Willowkit's Apprentice Ceremony

A sigh escaped the tom as he lingered at the bottom of the Jaggedrock. Two of his kits had gone missing while living in the nursery. Willowkit didn't seem ready to become an apprentice, but if he stayed in the nursery much longer he might share the fate of his sisters. Reluctantly, Sablestrike climbed to the top and called out to his clan. "All cats old enough to silently stalk in the shadows, please gather in the shadow of the Jaggedrock for a Clan meeting!"

Sablestrike waited for his clanmates to gather. Willowkit quickly found a spot under the Jaggedrock, looking just as giddy as he did anytime Sablestrike called for the clan to gather. "Please step forward, Willowkit. You have reached the age of six moons and are ready to become an apprentice. From this day on until you earn you warrior name you will be known as Willowpaw, and your mentor will be Lilyvalley." He had nothing to add to that. Lilyvalley wasn't the kind of warrior he wanted to teach Willowpaw, but she was at the very least trustworthy... Trustworthy enough... Why was he already regretting his decision?

_____

All of his siblings had earned their names before him, but now it was finally his turn at being an apprentice! The ceremony was quick, but it had seemed to drag on until his mentor had been named. Willowkit turned to scan the crowd for his Aunt. "Aunty-" He was an apprentice! No more Aunty, no more papas or mamas, that was childish! "Lilyvalley!" The newly named apprentice rushed to the battered molly offering his nose for her to touch. "When do we get to train? Can we go now?"

Lilyvalley knew she probably wasn't Sablestrike's first choice to be a mentor. And a part of her was scared to be one. A lot of cats around her had passed away. Her own apprentice, Ashenpaw, had been gone before the earthquake had even struck.

And now Willowpaw was being put under her care. Sweet little Willowpaw, who looked up to her with those wide eyes, just as he was right now.

She bent her head to touch her nose to her new apprentice. "Why don't you go get settled in your new den before we go out to train, alright? Go and meet some of the other apprentices. I promise, we have all the time in the world."