The future's in your paws. Shape it well.Roleplay in a cat Clan of warriors. Based off the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. Takes place in an AU before the cats in the books existed.
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Subject: Bubblepaw's Warrior Ceremony Sun 22 Oct 2023 - 20:54
Three moons. That was how long it had been since any RiverClan apprentices had become warriors.
Three moons, and how much had changed in that long time. Their main food source was in jeopardy. The waters, the lifeblood of their Clan in which they swam and fished and relaxed and played, were thick and sullen with oozing poison. Predators met them at every turn. The weather was strange, stranger than any alive had ever seen, and there was a tinny hollow pit inside of each cat where the day's meal should have been.
And yet life still went on. And yet apprentices became warriors.
These thoughts circled around uselessly in Perchstar's head as she ascended the Willow Branch, feeling how the gesture was simultaneously familiar and alien. The advancement of a new warrior was supposed to be a positive moment of change and growth for the Clan. Yet, how was RiverClan supposed to rejoice when they were slowly but surely starving to death? What were they supposed to do?
"Defend it well; care for our young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the Warrior Code. Live each life with pride and dignity, as if it were your last."
Ivystar... if you were here, what would you do?
The summons flowed from her mouth, her voice ringing out as neutral and clear as it always did. If nothing else, then for this ceremony, she could pretend that everything was all right. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own fish gather for a Clan meeting."
Walk like a majestic lion, eyes glinting with so much desire.
Bubblepaw padded over to join the rest of the Clan by the Willow Branch once Perchstar gave the call. She could only hope that it wasn't more bad news. It was interesting how quickly life could decline, how fast the river could go from being beautiful to terrifying, and how instantly prey could go from being plentiful to being close to none. So much bad news couldn't be healthy for anyone's soul, so all Bubblepaw could do was silently pray as she sat down.
Pour more gasoline on fire, fly again, rising through the flames.
Perchstar squared her shoulders, doing her best not to lean or slump on the branch. It was getting harder and harder each day to stand straight and tall. She only had so much energy to move around... it had become difficult to use it on appearances. But for now--for an important ceremony like this--she could remain neutral and strong. "We gather today in order for an apprentice to advance to warriorhood. Bubblepaw, please step forward." The leader looked down and met Bubblepaw's eyes. She had been studying under Mistwalker for a long time, and had worked hard to earn her name. She was due for this accomplishment. “I, Perchstar, leader of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Bubblepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?”
Walk like a majestic lion, eyes glinting with so much desire.
Bubblepaw felt her breath catch in her throat as she attempted to exhale. Warrior ceremonies in RiverClan hadn't existed for the past few moons, and she hadn't expected the first one in a while to be her very own. She looked around at her Clanmates for a few heartbeats with wide eyes before rising to her paws and stepping forward.
"I do." She said, truthfully. She was unsure if her voice sounded serious enough or if she sounded too starstruck, but in that moment she didn't care. She was about to become a warrior. Moons and moons of training were finally coming to a close.
Pour more gasoline on fire, fly again, rising through the flames.
When she saw the conviction in the apprentice's eyes, Perchstar nodded. “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Bubblepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Bubblenose. StarClan honors your confidence and kindness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of RiverClan.” The leader leapt down from the Willow Branch with just as much grace as usual, despite how the bones were beginning to show through her fur, and concluded the ceremony with the traditional gesture. She rested her head atop the newly-named Bubblenose's for a moment, allowing the physical touch to communicate her respect, and then stepped back and gave a slow blink of congratulations.
--
Dovepaw would participate in anything to distract himself at this point. So when he heard Perchstar call the summons, he attended the meeting, despite expecting more bad news--and he was pleasantly surprised when it was a ceremony instead. And not just any ceremony, but Bubblepaw's! He wasn't quite sure if he could call her a friend, but he had always appreciated her company and found her to be a good Clanmate. So when her name was announced, he called it out with all the energy he had left. "Bubblenose! Bubblenose!" His eyes shone as he trotted forward. "Congratulations!"
Mistwalker had hidden at the back of the crowd, the fluffy carbon-copy of her mother hoping to not take away from her apprentice's achievement. A rare pride glimmered in her gaze as her apprentice's name was called, ultimately changed forever. Mentorship had been one of the best gifts that her mother had blessed her with, and it did the molly's heart good to know that she had trained her well. After the ceremony concluded, she made her way over to her former-apprentice, dipping her head in pride. "Congratulations, Bubblenose. You have earned it."
Egretswoop was also amongst the gathering cats. With no true tie to the apprentice other than the fact it was her friend Mistwalker who had taught her, she held her tongue and observed. Her pelt had been left in her den as a sign of welcome, though she doubted it to be of much importance to anyone around her. It was moreso for the pale warrior herself than anycat else. Still, as her new name was called, Egretswoop cheered. "Bubblenose! Bubblenose!"
