reedkit's apprentice ceremony

"Gather beneath the highrock for a clan meeting." He called out as he settled back on his haunches in front of the clan. Stoatfur swore with each address he became less and less familiar with the usual call. The deputy had never been one for ceremony and he hardly planned to start now. One of his supposed kits was going to become and apprentice. Honestly, it couldn't have come soon enough - he had even skimmed a few days to get this one done earlier. They weren't bad kits in the slightest but he'd never wanted to raise a litter and he didn't even have a mate. None of this was ever something he'd thought about before. The idea of having some relief as they moved to train under mentors was nice. And it was finally time. He sighed lowly from the sides of his maw as he waited for the clan to gather together.

Reedkit stumbled out of the nursery and ran into the center of the clearing. He had waited all day for the call ever since Softkit had been made an apprentice. He wondered dimly who his mentor was going to be, but his excitement drowned out all forms of thought.

"Reedkit, you are ready to begin your training and will be known as Reedpaw until you receive a warrior name. Appledapple will be your mentor." As much as he knew the she-cat also longed for released from the kits that nipped at their heels, there was no escaping it. They would both be involved in training all of them. There was no doubt that Thunderclan's warrior den was sparse and they needed more fully realized warriors to train young cats. It was a vicious cycle, one that he hoped would be resolved by him being involved in the training of all apprentices. Either that or it would stretch him thinner than he already was. And not to mention that more numbers meant more need for prey. With a sigh, he abandoned his position on the rock, leaving the clan to celebrate their new apprentice.

Appledapple was present for all of "her" kits' ceremonies, though not as much as a normal mother would be. She did not groom or preen them, but she did escort them out of the nursery, and wait in the crowds to offer some sparse-- but polite-- congratulations. However, she was not expecting to be named as one of their mentors. She should have been. ThunderClan was tiny. Despite the logic of it, she felt a slight thorn prick at her as she realized what the responsibility of kits actually meant. They wouldn't go away. She would always have to be their mother. And all the work that entailed. What a living Dark Forest....

Well, if she had to mentor one of them, she supposed that Reedkit-- Reedpaw-- was okay. His energy could be turned to battle and hunting somewhat usefully. She padded forward after a moment of shock when her name was called, and bent down to touch her nose to that of her adopted son. "We will begin training tomorrow," she told him, putting the same light smile on her face that she normally did. "Want to hunt or spar first?"

Reedpaw widened his pale blue eyes, entranced by the words that seem to effortlessly come from his father. and his mentor was to be his mother! he resisted the urge to purr and instead turned to Appledapple. he gently touched his nose to hers and grinned back. "Hunting, since there's so many kits to feed," he replied almost immediately. he had been up all night to think about it. he felt sure that his choice would impress Appledapple.

ooc: sorry i'm late lol, ik this isn't my topic buuut, rainkit

Rainkit started to Applaud Reedpaw's New Name "Go Reedpaw! Reedpaw!! Hurray!!" They cheered until some of the Cats left, Congratulating their Brother.