Auburnpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Once, Acornstem would have been excited for another chance to do warrior ceremonies... Now, they were just a harsh reminder of the burden she held. She stared up at the rock, before she heaved out a sigh and leapt onto it. There was so many reasons to be excited, she should have been excited - Auburnpaw, a rogue who was apparently the son of two long-missing ThunderClan cats (not that she knew who they were, but Mottlestar had known them and seemed to believe Auburnpaw's story as he was the splitting image of Stoatstar apparently.) Perhaps she ought to have a conversation with him, learn what she could of his history now that she was in charge but... That required far more energy then she could offer. Mottlestar had accepted Auburnpaw into the Clan, now it was her job to name him a warrior.

"Let those safe from the bramble's thorn gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting."

Seeing Acornstem stand in Mottlestar's spot on the Highrock was still disconcerting. It had nothing to do with his feelings on the former deputy, but rather that he'd grown used to her leadership in the short time he'd been with Thunderclan. The waves of her loss were still felt around camp. Firefly as well, and Vipershade less so. However, the brown and white pelted tom would often peer into the shadows at the edge of camp, still expecting the rugged but slender frame to appear.

He caught himself checking again and tore his eyes away from the edges of the clearing, settling down to focus on Acornstem, whatever it was she had to share with the clan.

"I've called you all here..." Acornstem nervously started to speak as she spotted Auburnpaw take his spot, her words careful and slow as she struggled to think of what to say. Finally her shoulders simply drooped in a silent sigh as nothing came to her. Normally she would find some words to note the upcoming ceremony as a celebration, to reflect on recent events and why a ceremony would bring joy but she... She couldn't - she couldn't think of any words as she simply grimaced before she shoved her disappointment in herself deep down and continued. "To...To celebrate an apprentice gaining his name. Auburnpaw, please step forward," she meowed as she turned to look at him.

"I, Acornstem...L-Leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. While he was not born among us, he shares our blood and found his way to us as he felt it was his place despite his parents having long left us. In return to allowing him to join us, he trained hard to learn our ways and to understand our code. He has done so well and now has earned a true place among us. Auburnpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Auburnpaw's eyes narrowed and his head tipped slightly to the side. This was not the way to address the clan. It hardly sounded like a celebration as the defeated words fell from her tongue. A mild disappointment settled in the tom's chest as he realized this call was meant for him. Standing with a flick of his ear, he walked to the center of the clearing to stand beneath the new leader. Bright blue eyes burned into the molly as he attentively took in her words.

As the ceremony continued, the words were there, but they lacked heart. After moons of dreaming of this moment, Auburnpaw wanted to flatten his ears. At the very least, Acornstem's speech was tailored to him. Regardless, he wasn't going to let any cat ruin this moment. He would be a better warrior than either of his parents, "I do." Auburnpaw meowed simply, matching her tone with an unwavering stare.

Acornstem was more aware, perhaps she would have caught Auburnpaw's disappointment. Even without knowing it, she herself felt the same disappointment but the words she spoke felt bitter enough on her tongue - she couldn't offer up fake enthusiasm when she just didn't have it. The leader was truly a shell of her former self, but still she was trying - for whatever little it was worth.

She gave Auburnpaw a nod as he spoke the two needed words, recalling what was needed to finish the ceremony off. "Then by the power granted to me, I give you your warrior name. From this moment on, for your determination and strength, you will be known as Auburnflare. We welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan," she spoke before she slowly pushed herself to her paws. There was a slightly quiver in her stance, blinking as a wave of tiredness swept over her but she shook it off as she leapt from the rock before she paused. Staring up at Auburnflare, she considered her choices on how to welcome him as a warrior before she chose to simply headbutt his chest.

It was light - barely noticeable as she didn't have the energy to make it anything special. There she stood for a few heartbeats, making her tiredness all the more apparent before she stepped away and gave him a soft, worn smile. "You've done us proud, Auburnflare. I wish...I wish this could have been more special," she admitted, her expression dropping as she turned her gaze to the ground. "I...Apologize for that."

"Auburnflare! Auburnflare! Auburnflare!"

He had grown so much between when they first arrived and now. Though, in Sleepycloud's mind. The tom was still that tiny apprentice-aged cat she and Stormsong had to protect against multiple predators in one day. Now, she was certain Auburnflare could handle his own. For that, she was proud. They managed to survive despite all the odds. The queen held her head high and nudged the newest warrior. "We will set up a nest in the warrior's den for you after your vigil." Sleepycloud purred. "You deserve your place in the clan." It was something she told herself every day. But for Auburnflare, she was confident that he did.

As Acornstem continued the ceremony with all that she could muster, Auburnpaw didn't look away, pushing her to carry on. And then it came, the declaration of his name. The tom stood taller than before with a fiery glint behind his gaze, one that matched the name he had been bestowed with. Auburnflare. He was a true warrior of Thunderclan now, fulfilling the impossible feat he'd dreamed of since early kithood. Casting his gaze across the camp, Auburnflare took in the familiar faces that he had come to know as clanmates. Part of him wished that his parents were there to see this, if not to just rub it in their maws that he had actually done it. However, deeper down, he longed for their pride and praise.

Instead, he received the leader's headbutt against his chest, something that caused him to blink in surprise. A far away measure of sympathy and gratitude bubbled up at the action. Then, came her words. Unsure quite how to respond, the tom's tail flickered as he looked down at her, "Doesn't matter, Acornstem. I'm a warrior now." Before he could contemplate anything else to say, a familiar grey pelt approached with a joyful cheer.

Sleepycloud. It wasn't often that he purred but the soft rumble came at her approach, "Thank you, Sleepycloud. Pick out the best moss for me, alright? Maybe now I can fight my own badgers." The words were light, almost teasing in nature, and full of the familiarity between them. He'd admired the queen since before Thunderclan returned and owed her, as well as Stormsong and Vinecrawler, for helping him learn the skills he had been lacking in.