Ravenpaw's Warrior Ceremony

The world kept turning and stopped for nobody. Directly after the meeting about the war, after a few minutes of break to catch her breath, Perchstar re-ascended the Willow Branch. Life wouldn't slow down. But she had to continue to shove it down--the grief, the rage, the exhaustion--for a bit longer. For a celebration. They had won, after all... so what better way to boost morale than with a warrior ceremony? "Let all cats old enough to catch their own fish gather for a Clan meeting," she called again, keeping any hoarseness or tired sorrow from her voice. Later she could curl up and cry. Later. For now--and as always--her Clan was more important.

Ravenpaw had noticed things were... off the last little while. He wasn't going to say anything but he knew there was more going on with some cats than they were letting on. He wasn't going to pry, they would find their answers in their own time but it was still strange. The black tom walked over to where Perchstar sat, joining the coming meeting. He didn't know what this own was about but he hoped it would be good news.

Owlcall perked up at Perchstar call. The large brown tom made his way over to the meeting spot, and waited for what would come next.

Perchstar's eyes caught hold of the apprentice when he joined the gathering crowd. Hopefully happy news would help them all. So many apprentices who had completed their requirements while gone at the lake, and who now deserved ceremonies when safe back at home. Safe... The thought felt strange. It felt strange to think about safety with a corpse still haunting the afterimages of her eyes. But the leader began the ceremony anyway. "We gather today to celebrate the advancement of an apprentice into a warrior. Ravenpaw, please step forward." Once he did so, she continued. “I, Perchstar, leader of RiverClan, call upon my Clanmates to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of the warrior code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn." Quietly, she realized that she could no longer offer StarClan the credit in these ceremonies. "Ravenpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?” As she asked the question, she fixed her ice-blue eyes on him, studying him carefully. This was a question that always mattered. The answer had to mean something. Not that she doubted him--his brother and sister had been phenomenal warriors so far. But, of any RiverClan cat, she had to ask it, and he was every inch a RiverClan cat. Would he pledge loyalty? Even if she were to lead them into battle this very moment? Even if, bloodied and beaten, she called for war a second time?


Dovetail still couldn't help but worry about vengeance, about battle, about the bleeding cats being treated in the medicine den. About Murkyriver's newfound attachment to the leader's side. But when he heard his brother's name spoken from atop the Willow Branch, he made his way to the center of camp as quickly as he could. Another of his siblings to join him in the warriors' den! All other feelings, besides celebration and joy, could wait. His eyes lit up as he awaited Ravenpaw's answer.

At the mention of his name Ravenpaw perked up. Him? Now? Was he ready? Of course he was ready, Perchstar wouldn't call up on him if he wasn't! ... right? The black tom stepped forward, a slight smile upon his maw. Then came the question. He had always heard it in other ceremonies but this time it was different. It was for him. Something he had to swear on. It didn't matter if he was Thunderclan like Starlingflare said. His family was here, his father wanted him here. He was Riverclan through and through. Sure he didn't agree with the code fully but Riverclan is who he would die for. Who he would kill for if need be.

Fire burned in the toms yellow eyes. "I do." He answered firmly. He was sure of his choice, sure of his clan, regardless of what might happen.

That was that, then. And in the moment of ceremony, the one that she was so used to, Perchstar momentarily felt assurance before it fell into the pit with all of her other emotions. But she gave a nod of respect to the tom. “Then I give you your warrior name. Ravenpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Ravenfall. Your Clanmates honor your creativity and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of RiverClan.” She leapt down to end the ceremony, resting her muzzle briefly on top of the newly-named warrior's head. It reminded her dizzily of the moment she'd shared just earlier that day with a bloodied Poppyshine and Cindersky and Littlesplash, so she stepped back and managed somehow to keep a neutral face. She offered a slow blink in congratulations, though, before backing away so that his family and friends could congratulate him.


Dovetail grinned widely at the name, not even noticing the quiet tweaks and changes that had been made to the ceremonial words Perchstar spoke since his turn. "Ravenfall! Ravenfall! Ravenfall!" he cheered loudly, making sure his voice was one of the first heard. Then once the leader stepped back he rushed forward, bumping his shoulder into his brother's dark, glossy fur. "Congratulations! You've earned it. Need any help moving that rock collection of yours to the warrior den?" he asked, a teasing lilt to his voice. This was just what he'd needed to avoid the gross thoughts of war and danger. Celebration--and a reminder that his siblings were safe, here, with him. All would be fine.

Not long after one meeting came another, and Swandive found a place in the crowd next to Dovetail, paws kneading the soft ground in a mix of worry and anticipation. The patrol that had left camp earlier had come back stained with blood and injuries, among them Poppyshine, her former mentor. Swandive was simply glad that none of her family had been on that patrol, but the deputy was someone she looked up to and respected. Seeing her so badly wounded was... It had shaken Swandive.

Ravenpaw's name being called was unexpected, and immediately Swandive found herself grinning despite the glum circumstances that had transpired. Her brother's warrior ceremony, at last!

"Ravenfall! Ravenfall!" Swandive was quick to join Dovetail in congratulating him, excitedly bounding over to her darker-furred littermate as the ceremony was concluded. "About time, huh? Congratulations, brother." She grinned, "Come on, we'll have you a nest set up in no time!"