Tallpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Tallpaw’s large ears twitched at Smallstar’s summons. It still felt strange to hold clan meetings in the middle of everything. The fading scents of the other clans as cats weaved around each other and got settled after the day’s trek were disconcerting. Everything felt like a thorn stuck in a paw, a sharp reminder that their way of life was still crumbling around them in that achingly slow decay. The golden tom joined the gathering crowd, wrapping his tail neatly around his paws. Even sitting he could easily see over the heads of his clanmates. He tended to stick to the back of the crowd for that reason, plus it was less noticeable when Goldenpaw decided she wanted to do anything other than pay attention. For now he enjoyed the moment of stillness, focused intently on Smallstar as he waited for the leader to address the clan.

Tallpaw felt a prickle of surprise at the summons but it was quickly drowned out by the buzz of excitement that hummed like a live wire under his pelt. With his tail held high, he subtly bushed his shoulder against Sootstorm’s as he passed, the brief touch grounded him as he stepped before his clanmates and any other straying eyes. He reached Smallstar in a few long strides, amber eyes flashing with pride. Despite everything, it made his pads tingle, to feel the ceremonial words wash over him. There wasn’t a Tallrock and this wasn't their familiar sky, but even under foreign clouds he felt sheltered by the blessings of their ancestors. He met the WindClan leader’s gaze head on. There was no doubt. He would do anything for his clan, it was in his blood, his loyalty affixed to him as firmly as his golden pelt or long plumed tail. There was no part of his soul that was pulled in any other direction. This was his path, and he walked it as sure as all those who came before him. “I do.” He said, unwavering, looking something close to regal as he stood tall before his clanmates, shoulders pulled back and head held high despite the knobs of his spine pressing starkly against his pelt or the slight jut of his hip bones.