A Joyous Occasion [Heathkit's ceremony]

[Yellowstar]

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!"

Fernstar's voice yowled out the ceremonial words throughout camp, alerting cats who were eating or resting outside and rousing all those that were sleeping in their dens. The familiar words carried on the frosty air, held in place by the cold and making sure all heard them. The leader stood atop the large boulder, waiting in her usual place as the cats of her Clan stopped what they were doing and came to listen. It was around sunhigh- still chilly though that was to be expected- a common time for Fernstar to call meetings. It wasn't sundown, however, that meant no warrior ceremonies; no, she had something else planned. Her eyes scanned over the cats in the clearing, searching for a few familiar pelts.

She had woken up early this morning and decided that today would be the day. She had waited a bit too long so far and would have to do this sooner or later, so today would be just as good as any. She was sure the lucky tom had known this day was coming but hadn't known exactly when. Hopefully he would be in for a pleasant surprise. She searched for the warrior as well, the one who after careful consideration she had deemed fit for this responsibility. As the cats gathered she flicked her tail from side to side and shook, trying to warm herself, then sat down and waited for the rest.

When at last it looked like most of the Clan was assembled she started to address them. "Today we are all gathered for a joyous occasion. In all my seasons of leading this Clan, nothing brings me more happiness than seeing those of my Clan rise in the ranks, growing older and learning every day. Each and every one of you are aware of our traditions, and it is my pleasure to announce that it is high time for another of our Clan to take a step forward in his journey. Heathkit has reached his sixth moon and is of age to become an apprentice. Please step forward, Heathkit." She announced, voice proud and strong. She smiled down at the kit as she waited for him to step up to receive his name.

[/justify]

[Heathclaw]

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!"

Really? Was that right? Was it true? Could this really be the day? But then... that meant... "YIPPEE!" cried Heathkit, bounding out of the nursery and zipping straight up to the Tallrock dashing underneath a couple of warriors and skirting the fresh-kill pile to get there. It was his apprentice ceremony today. It had to be. It just had to be. I'm going to be an apprentice!!!

"Heathkit! Where do you think you're going?" came a voice from behind him. His mother, Breezeflower, had followed him out of the den, and was bearing down on him.

"I'm going to be an apprentice, Mom! This is my ceremony!" said Heathkit excitedly.

"Now calm down, dear. It might not be time yet. Besides, no son of mine is being made into an apprentice while he's still got moss balls stuck to his fur," she said, swatting them off of him with her paw, and starting to groom his fur so that he looked presentable.

"Aw, Mom..." said Heathkit, trying unsuccesfully to duck out from under her tongue. Of course today was his ceremony. It had to be.

*******

So... today is the day, then, thought Redfang, kneading his paws against the Tallrock as he looked across the assembly of gathering cats. Today Heathkit became an apprentice. Today, Redfang could begin making up for everything he'd done to Rustlepelt, Heathkit's father.

He glanced over at Fernstar beside him, trying to get a tell on who she'd picked to be his mentor. There were issues with both of his choices, yes, but it was the not knowing that was driving him mad, making his fur seethe with anxiety, despite his efforts to appear calm and collected.

He scanned the crowd again, looking from cat to cat, and he came eye to eye with her. He glanced away as quickly as possible, but the message she'd sent him with that split second look was clear: "Don't you dare try to mess this one up, Redfang."

I won't, Redfang replied silently, settling his gaze at last on Heathkit, standing right in front of the Tallrock and getting a last minute grooming from his mother. Fernstar had begun speaking, and all of the cats looked to her.

"Heathkit has reached his sixth moon and is of age to become an apprentice. Please step forward, Heathkit," she finished.

"YIPPEE!" shouted the apprentice-to-be, bounding out of his mother's paws and standing alone in the center of the camp, trembling with excitement.

Despite himself, Redfang found his whiskers twitching. Somehow, he had the feeling that Heathkit might just turn out alright.

