Snowfoots Elder Ceremony

Nightstar had no idea how to feel as he ascended the Jaggedrock. Snowfoot was his younger by at least four seasons, and yet, she had come to him asking to retire to the elders den. The injury she had sustained still taking its toll, and Snowfoot seemed to have been slowing down. Nightstar wanted to plead with her- and he had briefly - that she at least wait to see how she feels with the Greenleaf warmth, but she was not deterred nor swayed. It also had Nightstar reflecting on the ache that persisted in his back, and the white flecks that were slowly starting to show up smattered on his muzzle but thankfully obscured by the white markings that dotted his snout. Was he getting old himself? Duskflight was still around and he was older than him, but it wasn't like Nightstar had much of an understanding when old was old, so many cats before him died before they could make it to anything really substantial age-wise.

Nightstar considered his own mortality for a bit, as he stood there for a few heartbeats before he yowled to gather his clan, "All cats old enough to silently stalk in the shadows, gather in the shadow of Jaggedrock for a clan meeting!"

Tawnyshadow joined the gathering crowd at the bottom of the Jaggedrock. Her yellow eyes narrowed on her leader sitting on top of the rock. Ever since the gathering, her view towards Nightstar had been rather negative. afterall, which kind of leader breaks the code made by the very anscestors that gave him his nine lives? Still, this occasion wasn't about Nightstar, and the warrior resigned herself to focus on the ceremony instead with a nuetrel expression.

Leopardsun gathered with her Clanmates, watching Nightstar atop the rock. Waiting patiently for the subject of the meeting to be announced.

"ShadowClan, I gather you here to witness the request of one of our warriors. Snowfoot, not only have you have received wounds in the line of your duty that are affecting your warrior duties, but your senior age has put an ache in your bones, you have served your clan well over many moons. I must ask, however, is it your wish to join the ranks of our elders?" Nightstar meowed, hoping that Snowfoot would change her mind then and there, and they could all just forget that Snowfoot wanted to retire at all.

With a sore leg, a pounding head, and an aching heart, a middle-aged she-cat stepped forward from the crowd. “It is, Nightstar. My body screams for me to slow down these days, and it has come to my attention that I am no longer mentally able to handle certain parts of being a senior warrior,” she mewed solemnly, casting an apologetic glance at Leopardsun.

Swiftheart settled in to the clan meeting and when she learned what it was all about she nodded slowly understanding. This was Snowfoot's choice and her friend had fought long and hard for their clan. Getting to be an elder now was something that Snowfoot deserved.

She stayed close to her friend supporting her decision and chanted her name quietly.

"Snowfoot! Snowfoot!" she purred just as enthused as ever. The energetic she cat tried not to bounce around too much as she cheered her friend on.


Swiftheart wasnt really sure if the chanting of names was common at an elder ceromony since she had never really been to an elder ceremony before. But it felt correct all the same. Besides, people chanted when becoming a warrior, and becoming an elder was just another chapter staring for Snowfoot's life after all.

"Then it is my honor to acknowledge your request. ShadowClan honors your Resilience and Determination throughout the moons, and we wish you continue to have many peaceful moons of rest." Nightstar leaped from his place on the rock and padded towards Snowfoot, pressing his head against the she-cats head before stepping away and letting the rest of his clanmates greet the now elder.

Swiftheart stayed close to her good friend now that the ceremony was complete and it was official that Snowfoot was an elder.

"Ill visit you lots in the elder den, promise" she purred wanting to keep her friend company

Snowfoot gently brushed her flank against Swiftheart’s. Her friend who had been with her since she was a kit mourning her mother was still by her side. Everything might be changing, but some things never changed. She chuckled a bit at Swiftheart’s boundless energy. The two she-cats weren’t old after all, not really. Snowfoot had just had a bit too much life for a lifetime.

She nodded respectfully to Nightstar. For a moment she wondered if her father, Froststar, was watching from StarClan. Well, she’d just have to ask him. Not anytime soon, though. The point of retiring was so that she could stay alive for seasons to come.

“Don’t worry,” she said to Swiftheart and the other clanmates around them. “I’m not going anywhere. And I can still make my own nest for a while yet,” she added, winking at a nearby apprentice.