Daffodilkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Acornstem's breath curled around her muzzle as she exhaled - eyes scanning over the makeshift area the Clan had claimed. It was far from perfect - this was a scenario she hadn't wanted but it was how the Clan found themselves. Forced to huddle together for warm, praying that the chill wouldn't claim a life... Her claws started to dig in frustration, but she quickly was forced to stop as she had taken to resting her paws on her tail and the prickle of pain reminded her to keep a steady head. A sigh escaped her, ear twitching. "Let all of ThunderClan gather to my voice!" she meowed, not even feeling the energy for the standard meeting call. This was another thing she wasn't excited for - to name apprentices in such horrid conditions... But they needed all the paws they could spare for what it was worth and she knew how unruly kits could get approaching their sixth moon - to put it off would only cause the kits to get anxious and that was the last thing they needed to deal with on top of all of this.

A small body of grey fur bristled against the chill of the air and the nerves running through as the cry of command laced through the air, drawing attention forward. The world was freezing and strange, dangerous in a way that seemed never-ending. The grey feline had survived through that night, some days ago, however. She had survived the original travel and the sickness that had ravaged through the clans. She's survived to stand here today and deal with the anxiety that was making her feel much warmer than the environment allowed. With a confidence that failed to hide the fear in her eyes, Daffodilkit sat tall, her attention on Acornstem and Acornstem only.

Crocusfrost scooped another heaving lump of snow out of the clearing the clans had made their home for the night, shovelling away the wet and heavy snow to make room for the small, sick, and old to be able to gain some semblance of warmth and shelter despite the cold water being up to their bellies - well, not Crocusfrost's belly -. It was Acornstem's call that had the giant she-cat ceasing in her task and raising her head to survey the gathering crowd. A familiar grey and fluffy shape amongst the crowd. Daffodilkit- the she-kit that she hefted onto her back and ran from the wolves with, the howling and terror dulling her senses for a moment before she was brought back to the present from a growing muttering.

Maybe it was finally the grey she-kits ceremony? Straightening up and stretching out her limbs before she padded over to the growing crowd. Daffodilkit's eyes were absolutely glued to Acornstem, and a soft smile and chuff pulled itself from the typically stoic molly. She wondered who'd get to mentor her?

Acornstem's smile was honest but strained as she looked down at Daffodilkit - a poor kit who had been through so much. She wished she knew what words to say, to offer something more than a ceremony that felt long overdue. A ceremony marred by the cruelty the world seemed determined to inflict upon the Clans... But it was all she could offer, in the end. "I've called you all here...Because in such uncertain times, we seek any joy...Any hope we can find. Hope for the future, away from our current situation. And our future is our apprentices - and the new kit about to join them. Daffodilkit, please step forward," she meowed - unconsciously trying to sweep her tail in gesture but it turned into a rather awkward moment as her tail was pulled from under her paws, causing her to jump as her pawpads touched the cold snow.

She held in a surprised hiss as she quickly swept her tail back around her paws, straightening up to try to mask the moment. "Daffodilkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Daffodilpaw. Your mentor will be Nightdancer," she meowed as she glanced towards where the warrior sat. Nightdancer had recently gotten a new surge of energy it seemed, something that brought happiness to Acornstem as she had always looked up to the older warrior - perhaps due to the knowledge that Nightdancer had been the mentor of her own mentor, even if her time with Sunstrike was short lived. She had no doubt that Nightdancer would do well as a mentor once more.

A slight smile graced the small feline's mouth momentarily as she had stepped forward to the beckoning of Acornstem - the ground was quite cold, frozen, and it was taking most of her focus to not flex her claws out at the chilly pierce through her pads. Head dipping down in acceptance of this heavy task, of being promoted in such a strange, dangerous time of the life of the clans, she couldn't stop the slight head tilt of confusion, the scrunch of her nose, as Acornstem called out who would mentor her. Wiping that break in her calm composure she was attempting to force through, Daffodilpaw followed the line-of-sight Acornstem was using as she announced "...will be Nightdancer."

Turning to the warrior who would lead her education, who would teach her how to be strong, she laid eyes on a cat she had never quite ... seen before. Potentially heard of, sure, through the whispers of the queens and the daily yells of other warriors, but personal experience with this warrior, Daffodilpaw had none. Nodding her head low in deference, Daffodilpaw approached the older cat. "I look forward to being your apprentice, Nightdancer. I can see myself learning much from you. Thank you for granting your guidance."

An unseemly dusting of confused-envy briefly graced the soft lines of Kestrelkit's features, curiously turning to catch a meager glance at the vaguely-familiar shape of Nightdancer ahead of politely schooling her expression- a little sour with jealousy at the prospect of her friend's social progress, but a  mostly relieved that she wasn't the current center of attention in such a manner. Maybe also a little sad at the prospective distance between herself and her newly-former-denmate, but alas. Such was the wayward happenings of the world. Shifting irritably atop the chilly earth, and puffing visible exhales of displeasure at the now-familiar nipping chill, it was a relief to finally find warmth through the freedom of movement.

"Daffodilpaw!" Kestrelkit mewed after the worst of the ceremonial frostiness abated, prancing through the unpleasant dusting of snow to reach the other molly's side, "You get to sleep with the other apprentices tonight! And you don't have to deal with any Queens making you go to sleep before it's even sunset!"

Noticing that Acornstem still was perched where she stood, the newly-apprenticed cat gave her friend a tight smile as she approached. Her ceremony was not likely to be the only ceremony happening tonight, and the grace period between the two would likely only be mere minutes at most. Catching sight of Crocusfrost, a faint hope graced her thoughts that at least one of them would end up with a warrior that they knew, someone they could depend on being present when needed.

"Oh, I fear you are worrying yourself all too soon, Kestrelkit." Daffodilpaw flicked her friend on the nose with her tail, a fond smile settling on her features, "I highly doubt I'll be joining the new den alone. I'm excited to see how the next few moments go."