The future's in your paws. Shape it well.Roleplay in a cat Clan of warriors. Based off the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. Takes place in an AU before the cats in the books existed.
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Activity checks take place on the 1st of the month. PM a staff member with the completed form if you missed it.
Newleaf is finally here, and the Clans hope to find reprieve from the tough Leaf-bare.
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Please feel free to hit up any staff member if you have any questions!
"All cats old enough to silently stalk in the shadows, please gather in the shadow of the Jaggedrock for a Clan meeting!"
From atop the Jaggedrock came the leader's call, looking through the gathering cats to ensure that the one she was focused on was present. She was always glad to name a new warrior, to see another cat survive the hardships of kithood and apprenticeship, but she also felt somewhat nervous about this particular ceremony.
She had noticed that Nettlepaw didn't tend to skip or avoid meetings, though, so hopefully that at least wasn't a concern. Whether the ceremony would go as planned...
Well, that was always a concern, on some level. Still, he'd done well enough with his training that he was, at least in theory, ready to become a warrior.
the gods can judge me when i'm dead||code (c) kieer
Feeling distant from his clan, Nettlepaw took his place on the outskirts of the gathered cats. He had excellent hearing, whatever lame announcement Leopardstar made he would hear from up the back. Well, the last announcement she made hadn't been too bad he supposed, she'd named Orchidpaw Orchidspark! He was happy for his friend, but he already missed her presence in the apprentice den. Their nests were so close, he missed the warmth she emitted and waking up to see the sunset together. His warrior ceremony wouldn't be for a long time, possibly never with how Leopardstar thought of him, but he could hope to join their ranks.
Leopardstar surveyed the crowd, quickly finding the cat she was looking for at the far back of the assembled ShadowClan cats. It wasn't hard to guess that he was displeased, likely with her, but as far as she was concerned that was his own fault.
It also wasn't particularly relevant, unless he intended to refuse his name solely because the was the one offering it--a possibility she couldn't completely rule out, but hoped she wouldn't have to contend with.
"We are gathered here today to witness the naming of a new warrior. Nettlepaw, please step forward."
She waited for him to do so, allowing time for him to move from the back of the crowd to the front.
"I call upon the warriors of ShadowClan to gaze upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of our honorable code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in turn."
The leader met his gaze and held it, searching for something other than his obvious dislike for her. Something that might offer insight into what sort of warrior he would actually be.
"Nettlepaw, do you swear to uphold the warrior code? To protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
the gods can judge me when i'm dead||code (c) kieer
There was a yawn fighting to escape when Leopardstar announced another ceremony, it wouldn’t be his, and so he might as well leave. Nettlepaw rose to leave just as his name was called, the tom quickly swallowed the yawn, eyes snapping to Leopardstar. Her eyes were locked on him unflinching, a coward would have flinched, but not him. He was getting use to these sorts of looks from every cat, and so he only rose his head higher, nose to the stars, as he meandered through the crowd to the base of the Jagged Rock. The two never broke eye contact, and if this was some test of wills, the spotted leader would find his unbroken. Nettlepaw was miserable in his punishment, but he hadn’t been broken by the attempts made by Lilypaw and the ShadowClan leaders to dull his spirit.
Firefly had told him to take the high ground to be the better cat, but he wanted to do what was right by himself. Why should he keel over so that he could be trampled into the mud? Becoming a warrior though… Accepting this oath, despite how he only applied the code when he felt like it, maybe it’d be his own way to stick it to Leopardstar. He’d prove them all wrong, that he could follow the code his way and still be a good warrior. This… Him… ShadowClan needed Nettlepaw, and they just didn’t realise it yet. A fury burned in his eyes, at the thought of fighting all the wrongs that had been done to him and his friends. “Yes.” It rolled off his tongue with the conviction of a true warrior.
It was hard to look past the attitude, but Leopardstar could see a respectable determination in his gaze as he spoke; something clearly reflected in his voice.
"Then it is my honor to name you as a warrior before all of ShadowClan."
She nodded once.
"From this day forward, you will be known as Nettleweaver. ShadowClan honors your unwavering determination, and we are proud to welcome you as a warrior in your own right."
She leapt down, touching her nose to his shoulder, and drew back swiftly; seeing no reason to continue invading the space of a cat who had already made his opinion of her as clear as the night sky.
"Congratulations. Go celebrate with your Clanmates, and get settled in the warriors' den before your vigil."
the gods can judge me when i'm dead||code (c) kieer
Nettleweaver… He wasn’t sure how he felt about the name, was she calling him a liar? His eyes narrowed as they leapt down. It was impossible to miss the infuriation on Leopardstar’s part, and how petty she was. For starters she didn’t even touch her nose to his forehead, then she withdrew much too quickly and her words were clipped and short. She clearly hadn’t expected Nettleweaver to play along and then beat her at this game. A smug smile graced his features, before he turned to join his friends.
From the front of the crowd came Silverhawk's form, making his way easily through the crowd. This ceremony, for some reason, caught his attention. He wasn't expecting the white-furred apprentice to advance so soon. Whatever accord they held-- friendship, if Nettleweaver wanted to call it that --was far more valuable to him with a warrior's name attached. Silverhawk approached the new warrior and offered a respectful dip of his head. "Congratulations, Nettleweaver," he said. "Enjoy your vigil later. Squinting in the sun all day isn't any fun." Silverhawk laughed before starting to step away. "Well, I won't keep you from the others. I'll see you at sunset, friend."
"Nettleweaver." Batpaw spoke his friend's name slowly. It felt foreign on his tongue, not right. He respected the fact that Nettlepaw had gained his warrior name, but Nettleweaver felt... Targeted. What did he weave? Nests? No, Batpaw had taken up that duty. Stories? Lies? Nettleweaver had only ever spoken the truth to him as far as he was concerned.
Parting his maw with an audible click as his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth dryly, Batpaw approached the new warrior. "Congratulations." He meowed curtly, stretching his neck to bump his companion affectionately with his nose. As he withdrew, he whispered, "Leopardstar may not respect you, but I do. It is her loss if she does not see who you are."
Hedgepaw beamed when she heard the ceremony. She'd caught the vague confusion and worry in her friend's eyes--the worry over whether he'd actually get his name. Thankfully, though, whatever animosity Leopardstar had borne for him had been put aside, and there was another ceremony to celebrate. "Nettleweaver! Nettleweaver!" she cheered, her small voice doing its best to rise above the crowds. She was glad for him. He'd worked hard! Quietly, some part of herself wondered why he and Orchid had gotten their names so recently--when they were both younger than her, and she and Wolf and Fern hadn't been given their ceremonies yet. But she pushed the thought away when she saw Nettleweaver's smile.
To her surprise, alongside many of the congratulatory apprentices was Silverhawk. Hedgepaw blinked a little bit at his presence, but then couldn't help grinning. Her conversation with Nettleweaver must have paid off, then, if the two of them had become friends! Of course her older brother was the best. The small she-cat made her way through the crowd, bumping affectionately against Silverhawk's side once in her way to the center. "Congratulations, Nettleweaver!" she purred, meeting his mismatched gaze with deep green eyes. "You deserve it."