[/blockquote]

[mystic]

Lizardheart
^{If you are afraid to die, you have already died}

Lizardheart had been laying in the cold leaf bare sun dozing when the leader's voice cut though her daydreams. She opened one eye, then the other. Then she stood and flicked her long tail, yawning. Carefully she stretched and dug her claws into the frozen earth. Then she stood and padded over to the where the other clan cats were gathered.

She wrapped her tail around her paws and looked up at the leader. It wasn't sundown, so she knew that no warriors were being made. Anyway, she didn't know of anycat who was ready to be a warrior. Nor did she know of any cat retiring. No cat was old enough to. There were no name changes, unless someone had lost an eye or been blinded by a fox or something. So that left one thing. A kit was being made an apprentice. There was one kit who was ready, maybe even beyond ready. Heathkit.

Lizardheart hoped to train Heathkit. She really thought she could do good things with the young warrior. Sure he was a little bit of a crazy boy. But she was sure she could mould him into an honourable warrior. And she had made a request of Fernstar. The cat rotated her ears and tilted her head, wondering if the leader would listen to her request. Her eyes drifted to the little tom, he was sure a cutie. She gave a little smile as his mother groomed him. It had been moons ago when she had been in his spot. Her own mother grooming her, preparing her to walk up to the leader and be given her mentor. Those had been some wild days but she had loved them.

She turned back to Fernstar and waited for her to speak. Please, dear starclan She mewed in her heart. If it is your will and I can bring the clan honour, let me mentor this kit.

Leopardkit
^{Life is not living, but being in health}

Leopardkit had been sleeping next to her mentor when she heard one of her denmates scream. She leapt to her feet, looking around. Then she saw it was Heathkit. She flattened her ears against her head and huffed. Why did he have to wake her? She stood up and poked her head out of the Nursery.

"Whoa kid, stay put." mewed her mother, pulling her back in.

"Hey HEATHKIT!" she yowled. "Good luck! I'll see you in a moon I guess!"

[[S]ydney]

The sun shone down on the cats below, marking a great day for a ceremony. Though she was only four moons old, Briarkit had seen her fair share of apprentice ceremonies already. Well, only one but, still. Tawnypaw's ceremony did count, right? She was pretty sure it did- Anyway, Briarkit knew what an apprentice ceremony was but, it was still exciting to the little kit. Not to mention it was her friend becoming an apprentice today! Heathkit was always nice, she was happy for him. Yep, happy.

Peering out of the nursery, the little brown kit gave a delighted squeal and pranced out of the nursery. ”Yay Heathkit!~” Smiling, Briarkit glanced sideways back at Leopardkit and then back at the cats gathered. She could go watch, couldn't she? Fernstar had said all cats old enough to catch their own prey... Well, Briarkit was sure if she tried hard enough she could catch a mouse or two! Nodding to her own logic, the little kit giggled and trotted up to the gathered cats. She nosed her way into the crowed and smile to herself, tilting her head to watch curiously.

She wondered if they did ceremonies like this in the other clans.

Of course they did, right?

It'd be weird if they didn't!

[night]

A black and white shape stirred in its nest. Muscles rippled as the tom stretched, his jaws parted in a yawn. His eyes blinked sleepily, as his ears registered the sounds of the camp stirring. A summons.

Smudgeclaw forced himself to rouse, and he stood and stretched again, more luxuriously this time. Time for Heathkit's apprentice ceremony today, he supposed. As he exited the warriors' den, the excited "Yippee!" of Heathkit confirmed his assumption. Smudgeclaw couldn't help but smile a bit at the apprentice's obvious enthusiasm. Smudgeclaw headed over towards the nursery, just long enough to nod towards the excited kit. "Congrats, Heathkit," he meowed. "See you after the ceremony."

With that, he headed off to the gathering crowd, and sat down just on the outskirts, his tail twitching slightly as he waited for the ceremony to begin.

