Marshpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Murkystar exited her den at the base of Jaggedrock, lifting her head to the night sky and taking a deep breath. Leaf-bare was drawing closer with every sunset, the nights getting bitterly cold at times. There were clouds in the sky overhead, blocking some of the starlight and filtering the light of the nearly full moon. Turning her gaze to Jaggedrock, her paws soon followed. Tonight, they would celebrate, another apprentice would join the ranks of their warriors and hold a silent vigil for the rest of them. "ShadowClan! Gather in the shadow of Jaggedrock." Murkystar's mew echoed over the camp.

Marshpaw was acting the same as always, talking to her clanmates, making friends, doing apprentice duties. She felt as if the world was going by too quickly, she wanted to sleep through the quickest nights, although waking times were getting longer and longer with each day of leaf-bare. She really wanted to just curl up, or do something exciting. All her clever little chats were getting her nowhere.

The only warrior ceremony that had happened under Murkystar's leadership was Dusk... what's her name now? Dusksight? It didn't matter. The fact apprentices younger than her were becoming warriors far too quickly was slightly irritating her just a little. When was her turn?

So, when Murkystar called another meeting, the impatient apprentice- who had nothing to do, especially after her mentor's death- sat down, tail flicking. She wasn't expecting much. It wasn't an apprentice ceremony, Frostgaze wasn't on the rock. So, was it her warrior ceremony? Maybe. Maybe not. Probably not.

The clan gathered, Marshpaw among them, and Murkystar didn't miss the way her tail flicked and the impatient air she carried about her. She had done well to complete her training without a mentor to guide her following Fangsnap's death, an oversight that would bother Murkystar's conscience for a long while. Still, it was finally her turn. She had kept a close eye on the she-cat since they returned from their journey to the Moonstone, having to gauge her abilities personally, but now it was time. "ShadowClan, I've gathered you all here today to act as witnesses to another apprentice rising to the rank of a warrior. Marshpaw, please step forward." She requested, waiting patiently for the apprentice to do so before continuing. "I, Murkystar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Marshpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Marshpaw watched Murkystar as she spoke. Her hopes rising a little bit after each word. A warrior ceremony?

"Marshpaw, please step forward."

It was her ceremony, finally. She stepped forward proudly, tail rising with a smile. All impatience gone, it was finally her turn. Her heartbeat quickened in her chest a little as the leader spoke the words that had been carried down, leader to leader for generations. Without hesitation she quickly answered, with a happy tone to her kit-voice.

"I do!"

Having fun wasn't against the warrior code. It's not like she would be a murderer. She was just playing around.

The she-cat's impatience melted away almost immediately as she stepped forward with a smile. Her eager affirmation brought a smile to Murkystar's own face as she continued with the ceremony after a nod of acknowledgement. "Then by the powers granted to me, I give you your warrior name. Marshpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Marshmallow. ShadowClan honors your dedication and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." She mewed, leaping from Jaggedrock to rest her head briefly on the newly named warrior's. "Don't forget, you will hold a silent vigil today to mark the beginning of your warriorhood. Congratulations, Marshmallow." She purred before drawing away and allowing the rest of the clan to step forward around the new warrior.

Frostgaze, who had entered the camp with a few mice hanging from his maw, hurriedly placed them down in the fresh-kill pile when he saw what the meeting was about. Marshpaw. With haste, he gracefully weaved through the crowd to the front, sitting himself down as Murkystar finally announced her newest warrior's full name. He immediately began the chant, projecting his voice out to his adopted daughter. "Marshmallow, Marshmallow, Marshmallow!" Once the cheering had dissipated, and those gathered began dispersing, Frostgaze approached Marshmallow, immediately pressing his forehead to hers with a, "I am very proud of you. You have come far Marshmallow, and you will do great things." With that, he backed away with a respectful nod, letting others congratulate her.