Rowanpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Poppyshine

It was finally time for Rowanpaw to earn his warrior name. Poppyshine had been looking forward to the ceremony since her family returned, but she had not expected that she would be the one to conduct it. It felt…wrong. Perchstar should be the one to award Rowanpaw with his warrior name after so many moons spent as an apprentice…but she was missing, they did not know when she would return, and Poppyshine needed all of the warrior paws she could get to aid in the search. Stormdance agreed that Rowanpaw was more than ready for his warrior name…and so it would be done.

Poppyshine approached the Willow Branch and jumped onto it. She turned back to her clan and, in a much calmer tone than she had used the last time she made an announcement, she called, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own fish gather for a Clan meeting.”

Rowanpaw

The announcement of Perchstar’s death and subsequent capture had rattled the Clan. Rowanpaw, despite all airs he put on, felt the disturbance all throughout his fur. That prickly energy, which he was learning to address properly as anxiety, hadn’t left him since Poppyshine told the Clan what had happened. Every part of it bothered him. That Perchstar had died– he was smart enough to know she was bound to, and that she surely had before, but being told about it chilled him. And to be scooped up by more twolegs, creatures with an apparently vested interest in unseating RiverClan from their position in the forest, limp frame bundled into a monster and taken away for stars-knew how long…

It was an image he couldn’t help but conjure, the worst details exaggerated a little further each time. But, there was little time for languishing. Bellies needed filling, borders guarding… and Perchstar would need finding. Though he’d retired briefly to the apprentice’s den, grateful it was empty while he lay curled in his nest, paw resting over his shell, he couldn’t remain still. With reluctance, Rowanpaw rose to his paws, brushing across the memento one last time before stepping out of the den. And just as he did, Poppyshine was leaping onto the Willow Branch. His ears lowered, but her tone was more even and the summons was routine. Sniffing, he dismissed any nerves and found a place in the gathering crowd, looking towards his mother with expectancy.

Poppyshine

Poppyshine spotted Rowanpaw amidst the gathering cats. She smiled at him and subtly gestured for him to come forward. When he did, she gave him a brighter smile and began—hoping she did not fumble through the words she was not used to in the process.

“I, Poppyshine, deputy of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look on this apprentice,” Poppyshine announced. She looked at Rowanpaw and felt her heart swell with pride. As strange as it was to be conducting this ceremony, her joy for him temporarily outweighed worries of the past couple days. “He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I recommend him to you as a warrior in his turn.”

She stood and came down to be on eye-level with Rowanpaw now. “Rowanpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?” Her heart stirred in her chest. She could remember this moment from her own ceremony, from what felt like ages ago. Her own emotions, the thoughts swirling in her mind so quickly. Gazing into Perchstar’s—Perchfall’s back then—eyes and experiencing that stirring of emotion. And now here she was, looking into her son’s eyes in the same way. He had worked so hard for this, and was apprentice for longer than most cats. He most certainly had earned this.

Rowanpaw

The smile offered was returned immediately, complemented by Rowanpaw sitting up a little straighter since Poppyshine had noticed him. But her attention wasn’t a fleeting acknowledgment– as the rest of the Clan settled in, her gaze remained on him, and then she was silently calling him to the head of the crowd.

For a moment he could only blink up at her. He even glanced furtively to each side, like there was another cat she was calling upon. No. She wants me. Things suddenly seemed hazy; not the fog that came with nerves, but like he was moving through a dream, thick and yet light at the same time. Each step closer to the Willow Branch’s shadow felt like its own hour. He was hardly aware of the cats he passed by. His attention was reserved only for Poppyshine, for keeping his path straight, for the familiar ringing in his ears.

That sound- he glanced down, and his expression was tight for a longer moment than he would’ve liked, but he forced it to ease as the rites began. Oh. My warrior ceremony. The thought was fuzzy, and senseless too. Why else would she have called him in front of the crowd? And yet, it shocked him. His warrior ceremony? Truly? It was a fight to keep his paws from kneading the sand underpaw.

