Sunpaw's Warrior Ceremony

"Let all cats safe from the bramble's thorn gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!"

It took some effort to make her voice energetic as Acornstar called out to the Clan, fighting the urge to be devastated by what had plagued her Clan of late. Cats were dying, others going missing... It felt like her Clan was withering and she wasn't sure how to stop it - how to help them. But that made moments like this all the more special - the Clan needed whatever opportunity they can to celebrate. To turn their gaze away from the sadness and find the hope for the future - to know that the Clan would survive.

Padding sullenly out of the apprentice's den, Sunpaw took a moment to stretch lazily before making his way toward the Highrock. Another meeting... probably apprentice ceremonies for the latest litter of kits, or updates about the host of missing cats. Sunpaw felt a prickle of distress at the thought of his mentor, Lichenwing, but forced his emotions down– he had been a strong warrior, and at least they knew his fate. The golden apprentice sat down with a long-suffering sigh. Now that his mentor was gone, he was certain his apprenticehood would stretch on forever. What was the point anymore? The only thing that spurred him to stay focused was his disturbing encounter with the ancient Thunderclanner at the Moonstone. He would do anything if it meant avoiding the fading she-cat's rapidly approaching fate. Besides, plenty of legendary warriors had longer-than-average apprenticehoods, right?
The young tom folded his paws neatly, gazing blankly at a spot somewhere beyond Acornstar's shoulder and stilling his thoughts. He would tune out whatever this meeting was about and get back to his nest in no time, where he could sleep through the next few days while the rest of the clan figured out what to do with him.

Acornstar's ears flickered at the sight of Sunpaw - a pang of sympathy at the boredom that crossed his face. She wasn't all that unfamiliar with it, losing a mentor and not having faith that your warriorship would happen. Granted her mentor, Sunstrike, had been lost so early into her apprenticeship and her training had suffered from the get-go. But still...She knew the feeling - but his training had been complete. She just wished... She just wished this had happened sooner before Lichenwing had...

"I've called you all here because.... Because despite everything, we survive," she started, chasing away the sad thoughts as she addressed the Clan. "The last moon has proven to perhaps be one of the hardest yet with multiple warriors lost to us and others simply having disappeared... But as long as a single cat remains - we can always regrow. Thrive. ThunderClan will recover - and the first step to that, is to gain a new warrior. Sunpaw, please step forward," she meowed, turning her attention back onto him with a sympathetic smile. Giving him time to come to terms with what was happening and take his step forward, she spoke again.

"Sunpaw, your apprenticeship has not been an easy one. You were among those who fell ill during the tail-end of our stay at the lake and as of late... Well, Lichenwing shall be missed. But your training was complete - and so, I ask you - Sunpaw,  do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

An expression of clear shock crossed Sunpaw's face at Acornstar's words. His heartbeat skipped once, twice, then began to beat so loudly that it drowned out the noises of the crowd and the forest around him. His mind was suddenly blank.
After a beat Sunpaw shut his gaping mouth, swallowed, stood and stepped mechanically. There wasn't enough time in the world for him to process this fully.
He stared up at Acornstar, shifting his weight from one paw to the other absentmindedly. All his preparation– moons of exhausting, thankless work –came down to this moment. Just like that, greatness had suddenly become that much more attainable.
"I do." He mewed loudly, looking up at Acornstar at last. He'd hated having one cat so fully in control of his destiny– his delayed warriorhood had, at times, felt like a death sentence, especially since his meeting with Turtlepelt had made it clear that true death was possible even from Starclan. At last, he would be free to make a name for himself, by himself: the greatest warrior. Living forever.

Acornstar smiled as Sunpaw got to his paws, speaking the two words that would allow her to finish this ceremony and finally give him what he truly deserved - the freedom of being a warrior. "Then by the powers bestowed upon me, I give you your warrior name. Sunpaw - despite every setback that had thrown itself at your paws, you have proven resilient; quick to recover and work twice as hard to prove yourself. Even with the loss of Lichenwing weighing on us, I know you will strive to do your best and so, as a testament for your strength to keep moving forward... From this moment on, you will be known as Sunleap - so you can always know how far you have come and continue pushing forward no matter what the forest throws in your way." With that, she fell silent so that the Clan could celebrate the name - leaping down to greet the warrior as she pressed her forehead against his chest with a purr. "Congratulation, Sunleap - I am sure Lichenwing is proud as he watches us from above. I know you will prove to be everything he expected of you and more."