Sunpaw's Warrior Ceremony

It felt odd to be doing something that was typically Nightstar's job exclusively, but the leader was busy and Leopardsun was always happy to help out where she could. Her voice carried over the muddy hollow they called their home as she stood at the base of the Jaggedrock; her preferred place no matter the occasion. "All cats old enough to silently stalk in the shadows, gather in the shadow of Jaggedrock for a clan meeting!"

Cinnamon paws, one with a single white toe, padded across the packed mud. The slender tom sat down, one claw lazily tracing circles in the dirt. He didn’t have anything better to do, so Sunpaw figured he might as well attend this apprentice ceremony. Not nearly as exciting as something like, well, his own far overdue warrior ceremony, but still a welcome distraction.

Leopardsun kept a careful watch over the camp until she recognized the cat she was looking for. He seemed rather disinterested, admittedly, but this series of events was a surprise to all involved. Hopefully it was at least a pleasant one.

"We are gathered here today," she began, "to witness a rare gift for ShadowClan: the naming of a new warrior."

Her eyes scanned over the crowd, finally settling on the cat she already knew was there.

"Sunpaw, please step forward."

The deputy looked, again, over the gathered cats that made up her Clan. So many had been lost over the moons, but so many still survived- and this moment, when they had made it past kithood and apprenticeship, was an important mark of that.

"I call upon the warriors of ShadowClan to gaze upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of our honorable code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in turn."

She met Sunpaw's eyes, now.

"Sunpaw. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, to protect and defend your Clan; even at the cost of your life?"

Sunpaw stared at Leopardsun in utter shock and disbelief. No. This couldn’t be happening! After all the effort he’d put in to get here, ahead of his littermates no less, to be proclaimed a warrior by the deputy, and she wasn’t even on the stupid rock. He’d never live this down.

Bristling slightly as he stepped forward, he quickly slipped into his usual suave persona. “I do,” he all but purred. No sense throwing a tantrum and making this situation worse.

Tawnypaw sat among the crowd, her tail wrapped around her paws as she watched the ceremony proceed. Normally, she would find such ceremonies nothing more than necessity; part of the Warrior Code laid down by their anscestors, and therefore necessary to be performed properly.

But this time... this time was a little difference. Her heart fluttered slightly as Sunpaw stepped forward and purred his reply. To have waited so long for his ceremony, and only for it to be performed by the deputy, and she wasn't even standing on the rock... he must be really sensible to not make a fuss of it. the thought had hardly entered her mind before she added quickly to herself, as expected of a warrior.

Leopardsun nodded once, though Sunpaw's bristling didn't escape her. That was fine- some cats were proud; that pride didn't make them any less capable warriors. She wasn't yet ShadowClan's leader, and he had presumably hoped for Nightstar to handle his ceremony.

"Then it is my honor," she continued as if she hadn't noticed in the first place, "to name you a warrior before all of ShadowClan. Sunpaw, from this day forward you will be known as Sunflare. ShadowClan honors your intelligence and determination, and we are proud to welcome you as a warrior in your own right."

She touched her nose briefly to the newly named warrior's.

"I'm sure you'll do your Clan proud. Enjoy some time with your peers, then take up position for your vigil."

"Sunflare! Sunflare!" Harriertalon burst into cheers alongside her clanmates. It had been a long time coming for Sunflare, and she would be glad to share the warriors den with their newest warrior.

---

Batswarm rolled his eyes, which earned him a shove from Harriertalon. He was here only because he was grateful for the information Sunflare had given him on Twolegs. Being a warrior wasn't all that grand. He'd figure it out in time.

"Sunflare! Sunflare!" Sablestrike was quick to begin cheering the new warrior's name. This was not the way he had imagined the ceremony going, especially not with Leopardsun taking Nightstar's place and doing such a poor job at it, but he could still feel pride for his apprentice in this moment. "Congratulations. I wish things were a little different," the tom said as he shot a look at Leopardsun. "but you've truly earned this. Don't worry about a nest, I'll see to it that there's one ready for you when your vigil ends."

Sablestrike's remark did not miss Harriertalon's ears. Her head snapped in the dark warriors direction,"Mind your tongue. This is not the time or place to air your... grievances." Maybe they didn't share the same blood, but Leopardsun had been her savior. How disrespectful.

Her smile returned as she turned to Sunflare once again, "Congratulations, Sunflare."

"Sunflare!" Tawnypaw cheered her clanmate's new name. Her eyes sought out his, but she stayed in her position. Let his mentors and friends congradulate him first; this was his moment, not hers.