[Amber]

Everything was so simple in the nursery for a kit. They never had to worry about anything, surely not cats of the opposite gender, or who they would mate with in the future. Nothing was planned out until moons in the future. They had time to just be a kit. And Beechkit had done exactly that for four long moons. She had been the good little kit, and not gotten into too much trouble. She had been sweet, kind, and very social with others. Beechkit never had the problem of being shy, no, this little gray kit was always eager to talk with others. She would carry on a conversation with anyone who would talk with her.

And then, she had snapped. Something had gone wrong in her mind, and that sweet little kit disappeared. She no longer would sleep right up against her mother, instead she would wait until everyone was asleep and sneak out to catch a peek at the camp. The kit would go wherever she was called, wherever she could find a tom. At first she would just blink and watch them curiously. But now...now she would stalk them, following them wherever, not only with her eyes, but her paws led her to them. Her nose could sniff out a tom better than she probably would ever be able to scent prey.

As the ceremony was coming around, and Beechkit realized her denmate would be made an apprentice, the kit bounded out of the nursery to watch her TOM denmate. She didn't care if she was suppose to be out here or not. The clearing was crawling with toms, she HAD to be here to witness this wonderful show. Beechkit noticed her sister had come out aswell, and the gray kit acknowledged Briarkit as she made her way to prowl for toms.

It took no time before she noticed her first victim, and a small smirk appeared on her face. A black and white tom was sitting in the perfect spot for the little kit to approach and sit directly on his tail. "Hi...have we met before? If not, we need to." she mewed, glancing up at Smudgeclaw.

[Sporelett]

[Icy-son]

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!"

The usual summonds reached an older she-cat's ears, and her head turned towards the meeting place. She seemed confused at why Fernstar would call the Clan together, but then it struck her. Heathkit's ceremony! It came to her, and a look of pleasure swept across her face. It was nice to see the kits become apprentices, then into warriors for generations to come.

Her paws led her to the enterance to her clearing, and her gaze rested upon Fernstar and Heathkit. Icewhisker hadn't heard anything other than the beginning of the ceremonial debute, and she plopped herself next to Leopardkit, about a mouse-length away. Her thoughts winded around her mind, and she began to remember her previous mentor...

"Let all cats join beneath Tallrock, NOW!" a screech rose from the highest rock in WindClan territory. The she-cat that did call it was the Clan's medicine cat, Blueberry, with her belly plump and well-rounded. A gray and white she-cat, newly named Icewhisker from Half-moon, came out and had her head held high. She knew what the blue medicine cat had to say. She didn't need to hear it.

"WindClan, I cannot be your medicine cat any longer. I am to have kits soon enough, and StarClan wishes this." Blueberry began, and the young medicine cat below had rage in her crystal blue eyes. Traitor! She wanted to screech out that she knew it before StarClan, and that she knew it wouldn't help if she stayed medicine cat. Her attention turned swiftly towards the startled Clan, but Icewhisker couldn't blame them...

Icewhisker seemed to be shut off from her flashback as soon Fernstar finished the beginning. Her eyes were keen on her leader, but something seemed to be holding her back...

[ivyy]

.: Dapplepaw :.
Apprentice of WindClan

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!"

The young apprentice awoke from her light doze at the call of WindClan's leader, Fernstar. She groaned softly and stood, leg stiff from her previous injuries, as she left the medicine cat's den slowly. She shivered as a cold breeze swept through the unprotected camp, Leafbare was upon them, it seemed. As the wheels of her mind began turning, shaking off sluggishness from her pain induced slumber. 'Oh, I wonder what's happening!' she thought excitedly, her steps quickened momentarily as she eagerly approached TallRock. A sharp flash of pain in her left-rear leg forced her to return to a snail's pace.

Finally she reached the other cats with a wide smile on her face, it wasn't sundown, so it could not be a warrior ceremony. 'It must be an apprentice ceremony!' she thought eagerly. She strained to see over the heads of older cats, Fernstar standing regally over the cats of WindClan. It seemed like only yesterday that her ceremony took place.

