Lionpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Ashstorm made her way to Tallbranch like she did many times.  Everything was different now.  Everything in Skyclan was broken and messed up and filled with drama and pain... more so than usual.  But that did not mean that the grey she-cat would prevent the clan from moving on like normal.  The clan still needed to continue, no matter what.  She climbed the Tallbranch, looking out at the many cats.  There were many more than usual, as the Dark Forest and the Forgotten Order were all around, watching them.  This was her first time doing a warrior ceremony.  She was not about to let Morningstar be their leader and she especially was not about to let one of his first tasks being making her kit a warrior.  She could not care less about what he thought.

"Let all cats old enough to climb a tree gather at Tallbranch for a clan meeting, please!" She called to the clan and waited for them to start gathering.

The depression had hit him hard. First, StarClan was clearly a fraud, and then all out dead apparently. The oppression of the Dark Forest and Morningstar was all consuming. It took everything in him to just keep moving and living on the daily. All Lionpaw needed was some sort of something good. Bloodstar was dead, so his last hope of being recognized by him was gone. Dragging himself to the ceremony, called by his adopted mother, he sat towards the back. His stomach churned with guilt as the StarClan cat's words rang in his ears. Perhaps it was his fault he and his mother grew apart. But he was here now, he supposed.

Ashstorm waited until she spotted the cat whom she looked for.  The apprentice had a look on his face that confused Ashstorm.  He seemed sad and disappointed.  That was a normal state for many Skyclan cats, especially now, but weren't cats supposed to be excited when they were near to being a warrior?  Although, with everything going on, she could not expect any cat to be exactly happy right now, especially when Ashstorm herself was not.  She would do anything to change what was happening, but she had no idea how to.  Even though her and Lionpaw were not close at the moment, she still hated to see that look on her adopted kit's face.

"Today, we gather for a clanmate to receive a new name and become a warrior.  Lionpaw, step forward." Her voice called out to the crowd and she waited for her kit to come forward.  Ashstorm tried to remember the words she heard Bloodstar, and at one time Wolfstar, say many times.  However, she did make a slight change, as she was not about to mention the ancestors again, after everything that happened.  "You have trained wonderfully and worked to understand the code, in return you are ready to become a warrior.  Now, Lionpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and fight for your clan even at the cost of your life?"

Ah, so this was about him! Lionpaw's ears did perk up as his adopted mom called his name. A pang of guilt did twinge his heart as she looked down on him so proud. Perhaps, truly, this was his fault. He did create his own isolation. There was time to change it, but for now, it was his moment. He strode forward and held his head proud, for now. "I do." The golden tom said simply. It was too hard to repeat those words, right now, but he did mean his vow.

"Then I give you your warrior name, Lionboar!  Skyclan honors your strong will and amazing battle skills."  Ashstorm leapt down from the Tallbranch and approached the new warrior.  "Congratulations, Lionboar!"  She said in an uplifting tone.  Then, she lowered her voice to a whisper.  "I'm sure that Bloodstar would be proud of the great warrior you are."  It was no secret that her kit had looked for approval from Bloodstar and she knew he could not get that now, but Ashstorm thought he deserved it.

Ashstorm was glad to get to do the ceremony.  She did not exactly know where Morningstar was, but she did know that he did not care about Skyclan anymore.  He was free to call himself leader all he wished, but Ashstorm would never treat him as such.

"Lionboar! Lionbaor!" Slightfrost halfheartedly cheered out his denmate's new name. they should be expanding the warrior's den by now. maybe some cats could sleep in the elder's and apprentice's den instead. anything but the snores in the warrior's den that'll forever keep him awake!

Primroselight was thankful that Ashstorm was still able to perform ceremonies, and was also very proud of Lionboar for earning his warrior name. The tom had been her apprentice for a while now, but now he'd joined her as a warrior. "Lionboar! Lionboar! Lionboar!" She cheered with the rest of the clan, her voice masking the endless sorrow that had overwhelmed her recently. Instead, she let Lionboar have his moment of pride, one that he deserved despite everything happening around them.