Rosekit's Apprentice Ceremony

Wolfblossom sat on the tallbranch, pale gaze watching her clanmates below. Several patrols had just returned, so now was as good a time to do a ceremony as any. "Let all cats old enough to climb a tree gather beneath the tallbranch for a clan meeting!" Wolfblossom couldn't help the excitement in her voice as she called the clan together. The air was pleasantly warm, the sun was shining... And another kit was ready to become an apprentice. Newleaf had brought life and growth to the forest and to Skyclan, and the deputy hoped that that would continue. She waited for the clan to gather before her, a soft smile crossing her expression.

Having just returned from a hunt, Sunfire dropped a couple of sparrows on to the fresh-kill pile, and settled down with a vole between his paws. This was the first one he'd managed to catch, since there wasn't a whole lot of waterside territory in SkyClan's borders... but the opportunity had presented itself, and this little creature was to be his meal. Well, half of it, anyway. He planned on saving half for his brother to try.

He'd just taken his first bite when Wolfblossom heaved up on to the Tallbranch and called out for a meeting. Sunfire's ears pricked forward, watching, but he could see and hear perfectly from where he was, so there was no reason to get up. Instead, he stretched out a hind leg and got comfortable. Whoever's ceremony this was, wasn't any concern of his.

Rosekit was enjoying the lovely weather, and had spent most of her day playing with a couple of the younger kits. She had to be gentle; they were quite a bit smaller than herself. As they were tossing a mossball around, Rosekit heard Wolfblossom's yowl that called everyone to the Tallbranch. Her mother, who was lounging a short distance away, gave Rosekit a proud smile before getting up and walking towards the center of camp. What was this about? The kit left her game of mossball and ran to catch up with her mother.

As she made the short journey to the Tallbranch, Rosekit passed a brightly-coloured warrior laying down with some fresh-kill between his paws. He had obviously heard Wolfblossom's call, as his ears were tilted towards the sound, but he seemed much more interested in his meal than anything else. Rosekit frowned slighty. She couldn't understand how anyone could ignore such an obvious summons from Skyclan's deputy.

Rosekit was still pondering the tom's behaviour when she and her mother reached Wolfblossom at the Tallbranch. The kit craned her neck to smile up at the deputy. She had a rising excitement, but was trying to push it down. After all, Rosekit was very nearly the age that kits usually become apprentices, and so the thought occurred to her: could this finally be her apprentice ceremony? She glanced around her, watching for other cats to join them.

It didn't take long for the clan to gather, and she thought to herself that she might never tire of apprentice ceremonies. The kits were often excited, and that enthusiasm was infectious.

"Rosekit, step forward," Wolfblossom waited for her to do so before she continued. "You have reached the age of six moons old, and it is time you become an apprentice. From this day forward until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Rosepaw." Wolfblossom had thought about her choices for a mentor, and one cat stood out. He hadn't moved closer for the ceremony, but the angle of his ears confirmed he still listened... This would be a surprise. She kept the smirk from her face as she continued. "Your mentor will be Sunfire. I trust him to pass on all he has learned to you." And with that, the ceremony was concluded. Wolfblossom would led the new apprentice and mentor prior to greet each other and get to training.

Ah, yes, another apprentice ceremony. Boring. Sunfire pretended to listen, if only just for appearances, but his primary concern remained on the fresh-kill at his paws. That was, until, his mother said his name, and he snapped his head up with a chunk of vole still in his mouth. The dappled tom blinked up at the deputy, who was smiling down at him with a knowing stare. Sunfire's brow furrowed, and his gaze traveled from Wolfblossom, to the kit - well, now apprentice - in the center of the camp.

It was hard to keep his gaze neutral, but somehow, he managed. She'd given him an apprentice. Was this a punishment? Sunfire stared at Rosepaw, and then, cooly, moved forward. Inside, he was close to seething with annoyance. He didn't need an apprentice. Not now, not with everything being so complicated.

Now, he'd have to make it work. Leaning down to gently touch noses with Rosepaw, Sunfire said quietly, "I hope you're ready to work hard. We start in the morning."

As Rosekit was called forward, she dipped her head at Wolfblossom, her fluffy tail held high. She beamed happily as she was named Rosepaw, glancing back at her mother, who was gazing at her with a look of pride in her eyes. As Rosepaw heard Sunfire's name, she tilted her head. She hadn't met Sunfire yet, and so had no idea what to expect. Wolfblossom stared past Rosepaw, and she followed the deputy's look, her gaze landing on the same brightly-coloured cat that Rosepaw had passed moments before. He had a look of shock and frustration on her face, his fresh-kill lying forlornly at his feet. Instantly Rosepaw's excitement diminished considerably. Why did she have to get the cat that clearly cared very little about his fellow clanmates?

Rosepaw watched as her new mentor begrudgingly got to his feet and padded over to her. His expression of annoyance had softened to cool acceptance. Despite herself, Rosepaw felt her excitement grow again as the two gently touched noses.

Rosepaw forced a smile onto her face, looking up at Sunfire and respectfully dipping her head. "Well met, Sunfire!" she mewed, hoping that she'd misjudged the warrior.

The kit seemed just about enthused as Sunfire was, and for a moment there was a very small part of him that felt guilty. But there wasn't enough room for that small part to get any bigger. He had more important things to think about than the feelings of some kit. Bloodstrike had never taken his feelings into account, after all, and look at him - he'd turned out fine. Better than fine, actually.

Soft mentors made soft apprentices. He wouldn't do Rosepaw any favors by being gentle. His hot yellow eyes lingered on hers for another minute, searching... not an ounce of fear. Sunfire smirked. At least if he was going to have baggage to carry along now, she seemed bold enough to handle some rough weather... because if he had anything to do with it, there would be.

Taking a longer than usual inhale, Sunfire nodded once at her in approval. "Meet me by the entrance at dawn. Wake yourself up - I'm not coming to get you, so if you sleep in, you're getting left behind."