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: Cinderpaw's Warrior Ceremony Wed 15 Nov 2023 - 21:07
If not for her exhaustion and starvation, perhaps Perchstar could have gotten all of the ceremonies done in one day. But one or two of them had had to wait, and so now these cats would receive their names away from home. It was painful to think about the possibility that they might not return--but she pushed it from her head. This was a reprieve from their journey; this was a time of celebration. Another of her apprentices had grown capable and strong in her training, and would be ready to receive their name. She found a place to meet and called out for her Clan. "RiverClan, gather for a Clan meeting."
Cinderpaw barely heard Perchstars call over the din of gathered cats, a blend of backgrounds all exhausted and chattering away to keep their spirits up. At the beginning of their journey, Mottlestar had made an announcement to ThunderClan. Cinderpaw expected no different of Perchstars call.
She slunk through the thronging cats as best she could, flinching away from most to avoid bumping into them. She took her place amongst the audience. It was a sense of normalcy to be called in such a way. It was a reminder to her that though all clans were together, she still had her family to keep a grasp of-- Not by blood, but may as well be. Cinderpaw fixed inquisitive eyes on Perchstar and waited for her to continue.
She couldn't think about RiverClan camp waiting behind them. She couldn't think of it, or she would lose her nerve. So instead, Perchstar scanned the larger-than-usual crowd of cats until she caught sight of the familiar point pelt. Cinderpaw had been apprehensive, when they'd spoken last. Afraid, even. Perchstar understood. It was a big change. And to be going through it now, when even the survival of their Clan was an everyday struggle... undoubtedly, it would be difficult. But Cinderpaw was far stronger than even she knew. She would do fine. "We gather today to celebrate the advancement of an apprentice to warriorhood," Perchstar began, allowing her facial muscles to relax slightly in their neutrality. It was a time of celebration. Cinderpaw had worked hard for this. "Cinderpaw, please step forward."
Once the apprentice did so, Perchstar continued. Each of her words was imbued with the calm trust and respect that she put into Cinderpaw's development. She had come a long way from their first patrol, when they were attacked by the goose. But her kind nature and empathy were points of strength, not weakness, and they had only grown so further. “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." Perchstar looked carefully at Cinderpaw, her light blue gaze locking onto her apprentice's eyes. They'd discussed this before, but she wanted to see the conviction, the understanding. This was not a promise to be given lightly. Though she wanted to protect Cinderpaw from any problems, the vow meant that she would put herself in danger if necessary. She had to be willing. She had to understand. "Cinderpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?”
Another ceremony. She had known Riverclan to have a particular plethora of apprentices in recent times, but to have had them all so close to advancing before they left? Part of her wondered how they felt. Had they been able to convene with their ancestors prior to departure? Such a rite of passage and its potential loss flickered in her chest. She remembered the times in which Starclan was unreachable. Dark times that had led cats down dark paths, too. Dismissing the thought away with a flick of her ears, Mottlestar found herself joining the crowds once more.
She would celebrate, too. Cats who had given up their homes at her call at least deserved her support. She couldn't lead an entire forest, but she could show her face amongst her allies. Demonstrate that, while Thunderclan was her priority, she cared about all the rest of them too. Saw them, and understood just what her call at the gathering had meant to miss out on.
Characters : [C]indersky, [W]olfpaw [D]aytrader, [R]yepaw Clan/Rank : RiverClan, T4 Deputy | ShadowClan, Apprentice| T1 Loner | WindClan Apprentice Number of posts : 567 Gender : They/She Age : 20
Subject: Re: Cinderpaw's Warrior Ceremony Sat 18 Nov 2023 - 8:57
cinderpaw
apprentice | riverclan
'Cinderpaw, please step forward.' Her chest felt cold. She should've seen it coming-- All those she had trained with, those who became apprentices before her, became warriors. She was the next step. She was the next leaf on a long-rooted tree, but even though she knew this and went through her moonstone, her talking, it didn't dawn on her that it would happen until it did.
Moving her paws forward felt sluggish, like wading through the deeper water of the river, but less welcoming. Part of her wanted to turn tail and flee and avoid this next plunge, but her own self, the one that had spoken to Birdsong and had urged her to talk to Perchstar kept her moving. She blinked, and like waking from sleep, she found she had joined her mentor and leader as requested.
Her words sounded muffled. She could hear them and understand them, but it was as though she was hearing them from beneath the lapping of the river. Her vision felt unsettled, unanchored on anything. Her paws trembled despite how hard she had tensed and pushed them onto the ground beneath her. "...you've gone through life fearing the unknown but walking into it, day by day. Isn't that also bravery?..." She repeated it over and over in her head and she wondered if it was right. Was it brave to be shaking like a twig in a gale in front of the cat who had taught you your entire apprenticeship?
It was her turn to speak now. It was her turn to speak the words and place herself in history. She knew she could never go back now. She didn't want to. It would be so easy to run and hide again in the warm apprentices den, but it would be different this time. She would be hiding there where it would be familiar, but it would be so unfamiliar. Larkspring and Rookflight would have moved on, living their warrior lives as intended, and she... She scanned the crowd, well aware that Perchstar was waiting for her vow. Her eyes glossed over Mottlestar and that clutch of chill caught her again; what in StarClan's name would ThunderClan think now, watching the RiverClan leaders apprentice struggle to get two simple words out?
She waited until she could find the black and white pelts that she so cherished. If she was too scared to move on because of herself, if she was too scared of the change because of what it meant for her... Then at very least, she could do it for them, couldn't she? It was part of the vow. Protect your Clan, your family, loved ones and the ones you made memories with. She could do it for them, even if she couldn't do it for herself.
