stormykit's apprentice ceremony

There was a slight chill permeating the morning air these days, dew settling gently upon blades of grass and greenery that sheltered under the canopy of ThunderClan trees. Thistlemask drew in a long breath, enjoying the way leaves were beginning to gain the familiar warm hues of Leaf-fall, a slight nagging voice in the back of her head worried about prey, something she silenced as she fought the urge to continue to get off topic. Shaking out her pelt, the deputy leapt onto Highrock, feeling out of place and concerned. Mottlestar trusted her though, she could do this. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!"

Even with the chill that seemed to breeze through the forest, life still went on. It was refreshing to know that there were young, budding warriors residing within their walls. Their strength would slowly grow, much as the trees of their forest slowly strengthened with time. Mottlestar happily trotted from her den, taking her signature place among the crowd, and gave a nod to Thistlemask before watching her clanmates, ready to talk with any who came by.

Stormykit had been groomed meticulously, to the point of annoyance by her mother. The she-cat had fussed over her ears and back and paws, as if the camp wasn't usually covered in dew or muddy from rain. If she kept going, Stormykit was certain that she would lose all of her fur, and then what would keep her warm against the chill? Finally her mother had seemed satisfied as the call to the clan rang out over the camp, and Stormykit prepared to settle down in the nursery only for her mother to motion to join her. The kit blinked, she was at the age to become an apprentice, and her mother beckoning her to join the rest of the clan gathering around should mean only one thing. Today, she would become an apprentice! Now she understood why her mother had been so fussy about her pelt. Following behind the queen with her head high, Stormykit's tail tip flicked back and forth excitedly as she settled in among the crowd, gazing out over the group of warriors and apprentices and all in between that she would soon be joining.

Thistlemask waited for a moment, allowing the clan time to pool at her feet before continuing with the words she had carefully practiced, heart warming a little at the sight of today's ceremony focus, Stormykit. Her wide eyes beamed up at her, excitement evident in all of her mannerisms and her especially shiny coat. Clearing her throat, she begun. "Stormykit, step forward." The deputy gave the kit a moment, stepping forward a little herself to get a better view. "You have reached the age of six moons and are ready to become an apprentice. From now until the day you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Stormypaw." Smiling at the young molly, she continued. "Your mentor will be Mottlestar, whose strong spirit and quick mind will teach you well." Thistlemask jumped down from the stone, nodding at the new apprentice-mentor duo.

Mottlestar's gaze had focused on the young kit, chuckling gently as she saw how neatly-groomed her mother had forced her into being. Memories of when she'd done that for her own kits once more flit in her mind, the warm memories causing a purr to unintentionally rise in the molly's throat. She let her head turn back to Thistlemask as the ceremony continued, a tilt of her head as her own name was called. Stars, it had been some time since she last had mentored a cat. Rising to her paws, she went to meet the young molly, gently touching noses with her. "Congratulations, Stormypaw. Enjoy the rest of the day to meet your new den-mates, and we can get started at sunhigh." She greeted warmly, the purr once more rumbling in her throat.

The rest of the clan gathered, and Stormykit tried not to stare too hard at the deputy as she waited for what she was sure to come. When Thistlemask called her name, she jumped slightly, having anticipated it to the point of being startled when it finally came. She rose, stepping forward through the crowd to stand before her deputy, attempting to fight the excited grin that was spreading across her face. She lost the fight against her smile when Thistlemask announced her new name, Stormypaw, and named her mentor to be none other than Mottlestar... Her mentor was the leader of ThunderClan! Her joy was clear as she greeted Mottlestar, letting their noses touch briefly in the traditional greeting. "Thank you, Mottlestar. It's an honor to be your apprentice. I'll be ready." She mewed softly, a rumbling purr evident in her voice before she turned to meet her new denmates and claim a nest in the apprentice den.