The same words that had just been said rang through the Leaf-fall air, grass brown and crisp around them. She had sat there, tail folded over her paws politely as she sat, receiving her new name. Her chest was puffed out with pride, flawlessly groomed and smoothed, she had obviously spent time making herself presentable. Her breath had caught in her throat when Fernstar announced Redfang was her mentor. How awful! She couldn't believe she got the meanest warrior in the whole clan for her mentor!

Dapplepaw shook her head, leaving the dreamy memory and returning her attention to the ceremony at hand. It turned out that Redfang wasn't all that bad... not all that bad at all. He was just strict, very, very strict.

[leafy]

The tortoiseshell she-cat walked slowly outside the Warrior's Den when Fernstar called a Clan meeting. This might be important. She reminded herself. She stretched and yawned slightly, then she glanced around the camp clearing. Mostly everyone was already settled. "Great, I'm last." She muttered with an annoying sigh. She slithered her way through the crowd of cats toward the back of the group.

Being as quiet as she could, she sat down gently placing her multi-coloured tail over her white paws.She purred when she caught a glimpse of Heathkit leaping for joy. Wow, six moons already...Time sure does fly fast. She thought remembering when she herself was apprenticed and her brother was still alive. She was very proud of Heathkit though. He did have his moment, but she knew he would make a great apprentice. Changing her focus from Heathkit to Fernstar she could tell the she-cat was about to begin.

[Yellowstar]

Fernstar gazed around camp, watching as cats gathered and sat to see the ceremony. She saw the kits tumble out of the nursery excitedly to congratulate their den mate, likely excited for their own turn to become 'paws as well. Even with Heathkit moving out there were still several kits, and she reminded herself to think about mentors for them as well. She had some time to make the decision, as it was still a few moons and Heathkit was the only one old enough at the moment. Other warriors emerged and sat, some of them just watching and others looking eager at a chance for an apprentice. It had been a difficult decision but she was sure she had made a thoughtful and wise choice. Icewhisker emerged as well, and Fernstar made a note to check on Redfang's and Dapplepaw's conditions after the meeting. As long as they were recovering well she wasn't worried.

Once the camp had quieted and Heathkit was ready, she began the ceremony. "Until Heathkit has earned his warrior name, he shall be known as Heathpaw. May StarClan guide his paws as he travels down the path of a warrior, and may he become a warrior that WindClan shall be proud of." She smiled down at the young tome, so excited and enthusiastic for the greatest day in his short life. And he should be, for any kit not excited for their apprentice ceremony would be missing out. "Of course every apprentice needs a mentor to guide them and teach them. Ratfoot, you are ready for your first apprentice, and you will be mentor to Heathpaw. I trust you will teach him everything he needs to know in order to become a warrior." It was true she hadn't spoken to him about taking an apprentice and he was likely to be surprised. If he was against having an apprentice, well... she would have to pick a different one later on. But Redfang's advice had made her think, and she supposed the tom warrior would make a suitable mentor for young Heathpaw. She did feel a bit of guilt for Lizardheart, knowing she had wanted to mentor the tom, but knew that there were several other kits in the nursery that would need mentors once they grew old enough.

With the ceremony completed, Fernstar leaped off the Tallrock and sat, awaiting for any cat to speak with her if need be.

[/justify]

[night]

Smudgeclaw felt a weight on his tail, and he looked down to see one of the kits - Beechkit, if he remembered correctly - sitting on his tail. He smiled at the she-kit, and was amused/surprised to hear her introduction.

"Well, we have met now. I'm Smudgeclaw. And I think your name is Beechkit, correct? My, I didn't know we had such charming kits in our nursery." He smiled down at her, finding her adorable. She certainly would be a heart-breaker when she got older. Just like him.

Hey, there was a novel idea....

No. Knock it off, he told himself. She's just a kit.

And an attractive one at that.

No.

You could always teach her how to break hearts...teach her the 'ways'....

...

Maybe when she's older.

The voice inside his head chuckled, and faded. Smudgeclaw glanced up, seeing that Fernstar was finishing the ceremony, and he cheered on Heathpaw, glad they had a new apprentice. He looked back down at Beechkit afterwards. "I don't have much to do today...wish to keep me company?" he asked with another smile. "I make it my job to get to know all the newest members of our Clan. I can't believe I haven't met you yet."

