mistlekit's apprentice ceremony

Today, the first of his kits were to be apprenticed and the thought alone brought a warm smile on his maw. Climbing up onto Highrock, he began the ceremony. "Let all cats of Thunderclan gather below Highrock for a clan meeting!"

Mistlekit was practically vibrating with uncontrollable energy and delight as she bolted across the clearing. She left her mother and siblings in the dust as she raced over to Highrock where her father was. Sitting at the very front of the crowd, she looked up to Minnowfin, fur puffed up.

Pride swelled in the tortoiseshell's chest as she watched one of her kits race forward. It was an exciting occasion, and Mottlerose certainly wasn't about to miss out. Sitting in her normal place amongst the crowd, her gaze switched between her mate and her daughter.

Reedpaw scurried into the clearing. he spotted Mottlerose with her kit, Mistlekit. was Mistlekit six moons old already? those kits grow so fast!

Stoatstar, who was definitely there the whole time, found the kit's pelt and called her over, "Mistlekit, you have reached six moons and are now ready to train as an apprentice. From now on, you will be known as Mistlepaw. Mintpool will be your mentor. I trust she will teach you everything she knows." He had helped to train Mintpool and trusted the young warrior's abilities. Training her own Thunderclan apprentice would be the next step in her path with the clan.

Mottlerose purred as Mistlekit was bestowed a mentor. Mintpool would be an excellent teacher to her daughter. "Mistlepaw! Mistlepaw!" She felt like she was going to burst with pride.

Mistlepaw! Mistlepaw! Reedpaw cheered, flicking his tail to the small she-cat.

Mintpool sat quietly to the side, a half-finished mouse at her paws. The call for a clan meeting had come in the middle of her meal — a precious thing. Still, however, the warrior rose smoothly, intending to give Minnowfin and Stoatstar her full attention. She found herself being very still these days in camp: still and cautious. This time, she was certain of her place in Thunderclan; now, it was their place she was uncertain of.

Their newest clanmates.

It was so unlike the Clan’s reception of her and her littermates, and yet Mintpool felt a tinge of revulsion too. They don’t belong here. Thunderclan had slowly become her home now, and their Dark Forest “warriors” felt more like intruders. From the wary looks the cats received, she suspected she was not the only one who felt this way.

But Mintpool said nothing. The tall, gray-furred molly was nothing but quietly accepting. And yet the closer to the cats she trusted, the better. I wonder what the ceremony is about. It was then she noticed Minnowfin’s kits scrambling from the nursery. Mintpool blinked, and then looked up at her former mentor with a hint of surprise in her features. But it was nothing to when Stoatstar stepped in to address one grown kit in particular, and then said her name. He’s giving me an apprentice?

She stood dumbly for a moment. But — as always — she adjusted quickly, and stepped forward to greet Minnowfin’s daughter. It was a lot of trust on their behalf, and Mintpool nodded to Mottlerose as she passed by.

“Hello,” she greeted mildly, and then leaned down to touch their noses together; it was some distance, given her height. But at eye level, the warrior found Mistlepaw’s eyes were only a shade yellower than her own, and bright with excitement. When she straightened, she nodded. “You might remember me. I’m Mintpool, and I look forward to training you.”

Oblivious to the tension in the camp, the newly named Mistlepaw bounded up to her mentor gleefully, touching noses with the older she-cat. Pressing her nose against hers, after she broke away, she meowed eagerly. "Mintpool, I'm going to be the quickest apprentice to make warrior. So please train me well!"

After this outburst, she turned to her mother, Mottlerose. "Momma! I'm an apprentice now!"