Krestelkit's Apprentice Ceremony

"Let all of ThunderClan gather to my call!"

Acornstem sighed as she puffed up against the chilling winds, curling slightly in on herself as her paws scraped at the snow beneath her. She couldn't deny the pity in her heart for the poor kits of all of the Clans - this...Situation wasn't ideal. Their days were spent walking - being carried mostly lest they fall into a snow bank - and even when given time to rest, their was stern eyes to make sure they didn't get lost. They couldn't be kits...And being apprentices was scarcely better as while they would be trusted to walk on their own paws, the same restrictions would weigh them. Their kithood was being robbed by terrifying beasts and freezing weather... It just wasn't fair. She shook her head, curling her tail around her as she carefully lifted her paws and rested them on her tail fur. She would have to do her best to remind the kits and apprentices that these recent moons of hardship weren't what everything was like...

But that still depended on the forest being healed in their time away.

Delicate flecks of frigid snowfall mottled the shallow bridge of Kestrelkit's little nose, an inescapable nuisance that forever clung to the face in the dreary days following the hasty retreat away from terrifying beasts of the night. It was difficult to find the wherewithal to dredge up any lingering excitement at the prospect of skulking about on the fringes of another exclusionary meeting when the wind was so terribly willing to nip at her nose and ears- though, she managed alright. Sneezing in a frigid explosion of steamy breath, Kestrelkit turned to peep up at Acornstem with wide, youth-fuzzy eyes; lingering vestiges of rapidly cooling exhale simmering pointedly against the little molly's dark shape.

Flights of fancy further occupied her semi-decent attempt at rapt attention.

Acornstem swept her gaze over her Clanmates, breath curling around her in a sad sigh. This wasn't the life she wanted for her Clan and it was hard to even be overjoyed at the prospect of a new apprentice in such climates but she took in a deep breath and put a smile on her muzzle nonetheless. "Every sunrise is another step closer to our camp," she started as she straightened up. "A day closer to our lives being granted a semblance of normalcy - but still we work. We hunt, we care for our kits and elders so that we may all step into our territory with heads held high. But to do that, we need paws - and so I've called you all here to witness yet another kit earn their apprentice name. Krestelkit, please step forward," she meowed with a dip of her head.

"Krestelkit, you have reached the age of six moons and so from this moment forward, you will be known as Krestelpaw. Your mentor will be Crocusfrost," she meowed, glancing over at the warrior with a smile - thought one tinged with sadness. It was clear that Crocusfrost wasn't having the best luck with apprentices, but the deputy knew it was not the warrior's fault. One would shake out and prove the hard work that Crocusfrost put forth into supporting the Clan... She just hoped that this would be the one and that another apprentice not working out wouldn't mar Crocusfrost's spirit. "I trust that Crocusfrost will teach you everything she knows and you will be a great boon to the Clan."

Crocusfrost wasn't sure how to feel about being given another apprentice. Not after Cinderpaw and Poppypaw. Cinderpaw expiring from the illness that had claimed every cat in the forest, and Poppypaw disappeared shortly after her apprentice ceremony. Grief and doubt clogged the young warrior's throat and stalled her from getting to her paws to meet Kestrelpaw halfway. Two apprentices already died on her watch, why was she even being given the chance with a third young life? Surely if Kestrelpaw was under her tutelage that just slated the young and innocent tom for death? Crocusfrost feared that any competency she had, died the moment she had her warrior ceremony, that she was incapable of protecting the small, young, weak and old despite her large size. What use was she?

Still- despite her grief, her doubts, her uncertainty, she was tasked with the care of this apprentice. Had she not just saved his and Daffodilpaw's life a few nights prior? Did not that not breathe a bout of hope into her soul? Her paws found themselves moving, the edges around her eyes softening a bit, because as she looked down at Kestrelpaw she could find that she loved him. She feared for him, feared that she would not be enough and that his life would be cut short, but she feared not loving her charges as if they were her own children. She loved her clan, and she loved her clanmates. Feelings so heavily contradictory battled within Crocusfrost and her psyche, but despite this, she really hoped that Acornstem and herself knew what they were doing and that this would not end in disaster.

Crocusfrost leaned down, tucking her legs under her, and stretched her neck forward. Letting Kestrelpaw go at his own pace to touch his nose to hers.

Crocusfrost.

A curious varnish of fleeting disappointment graced the fine features of Kestrelpaw's delicate face, the unthinking reactionary response of disappointment easily overwhelmed by the pleasant streak of relief at a familiar face; her father had hoped for the social cushion of a prestigious mentor, though she was mostly content at the prospect of actually recognizing her mentor. Though Crocusfrost's flossy-thin current of despairing dismay was evident enough to onlookers, a depth of turmoil that one as young as Kestrelpaw wouldn't fully understand, was a little wounding, the little molly was simply too well-mannered to take any visible semblance of slight or offense to the display of hesitation.

Especially not in the presence of those who bared witness to such a significant moment.

"Crocusfrost," Kestrelpaw mewed, delicate and the perpetual social debutante, "I look forward to training under you- I hope to make you proud." The contrasting height difference between the mollies was a little awkward and cumbersome, bent and bowed as her newly-denoted mentor made herself out to be, but Kestrelpaw did her best to ward away the embarrassing tremble that strained her limbs as she made to touch noses. Of course, the ceremonial gesture was completed with all the worldly grace and tact often associated with the carefully intended moves of the young she-cat.