Otterpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Thick rivulets of silky snow curled downwards from the bleak late evening sky, rich ribbons of irrefutable cleanliness that bleached the sad and somber winter riverlands; sprawling blankets of alabaster heaped on further by the perpetually lingering dusting of snow, disrupted only by the occasional tracking of muddied ice and churned sands. The stifling stillness of the dwindling grey light was interrupted only by the insistent, yet terribly faint, collision of snow landing upon starkly frigid ice, a backdrop of virtually unknowable hissing lost to the chatter of a burdened river. Tender ears and nose aflame with the scorching brush of lingering frigid dampness, Jaystar's sharp features creased softly as he peered down from his newly-raised seat atop the ceremonial willow tree, heralded only by generations of kin and forbearers.

"All cats old enough to catch their own fish, gather beneath the Willow Branch for a Clan meeting!"

Mallowmist trodded from her resting spot upon her leader's call, the silver tail swishing in anticipation. It seemed that several of her former den-mates would once again be joining her within the warriors den, making the clan even stronger. She waited eagerly, ready to see who would be taking their next steps in Clan life.

As always, Otterpaw pranced forward with confidence in each step, tail and chin held high. He was well aware that his moonstone journey meant he was nearing the end of his training, and that his warrior ceremony would be soon. So, when Jaystar called out to the Clan together (and with no threats seemingly present), he could only assume this was his time to shine. He took a seat near the crowd, next to a pretty young she-cat. ”Hello, gorgeous. Wonder what this is about?” He mused, tail tip twitching.

Feathersky appeared out of the warriors' den to gather near the Willow Branch with the rest of the clan after hearing Jaystar's familiar words that summoned the clan to gather. Not having much to say, she sat with the rest of the warriors and waited for the clan meeting to progress.

Smooth jut of the shoulder roiling sharply under the wild mane of his unkempt coat and idly brushing off a faint dusting of snow, Jaystar's slow movements atop the weight perch of the forked tree-limb were liquid and silky, fluent with the seemingly innate grace of a shadow, gentle movements twisting and writhing against the cold backdrop of the evening. Pointed chin lifting a casual, calloused invitation to all of the gradually collecting onlookers currently peering on with mirrored expressions of apt interest, the young tom standing before him a bit more preoccupied with other happenings than what was about to unfold. If there was irritation to be had, it was lost within the reflective depths of his boundless stare.

"Today, we have gathered here to witness the naming of yet another Warrior. Ashflight has spoken nothing but highly of his apprentice Otterpaw, and has assured me that he is ready for such a transition. Otterpaw, if you believe this to be true, step forward now and your ceremony will commence."

Otterpaw feigned surprise when his name was called, looking to Mallowmist with an almost shocked expression. ”Why, I guess it’s me.” He said with a slight chuckle, standing and taking a few steps forward to the front of the crowd. He gave Jaystar a firm nod and kept his gaze on the Willow Branch, waiting for what was to come.

Softly ghosted with the silky remnants of a faint crusting of ice and frost, gossamer and web-like against the unkempt mane of his dark coat, Jaystar swallowed down the fiery pinprick of familiarity and remembrance blossoming low and deep at the ceremonial summons- dark gaze and wry twist of the mouth flitting briefly across the ambivalent washings of his high-ridged face. If the bits and pieces of conversation drifting by below seemed to genuinely work between the surface of his tense muscles, it was difficult to discern under the guise of paying mind to the framing of ceremonial summons.

"I call to our ancestors to look down upon this Apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your code, and I commend him to you as a Warrior in return. Otterpaw, do you promise to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Chest puffed out brazenly, Otterpaw nodded firmly and mewed, ”I do.” His gaze remained on Jaystar as he sat below this Willow Branch, waiting not-so-patiently for his warrior name to be announced for all to hear.

A gentle prrt~? chimed from the she-cat as the apprentice next to her called her gorgeous. "We will have to see," she had replied with amusement. It was to even greater amusal that it was indeed the tom's ceremony. With a bit of a playful wink, Mallowmist then opted to watch with much more attention on the tom as he was ready to receive his name.

Silky dark edges of wispy fur catching sharply against the wan light of the terse evening, gentle ripples of pale light heavily framed the occasional movements of Jaystar; a familiar mimicry to the dark riverwater flashing under the bright illumination of the pallid moonlight. Hard cut lines of the cheekbone ridging sharply against the delicate curve of his face, the gaunt tom continuously fronted a calloused expression, unwilling to divulge a fractional emotion while in the presence of the young cat before him, attention finally settling into a firm point of fixation now that immediate clarity had been sparked in the aftermath of the ceremony.

"In that case, I shall grant you your new name. From this day forth, you will be known as Otterdance. RiverClan honors your confidence and hunting skills. Tonight, you will hold a silent vigil while the rest of the Clan sleeps. Until then, we celebrate the naming of a new RiverClan Warrior." Sending forth a chilly flurry of crystalline ice and downy snows, Jaystar was quick and fluid in his movements to abandon his high-above perch and instead join the blossoming congregation thronging about the newly elevated young tom.