Betulakit's Apprentice Ceremony

Willowshade leapt to perch on the Willow Branch gracefully, powerful muscles rippling under her sleek silver tabby coat. "May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below the Willow Branch for a Clan meeting!" she called, flicking a dark grey ear. Her frosty blue eyes roamed over the gathering crowd, searching for the kit she was to be apprenticing. Snowflakes caught in her whiskers, and the she-cat suppressed a shiver; her coat had not thickened enough yet to stand up to the leafbare wind.

Betulakit padded outside the nursery beside her mother, coat pristine and sleek as always. The pair of cream tabbies (one spotted, one striped) made their way to the front of the crowd. Violetbriar's eyes were bright and shiny and she watched her former mentor with a grin.

Willowshade watched the cats gather below her, eyes searching for the kit she was naming. "Betulakit, please step forward," she called when she found her. The corners of the silver tabby's mouth quirked up at Violetbriar's grin before she continued. "You have reached the age of six moons, and are ready to be apprenticed. From this day until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Betulapaw. Your mentor will be Mothheart. I am sure that he will train you well."

Ah... So it was Mothheart.. Disappointment settled like a stone on her belly; she'd hoped Willowshade would've mentored Betulapaw, as the silver she-cat had mentored both she and Wolfstar. While Mothheart was certainly a nice tom, Violetbriar didn't fully... Trust his capabilities. Minnowstream had been his mentor, and that alone was enough to distrust his skills.

Betulapaw, at first, looked ecstatic, but upon seeing her mother's wishful gaze towards Willowshade, that excitement faded into indifference. "I'll be a good apprentice, the best only for my parents." She mewed curtly, touching noses with him, before bounding over to her mother and Foxpaw.