Sunkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Wolfblossom stood atop the tallbranch overlooking camp, bright gaze finding the kits outside of the nursery. One kit had had his apprentice ceremony, and today would be the ceremony of another. They had grown so fast, and Wolfblossom wished she could keep them in the nursery longer. It was a selfish thought, however, and she would not let her protectiveness over her kits hold them back.

"Let all Skyclanners old enough to climb a tree gather beneath the tallbranch for a clan meeting!"

Even though Falconpaw had had his apprentice ceremony first, Sunkit wasn't jealous at all. His brother deserved it, and the young tom knew that the rest of their ceremonies would follow soon - that's just how it worked, right? He couldn't see any reason why he, or Graykit, or Quickkit, wouldn't be considered ready, just as Falconpaw was.

And it seemed he was right, as not long after Falconpaw earned his mentor, Wolfblossom called another meeting. Coolly, the sunshine-splashed kit settled down outside the nursery and waited to see which one of them it would be.

Soon enough, the clan had gathered, and her son was quick to settle down outside the nursery. "Sunkit, step forward," She smiled at the golden and white kit, then waited until he had done as told. "You have reached the age of six moons old, and it is time for you to become an apprentice of Skyclan. Until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Sunpaw. Your mentor-" He needed someone firm. Wolfblossom was not blind to what any of her clanmates got up to, much less her own kits. This would not be a popular decision, she was sure, but it would be a test. "-will be Bloodstrike. He's a seasoned warrior and I trust he will teach you all he knows." Blue eyes slid to her grandfather, battle-scarred and imposing, a soft smile lighting her face. Bloodstrike had not been back in Skyclan for very long, it was true, but he was a Skyclanner. If he didn't want the responsibilities of a warrior, he would not have come back. With all the tom had seen in his years, he would be capable of keeping Sunpaw out of trouble. She would be watching them both.

Falconpaw had rushed to the meeting, eager to watch it unfold. Another of his siblings would be apprenticed, he had no doubts. Once Sunkit's name was called, Falconpaw literally jumped once in place in excitement. It was his brother's turn, and Falconpaw was just as excited as he was for his own ceremony. Once his new name was announced, Falconpaw lead the cheering crowd.

"SUNPAW! SUNPAW! SUNPAW!" His voice was powerful, being sure to suck in a lungful of breath before he began to chant and not caring if it seemed over the top. His brother was an apprentice now, and he wanted everyone to know, beyond Skyclan's borders and into the sky itself.

---

Bloodstrike had been hanging far in the back... desperately trying not to stare at one apprentice in particular. Though he wasn't an exact clone, he was similar enough that it made Bloodstrike's skin crawl and his claws twitch. He even sounded eerily similar. The old tom intended to be on his way for his duties as soon as possible... and he certainly wasn't expecting to be given an apprentice so soon.

He blinked his hunter green eyes once before he stepped forward. The clan parted for him and he kept his eyes fixed on his new apprentice. Despite his old age, his shoulders still carried a significant amount of strength in them. He leaned down and touched noses with Sunpaw, as tradition called for.

"You will accompany me on patrol today. We begin now." He wasn't asking. He wasn't going to be told no. Sunpaw would keep up with the old leader, or he would suffer for it.