((Creeper cat is creepy. Bwahaha...I love Beechkit. Best pick-up line ever! "Have we met? If not, we need to."

[Heathclaw]

Heathkit stood stock still as he waited for Fernstar to assign his mentor, but he was trembling with excitement under his fur, and his eyes darted around as he searched for potential mentors. Redfang? It would be amazing to be trained by Redfang. He'd become such a strong warrior... but then he remembered that Redfang already had an apprentice- Dapplepaw. Shoot. But there were other good cats. Maybe Lizardheart? She seemed like she would be a good cat to be his mentor. And she was also free. Or how about Ratfoot? Ratfoot seemed friendly enough. Cloudfur was also free, wasn't she? He didn't like Cloudfur though, for some reason. She was a bit too intense...

Fernstar was speaking again, and his eyes snapped back to her. He tensed as she neared the moment of truth. His mentor would be....

*******

Ratfoot. Redfang breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Ratfoot was the safest choice, and he would be a fairly decent mentor for Heathkit. Not the best, but... well... it was better to be safe than sorry, wasn't it? Wasn't it? He darted down the Tallrock, following Fernstar. He landed rather hard on his paws, still recovering from his injuries from the fox battle, but healing up nicely.

He glanced over at Heathpaw as he greeted his mentor, tempted to go and congratulate him up close... but he couldn't. Not while Cloudfur was still there. So, instead, he turned towards Fernstar. "So... what made you pick Ratfoot?" he asked quietly.

[Yellowstar]

Fernstar glanced over as Redfang followed her off of the Tallrock, noting his unusual mood. He seemed... quiet and uncertain, unlike the Redfang that she was used to. Normally this would be a good day for the Clan, unless there was something bothering him. As Redfang turned to her, she considered his question, a rather practical one seeing as she had been conflicted between a few different mentors.

"I took your advice to heart," she answered, sweeping her tail around to curl it over her chilly paws. "For a kit without a father, he'll need someone who won't be too hard on him but will still push him in a good way. A tom, too, who might make a good father figure as well." She paused a moment, then looked at Redfang again. "Is something bothering you? You look a bit off."

[Amber]

Throughout the entire clan meeting, the gaze of the little she-kit had not been broken. The gaze had not left the one spot they had found, the one that involved looking directly at her newest playtoy......friend. Beechkit had not heard a word of what Fernstar had said, no she had other priorities. Those priorities were all involved with one thing, staring at her newest piece of eye-candy. So what if he was a warrior, at least he had skills. Those skills could be useful in certain games. This put a large smirk on the gray she-kit's face. Nothing was more fun that some of the games she enjoyed, too bad some cats just couldn't get the hang of what she had in mind. But she had a feeling this tom would. He seemed built for action. Possibly more action that she was capable of.

And then, his smooth voice had spoken. It was even better than she could imagine. She could feel the saliva in her mouth increasing, wanting to hear it again and again. Why was he so polite and waiting for the ceremony to end before talking to her more? That was weird. "I'm glad we have met. It will makes things move a bit better now won't it?" the little kit flashed a smile to the tom.

She was a bit shocked that he knew her name. This really was destiny! "And you know me, but I know so little of you. That is another thing that must change." Beechkit felt so tall at the moment, carrying on a conversation with a warrior. Smudgeclaw, she would remember that name, there was no doubt about it. "You think I am charming? You aren't so bad yourself, you are such a lovely piece of eye-candy." she purred.

He spoke the best words she could ever wish to hear. She would have squealed with delight, but no she had more composure than that. She needed to be civilized and prove she was just as mature as a warrior. Though the twitching of her tail was something that couldn't be helped. "Of course, keeping other's company, especially those that are so handsome, is something I do best." Three words could describe this day...best day ever. "Well like I said, that can all change, we can get to know one another, spend time....talking. Whatever you would like to do, just lead the way." Oh yes, let him lead, she would follow him anywhere.