Of Ceremonies and Reflections

[Guest]

Stormstar, elderly leader of Moonclan, was standing on a mound of ice/snow. There was no point in standing on a rock in the biting wind, so Stormstar always did ceremonies this way.
The cats in question were Barkpaw and Leafpaw, there for their warrior ceremonies, and a group of kits, being Raykit and Beamkit, daughters of Goldenlight and Raineyes.
Said parents were looking on their daughter with pride.
"I, Stormstar, leader of Moonclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look upon these two apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turns. Leafpaw," he looked at the tom, "Do you promise to uphold Moonclan's code, and the code of the Alliance, to maintain peace however you can, and to protect and defend this Clan even at the cost of your life?"

Sunclaw, deputy to Moonclan, looked on the apprentices, remembering her own apprentices. The yellow she-cat shifted position, clawing at her very thick fur so it wouldn't let in so much cold air.

[Longstorm]

Windface, a warrior of Moonclan, fluffed up his already thick pelt as much as he could.

Leafpaw looked up at his leader (Stormstar was tall - and that was saying something since the whole Clan was small in size) and mewed, "I do."

Beamkit wriggled in place. She was going to be an apprentice! She looked over at Otterpool, the Clan's medicine cat. The brown and ginger tabby she-cat nodded to her, smiling in a knowing way.
Beamkit nodded back, trying to keep a serious face - but it was hard! She was going to be a medicine cat apprentice!

[Guest]

Stormstar nodded. "Then by the powers of Sky-Moon, I give you your warrior name. Leafpaw, from this day forward you will be known as Leafheart. We honor your loyalty and strength of heart, and welcome you as full warrior of Moonclan." He stepped forward and set his chin on Leafheart's head.
Leafheart had bravely fought off many birds of prey to protect his fellow Moonclanners and deserved the name 'heart'.

[Longstorm]

Leafheart licked his leader's shoulder then stepped back.

[Guest]

Stormstar looked to Barkpaw and mewed, "Barkpaw - do you promise to uphold Moonclan's code, and the code of the Alliance, to maintain peace however you can, and to protect and defend this Clan even at the cost of your life?"

[Runfast]

Barkpaw, a brown she-cat, looked at her leader and nodded. "I do."
She exhaled silently. She'd been waiting all of her life for this moment.

Raykit looked over at her sister, cooly excitedly. This was fantastic - she was going to be a warrior. Raykit was the calmer of the two, but had no interest in germs or herbs - she had a whole Clan to defend!

Talltree, a long-legged tom, watched the ceremony with slight interest. He wanted to be hunting - that was a warm activity and this was not.

[Guest]

"Then by the power of Sky-Moon, I give you your warrior name. Barkpaw, from this day forward you will be known as Barkfur. We honor your intelligence and determination, and welcome you as a full warrior of Moonclan." He set his chin on her head.

"Leafheart, Barkfur, Leafheart, Barkfur!" Sunclaw began the call and Goldenlight and Raineyes joined in.

[Runfast]

Barkfur beamed with pride, thrilled to have earned her warrior name.

"Leafheart, Barkfur!" Raykit joined in politely, and Talltree called boredly.

Raykit stood taller - her time was coming.

[Guest]

Stormstar raised his tail for silence. "Now I have the pleasure of admitting two knew kits to be trained in the noble ways of our Clan." He beckoned them forward. "From this day forward," he touched Raykit's head, "this kit shall be known as Raypaw. Talltree, Wolfstrike, may he rest in peace, taught you patience and understanding - may you pass this on to Raypaw."

Sunclaw smirked. And maybe training an apprentice will teach him to be attentive.

[Runfast]

Raypaw sprang up suddenly - she had to stifle a thrilled squeal and somehow walked up to the tallest warrior of the Clan to touch noses with him.

Talltree was shocked - me? A mentor? He could tell the rest of his Clan thought it was funny. Almost grudgingly, he touched his nose to Raypaw's. "We'll go hunting," he mewed after a moment of awkward silence. Raypaw didn't notice this - she was very excited.
"Great," she whispered.

[Guest]

Stormstar looked at Sunclaw, catching her eye. Yes, it would be a learning experience for both apprentice and mentor.
He looked to the remaining kit, who looked ready to burst with excitement. He nodded to Otterpool as he mewed, "Beamkit - from this day forward, until your receive your... name, you shall be known as Beampaw."

[Runfast]

Otterpool nodded, warmth in her eyes. She padded to the front of the Clan and announced, "Cats of Moonclan, I know I won't be around forever." There was friendly purrs of protest - she was a much beloved medicine cat.
"So, it's time I took an apprentice. I have chosen a cat with compassion and an eagerness to learn. Beampaw will be your next medicine cat."

Barkfur looked at the sweet apprentice and suddenly remembered how Goldenlight kept worrying for naught whenever Beampaw vanished, but was only listening to Otterpool in the medicine cat's den.
Ah.. I see now.

[Guest]

Stormstar looked back at Beampaw. "Beampaw, do you accept the post of apprentice to Otterpool?"

[Longstorm]

"Oh, yes," Beampaw burst out, eliciting purrs of amusement and affection from the Clan.

Leafheart smiled - Beampaw was a friend to every cat she met. She would be a great medicine cat under Otterpool's teaching.

[Runfast]

Otterpool nodded. "Then at half-moon you must to the Star-Stone to be accepted by all of- Sky-Moon."

[Guest]

Stormstar nodded once more. "All the good wishes of Moonclan and the Tribes go with you." He looked at his Clan. "Leafheart, Barkfur - you will take your vigil of silence tonight, protecting us while we sleep. In that time, think of all you hope to do in your time as a warrior of this Clan. Dismissed."
He stepped off of the mound of snow and called, "Whitelight - Cloudscar - Raineyes. The patrol awaits."
Patrolling the full borders of Moonclan was very rare, so it was vitally important that when you were chosen, you work as efficiently as possible.
Raineyes nodded to Stormstar.
Sunclaw looked at Stormstar, padded to him and mewed, "I'll lead the hunting party."
The wizened leader nodded. "The Gathering of Allies is tomorrow -"
Sunclaw nodded. "Yes, yes - catch as much as we can." It was a hard journey for the Tribes, so Moonclan honored them by bringing them food for strength.
The yellow she-cat turned away and called, "Talltree - Windface. Let's go." She padded to the ice-tunnel exit, Stormstar's patrol following.

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