Brackenpaw's Warrior Ceremony

OOC: Since the 48 hrs since your request have passed, Fawnsong will be holding this ceremony

Another day and another apprentice was going to become a warrior. As a medicine cat apprentice, he already knew those who have passed their training and took on their 'Starclan meeting', if they could keep calling it that. If it would be up to him, the ginger tom would have preferred to not hold this ceremony in particular. He knew how frustrated Brackenpaw was with his response after the failed Starclan dream he had. Fawnsong was certain the apprentice saw him as a disappointment of a medicine cat and he couldn't blame him. He doubted Brackenpaw will be happy with him holding his ceremony but he had to be made a warrior. Windclan needed more of them. "Let all cats old enough to run the moor join beneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!"

Fawnsong calling a meeting rather than Shrikestorm or Goldenstar felt strange, but Brackenpaw reluctantly unfurled from where she'd been sitting and padded forward. She doubted it was a warrior ceremony if the clan's medicine cat was calling the meeting, but maybe the tom had finally managed to make contact with the ancestors he seemed so insistent on. She'd calmed down since that failed dream, though hadn't had the nerve to approach the medicine cat since. She could only imagine what Swiftspirit would've said if she'd been alive to hear about it. Her mother hadn't been particularly pious, but Brackenpaw could almost hear the lecture on how that wasn't the way to talk to anyone let alone the clan's medicine cat. And Swiftspirit would've been right.

Maybe it was something that could do to finally get rid of the dark forest cats... Though with how many of them sat around camp, Brackenpaw didn't think Fawnsong would be so bold as to announce plans in front of them.

His muscles tensed when he saw Brackenpaw in the crowd. The young tom lifted his tail to call everyone's attention and started the meeting without further delay: "We gather here today to welcome a new warrior into our clan. I call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has worked hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in return. Brackenpaw, do you promise to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your own life?" His amber gaze looked directly into the young apprentice, truly hoping she would be making his way to the centre of the clearing to receive her new name. It didn't matter if she wasn't able to see Starclan. It wasn't her fault. Brackenpaw has completed her training and was ready to take on the responsibilities of warriorhood. Even with Starclan gone, Fawnsong knew that, wherever they were, they would agree with this decision.

Brackenpaw went still, blinking up at Fawnsong owlishly as he spoke. That had been the last thing she was expecting, and it showed in her startled expression. Her warrior ceremony? Oh, rabbitdung, but she hadn't even thought of it. Swiftspirit would've been unhappy with the state of her pelt, she was sure, and so the marbled tabby gave her chest fur a few swift licks. Best she could do before Fawnsong called her forward. She had no idea what the medicine cat thought of her after her outburst in the medicine den... Probably thought poorly of her.

...Some impression she was continuing to make on him. She wasn't quite sure if her thoughts on the ever-absent Starclan, though the rational part of her brain told her it wasn't Fawnsong's fault they couldn't be reached. And she would protect her clan no matter what. As mom had told her that noble warriors did. Mom should be here, she thought, the fresh wave of grief making her paws tremble slightly as she stepped forward with a confidence that felt forced. Still, her voice didn't waver and for that she was grateful as she spoke. "I do."

Behind Brackenpaw, a faint shadow seemed to appear in the crowd, barely visible to the living - mostly translucent save for a pair of pale blue eyes. The spirit watched quietly as the meeting was called, ears straining but finding no sound. It was strange to her to see a medicine cat call a meeting. What had happened to Goldenstar and Shrikestorm? If this were a dream, she decided, or a vision, it would've been who she'd expect to call the clan together. It was for that reason that Swiftspirit thought this wasn't just her wandering conscience playing tricks in her newfound state. She couldn't make out Fawnsong's words, but she managed, somewhat belatedly to read his lips at the tail end of the speech. Warrior ceremony. Brackenpaw's.

The spirit smiled softly to herself.

