Sandypaw's Medicine Cat Ceremony

Poppyshine

Poppyshine awoke early in the morning. Perchstar and Sandypaw both knew that it was time for Sandypaw to be named as the official new medicine cat of RiverClan. Traditionally, it would be the medicine cat to bring the medicine cat apprentice to the Moonstone, and if there was not one, then the leader. But with Dovesight’s recent passing, and how nervous Sandypaw still was, Poppyshine was happy to bring her daughter there in Perchstar’s stead. Besides, it was a long travel and she did not want Perchstar straining herself after she had just lost a life.

She asked Stormdance to help Perchstar in watching over the camp in her absence the night before. Now, she moved to Sandypaw’s side in the leader’s den. Her daughter looked so peaceful, but unfortunately, they had to get up and get moving.

“Sandypaw,” Poppyshine murmured softly. She nuzzled her daughter’s small form. “It’s time to go to the Moonstone. Let’s get herbs and go. We can make it back before nightfall.”

The walk would be more dangerous than usual thanks to the twolegs roaming the forest, but Poppyshine would look after her daughter. Once they reached the Highstones, it would be easier and safer.

Poppyshine

Poppyshine ate silently with Sandypaw. She swallowed down the herbs. Although she was not hungry at the moment, she knew that it would help keep them from feeling hungry later on. When they were both finished, Poppyshine led the way out of camp. It would be a long journey to the Moonstone, and she knew her daughter had mixed feelings, to put it lightly.

For a while, Poppyshine let the both of them soak in the quiet of the early morning. It was the time of day where not even the prey had awoken yet. It was a rare moment where twolegs did not seem to be raging in the forest, which made the silence seem even more sacred than it normally did. Poppyshine stuck close to Sandypaw and their pelts brushed up against one another every often, sometimes on accident and sometimes on purpose so Poppyshine could provide some quiet comfort.

“You know,” Poppyshine purred, “I have never actually communicated with StarClan. The only time I had been to the Moonstone was to bring Dovesight there to be accepted as a medicine cat apprentice. I did not get to meet StarClan before I became a warrior due to circumstances going on…I guess I’ve never had to worry about not being accepted by StarClan, or things like that. I’ve only had to rely on my clanmates, and they seem to think that I do a good job.” She was quiet for a minute again and then added, “Our clanmates think you’re doing a good job too. They enjoy having you looking after them.”

Poppyshine

Poppyshine looked back at her daughter and she smiled. Her eyes showed no signs of deception or sugarcoating; only the love of a mother and the genuineness of a deputy. “Yes, they really do. Our clan respected Dovesight as our medicine cat, and they respect you as well. Receiving your medicine cat name will be celebrated. And I’m sure you’ll feel proud of yourself when you receive it.”

She had a few ideas for Sandypaw’s full name. As deputy, Poppyshine typically did not have the honor of choosing full names; that was reserved for Perchstar. Today was an exception, and Poppyshine was happy that she would be delivering a new name to her child for that exception. She hoped that Sandypaw would be happy with the name idea that Poppyshine had.

“Things can be really scary,” Poppyshine continued. “But you aren’t alone, Sandy. You have me, and Perchstar, and your siblings, and the rest of you clan who will support you. Being a medicine cat is an important job, but you are still a clanmate first and foremost.”

Poppyshine

Sandypaw seemed more at ease, and I left Poppyshine feeling happy and relieved. She hated seeing her daughter in an anxious spiral, especially when she had such promise. Sandypaw had demonstrated many times already that she was ready for this position, and it was her own doubt and nerves that were keeping her from reaching her full potential. But now, she seemed to be feeling more confident. It warmed her soul.

Oh finally, Poppyshine thought when she saw that Sandypaw was correct about the Highstones being just up ahead. It didn’t take long to climb up the paths towards the Moonstone. She spotted WindClan and ShadowClan on the way and offered a blink of greeting towards the high ranks of the respective clans. She didn’t see Nightstar anywhere and she felt a small pain in her stomach at the thought that ShadowClan’s leader had been taken as Rowanpaw had. She quickly shook off the thought and focused on entering the cave where the Moonstone lay. Poppyshine could inform Perchstar of this information later, but she had a job to do here.

They descended the steep path until they reached the moonstone which glowed from the moonlight that cast down into the cave. Poppyshine smiled. It was as beautiful as it was the first time she saw it alongside Dovesight.

She looked to Sandypaw and gave her a final motherly nuzzle against her face. “You’ll be a fantastic medicine cat,” she whispered before she stepped back. She sat tall and took more of a display like a deputy. In a clear voice, she announced, “I, Poppyshine, deputy of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained very hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat. With your help, she will serve her Clan for many moons.” Poppyshine paused and smiled warmly. “Sandypaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of the medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan, and to protect all cats equally-“ she almost stumbled at the last part, “-even at the cost of your life?”

Poppyshine was still confident that Sandypaw would be a fantastic medicine cat. Still, she worried about what would come of her daughter. In some ways, being a medicine cat seemed like a more dangerous job than being a warrior. There were three medicine cats that had died or gone missing during the time that Poppyshine was alive, and she feared for the possibility that Sandypaw may eventually be a fourth…but for now, she shoved that thought far, far away. Her daughter was becoming a full medicine cat; that was the joy that she would focus on.

