Minkpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Tigerstar had found himself on top of the Tall Rock once again. Lately it seemed more and more apprentices had found themselves ready for their warrior ceremonies, and the leader couldn't be happier. Their clan was growing. It was bigger than he had seen it in moons, and it was thanks to everyone's hard work. He was also happy that finally his daughter, his only daughter had finally become ready for her ceremony, so he called out to his clan. "Let all cats old enough to run the moor gather here for a clan meeting!"

Ever since her battle assessment, Minkpaw had been waiting. Each time her father scaled the Tall Rock, she would sit with the crowd, wondering if it would be her warrior ceremony... so far, it hadn't been, but Minkpaw knew that Tigerstar would give her her warrior name the moment he thought she was ready, and not a moment before... so, patiently, she waited. Today was another opportunity, and when the leader's voice called out to them all, Minkpaw stretched and padded towards the gathering clan, sitting neatly in the middle. She twisted to groom an errant lock of fur on her shoulder.

Rapidpaw went over close to her fellow apprentice. The kind happy hearted apprentice took careful not of her fellow apprentice tugging on a knot of tangled pelt fur on her shoulder.

That looked... hard to reach. "Let me help?" she offered quietly and waited a little to not startle her denmate before slowly and gingerly helping to groom out the knot. She purred inspecting it with a nod, "much better... cant have knots on your big day right?" she purred happily, she could not wait to see what her friend would get for a warrior name

It took a moment but Tigerstar spotted his daughter among the growing crowd. He shot her a quick smile before he started to speak. "Today we are gathered to name another warrior. We are blessed to name so many warriors this moon, and I am thankful for each and every one of them. This cat has trained very hard, and for a while so it's with great pleasure I call this cat forward." Green eyes fell to his daughter. "Minkpaw please come forward."

The leader waited a moment, letting his daughter weave through the crowd and make her way to the front, then he continued. "I, Tigerstar, leader of Windclan call upon our warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand your ways and your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in turn. Minkpaw, do you promise to uphold the code, defend and honor Windclan even at the cost of your life?"

As Rapidpaw joined her, Minkpaw looked over with a smile, accepting the help gratefully and flicking her tail over against the other apprentice's thigh. Her eyes widened slightly when her clanmate mentioned her big day. What did she mean? How could she know for sure? Or was Rapidpaw just guessing? Tigerstar's voice prevented any further thought on the matter, and she turned back towards him.

It was her warrior ceremony. Minkpaw stood when she was summoned, padding over to stand in front of her father. She soaked in his words, and when it came time for her to speak, the red tabby did so without hesitation. "I do."

The leader had thought long and hard about what his daughter's warrior name would be. She was very different from him when he had become a warrior so his own former name wouldn't fit. Something more serious, constant, dedicated... Something always there. He had the perfect idea, he just hoped she liked it as well. "Then by the powers of Starclan, I grant you your warrior name. Minkpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Minkshadow. Windclan honors your composed and dedicated nature."

The leader eagerly jumped down, getting to his daughter in no time at all. He rest his head upon hers, giving her his own words of congratulations. "Thank you for your dedication, and always being here." He told her quietly, giving her a single lick on the top of the head before stepping back to allow others to celebrate the new warrior.