Beetlekit's apprentice ceremony

It was time for Beetlekit's apprentice ceramony and in all honesty Grasssnake was rather nervous. It was his first time doing a ceramony so he had to do a good job. Letting out a nervous sigh, Grasssnake hopped onto the rock and yelled out, "Let all cats old enough their own prey gather beneath the Jaggedrock for a clan meeting!" Oh Starclan he hoped he said it right.

Beetlekit padded out at the call, excitement thrumming through her veins as she took her place in the growing circle, her eyes dilated with joy. Her apprentice ceremony! Finally, she could leave the camp that felt so suffocating, she could feel the rush of adrenaline run through her veins as she took down prey and battled fierce warriors. The excitement of her looming future had Beetlekit shaking and her tail lashing, she was so ready to learn, to become a warrior Shadowclan could be proud of!

Splashpaw padded out of the apprentice den and went to sit next to her sister. Of course the siblings of toad never really had bonding moments but they were still family. "Hey." she mewed to beetlekit as she looked up at grasssnake.

Grasssnake let a small smile slip as he saw Beetlekit shaking with excitment. Something about seeing kits so excited to leave camp and become apprentices brought him joy and calmed his nerves. Letting out a small sigh, the ceremony began. "Beetlekit has become 6 moons old and is ready to become an apprentice. From this day forwards until she had earned her warrior name, Beetlekit shall be known as Beetlepaw. Her mentor will be Maplestar. That is all." He called out, before jumping off of the jaggedrock.

Although she herself had only been deputy for a few sunrises, Maplestar thought it would be a good idea to spectate Grasssnake's first ceremony, and maybe give the tom a few tips once it was over. Patiently watching from the crowd, she watched one of the kits she knew from the nursery step forward. Despite her love for kits, she found herself a bit frustrated with Beetlekit, but maybe the young she-kit was just in a mood that day?

Shaking out her fluffy fur, she watched Grasssnake say the words that every deputy before him had said. She was so focused on his performance that she didn't even notice when she heard her name called until she heard Beetlepaw's new name being cheered around her. Standing up with them, she padded toward the new apprentice and touched noses with her. "Training start's at dawn." She nodded to Beetlepaw before turning to Grasssnake. "You did great!" The words came with a cheerful smile.

Toadspeckle watched the latest ceremony for one of her kits with a pleased air about her. With her kits reaching six moons, she’d be able to return to her warrior duties soon after all of them had been assigned mentors. Grasssnake announced her daughter’s mentor-- Maplestar, of all cats, would be Beetlepaw’s mentor. Maybe with the strength of StarClan behind her, Maplestar can sort out that kit, Toadspeckle thought as she joined the Clan in calling out Bettlepaw’s name. She waited until apprentice and mentor had touched noses before approaching. “It’s a great honor to be mentored by a Clan leader,” she murmured, leaning forward to press her nose against Beetlepaw’s ear affectionately. “Be sure to mind Maplestar’s instructions. You’ll grow into a fine warrior, Beetlepaw.”

'Your mentor will be Maplestar' Beetlepaw straightened up at that, trained by the Shadowclan leader? Now that was something! Forget just being a warrior Shadowclan could be proud of, she'd be the greatest! Turning to look to Maplestar, she touched noses, the instant in which she bullied the existence of her kits far from her mind, forgotten even. "Yes Ma'am" She mewed before Maplestar turned away from her, suddenly her mood turning sour in jealousy as her leader addressed the deputy. She was quickly pulled from her thoughts as her mother approached her murmuring words to her, the inflection of warning turning Beetlepaws mood ever more sour. Did she not trust her? Was it a warning? Was it a reprimand for something she hadn't done? Every word Toadspeckle spoke, she seemed to take it even more wrong.

Clamping down on a growing growl, Beetlepaw nodded and pressed her nose to her mother's shoulder before whisking away from her, more than glad to be out of that situation. Lashing her tail she ducked into the apprentices den.