He had longed for his day more than any other. Pursued it, dreamt of it, even resigned himself to never seeing it... and accepted that one day, he may still. And now there he stood, the eyes of all of RiverClan pressing into his back. A soft jingle filled the quiet air as Rowanpaw straightened for his mother’s descent and approach. Are you sure?, he considered asking, but there was no time. There was only a question hanging in the air, waiting to be answered.

How many times had this moment played through his head? Never, if he was to be technical– Poppyshine was meant to be Perchstar, and Perchstar was meant to still be on the Branch. But this, the question, and a rush of enthusiasm and being swallowed by congratulations, both distant and personal… it was a daydream he repeated frequently. In the fantasies, he answered quickly, fierce and sure as always. Today, his tongue felt heavy. He knew it could only be a beat he stalled the processions by, but time continued to bloat and drag.

There was little in the world he held as dearly as his home. But was he not branded a kittypet, cosmetically and permanently? And had he not been reckless, unreasonable? Past trespasses had been forgiven, but for an incident within RiverClan. There was a little voice in the back of his head, snapping rogue and spitting insults. And his own little voice, wondering if he was ready now- or if he ever would be. He had earned this, but did he deserve it?

Rowanpaw held Poppyshine’s gaze, emotions swirling in her eyes he was sure were reflected in his own. Questions flickered silently across his features, too, but after a quiet sigh he brought up a fond smile. “I do.” He announced simply, coolly. Quickly he sniffed again and quietly bowed his head, eyes closing. There was no more time to debate within himself. He had formally sworn his heart to RiverClan. Now there was only to fully quiet the sobering thoughts and await the announcement of his name. And then he would be a new cat, and he would throw himself first against Poppyshine and then into the crowd, accepting any cheers with his usual abandon, and for that moment nothing would be wrong in the world. That moment was all Rowanpaw needed.

Poppyshine

Poppyshine smiled wide at her son as he offered his vow. He was going to be a fantastic warrior; she knew it for certain. Poppyshine announced, “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name.” And, more than that. During her dramatic pause before his name, her eyes turned to the twoleg collar that was still strapped around Rowanpaw’s throat. Several cats had been working to chew through it for days now, and it was looking quite raggedy but not quite broken off. Poppyshine leaned in and her teeth clamped down on the thinnest part of the collar. She pulled and grinded her teeth for only a moment, and like StarClan itself had intervened to assist, the collar tore and pulled loose from Rowanpaw’s neck. Poppyshine released it and the offending twoleg accessory dropped to the ground.

Her gaze raised from the fallen collar to meet Rowanpaw’s again. “From this day on, you will be known as Rowansong. StarClan honors your bravery, dedication, and passion. We welcome you as a full warrior of RiverClan.”

Her smile could not grow any wider. She moved forward and rested her muzzle on top of Rowansong’s head, and he could feel the purrs rumbling in her throat. In a softer voice below the cheers of the other cats, she murmured, “I’m so proud of you, Rowan. You’ve earned your place as a warrior, and I know you’ll do well.” She allowed herself a moment longer snuggling against her son, and then she stepped back so he could enjoy the cheers and excitement from his clanmates.

“Rowansong! Rowansong!” Stormdance’s voice was loud amongst the cheers, his smile wide and bright. He didn’t even bother feeling embarrassed for the way he had begun to tear up about halfway through watching the ceremony, and how those tears were now dripping easily down his cheeks. They were tears of pride and joy. His smile only widened when Poppyshine tugged that collar off of Rowansong's neck, removing the symbol of the twolegs that had torn Rowansong from his home.

Rowansong had been his apprentice for so long now, it almost felt strange to see him finally take his place as a warrior; but strange in a good way. Rowansong had long since earned this. He’d grown up so much since Stormdance first met him, and Stormdance felt so honored to have been there to see Rowansong grow. For a moment, all of Stormdance’s anxieties about Perchstar and the clan had completely melted away in the force of his joy at finally seeing his apprentice and little brother become a warrior.

Stormdance hung back for a moment, still joining in with the cheers, as Poppyshine pressed against Rowansong. Then when Rowansong was free, Stormdance moved up beside him. He pressed against Rowansong for a moment with rumbling purrs, pressing his nose to Rowansong’s forehead. “I’m so proud of you, little fox.” He said softly, pulling back to give Rowansong a broad, teary smile. “Congratulations.”