Pipitkit's Apprentice Ceremony

She had spent all morning on her pelt. Had even gotten up before the sunrise, ensuring every inch of her was pristine and her pelt as white and fluffy as the snow. Larchpaw had moved to the apprentice's den already, and she'd found herself missing his greeting. Hearing the deputy call, she pranced out from the nursery and took her spot right where Sootstorm could see her. She sat up straight and proper, curling her tail around her paws.

Larchpaw watched carefully from the crowd, knowing that Pipitkit--Pipitpaw now--would box his ears if he dared to interrupt her mid-ceremony. But it wasn't as if he would miss the most important moment of her life so far! Especially since Elmbreeze and Rainberry couldn't be here. So he had to be. It wasn't necessarily that he wanted to--but he didn't not want to either. Finally, she got her name and mentor from Sootstorm. Galestorm? One of the younger warriors, then. Maybe he'd be more fun-loving than Nectarflower, but he certainly wouldn't be as experienced. Larchpaw had gotten dealt the better mentor. He smiled smugly to himself just for a moment, but returned to waiting on tenterhooks for his turn. The mentor and apprentice touched noses... backed away... there.

The flame-orange calico tabby snuck up behind Pipitpaw and lightly tapped her shoulder, before appearing with a grin at her other side. "Congratulations!" Larchpaw purred. "I bet I can catch my first rabbit before you do. Loser has to find extra moss for the other's nest." He couldn't make it too sincere, or Prissy-feathers would be suspicious.

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She had waited, the image of near-regal perfection, until her name had been called. At that moment, it was as if she could hear her mother's corrections in her ear.

Don't stand too hastily. Or too slowly. Take half a heart-beat, and nothing more.

How could one use a heartbeat as a measurement when their heart was racing? She'd learned what it meant in the normal sense of passage of time, but it almost tricked her. She almost, in fact, stood too hastily. But, there was nothing of that slip-up that hit her hazel eyes as she did stand, her paws gracefully carrying her forward. One in front of the other. Almost crossing, but not quite, as she slipped forward in a straight line. Never did her gaze falter from the deputy, the tom who would decide her fate.

Pipitpaw.

The name was now hers to command, to own, and to grow into. Slight expectance and kittish enthusiasm glimmered in the twitch of her whiskers as she awaited who would be appointed her mentor, and as soon as the warrior's name came from his maw, her chest rumbled with a thrilled purr. She knew that he didn't carry the same prestige as Sootstorm himself or Tigerstar did, but there would be no discrimination from the young molly as her mentor was declared. Any cat that had earned their name had certainly proven themselves enough, and so, she believed he would be a good fit. As his voice cut through the crowd, the snow-colored molly turned, finding exactly where he was. Pleasant surprise registered on her features as she regarded his appearance. A beautiful myriad of colors that swirled together in a pleasant array, with a gaze that seemed to resemble the setting of the sun in a regal, blazing manner. The only thing that disturbed the splotches of color was a singular strike across his nose, the pink flesh indicating where he had seen battle.

Yes, she would get along with him just fine. Manners, confidence, and even looks... her mother's mental checklist of what she found to be 'good company' had been satisfied.

She did not hesitate to touch her nose to that of her mentors, her eyes closing just long enough to show respect to the gesture. "Yes, Galestorm. I look forward to all that you have to teach me." She answered back, and affirmed his command with a stiff nod of her head. The very same one that she'd given her mother plenty of times when the molly had given her a correction, or a command of her own to behave. She wasn't going to step out of line as an apprentice. Not at all.

Just as she had made up her mind, though, the tom-fool came bounding over. A Mrrt~? of surprise as he suggested his appearance on one side, only to (at this point predictably) appear on the other followed her once more glaring, the golden flecks at the center of her gaze seeming to expand in a burst of annoyance. Still, there was joy that rippled enough in her chest that she didn't make show of it. "It's a challenge, then." With a twitch of amusement in her whiskers, she couldn't help her giggle. "I'm surprised Nectarflower already lets you outside of camp with all the trouble you cause, Larchpaw. But it's a bet. I look forward to getting a more comfortable nest~" Her words punctuated in a sing-song tone, and as she once more rose to her paws, the plumage of her thickly-feathered tail brushed right along the apprentice's body.

Her ears did not fail to catch Dandelionkit's congratulations, either. There was something that linked the two of them... something that, though Pipitpaw had now lost, she still heard in her mind. Blinking as the subconscious tether pulled her his way, a smile still pulled at her maw as she gave a dip of her head. "Thank you, Dandelionkit. When it is your turn, I'll make sure your nest can be by mine. We shall have the quiet corner." She promised, her eyes closing just enough to appear even friendlier and song-like.

Another day, another apprentice! Well, that had become her Cloudypetal's motto. These ceremonies felt daily - maybe one multiple times a day - but maybe that was how busy she was? I don't know. The days just mend together. She took her usual spot in the camp clearing, near her brother Galestorm and their mother. "Haven't seen you two in a while!" She joked, covering her paws with her fluffy tail. "Who knows.." She murmured, "There's so many kits - more than warriors, you'd think that we'd get one eventually, right?" Her tone reflected what she didn't openly communicate. She wanted to be a mentor, too. They've only been warriors for a few moons, right? Well.. Pantherpounce got one... Hmm. "We'll get our chance soon." She mumbled, mostly to herself.

Her ears perked as the ceremony continued, her breath hitching as soon as Galestorm was announced to be the mentor. Galestorm. Her eyes darted over to her brother, her mouth agape. His shocked expression was a reflection of her own. Oh my stars! Her eyes followed him as he weaved through the crowd to greet his apprentice. His! She immediately yowled, ensuring she was the loudest in the crowd. Pipitpaw! Pipitpaw! Pipitpaw! That's my brother's apprentice!

She nodded approvingly, but she couldn't help but feel a twinge of longing. She wanted an apprentice, too. She wanted to help a young cat guide their path to becoming a warrior - to share in the pride of mentorship. To be responsible. Her heart longed for what Galestorm was feeling right now.

As the ceremony concluded, she rose to her paws and raced towards her brother and his newly appointed apprentice, Pipitpaw. "Congratulations, Pipitpaw! You're going to do great. Learn well and train hard!" She smiled wide. "Galestorm will be an excellent mentor - he has plenty of energy left from our kit days and will keep you on your toes!"

She looked up at her brother, "I can't believe it!" She mewed. "If you need me, I'm here to join any patrols to help train!" She offered, her smile remaining - though a flicker of jealousy lingered in her eyes. Her heart was beating so fast. It happened. It'll be her turn soon, right?