Briarkit's Apprentice Ceremony

Hawktalon gazed up at the Jaggedrock. One of the kits, Briarkit, had reached six moons, and he was in charge of apprentice ceremonies. Tail swishing slightly, he leapt up to the huge rock, and turned around, surveying the camp. His paws trembled slightly as he strode forwards, the only other sign of nervousness trimmed down to a simple flicking tail. This was fine. It was going to be fine. He knew the words, he knew the routine, he had a mentor in mind. Nothing would go wrong. Maybe if he thought that enough, it would come true.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Jaggedrock for a Clan meeting!" He was unsure if Magpiewing used those exact words, but-- close enough. Hawktalon's hazel eyes were trained down below, sweeping the gathering crowd for the kit in question.

The red kit rushed out of the nursery at the call of Hawktalon. She had never been too focused on the clan dynamics, most of her time had been spent with her sisters. Now that her elder sister had been exiled, she and Sweetkit had bonded even closer. Now a iris kit was 6 moons, she had been counting the days until she could be apprenticed. And it was finally the day! Maybe? There were some other kits, of course, who it could be for, but she hoped it was either for herself or her sister. She sat down, looking up at him hopefully.

Briarkit’s red pelt was easy enough to spot, so as she darted out of the nursery, he offered her a quick nod and smile before continuing. “Briarkit, please step forward.” Hawktalon waited a moment for her to do so and continued. He didn’t know the kit very well, or the mentor he was about to assign, but the two seemed loyal enough, the most important virtue in his mind. “You have reached the age of six moons, and are now ready to be apprenticed. From this day forth, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Briarpaw. Your mentor shall be Vetiverwing. I know she will pass on all that she has learned to you.” Leaping off of the rock, Hawktalon completed the ceremony, offering a brief smile as he passed Briarpaw.

Vetiverwing, one of the newest warriors to the Clan, gaped in surprise as Hawktalon called her name. Quickly closing her jaw, the she-cat purred with pride. Padding over to her new apprentice, Vetiverwing touched noses with the young she-cat. "I will teach you everything you need to know."

Briarkit stepped forward with a grin. It was her ceremony! And she would be an apprentice. Sweetkit could join her soon, and they could go hunting together! She missed her older sister, though. Coal, or Coalspark, or whatever her name was now...it was sad. But she didn’t need to dwell on that today!

Briarpaw turned around to see her new mentor. She didn’t know the young warrior well, but she seemed pretty cool. ”Sweet!” she mewed.