Vixenkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Frostgaze had found himself yearning for fewer ceremonies... or at least smaller litters. The short tom did not enjoy leaping up onto the Jaggedrock, despite the empowering feeling of height. There had been close calls before, and any day now his luck would catch up with him, and he would fall right back down to the earth. Thankfully, today was not that day, the deputy cleanly leaped up, and called out to the clan. "All cats old enough to silently stalk in the shadows, gather in the shadow of Jaggedrock for a clan meeting!"

Deerleap watched proudly as her daughter got ready for her apprentice ceremony. it seemed like just yesterday that Vixenkit was still a newborn, curled around her belly. "Go on, I'm sure you'll be the best apprentice!" she purred softly, suddenly remembering Leopardpaw's apprentice ceremony.

"Of course I will be!" Vixenkit declared, more to herself than her mother. her stomach churned like a storm as she shakily padded forward.

Sootwhisker gave Vixenkit a supportive nod from where he sat next to Deerleap, his eyes shining with pride. She'd grown so much from the tiny kit he'd first laid eyes on, and he couldn't be happier for the start of her new journey as a warrior apprentice. Her determined proclamation brought him a small purr of amusement, remembering fondly his own apprentice ceremony, where he'd vowed to be the best warrior the clan had ever seen. The warmth of the newleaf sun and the joy he felt seemed to push his problems from his mind, allowing him to focus on this one moment of happiness amidst the darkness they'd been faced with lately.

Snowfoot smiled as she sat by Deerleap. “She’s getting so big!” she mewed, tail flicking in the kit’s direction.

With a blink, Vixenkit had appeared, shakily coming into the meeting. With that, he began. "Shadowclan! I have gathered you here to witness the naming of a new apprentice. Vixenkit, step forward." He waited a few moments for Vixenkit to do so before he continued. "Vixenkit, you have reached the age of six moons and are ready to become an apprentice. From this day forward, until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Vixenpaw. Snowfoot will be your mentor, I trust that she will pass on her bravery and empathy to you." Looking at his ward, he gave a slight nod and leaped down from the Jaggedrock. Frostgaze knew that the apprentice would be in good paws as he padded away.

Snowfoot gasped and stared wide-eyed, at Frostgaze, then Deerleap, then Vixenpaw, then Frostgaze again. She would mentor her best friend’s kit! Snowfoot padded forward to touch noses with her new apprentice.

"Vixenpaw! Vixenpaw!" Deerleap yowled, giving both her daughter and friend a reassuring grin.

Vixenpaw felt herself relax as she realized that her mentor was a cat that she pent almost every day with it. "Hey, Snowfoot, when do we start training?" she asked a bit more calmly than earlier.

“Tomorrow, at sunset,” Snowfoot mewed. “Go ahead and rest up, you’ll need the energy.”

"Vixenpaw! Vixenpaw!" Leopardpaw cheered for her younger sister and newest denmate, dashing over once Vixenpaw had spoken to her new mentor. "You're gonna do great. C'mon, I'll help you find the best spot to put your nest!"

Vixenpaw perked up as Leopardpaw padded over. "Sure, I'm coming!" she squealed.