Smokekit's Apprentice Ceremony

It had stopped snowing, and where the paws of cats hadn't touched, it blanketed fourtrees in pristine white. Wolfblossom sat at the base of the great rock, gazing out over Skyclan's makeshift camp. Another kit would become an apprentice today, and Wolfblossom was glad to see the clan steadily growing despite their circumstances. Pushing herself to her paws, the tabby and white she-cat yowled, "Let all cats old enough to climb a tree gather before the great rock for a clan meeting!" Briefly, she wondered what it would be like to hold these ceremonies from the tallbranch back home, in their own camp... But there was no going back just yet, unfortunately. Standing in front of the great rock would have to do, no matter how strange it felt.

Practically her entire life had been spent at Fourtrees - Smokekit didn't remember it any other way. So hearing Wolfblossom call out for another clan meeting, seated atop the Great Rock, was business as usual. Usually, when these things were done, she minded her own business - after all, the deputy specifically said anycat who could climb a tree... and that had never been Smokekit. Except today, it was! Just this morning, she'd dared to try, and she'd made it to the lower hanging branches with ease.

That meant she could officially attend clan meetings, now.

So the fluffy striped she-cat pranced over and sat smack-dab in the middle of the clearing, facing Wolfblossom, and waiting for some undoubtedly cool meeting agenda.

Wolfblossom waited for the clan to gather, a small smile forming as her gaze landed on the silvery kit this ceremony was for. The deputy had been watching, and she was glad that Dawnfeather's adoptive daughter had grown strong. She'd seen her climb the tree this morning too; the kit had all the potential in the world to become a warrior. "Smokekit, step forward," She mewed, pausing to allow her to do so. A mentor... She would not overburden her clanmates, though the thought to give Smokekit to Dawnfeather had crossed her mind a few times. "You have reached the age of six moons, and are ready to become an apprentice. From this day forward you will be known as Smokepaw... And I will be your mentor." She mewed, offering the newly-named Smokepaw a gentle smile.

With the ceremony complete, Wolfblossom padded forward, gently touching her nose to Smokepaw's. "Congratulations, Smokepaw. I'll let you get settled in your new nest for today, but we'll begin training tomorrow morning."

The she-kit's eyes widened when Wolfblossom called her name. Wait- what? This was her apprentice ceremony? And... wait- Wolfblossom was going to be her mentor? The kit exploded into action, surging forward to over-enthusiastically smash her nose to the deputy's. "We're gonna have so much fun!" she assured her, "This is gonna be epic!"

Dawnfeather had been sitting in the back with a proud smile on her face. As Wolfblossom called forwards the smoke molly, she thought her heart might actually overflow with joy. Little Smokekit- Smokepaw, now, would be a wonderful addition to SkyClan’s ranks- and her mentor was Wolfblossom! How perfect! Like Smokema and Wolfstar, though they were long gone and her heart still ached for them. At least their namesakes were also wonderful cats.

“Congratulations to you both,” she purred, padding forwards. “You’ve got a great mentor, Smokepaw- and you’ve got a great apprentice, Wolfblossom!”