Poppyshine

Poppyshine beams at Sandypaw and her heart swells with even more love and pride for her daughter. She’s so excited that it takes her a moment to gather herself to finish the ceremony. “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your true name as a medicine cat.”

She had many fond memories of her children, especially when they were kits and they had not yet gotten busy with apprenticeships or warrior duties. Sandypaw had always been a bit skittish even as a kit, but she was one of Poppyshine’s sweetest children. On one occasion when Minks had begged Poppyshine to take her and the other kits to the river, Poppyshine had hesitantly obliged and brought another warrior with her to keep track of everyone. It had been such a nice time. Mink of course splashed around in the water; Spruce and Rowan stuck to her the whole time, and they nagged at one another but even their constant bickering could not remain in full force on such a nice day; Olive and Reed had been rolling around, happy to play in the wet sand along the end of the river rather than throwing themselves in full-force to the river as their sister had. Then little Sandy, the smallest of them all, had scoured through the sand and found little shells buried beneath. She gave one to each of her siblings, and the biggest one to Poppyshine. Poppyshine still had it, kept tucked neatly in her nest. The innocent, shy smile that Sandy gave her still brought a wide smile to Poppyshine’s maw when she thought about it.

Poppyshine focused back in the present and looked at her daughter. That shy but sweet kit had grown into an anxious but capable apprentice, and Poppyshine hoped that she would continue to grow into a confident and loving adult. There were many names that Poppyshine had considered for her. There were classic medicine cat names to reflect her position in the clan, but it seemed too simple. There were references to Dovesight who they had lost, but Poppyshine did not want to leave that weight on Sandypaw’s shoulders. There were names referencing her kindness, her curiosity, or her importance in the clan; any of those would have been wonderful for her. But Poppyshine knew what her daughter’s name had to be. She had known it the moment she remembered about Sandy as a little kit bringing her the gift from the river.

“Sandypaw, from this moment you will be known as Sandyshell. StarClan honors your kindness, curiosity, and compassion, and welcomes you as a full medicine cat of RiverClan.”

Poppyshine couldn’t help the huge smile on her face now that Sandyshell had finally earned her full name. She moved forward and rested her chin on her head. Sandyshell could feel a purr rumbling in her throat. When she finally pulled back, still smiling wide, she murmured, “Go and listen to what advice StarClan has to give you. I’ll be here when you’re ready to head back home.”

Cloverheart

When Sandyshell opened her eyes to the pale glow of StarClan's fields, Cloverheart was already there waiting for her. She didn't bother going through the motion of hiding and jumping out at the other she-cat, as she had with Reedpaw and Rowanpaw; she only sat, quietly and patiently, waiting for the little molly to arrive. And when she had, Cloverheart rose smoothly to her paws, offering the tan molly a slow, fond blink once she'd focused. A gentle smile rested across Cloverheart's maw, and her pale eyes flitted over Sandyshell's features studiously before she dipped her head in a quiet nod.

"That's a good name for you," she started gently, tail flagging with joy. "Congratulations, Sandyshell. In a way, I'm sorry the stars chose you to follow the path of being RiverClan's medicine cat." Cloverheart giggled, a thin but genuine sound, and easily went on, "None of our medicine cats have had it easy, have they? We're always the fretful, anxious type, and it seems we can never escape trouble. It follows us like our own shadow." The star-speckled molly tipped her head further to the side, a flicker of unreadable emotion passing through her eyes. "And yet, here you are anyway. However thankless and frightening the job can be, you came back to the Moonstone.

I know you don't recognize me. My name is Cloverheart: I was the medicine cat before Dovesight. I don't think I was ever really made for it– I was a bothersome cat in life, with horrid nest-side manner and an attitude that got me clawed more than once." She laughed again, but there was a tightness to the sound then. None of the scars she wore in life marred her pelt now, but for a moment, Cloverheart felt as if she could still feel them. Sighing away the rest of her laughter, "Here's some advice for you, Sandyshell. Being a medicine cat is scary– terrifying, even. You understand what it's like to watch a cat die at your paws. It's hard work, physically and mentally. It tends to make us anxious types just a little flightier.

But, it's what we do. I know you've been told as much, but your Clan really does have faith in you. No matter how frightened you are, they respect and trust you as their medicine cat. Doing it alone will certainly be hard for the first few moons– my mentor disappeared right under my nose, and while I had more than enough issues to wrestle with, his loss was particularly hard. I wasn't new to having my full name, and yet I felt like an incapable kit again. But that's what we have in common: despite what we tell ourselves, we made it this far. We earned our names. We did everything we could."

Stepping closer, Cloverheart stretched out to touch her nose to Sandyshell's head. In a whisper, she carried on, "You've been doing great as a medicine cat apprentice. I'm only saddened I had to watch you grow up from the stars instead of being alongside you. You're going to be one of the better medicine cats we've had. I have faith in you, Sandyshell, and I'll be watching over you. Look to Silverpelt if you need guidance. I'll try not to be so cryptic– I have a soft spot for cats like you." With a wistful smile, Cloverheart pulled away, waving her tail slowly as if she was saying farewell. "Keep growing, Sandyshell, and watch out for them. You're going to do good things down there. Oh, and," one mischievious wink, and her smile brightened, "say hello to your mother for me. She did a good job with you, and you've done a good job with her. Now don't sleep in too late; go home and celebrate."