Drizzlekit's Apprentice Ceremony

There were a few things Drizzlekit knew to be true in life.

The day follows the night. Always obey your leader. And, most important at the moment, she wasn’t allowed to Clan meetings because she wasn’t old enough to catch her own fish, and her mother would never let her watch from any closer than the nursery’s entrance.

So, when Rainstep finally finished grooming down her fur (not that Drizzlekit didn’t like keeping herself tidy, but really, this was ridiculous) just in time for their deputy’s call, and ushered her forwards, well. It didn’t take a medicine cat to figure out what was happening here, did it?

The ginger-and-cream molly sat next to her mother, tail-tip tapping the ground in nervous excitement. Really, she didn’t know why she was so- so everything about this! She’d waited for this day to come for ages, why be nervous now? All her dreams were coming true! Well- not all of them, exactly, she’d still to save everyone’s lives by defeating the leader of ShadowClan in combat, but this was a step in the right direction, wasn’t it?

It was true, for many moons now Harebounce had been without an apprentice. The first reason being her long, odd illness that had left her nest-ridden, and the second being her recovery once she had finally awoken. For such a long sleep to have sapped her strength down to below that of even a kit’s, that was something she never wished to experience again. Though she knew she was lucky to wake up at all, given what had happened after her son and granddaughter developed the same symptoms. When she woke up, they were long gone.

But personal loss did not mean she separated from RiverClan. Harebounce watched the young cat fidget as Poppyshine performed the ceremony, the words she’d come to know by heart despite having never spoken them herself. The older warrior wore a warm expression on her face as she came to greet the newly named Drizzlepaw, matching her apprentice’s nervous energy with an equal amount of excitement. After touching noses she said, “Are you ready to become the best warrior RiverClan has ever seen?”

Oh yes. This was totally her ceremony. Drizzlekit stepped forwards obediently, tail-tip twitching in poorly-concealed excitement. This was the day. This was the day! Stars, she needed to calm down! The ginger-and-cream molly took a deep breath, willing herself to focus on Poppyshine’s words. She’d never hear the end of it if she didn’t even hear her mentor’s name- now that? Would be embarrassing.

Drizzlepaw lifted her head high, amber eyes gleaming with joy. Stars yes. She nodded to Poppyshine, did her best to quell the slight tremble in her paws (for goodness’ sake, really) and turned to scan the crowd for her new mentor. The brown tabby wasn’t an entirely unfamiliar face- she’d seen her in the medicine den when she’d had to visit Sandyshell as a young kit all the time. She seemed nice!

Stars yes, Drizzlepaw thought, settling for a sharp nod at Harebounce’s question. Come on Drizzlepaw, calm down. Every apprentice has a mentor. No need to get this excited… but it won’t hurt, just this once.

It was finally Drizzlekit's day, and he was so excited for his friend. Rainstep groomed her until she was sleek as an otter from the river. Lavenderkit raised a paw jokingly as if to ruffle the top of her head, but settled instead for a gentle smile. "You'll be great!" he promised, soft yellow eyes alight.

Lavenderkit watched from the nursery entrance, eyes on his friend's back and the nervous twitch of her tail. He saw her excitement even as she did her best to look grown-up as always. She was, suddenly, all grown-up and receiving her new name of Drizzlepaw.

Lavenderkit recognised the older warrior his friend touched noses with. She had been in the medicine-den as long as he could remember, and now she was full of new energy as she promised to train Drizzlepaw to be the best the clan had ever seen. Harebounce would definitely teach unique and valuable lessons. His friend accepted; she was serious, hoping to defeat the leader of ShadowClan in combat one day, though that part made Lavenderkit's heart do a flip-flop. Still, he couldn't wait to congratulate Drizzlepaw.