Mallardkit's apprentice ceremony

Smallbean skittered to the top of the Tallrock, looking out over his clanmates as they went about their duties. They would be briefly interrupted, though. Mallardkit would become an apprentice today. Taking a deep breath, he summoned the clan. "All cats old enough to run the moors gather around the Tallrock for a clan meeting!" The words were practically engraved into his brain at this point; he could recite them in his sleep.

Thought Mallardkit technically wasn't able to run the moors just yet, they certainly were old enough to. The excited apprentice appeared from the nursery, his long pelt thoroughly groomed. Growing had left him in a painfully lanky stage, but that wouldn't matter. He had learned how to control each step he took, and found himself sitting beneath the Tallrock, looking up at Smallbean curiously. Surely, his apprentice ceremony would be soon, right?

Smiling when he spotted Mallardkit, Smallbean continued the announcement. "Mallardkit, please step forward. You have now reached the age of six moons and are ready to become an apprentice. From now until you become a warrior, you will be known as Mallardpaw. Your mentor will be Whisperear- I trust that they will teach you everything they know." With that, Smallbean leaped from the Tallrock to join his clanmates in celebration.

The newly-named apprentice found themselves smiling with great pride as they earned their new name. Now, they certainly were old enough to run the moors! Hopping onto his paws, the lanky apprentice found themselves stumbling over to their new mentor. "I promise, I'll do my best." They beamed, long tail swishing in the dirt behind them.