redkit's apprentice ceremony

It was finally, finally time for one of her fiestiest children to become apprenticed. The shock certainly came to the deputy at how reluctant he was to catch up to his siblings in their training, but being the mother she was... she obliged. Until now. She'd managed to persuade Redkit that it was time to grow beyond the nursery, especially given the fact that she couldn't exactly keep nurturing him.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!"

Redkit practically tumbled head over paws at the sound of his mother's voice. With a little cloud of dust following him as he raced from the edge of camp to the middle, the young tom's ginger fur wasn't quite as well-kept as Mottlerose likely wanted it to be, and in all honesty it would've probably looked a lot worse if she didn't forcefully do it herself on occasion. But this was his ceremony! This was it! He'd finally get to be in the same den as his siblings again. He wiggled restlessly as he stared up at his mother up on the Highrock, starry-eyed in between his hasty attempts to groom the sand from his fur.

She had a feeling that if it were up to the little tom, he would be glued to her side. Unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to. That didn't mean he wouldn't get attention once his ceremony had finished, though. Unable to keep the grin from her maw, Mottlerose opted to continue the ceremony quickly. "Redkit, dear, come forward." She called, waiting for a particular warrior to appear in the crowd before she did. "You've well reached the age of six moons old, and are ready to become an apprentice. Until you receive your warrior name, you will now be known as Redpaw. I trust Thistlemask to be your mentor, as her swift mind will help teach you well."

With the ceremonial words out of the way, she swiftly lept from the place that had become so familiar. The mothers voice quickly joined the calls of celebration, standing close enough for comfort, but far enough away for the young apprentice to truly meet his mentor. The deputy couldn't have had a better she-cat in mind.

When Mottlerose had asked Thistlemask to mentor her last kit, she had been thoroughly confused and slightly overwhelmed by the idea. Flurrypaw was one thing, the molly being of similar age just taking a bit longer, but an actual Thunderclan kit? Her kit? The responsibility felt staggering almost; taking care of her dear friends kit felt odd, and knowing she would be imposing clan values onto a clanborn kit was odd, but welcoming. She stood as she was called, padding forward dutifully to meet the little tom. Remembering her own apprentice ceremony - a mere formality, really - Thistlemask touched her nose to Redpaw's, a soft smile adorning her features. The molly then looked to her friend, sunlight beaming down into her calico pelt, and hoped the gratefulness in her eyes shined through.

The glitter did not leave the ginger tom's eyes as his mother gave him his new name: Redpaw. Part of him was a little disappointed that Mottlerose wasn't going to mentor him, but he shook away that thought like it was an annoying little fly. He had to grow up someday! He wasn't a kit anymore, anyway! Redpaw's head whipped around in search of Thistlemask and she was already right beside him. "Thistlemask!" The newly named apprentice stretched up to touch noses with his mentor - a little too fast, resulting in a dull bonk - and gave a toothy grin, letting out an excited purr. He couldn't wait to see what training was in store.