The future's in your paws. Shape it well.Roleplay in a cat Clan of warriors. Based off the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. Takes place in an AU before the cats in the books existed.
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Characters : [P]oppyshine; [Pi]neblossom; [L]arkspring; [Wi]llowwisp; [R]ashoumon; [B]lazekit Clan/Rank : RC T5 Deputy; SC T5; RC T5; RC T5; Rogue T1; WC App Number of posts : 3158 Gender : Any Pronouns Age : 26
Subject: Egretkit's Apprentice Ceremony Sat 8 Apr 2023 - 18:22
Poppyshine
Poppyshine ascended the Willow Branch and took a few steadying breaths. She was happy to see more kits ranking up, but she wished that Perchstar were here to see how many more apprentices they were getting…Perhaps she would return soon and be pleasantly surprised. Poppyshine could hope.
“Let all cats old enough to catch their own fish gather for a Clan meeting,” she announced.
It was that fabled day. The day that she had always knew would come, but simultaneously felt so far away and so near all that the same time. Perpetually. For much longer than she would have liked. But she didn't want to keep Poppyshine waiting, especially as her ma had come in multiple times to remind her that it was her time.
The sentient ball of alabaster fuzz made her way out, instantly narrowing in upon the calico that was at the branch. The branch where all the announcements were made. Where particular figures spoke words that were to be listened to with all attention. It was all that she could do to not be distracted by all of the other sounds around her, to filter out the perpetual stream of sensation that always threatened to steal her fickle attention at a moments notice.
She wasn't inattentive. Just... perpetually distracted. She wanted to give everything her attention, all the time. Somehow, she managed to pick her focal point, and sit. She would be good. After all, whoever her mentor was, they were sure to know a lot of things, right? Perhaps they could help the near-endless headache and storm that brewed inside of her. Curiously, one of her ears tilted down just slightly, as if she were trying to hush the constant stream of sounds that went in, and out.
Upon seeing Egretkit near the nursery, Poppyshine lifted her head up taller. She caught the kit’s attention and waved her paw a bit to goad her forward. When the kit was settled she began. “Egretkit, you have reached the age of six moons. It is now time for you to be apprenticed.” She had spent a while trying to decide who would be the best person to apprentice the inattentive kit. When she finally settled, she thought it would do both Egretkit and her mentor some good to have one another. “From this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Egretpaw. Your mentor will be Rowansong.” A content smile settled onto her face. “His devotion to the clan and his work as a warrior will guide you on your own journey to warriorhood.” She finished and dropped down to join in the celebrations.
Rowansong had been lingering near the edges of the crowd, half-listening while his mind wandered. He’d been paying attention to start, but at some point a distant thought grabbed his attention, and he’d stopped registering Poppyshine’s words in time. It wasn’t until a few beats after she called his name that he blinked and looked towards her, surprise in his eyes, then quickly towards the newly-named Egretpaw with just as much shock.
An apprentice? It took a second for Rowansong to shake out his surprise and smile across the crowd at Egretpaw. What was he supposed to do with an apprentice? Like everything else, he guessed he would figure it out as he went. Hopefully she wasn’t anything like him. Rising to his paws, Rowansong padded over to touch his nose gently to hers. “Greetings, Egretpaw. I am sure you will be a pleasure to teach. We will start early tomorrow.”
It seems her hyperfixation would come of some use. The calico upon the rock called out to the clan, in a voice not too loud to hurt her ears, but still loud enough that nobody would have any question as to what she was saying. It had to have been a well-practiced skill, and one that led the newly-titled feline to smile in appreciation. The cream-tipped tail curled around and away from her politely with excitement as her attention drifted - only for her name to be the one subjected to the current summons.
Willing her paws to carry her slightly forward in acknowledgement to Poppyshine's calls, her ears seemed on a constant swivel. The rush of the water just beyond the camp's walls, the birds chirping as they flew past, but most importantly: Egretpaw. She had a new name, and had been deemed fit enough to move beyond the nursery. A look of pure surprise crossed her features, holding there like a frozen fish before she finally let it pass. Most of all, the very crucial detail: her mentor. Rowansong. That was a name she'd force herself to store into memory.
As if on instinct, her gaze swiveled about the crowd to find who it might be in question. No doubt, the tom she had locked eyes with was the one. Semi-anxious paws kneaded at the ground. He looked like a strong warrior, one who had earned his name thoroughly. Would she do right by him in being his apprentice? Would he be patient with her, how she couldn't help but space out, or frustrated? Egretpaw forced all of the distracting sights and sounds away from her mind, rising to her white paws to meet her mentor. Even from the gentle touch of their noses, there was a much friendlier air about him than she had first presumed.
Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to be his apprentice after all. Giving a solid nod of acknowledgement to when they would begin, the she-cat couldn't help the awe-filled smile on her face. "I will be fully prepared."
