Beechface's Apprentice Ceremony

Ashstorm felt giddy for multiple reasons today as she went to Tallbranch.  First off, her excitement of doing these ceremonies had yet to wear off.  Secondly, she felt happy for the cat she was doing it for.  The she-cat had wanted this for a while, Ashstorm was not exactly sure if she still wanted it, but it should be good for her.  She had known that her sister never wanted the responsibilities of being a medicine cat and know she would finally get relieved of them.  She would finally get the life, more or less, that she had wanted so badly.  Ashstorm still was not sure whether or not her sister still wanted this, but she hoped that she did.

Ashstorm climbed to the Tallbranch quickly and looked out at everyone like she had done two other times.  She sighed and then took a breath in.  "Let all cats old enough to climb a tree gather for a clan meeting!"  She called out joyfully.

A slightly sheepish golden face poked out of the medicine den. Dawnfeather was still recovering, and it’d be a good few sunrises before Muddy would let her hunt again, but she was healing nicely and everyone was pleased.

She knew she didn’t have to walk over there. Not when she was still in the medicine den. But she wanted to watch… so she sat just outside the medicine den, basking in the sunshine and wondering which lucky kit would be apprenticed today.

Beechface had, admittedly, been just a little excited about becoming an apprentice. It might have seemed strange to some, but she had never wanted to be a medicine cat. She'd never enjoyed the position and had despised the limitations that had been forced upon her as a result of being one. So when Ashstorm's call rang across camp, the big tabby stepped out of the den, lightly flicking Dawnfeather's flank with her tail before approaching the tallbranch, hoping that today would finally be the day.

Ashstorm looked down at Beechface.  A smile crept across her face that she could not and had no intention of hiding.  Once she also spotted Beechface's soon-to-be mentor, she started the ceremony.  "Beechface, please step forward."

She waited for her to step forward, then quickly continued.  "You have served in the medicine den for a while and has helped Skyclan in many ways, now it is time for you to become an apprentice.  From now until your training is over and you become a warrior, you will be known as Beechpaw.  Your mentor will be Bloodstar."

She waited a moment and then hopped down and walked towards her sister.  "Congratulations, Beechpaw.  I'm so happy for you."

Beechface- Beechpaw, rather, grinned up at her sister as theceremony was complete. "Thanks, Ashstorm." She mewed. Truthfully the thought of having Bloodstar as her mentor after everything filled her with uncertainty, but if this was what she had to do, then so be it. She was willing to try, at least... And as much as she hated admitting it, his decision-making as leader had been sound so far. The newly-named apprentice turned towards her mentor, more than ready to get training underway.

Bloodstar had been waiting for his name to be called, as he knew he'd be chosen for it. Ashstorm and him had agreed upon it after all. He approached his apprentice, and instead of touching noses as was custom, he simply nodded at her once. She wasn't a kit and he wasn't going to treat her like one.

"Well... let's head out." He wasn't wasting any time. He turned and lead the way towards the forest, eager to see how much Beechpaw could recall from when she was a warrior apprentice last time.