With a deep, shuddering breath, she flicked her eyes back to Perchstar's. Her reflection showed her as she was-- Small and shaking, terrified. But as Birdsong said, by walking into it, it's bravery. "I do," She answered, and the fear felt... Less.
Subject: Re: Cinderpaw's Warrior Ceremony Sat 18 Nov 2023 - 18:16
Perchstar watched carefully, doing her best to keep any of her thoughts from showing in her light blue eyes. She wished that she could halt the ceremony and reassure Cinderpaw that it would be all right, that this step was the right one to take, that she was worthy. But it was a battle that the apprentice would have to fight within herself. It was better that she confront those thoughts now than later. When the two words finally fell from her mouth, Perchstar knew that they were meant. Her face was unfamiliar with the expression of a smile, but the hard neutral lines of her face looked more relaxed and soft as she spoke. “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Cinderpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Cindersky." A fitting name, not only for the blue of her eyes, but for the clearness and pureness of her heart. For the gentle way that she brought kindness to any and all in her path. "StarClan honors your selflessness and empathy, and we welcome you as a full warrior of RiverClan.”
A full warrior. Those were not just words, but they carried meaning. Cindersky was now a warrior of RiverClan. Perchstar leapt gracefully down from the rock, all thoughts of thirst and exhaustion forgotten, thinking only of how the tiny she-cat had once trembled when confronted by a fierce goose. How, despite being thrust into combat on her first ever trip outside of camp, she'd thought more about her experienced mentor than about herself. How she'd been unfailingly kind to stern-faced mentors, to Perchstar's own kits, even to the surly Larkspring. How hard she had worked to get where she was. In the last movement of the ceremony, Perchstar stepped forward to the newly named warrior, and placed her muzzle gently atop Cindersky's head. This was a similar movement to when the former apprentice had buried herself in the leader's ruff of soft fur, only that Cindersky was now a warrior and much taller. She had grown. And she had grown into herself well. "Congratulations," the leader murmured quietly into Cindersky's ear. "I'm proud. You'll do well." Then she stepped back with a slow blink, knowing that many Clanmates would want to rejoice in their friend's advancement. And, for a brief moment of confusion, noticed again the tortoiseshell pelt in the crowd. She had been so focused on her former apprentice that she hadn't even noticed that Mottlestar had stopped by once again.
~~PM me here or on Discord if you want a topic with any of my cats!~~ ~Signature and Avatar by Xaandiir!~
xaandiir Former Staff
Characters : [P]oppyshine; [Pi]neblossom; [L]arkspring; [Wi]llowwisp; [R]ashoumon; [B]lazekit Clan/Rank : RC T5 Deputy; SC T5; RC T5; RC T5; Rogue T1; WC App Number of posts : 3167 Gender : Any Pronouns Age : 26
Subject: Re: Cinderpaw's Warrior Ceremony Sun 19 Nov 2023 - 9:49
Larkspring
Larkspring attended this ceremony,, of course. It was not even simply because of a sense of obligation. Cinderpaw was, as much as it was hard to admit such things even to the quiet of himself, his friend. He wanted to be there to congratulate her. He sat and watched the back-and-forth between apprentice and leader. He knew that she was struggling silently in her own head, as she did with all things. Larkspring thought about her terror when it came to hunting, and how she had felt defeated before they even tried, and then the ecstatic happiness that came when she finally caught a mouse. It was that joy and determination that proved her worth as a warrior, and he hoped that she knew that.
She accepted the responsibilities given to her and Larkspring leaned forward to hear the new name. Cindersky…yes. It was perfect for her. When the ceremony concluded, Larkspring’s voice boomed with all the rest: “Cindersky! Cindersky! Cindersky!”
He waited until Perchstar had moved away and then the moved up to greet her. “The name suits you,” he meowed.
Characters : [C]indersky, [W]olfpaw [D]aytrader, [R]yepaw Clan/Rank : RiverClan, T4 Deputy | ShadowClan, Apprentice| T1 Loner | WindClan Apprentice Number of posts : 567 Gender : They/She Age : 20
Subject: Re: Cinderpaw's Warrior Ceremony Sun 19 Nov 2023 - 10:56
cindersky
t1 warrior| riverclan
Cindersky. It was not what she expected, but fitted all the same. It held a kind of strength to it. Like how the sky blanketed the world. She liked it. Cindersky. With the granting of her new name, she was no longer an apprentice. No longer underneath Perchstars wing in the same way she was before. The shadow of Perchstars shape passed over her and she felt the weight of her chin against her head. Warm, and a shield against the clamouring cheers. She was grateful they cheered, but sometimes it sounded like a thorn piercing through her. She could just about pick out Larksprings voice among it all and she smiled.
"Thank you," She murmured back to Perchstar, closing her eyes to savour the last of the friendly touch which would probably never come again. "You made me who I am." As the comforting shape moved away, she returned the slow blink in turn-- And was met with Larksprings voice so sudden to her side it almost made her jump.
She grinned like a fool and leaned forward with haste, thumping her forehead into his shoulder. She stayed there for a moment, her unbridled purr rumbling through her body. "Thank you," She said to him also, and leaned back with eyes so bright they could rival Silverpelt. "Do you really think so? I like it, I--..." She shook her head, stopping her words in their tracks and beginning again. "I'm glad you were here. I don't think I could've made the vow without you. It was... Frightening. Then I saw you, and decided that if you could do it, so could I."
