Stoatpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Stoatpaw's ceremony... Sootstorm had tried to delay it countless times, but now came the day that he would accept that he could no longer offer his apprentice anything as a mentor. His son simply was not ready to learn, and only spiteful feelings would arise from holding him back. Stoatpaw himself didn't know of this matter; it was discussed only between Sootstorm and Tigerstar. In an attempt to comfort himself, the deputy reminded himself that other warriors, who were just as ambitious and close-minded, or perhaps even more so, had earned their warrior names before they matured. And most of them-- well, the ones who made it that long-- seemed to grow as time went on. There must still be hope left for Stoatpaw... the deputy sighed softly. Had he been stronger, smarter, more able-bodied, would things have turned out differently? If Daisyfang was still here... no, there was no use thinking about all the "what-if"s. They would simply have to go on with life.

The deputy sat near the front, smiling in encouragement despite the nervousness that made his stomach turn. All his previous apprentices had been fine. At least, those that made it to warriorhood. Necterflower and Molehill both turned out to be amazing warriors. Finchspeckle had been fine... Finchspeckle had been smart, too, and though she was arrogant she never had the trouble of biting off more than she could chew. She knew what was right and what was wrong, while Stoatpaw... Sootstorm shook his head to clear his thoughts.

Stoatsnap. The name tasted sour on his tongue, though he wished it hadn't. It was meant to be a joyous event, and yet he couldn't shake the knowledge that this tom-- his son-- had wanted to press ShadowClan's border, even after the incident with his very own sister. Perhaps it was simply a phase, a sentence wrongly worded by a cat who had every good intention for his Clan. Sootstorm took a deep breath and approached his son, feeling the tom's disapproval and irritation from where he was. They were father and son, they were meant to be close. "Congrats," He forced a purr, an easy smile on his face despite his inner turmoil. There was still chance for Stoatsnap to prove himself. Maybe, without the need to earn his warrior name, he'd learn to be not so full of himself... was that what this was? Sootstorm no longer felt like he knew his son.