Hickorykit's Apprentice Ceremony

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

Another ceremony so soon...There was a surge of pride through Acornstem at the fact that the Clan was growing - and fast! It did mean more work for her but she wasn't going to complain - it was all for the good of the Clan and it was fun figuring out who would pair well as a mentor and apprentice! Her tail swished in excitement as she waited for her Clanmates to gather, double checking her choice in her head but she was hoping she had made a good one.

A squirrel's tail firmly in her jaws, Mottlestar's ears twitched as she heard Acornstem's summons. It made her heart warm from just how well her deputy was performing, taking all of her duties in stride and with excitement coursing through her veins. Silently, the tortoiseshell hoped that excitement and passion for all life had would never be extinguished. It was a passion that Thunderclan deeply, desperately needed.

Placing her catch in the fresh-kill pile, the tortoiseshell was swift to take her place among the crowd, greeting others as they too joined to see who would next be apprenticed.

Goldenfern had thought the day might never come. The queen had groomed Hickorykit's ginger-and-white fur until it shone under the sun, much like how Sunfire's ginger fur always blazed like fire under the sun. The resemblence was definetly there. At last, she released her daughter, nosing the small kit forward. Her heart ached as she watched her first-born hurry forward to receive her apprentice name.

Blazefang momentarily leaned into Goldenfern’s flank, a quick brush to remind her daughter of her presence. “They grow up so fast, don’t they? I still feel like your own apprentice ceremony wasn’t that long ago.” Her baby had babies! This was a wonderful feeling.

As the Clan gathered, Acornstem took in a deep breath with a soft smile. "I've called you all here to celebrate and honor a kit who is ready to become an apprentice - Hickorykit, please step forward," she meowed with a dip of her head - waiting a few heartbeats for Hickorykit to do so. "Hickorykit, 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 Hickorypaw. Goldenfern will be your mentor."

Goldenfern watched with proud eyes as her kit pushed through the crowd to stand before the deputy. Her ears twitched when her name was called. Her, mentoring Hickorypaw? The golden tabby's amber eyes darted up to meet Acornstem's, gratitude warming up her gaze. She darted to her kit's side, gently pressing her nose against Hickorypaw's. "Let's take a tour around the territory first, shall we?" She purred.

Blazefang watched Goldenfern greet her now-apprentice and tried to ignore an uncomfortable feeling that prickled at her pelt. Hickorypaw. This moment mirrored another so strongly. Hickorypaw had been her apprentice, one of her first two, and the only one not to make it to warriorhood. Silverwing was in SkyClan now, Sleepycloud still back in WindClan, and Hickorypaw? Nobody knew what became of her. Blazefang could only hope her granddaughter wouldn’t meet the same fate.