Tigerkit's Apprentice Ceremony

The night had been sleepless, more so than usual, worried with thoughts of their predicament. There was no way out, no resolution, just a hopeless path forward to try to survive. Thunderclan needed to stay together and stay strong with the Dark Forest forces milling about in their territory. He longed to scream that he stood with his clan, knew of their disdain, but to say anything would out his inner disdain. For now, he played the part of loyal leader and ally. Starclan was dead, they had to be, or his clan and kin would be flayed. And yet, he found himself willing for some hope from the stars. Throughout the night, it never came.

Stoatstar would have to find it himself. He'd need to raise the clan up for when it was time, grow their numbers, move forward and wait until the time was right. Exhaustion clawed at the fringes of his mind but he made his way to the highrock anyways with a steel look behind his eyes. Once reaching the top, he called out, "Let all cats gather for a clan meeting."

Mottlefin had been rather exhausted by all of his duties, and Mottlerose had taken that into account. She'd shoved him off to rest as best she could, but at the same time, kits needed to be apprenticed. Taking the freedom from her nursery den to come sit beneath the Highrock, the tortoiseshell looked towards her leader. Even if frustration boiled behind her gaze, life continued on.

Tigerkit bounced his way out of the nursery, following his mother and weaving in between her legs. He was unaware of any of the frustrations and tribulations that were going on so he was fairly upbeat about life. Recently, every meeting his leader called had him buzzing with excitement, since he was at the age to become an apprentice, and boy was he ready.

When he caught sight of the apprentice's pelt, he continued on with an even voice, "Tigerkit, come forward. You've reached six moons and are now ready to begin training as an apprentice. Until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Tigerpaw. I will be your mentor." Stoatstar already had several apprentices but did not mind one more; he would train them all if he could. Leaping down, the little brown and white tom padded over to the newly named Tigerpaw, "We'll start tomorrow but not before dawn. We both need some good rest."

"Tigerpaw! Tigerpaw!" Reedshine cheered for his clanmate's new name.