Aether's Apprentice Ceremony

Bloodstar purposely waited a few days to delay this one, but he supposed it was finally time. Grudgingly, and painfully early, he leaped up onto the Tallbranch. A scowl spread across his face before he took a breath. "Let all cats old enough to climb a tree gather beneath the Tallbranch for a clan meeting." His claws dug deep into the tree bark. He was not looking forward to this one. If it hadn't been for Smokefeather, he would have killed the arrogant boy where he stood. Maybe he still would.

Lionboar had told Aether he didn't need to join the Clan, but Aether still wanted to. He still cared about the tom, and yet this was no longer about him. This was a matter of pride. The leader had been needlessly cruel, and made it clear that he did not want Aether there. So that was exactly why Aether would stay. Simply out of spite, as well as to prove that the brute was wrong about him. He was not his father, and he would smash that into his grandfather's head if he had to. 

Now Aether sat among the gathering crowd, fixing Bloodstar with an even stare. It was not an open challenge. No, Aether knew that was a fight he would not win. But he would show the leader he wasn't afraid, either. Or, at the very least, he would act like he wasn't afraid. Either way, Aether would go through with this if it killed him.

Bloodstar waited for the clan to gather and sighed deeply. Once they had, his eyes grudgingly went to his grandson. "Aether step forward. You wanted to be part of this clan, well you will have to follow all of our traditions and learn how to be a Skyclan cat. You will begin as an apprentice and work your way up. From today until the day you earn your warrior name," A soft snort escaped him. "You will be known as Crimsonpaw. There is only one cat I trust to mentor you properly, one that will keep you in line and carry out whatever disciplinary action is necessary should you overstep your bounds. Your mentor will be me."

He sounded far from thrilled, but it was a necessary annoyance to keep his clan safe. He jumped down from the Tallbranch, clearly ending the meeting. He did not touch noses with his new apprentice. The temptation might be too great to nip it off. "We train now. Follow." He barked his order, then moved immediately towards the exit to the camp into the pines. He didn't give two hoots about the clan chanting Crimsonpaw's new name.

Aether had to stop himself from crinkling his nose at his new name. Crimsonpaw. Yeah, no, that wasn't going to work. He had always ridiculed Clan names, and that was a belief that remained. He was not about to go by one now. They could call him whatever they wanted, but as far as he was concerned, he would always be Aether. Even if that name would only be used privately. 

And then Bloodstar had the gall to name himself his mentor, like Aether was a prisoner in need of a guard. Still, he followed dutifully in Bloodstar's steps, following his so called mentor out of camp. 

And so the fun would begin.