The tom could sense something off in the apprentice as she approached the Tallrock, but he couldn't decipher what it was exactly. All apprentices he had named had approached him with surprise at the realization that this was indeed their warrior ceremony. That surprise was present in Brackenpaw... but there was a certain "sadness" there too. At first, he thought it was because of him. It wasn't usual that a medicine cat was naming warriors, especially when that medicine cat had failed miserably at his job contacting Starclan. However, another thought made him change his mind: Swiftspirit, Brackenpaw's mother. Fawnsong soon realized that it was grief that was in the she-cat's eyes... grief he knew too well. He frowned a bit, concerned for the molly. As a medicine cat, he was supposed to help and heal his clanmates, both physically and mentally. But the tom didn't quite yet know how to do the second one when he himself was suffering from inner wounds.

The ginger tabby blinked twice, regaining his focus on the ceremony. He would talk to Brackenpaw later. "Then from this moment on, you will be known as Brackenwing. WindClan recognizes your loyalty and... perseverance in these dark times." The tom paused for a second, remembering the she-cat's outburst at his den. Her frustration had gotten the worst of her and he didn't blame her. Yet, despite her lash of anger and frustration, there she was, ready to take her warrior name and follow her mother's pawsteps. That was perseverance. "You will hold a silent vigil tonight, as a symbolic way to celebrate your path into warriorhood. Windclan welcomes you as a new warrior of the clan. Congratulations."

With a motion of his tail, the scarred tom dismissed the ceremony and the chanting of Brackenwing's name began. As he climbed down the Tallrock, he hesitated about going to greet the new warrior personally, fearing she was angry with him. But a strange phenomenon quickly changed his mind... as his eyes met the molly's silhouette, he saw a strange shadow behind her. No... it isn't a shadow... Fawsong thought to himself, realizing the pair of blue spheres floating in this strange apparition. Confused and intrigued, the medicine cat approached the apprentice, but as soon as the shadow appeared, it fade out of his sight as he walked toward it. The tom didn't know why... but it felt like it was someone he knew. After recovering from the odd encounter, his eyes finally met Brackenwing's. "I... I just wanted to congratulate you personally, Brackenwing. You have worked really hard and from now on, new experiences shall come. But... if you ever feel overwhelmed... or just need to talk about anything that troubles you... you're welcome in my den." The medicine cat gave her a goodbye nod and left her to celebrate with the rest of her friends.

Maplespring had quickly scrambled over after hearing the ongoing ceremony, just in time to congratulate the new warrior. "Brackenwing! Welcome to the warrior's den!"

Blazepaw wasn’t far behind. “Congratulations Brackenwing!” Now she had Smallbean all to herself. Sharing a mentor hadn’t bothered her per se, it just meant she got a bit less attention and training.

Fawnsong's gaze was piercing, and Brackenpaw wondered what he saw in her. Could he only see the anger she'd lashed out with? Did he see the grief hiding in her expression? The ceremony continued, a surreal moment in time. Brackenpaw- No, Brackenwing. She was a warrior now. They honored her loyalty and perseverance For what else could she do? I hope you're proud of me, mom... If you even see me. Had Bearspirit known of his kits' existence before he death? Was he watching, wherever he was? Brackenwing quickly pushed the thought away. Not like he'd get the chance now, anyways.

Fawnsong approached, looking somewhat hesitant for a moment. Brackenwnig dipped her head at his words. "Thank you-" She stammered quietly, "And I'm- Sorry. About before." Heat burned beneath her pelt, but she owed him an apology. Then the medicine cat was padding away, and as the chanting of her name faded a few of her clanmates approached. Former denmates, now. "Thanks!" She managed a grin for both Maplespring and Blazepaw. "I'm sure you'll join us in no time." She added to the apprentice she'd shared a mentor with.



The pale apparition that was Swiftspirit couldn't quite make out what her daughter's new name was, but mouthed the first part of Bracken's name silently alongside her former clanmates. She briefly met Fawnsong's gaze briefly as the ceremony concluded, offering him a small, bittersweet smile before seeming to fade away.