Flykit's Apprentice Ceremony

Acornstem let out a soft sigh of relief - it was nice to be doing a simple apprentice ceremony again. While she was thankful for the chance to try her paw at a warrior ceremony or two, it had felt...Wrong. It always fell to the leader to do those while deputies took care of apprentice ceremonies - unless one was sick or injured. But Mottlestar had been fine so there had been no reason for her to do them other than for practice. But it seemed Mottlestar was content enough with the two done and so it was now back to focusing on the kits. "Let all of those old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Highrock for a clan meeting!"

Goldenfern crouched beside her adopted son, her tongue gently tucking away any last tufts of fur still sticking out. Flykit had lost his mother before his eyes had even opened, so it only felt right for her to take him in. With one last loving purr, she released the kit and watched him head towards the clearing.

Flykit finally managed to get out of his mother's hold and bounded forward. His just-groomed fur was already messy before he even reached the Highrock. Chest puffed out, the small ginger tabby waited for his ceremony to begin.

"I've called you all here to celebrate and honor a kit who is ready to become an apprentice - Flykit, please step forward." She waited carefully for the young kit to do so, before she continued on. The deputy could barely restrain her tail from swishing as she watched the small kit - she was excited, and not only just because she was getting the chance to do an apprentice ceremony again. "Flykit, 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 Flypaw. I will be your mentor," she purred.

Ever since Cedarstalk had become a warrior, she had found she had missed it - being a mentor. There was of course was so many new warriors that could each do with an apprentice but...It was also a big responsibility - she didn't want to take away their newfound freedom. It was a lot, getting an apprentice for the first time. She would let them grow into themselves first, find their footing as warriors and then they would be give apprentices. ...After all, her mentor had been a newly named warrior when he was given her. Had he been scared of the responsibility? Was that why he had never returned...?

She shook her head, jumping down from the rock to touch noses with Flypaw. What-ifs about cats long gone wouldn't serve anything - all that mattered now was to focus on Flypaw's training. "We'll start tomorrow," she said with a smile, giving the apprenticea nod. "For now, take the day to celebrate with your family, finding a nest in the apprentice's den and getting to know your denmates." As she said that, she took a step back to let her Clanmates crowd the newly named tom to give their congratulations.

"Flypaw! Flypaw!" Goldenfern cheered, watching eagerly as her son stepped forward to greet his new mentor. Acornstem couldn't have been a better mentor for Flypaw, who tended to be... reckless, at times.

Flypaw couldn't believe his ears when Acornstem annoucened that she would be his mentor. How cool is that? He remembered dimly that Goldenfern's mentor had also been a high rank: Mottlestar herself. If having the deputy or leader as his mentor meant that he could be as good, or better, than Goldenfern, sign him up! He gave his new mentor a nod, then turned to be greeted by his clanmate's cheers.

Blazefang purred with satisfaction as another of her descendants stepped into the light. Flykit was not her blood, but he was still her grandson. The ginger she-cat padded over and nuzzled her daughter. “You’ve done well, Goldenfern,” she mewed.

Mottlestar had purred warmly as she heard the ceremony, coming into camp with some prey she had caught earlier in the day. They now found themselves on the fresh-kill pile, before the leader made her way over to the concluding ceremony. Flypaw. She couldn't help but think of her precious Firefly, and would have had some amusement in the idea of her daughter mentoring the new apprentice. But as she saw Acornstem and Flypaw touch noses, she knew it would be a fantastic duo. Acornstem had more than the perfect touch to guide a young apprentice into the role of a warrior, and she made her way over once the crowd had thinned. "Congratulations, Flypaw. You're certainly a special apprentice to have the deputy be your mentor." She chuckled, giving a warm purr as she beheld the two cats in front of her. "Get some rest yourself, Acornstem. You've deserved your own day off."