Amberkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Acornstem had been struggling to keep herself from pacing for the last hour or so - her mind racing with the thoughts over all of her new responsibilities. She hadn't realized how old the kits were getting until she had poked her head in recently to get a better feeling for future mentor match ups - one kit was at the cusp of six moons...And here she was. "L-Let all of those old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Highrock for a clan meeting!" she called out, wincing as it felt a little...Strange. It was words she thought she would never say but fate seemed to curl its whiskers in unexpected ways. She was deputy now, and as much as she was content to be the best deputy Mottlestar could wish for in a time like this...It didn't make it feel any less strange.

It wasn't long after Acornstem had called and Mottlestar had taken a seat that a fluff of amber-swirled fur emerged from the nursery like a cloud, cast orange by the rising sun, floating across the sky. This small, playful kit had grown quite large in the past moon. Although he hadn't fully grown into his huge, pale paws yet, the tom had surely outgrown the nursery. His poor mother complained about being squished up against the nursery wall at night. He personally found it hard to maneuver around the tight quarters.

Nonetheless, Amberkit had just barely crested his six-moon mark, and figured with the recent change in deputyship it would be at least another week before he would be promoted to apprentice. But, Amberkit was a very patient and respectful tom, so not a word of complaint had fallen from his lips. I wonder what this is about, he thought. His bright, amber eyes searched the growing crowd for Cedarpaw and Shrewpaw, his two close friends, hoping to sit with them. They must be busy training.

Ridgecrest lifted his head at their new deputy’s call, padding over to sit under the Highrock. The slight stutter at the beginning of her sentence did not escape him, but he excused it as understandable nerves. This was her first time conducting a ceremony, correct? He would be a bit nervous in her paws- the most important day in a young kit’s life so far. Which kit… hmm. Probably young Amberkit, close enough to full-grown to nearly reach the height of the older apprentices and yet not quite filled out. The orange tom would probably be about his size once he was full grown.

The tabby tom sat with his back straight and tail curled around his paws, paying attention largely to be courteous to both their new deputy and soon-to-be newest apprentice.

Acornstem managed a soft, sheepish smile at Mottlestar as she spotted the leader in the crowd, giving her a quick nod of acknowledgement before she turned to see that Amberkit - the kit in question for this ceremony - had arrived and taken his seat. As the rest of the cats settled down, she quietly ran through the words of the ceremony in her head once more before she raised his voice to address the Clan. "I've called you all here to celebrate and honor a kit who is ready to become an apprentice - Amberkit, please step forward," she meowed, turning her gaze to look at the kit with a smile. She waited a few heartbeats for him to step up before she continued on. "Amberkit, you have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to become an apprentice. From today until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Amberpaw. Briarrose will be your mentor - she is a dear friend and a wonderful teacher."

An apprentice ceremony, Amberkit thought, chest bursting with excitement as Acornstem began the ceremony. Then - Amberkit? Wait, that's me! as his name rang clear in the sandy clearing of Thunderclan's camp. His burst of excitement suddenly turned into a rock that dropped in his stomach as every head in camp turned to stare at the large, glowing amber tom. Since when did Thunderclan get so big? he asked himself as he returned a nervous smile to the staring crowd of cats. Amberkit choked down his anxiety and stepped forward after Acornstem's request, then stood tall as he received his apprentice name and mentor. Briarrose the name echoed in his head. Amberpaw hadn't met her before, but his parents had made certain he learned the names and faces of every cat in Thunderclan - that included the dilute torbie she-cat.

Amberpaw gave Acornstem a long, appreciative look of gratitude. The new deputy had done well performing her first ceremony, and Amberpaw was proud to be the first cat promoted under her leadership. He then turned his attention to Cedarpaw, who appeared from the edge of the crowd. Amberpaw purred happily and nuzzled the older tom's neck. "Thank you, Cedarpaw," he murmured, tone saying much more than a simple thanks - it revealed Amberpaw's excitement to be with his friends in the Apprentice Den. And then, Briarrose emerged from the crowd. Amberpaw's heart bulged with awe as he touched noses with his mentor. "Briarrose-" but he didn't know what to say. Thank you? Yes ma'am? How about exactly what he was thinking - I promise I won't disappoint you. But, he couldn't bring himself to form any more words, so the young tom just nodded respectfully and turned back to his friends and family at Briarrose's nudge.