rosekit's apprentice ceremony

A ground still marred from falling debris and long-settled snow had been a welcome sight for the molly, finding the aching knot of anxiety slowly unravelling and allowing her a sense of freedom and stability once more. Breathing in the cold air softly, exhaling it out into a puff of visible air, the deputy made her way to the top of the rock she had not stood upon in moons, beaming with slight excitement. With that, Thistlemask called out the first ever summons she had learned, "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!"

Goldenkit watched quietly from the nursery as Rosekit stepped forward. She offered a small smile as encouragement, hoping to ease the she-kit's nerves.

"Go Rosekit!" Sunkit cheered from beside Goldenkit, his fluffy tail raised high in the air as he cheered for his denmate's ceremony.

Returning from a hunt, Mottlestar came to sit in front of the Highrock. So many new apprentices... so much new life. It was her daughter's turn to be apprenticed, and she couldn't have been more proud, instantly sitting with her precious young one. Grooming her head one last time, she purred. "You got this, sweetheart."

It only took a few moments for a crowd to gather, eager eyes gazing up at the deputy, her twitching tail-tip betraying that the molly may have had the capacity for feeling anything but neutrality. Taking in a deep breath, she sought out the focus of today's ceremony, moving forward on the stone as she did so. "Rosekit, step forward." The deputy allowed the kit a moment, thinking on her next words. "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 Rosepaw. Your mentor will be Nightdancer, and I trust that she will guide you to warriorhood well." Thistlemask bowed her head as she dismissed the meeting, allowing the new duo to meet, and the calling of her new name to begin.

Running back camp and dropping a piece of prey he'd just caught, Curlypaw's heart raced. Had he missed it? No... thank the stars it looked as though he still had time.

Hastily trotting across the clearing and through the crowd of clanmates, Curlypaw sat down near the front. Though he feared he would miss her big day, the timing had somehow worked out perfectly and a wide grin sat on his maw as he watched his best friend make her way to the Highrock. He couldn't believe she was growing up so fast and already becoming an apprentice, it seemed like just yesterday they were playing "leader says." He sure did believe in the saying "time flies when you're having fun."

Listening as Thistlemask finished the usual little speech, the curly-coated apprentice clawed at the ground with excitement. "Rosepaw! Rosepaw!" he began chanting loudly, his fluffy tail swishing back and forth. She would make the best warrior and he couldn't wait to go on more adventures with her!

Nightdancer closed her eyes for a good few moments and opened them again, as if that would somehow change the words she had just heard. Rosekit was being apprenticed, that much was easy enough to follow-

But apprenticed to her?

She took a deep breath before stepping forward. This was going to be difficult, wasn't it?

"Congratulations, Rosepaw," she greeted, her voice sounding more grave than she had expected it to. She tried to remedy that when she spoke again, aiming for the kinder voice she'd used with Sunstrike as an apprentice. "Training begins tomorrow. For now, get yourself settled in the apprentice's den."