morningpaw's warrior ceremony

"Gather for a clan meeting." Stoatstar meowed as he jumped to the top of the highrock. The clan needed more warriors, that much never changed. And it seemed that had another apprentice who was worthy. Hopefully, not another one who would turn their back against him. Claws dug into the stone as he looked over the clearing, not willing to meet any cat's gaze.

Today was the day. Morningpaw was certain of it! The past few days, he caught more prey than he was sure anyone knew what to do with. He showed effort with patrols and gave support to his clanmates when they needed it most. Fluffy pelt fully groomed, and a sparkle to his green eyes, the tom hurried near the Highrock. With all his effort, the tom tried to look regal. But the excited flick of his tail gave it all away.

Glancing up from the fresh-kill pile, Minnowfin took a seat near the base of Highrock, eagerly awaiting for this ceremony to begin. He knew that it was almost time for one of his kits to be joining him and Mottlerose in the warriors' den. When he focused on the figure standing atop Highrock however, he knew that there was still something more bothering the leader. Never a chance to be fully at peace is there... he mused with a sigh.

Distracted from his thoughts, Morningpaw emerged neatly groomed and bright-eyed. Joining his kit, he gave the soon-to-be warrior a proud smile. "Today's the big day." he said, playfully shouldering the tom. I'm proud of you, kit. I hope you know that.

Mottlerose blinked towards the high rock at the summon, looking over to Minnowfin before getting up to join him. She took her usual place beneath the rock right next to her mate, and pride danced in her eyed as she found her son. They resembled each other well, and she couldn't even begin to talk about just how proud Morningpaw had made the both of them. All of her kits. As Minnowfin took the words right from her mouth, the mother gave an encouraging nod.

As the clan gathered, Stoatstar shifted slightly. He felt like he could topple off the highrock at any moment. It wasn't nervousness that made him faint but some deeper lack of resolve, a crippling self-doubt, a churning of soured emotions. The leader was used to stuffing such things away; it was all he could do. But it made it hard to focus in the moment. There was a task at paw.

Eventually, he found Minnowfin, then Morningpaw. Picking apart the decent memories in his head, the little leader found himself more grounded. It wasn't hopeless. It wasn't hopeless. The tiny voice was impossibly frail and snuffed out almost instantly. He was centered just enough and his gaze bore into the young tom.

"Morningpaw, come forward. You've proven yourself as an apprentice and are now ready to become a warrior. Do you truly promise to uphold the warrior code and defend the clan, even at the cost of your life?" Don't lie to me, kit. He watched, silently waited for the affirmation that would allow him to become a warrior. But even so, how would he know it to be true when even Cinderflame had taken this same vow?

Copperheart sat near the front of the rest of the clan, beneath the highrock watching proudly as his apprentice step forward and was about to receive his warrior name. Morningpaw's warrior ceremony meant that Copperheart had successfully trained his first ever apprentice. He had no doubt that Morningpaw would make a great warrior.

The tom approached, looking up at the disheveled leader with a determined, bright gaze that directly conflicted with the leader's inner turmoil. Oddly enough, the tom paid no mind to the soured emotions that the leader fought to keep out of his words. Instead, he sat upright, and delivered a loud, "I do.". Conviction dripped from the very breath he used to speak. ThunderClan was his home, filled with wonderful cats. Filled with cats who loved the clan just as much as he did. Morningpaw wanted to protect them at all costs.

Stoatstar waited for the response and it seemed like in that time he had held his breath without realizing it. Exhaling, he nodded slightly to Morningpaw before briefly glancing to Copperheart. Regardless of his own reservations, the words seemed true enough, and his mentor had proven to be a good cat and warrior. His claws continued to flex into the stone as he continued the ceremony, "From now on, you will be known as Morningsun. Thunderclan honors your dedication and welcomes you as a full warrior. Tonight you will sit vigil as the clan sleeps." After the announcement, he leaped down, giving cats the time to cheer their new warrior. He wanted to be alone. The joy felt so far away in that moment. Far away there was guilt as he slipped away.

Featherfrost joined the rest of the clan as the meeting was called, not at all impressed by Stoatstar's disheveled state. It was unbecoming of a leader, she thought, but she said nothing of the sort to anyone and instead kept the thought to herself. The meeting was for a warrior ceremony it seemed, and Featherfrost watched as Morningpaw was called forward. Morning. The name made her want to shiver, after what Klaus had done at the gathering. Featherfrost managed to hide her reaction at hearing it however. Just because they shared part of a name didn't mean that the newly named Morningsun would turn out the same way. Padding forward, the fluffy tortoiseshell dipped her head respectfully. "Congratulations, Morningsun."

Pride practically radiated from the small tortoiseshell molly's frame as she watched her son step forward. In such frustrating times, to see things move on such as this were oddly calming. Usually they would simply be tedious - a continuation of the same old, same old. But so many aspects of this particular ceremony honed in her focus. Her tail swished with anticipation towards hearing what his name would be, and a smile radiated across her maw upon it being declared by Stoatstar. "Morningsun." The mother purred warmly, feeling rather peaceful in response to the choice. It did bring with it a bit of a resemblance to the Morningstar that currently plagued their forest... but her son was so much better than that. The thought disappeared without a trace, only replaced by joy.

She padded over to the newly-named warrior, giving him a lick on his forehead with motherly warmth as she tended to do to all of her children, even if Morningsun was close to dwarfing her. "Congratulations, Morningsun."

The lack of enthusiasm had not gone unnoticed by the newest warrior. However, with a shake of his pelt, Morningsun stood and turned to face the rest of the clan with a bright grin. Sure, he shared a name with Morningstar, and their names were sort of similar. But the warrior hoped to prove himself as a cat different than the one that haunted them. A bright light in the darkness. Even if it was to share a mouse, or to be a shoulder to cry on. What is a life if not served for the betterment of his clan? Nodding in thanks, and purrs to each cat, Morningsun settled at the camp entrance, green eyes glistening with glee and confidence.