on her face, her features hardened and her body hanging limp in her mother’s grasp. The deputy held back her amused smile long enough to get on with the rest of the ceremonial words: “Softkit, step forward,” She called before clearing her throat. “You’ve reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you’ve earned your warrior name, you will be called Softpaw. Your mentor will be Maplewhisker.” Goldenfang gestured towards the red warrior with a tilt of her nose. “Her return to our Clan is a fantastic demonstration of her love and loyalty, and I trust she will pass on her boundless determination to our newest apprentice.”

Softkit glanced up towards Auntie Hen. "Oh hey Auntie." Softkit muttered out. She didn't want to talk right now. She just wanted to stay in the nursery.

Then Goldenfang meowed her name.

Softkit tilted her head in confusion, taking a few steps forward. Could this be..... She was old enough to become one after all.

Was this her apprentice ceremony?

Well Goldenfang seemed to affirm that by foxing saying that ceremony words and changing Softkit's name to Softpaw. Wow, Softpaw. That'd be needing some getting used to. Wow. She was an apprentice now. That meant she had to hang out with more cats. Great. Well this sucked. Everything sucked. Goldenfang and Daystar sucked for deciding that it's time for her to become an apprentice. She just wanted to go back to the nursery.