eveningpaw's warrior ceremony

Mottlerose had found herself pacing through camp throughout the day. Minnowfin had asked her to assist with his duties as he prepared for his transition to leadership, and it seemed he had gotten particularly busy in preparing. She couldn't blame him at all, after all, it had been rather sudden that Stoatstar had seemed to just... disappear. As he was preparing though, there were other aspects of clan life to attend to. One of which being the naming of warriors. It was her own apprentice who was to be named, and it almost felt odd for her to be naming him. But she had been given permission to do such for him, so with slightly shaky limbs, the tortoiseshell lept to the top of the Highrock.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!" She hoped she said it right, simply reciting the words she heard her mate say every time she had assembled.

Strangely, it was Mottlerose calling the meeting instead of Minnowfin. Eveningpaw rose from his spot in the shade anbd limped over, giving his mentor atop the Highrock a questioning look. Although...Specklewish had just had his ceremony, surely it was time for his own?

With the discussion he had with Pricklebush in StarClan a few nights prior, for the first time, with all his preparation, Eveningpaw felt truly ready to become a warrior. It was time for him to join the warriors' den, he was sick of being stuck sleeping next to apprentices all younger than he.

Taking a seat before the Highrock, he turned his ice blue gaze upwards, waiting for Mottlerose to continue.

As she saw her apprentice gather, the tortoiseshell had to swallow the nervous lump in her throat. She willed herself to remember the words that both Stoatstar and her mate had spoken, moreso hearing them in her mate's voice at the last ceremony that had just been done.

"Eveningpaw, step forward." She called to her apprentice. There were so many admirable traits in the young apprentice that she could think of, it certainly was more than time for him to become a warrior. "Thunderclan recognizes the dedication and resilience you have shown in your training, and it is time for you to be made a full warrior of this clan. Do you promise to continue uphold the warrior code and protect your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

It was indeed his ceremony, and he rose to his feet once more, his chest swelling in pride. Raising his voice so the whole Clan could hear, he flashed Mottlerose a confident smirk and meowed, "I do."

There was comfort in being able to recognize a familiar face of her apprentice as he stepped forward, and it seemed Mottlerose grew more comfortable as it went on. However, the ceremony wasn't about her, not at all.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From now on, you will be known as Eveningmoon. StarClan honors your devotion and tenacity. We welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan, and tonight, you will sit vigil as the clan sleeps." She smiled, letting the clan cheer before leaping off the Highrock and going to press her nose to her former-apprentice's head. "Congratulations, Eveningmoon."

Eveningmoon. It was perfect. His smirk widening into a grin, he returned Mottlerose's nudge with a head bump into her shoulder. "Thanks, Mottlerose. For everything. Nice job with the ceremony by the way, maybe you should be the next deputy!" the newly-named warrior joked, although there was some sincerity to his words. For now, though, there was no time for contemplating it, he needed to situate his nest in the new den and prepare for his vigil.