Peonykit's Apprentice Ceremony

"Let all of those old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Highrock for a clan meeting!"

Acornstem's voice rang out across the camp as she sat at the base of the Highrock, standing as straight as she could manage. While she wasn't as nervous as her first go of being in charge of an apprentice ceremony...This was her second one so there was still a bit of nerves there. Mostly when it was for Peonykit, the kit that Firefly had adopted! She needed to pick the perfect mentor for her, she couldn't disappoint Firefly with her selection.

Peonykit was nervously hiding in the corner of the nursery, too nervous about her ceremony. She of course was very excited to be an apprentice but just thinking about all the cats watching her made her terrified. It took a lot of persuasion from firefly, but as the meeting was called, Peonykit padded out of the nursery. She was sticking so close to her mother that it was a miracle they didnt trip.

Peonykit slowely padded towards the front and sat down next to her mother, little tiny scared shakes going across her body. Peonyit looked up at Acornstem, hoping her mentor that was picked was very nice to her.

The sight of Peonykit timidly scooting towards the gathered cat to duck at her side caused Acornstem to smile, a gentle purr rising in her throat. It was a shame that she couldn't have given poor Peonykit to either her or even Firefly but they both had apprentices of their own at the moment. She could only hope that Peonykit would blossom under the care of the cat she had chosen.

"I've called you all here to celebrate and honor a kit who is ready to become an apprentice - Peonykit, please step forward," she meowed, turning her gaze to look at the kit with a smile. She sat there quietly for the young kit to get the courage to step forward, not minding however many heartbeats it took before she could continue on with the ceremony.  

"Peonykit, 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 Peonypaw. Your mentor will be Ridgecrest - he is a gentle soul and I am sure will give you the patience you require to find your paws as an apprentice," she meowed as she turned to glance towards the tom with a smile and a nod.

Peonypaw slowely walked up to recieve her name and was a little happier when it was over. She slowely padded over to her mentor and did a quick nose touch to signify her knowledgement of her new mentor. Then she went back to Firefly, sad she wont be able to be with her as much anymore.  

Firefly tapped her timid daughter with her tail in reassurance. "Ridgecrest will take good care of you. Being an apprentice is one step closer to being a warrior, a great honor. I look forward to seeing your progress; I expect a spar in the future." She gave a slight smile to combat her stern words. She would be unable to baby her adopted daughter any further now that she was an apprentice. She had to learn that Firefly couldn't always be there to protect her.

She nodded to Acornstem, pleased with her choice of Ridgecrest.

Amberpaw sat near the apprentice's den, behind the crowd of cats. He watched quietly as a ball of anxiety quaked out of the nursery, prodded on by Firefly. Peonykit's apprentice ceremony! Amberpaw sat up a bit straighter, watching with a smile as his young friend received her new name and mentor.

Once the ceremony wrapped up, Amberpaw weaved his way through the crowd to the mother and daughter pair. "Peonypaw," the tom purred. He wasn't fond of touching others, but Peony was an exception. The older apprentice nuzzled his good friend affectionately. "Congratulations. There's an open nest by me in the apprentice's den. You should take that one. The den is a lot more...bearable when you are next to your friends." The apprentice's den was a lot less cozy than the comfortable nursery, that's for sure.

Ridgecrest had attended the ceremony purely to show his support for whatever young kitten was becoming an apprentice, but he wasn’t exactly paying the closest of attention… until his name was called. His name. Was- he was becoming a mentor? The brown tom blinked, green eyes meeting Acornstem’s with the slightest hint of uncertainty before turning to meet his young apprentice’s. His apprentice… StarClan.

The stocky tom bent his head down, touching noses with Peonypaw with a deep rumbling purr. “I look forwards to training you, Peonypaw. You can go make your nest in the apprentice’s den. I’d suggest getting a good night’s sleep tonight, so that you can be ready when we begin training early in the morning.”

…hopefully that was right. He couldn’t even remember his own ceremony (and besides, Starlingflare was… yeah) but he’d attended enough recently that the words came easily. Ridgecrest nodded to Firefly from a distance, hoping to assuage any concern, and then turned away, presumably to go over some plans.

…in reality, it was to take a deep breath and offer a prayer to StarClan.

Gods, don’t let him mess this up. If he was to be half the reassurance and comfort to Peonypaw that Mottledstar had been to him, he’d need to start planning now.