foxkit's apprentice ceremony

New life in Thunderclan never seemed to cease. Today would be a special day for one of the kits, ready for a new stage in clan life. Accustomed to the sensation of being up atop Highrock, in a stoic command he called to the clan: "Let all cats of Thunderclan gather below Highrock for a clan meeting."

It brought Mottlerose a lot of comfort to see just how accustomed her mate was to being atop the Highrock. She found her usual place yet again, and sat. There were many kits in the nursery, and it was their time to grow towards becoming warriors. A low purr rumbled in her chest at the excitement, warm memories of her own children passing by.

Foxkit was excited, but.. somewhat nervous. She had carefully counted down the days- she was finally six moons! She spent every day before in great anticipation for this day, ready to learn and to help her clan. Now that the day was finally here, though.. What felt like a hundred worries popped into her head. She'd have to leave the nursery, and make a nest in the unfamiliar apprentice den. And how often would she leave that, for training out of camp? She'd get a mentor too; and she didn't know most of the warriors, and-

The call of a clan meeting sounded through the camp and into the nursery. She was going to be an apprentice- and that's what she wanted, right? Stepping out the familiar den, her paws felt uncertain. Slowly she padded into the clearing, where already some warriors sat. Foxkit took a deep breath before sitting down, and looked up toward the deputy.

The clan assembled, he continued. "Foxkit," he called, a gentle smile directed towards the kit. "You have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Foxpaw and your mentor will be Comfreyheart. She is a capable warrior, and I trust that she will teach you all that she knows."" Everything said, he leaped onto the ground and joined his mate in cheering for the new apprentice.

Her ears flicked up. "Me?" she quietly gasped, looking up at Minnowfin. Comfreyheart blinked a few times against the bright sun. Her eyes felt tired, not from lack of sleep, but from the hours she spent sulking away in the warrior den. The molly tried to focus on this new responsibility, on what this meant. I'm a mentor. I have an apprentice to teach. She tried to come to terms with it. Am I really up for this? Her yellow eyes glided over to the new apprentice, Foxpaw. Her apprentice. She felt giddy. The most important Thunderclan duty, training the young. Comfreyheart drew a paw over her forlorn face and traded it for an upbeat smile before padding over to the young she-cat. "Hello there Foxpaw," she said softly, her voice dry from not chatting much, "Are you excited?"

Foxpaw. She was officially an apprentice. Her apprehensions almost began to wash away as the ceremony concluded; she somehow felt more calm after her new name was cheered. She was still a bit on edge, of course, and a few worries still swam freely in her head-- the most major of which being her mentor. The new apprentice met gaze with Comfreyheart, and eyed the older she almost cautiously. The dark-furred warrior was smiling brightly when she approached, and though the molly was larger than her, she had almost a friendly air about her. ..Maybe she didn't need to worry as much as she had.

"Hello," Foxpaw simply meowed, dipping her head slightly. She smiled with a small nod to the molly's question, "Yeah!" Her main concerns mostly gone, excitement came back to the apprentice, "I can't wait to start training!"

Seeing the apprentice's excitement, her smile became a bit more genuine. "That's great! Just like Minnowfin said, I'll teach you everything I know." Comfreyheart blinked, remembering a custom she had seen other mentors do with their trainees. Lowering down with a purr, she briefly pressed her nose against Foxpaw's. In that moment she was simply eager to provide this young cat knowledge. Eager to raise a new warrior for Thunderclan.