thistlepaw's warrior ceremony

A warrior ceremony... without Stoatstar...

Slowly approaching the well-worn boulder known to all as Highrock, Minnowfin readied himself to conduct a warrior ceremony for the first time. It can't be any different from conducting an apprentice ceremony. he chided himself, but deep down a feeling was clinging to him. No, it is different. An apprentice will be given their warrior name. This is what Stoatstar did for me. I wish he could be here to see this...

With a leap, he clambered up onto the rock and called for the clan to assemble. "Let all cats of Thunderclan gather below Highrock for a clan meeting."

Excitement tingled in the molly's toes. There was no possible way it was her ceremony, given that she'd had her name given moons ago. But there still was excitement. Out of all of the apprentices, she'd grown close to many of them. Thistlepaw, Eveningpaw, Specklepaw, and then there were the new ones who had just moved in... But it was certainly time for a few to earn their names.

So there she was at her place beneath the Highrock, excitedly looking up towards her mate. No matter which apprentice it would be, she was ready to cheer them on - loudly. Probably like an obnoxious mother.

Stoatstar - wherever he was - had mentioned a few sunrises ago that her ceremony would be soon, and the molly was undeniably beyond excited for it. As silly as it was, for her it was the last part for her to truly assimilate and settle into clan life, and Thistlepaw was more than ready to put aside her previous life as a rogue and embrace what ThunderClan now had to offer.

Minnowfin called, assembling the clan, and she knew immediately. As she smoothed the calico fur atop her head with a paw, she made her way towards the High Rock, noticing Mottlerose's presence immediately and feeling a little purr build up in her chest. The queen had become a fast friend, her good-humoured and motherly nature not going astray with Thistlepaw. Briefly, she wondered on what her full name was to be - realising now that she no longer had the same familiarity with her previous name, Achlys.

Mottlerose moved forward towards the front of the crowd. With Stoatstar's passing, it'd be a joint effort between Minnowfin and Mottlerose for just a bit until he'd be used to it all.

"Thistlepaw, please step forward. It is time for you to become a warrior, and Thunderclan has noticed your dedication. Do you promise to continue uphold the warrior code and protect your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

There was clear surprise as Mottlerose instead called her forward, but she answered to it eagerly, tail swishing across the dusty floor beneath as she mulled over the answer for a moment. Of course, the molly knew it through and through, but it did feel a little peculiar to promise her life to a group that now lacked her kin, blood or not.

"I do," she replied dutifully, head nodding a little through her pledge.

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I shall give you your warrior name. You shall now be known as Thistlemask. Thunderclan honors your dedication and kindness. Tonight, you will sit vigil as the clan sleeps. Until then, congratulations. Welcome as a full warrior of Thunderclan."

The tortoiseshell dipped her head, a smile wide on her maw towards the new warrior.

Thistlemask. Moons had lead to this moment, delivered by someone she didn't expect, surrounded by others she hardly knew. Her heart ached for those who were no longer present in her life, set to wander amongst the stars forever. The warrior dipped her head to Mottlerose and Minnowfin, taking her place by the camp entrance like she had observed others doing over her apprenticeship in the clan. She exhaled deeply, releasing a breath she had barely realised she was holding, and felt a small spark of warmth deep in her chest.