Lionpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Silverstar slowly padded outside of his den. This was going to be his first time making an apprentice a warrior. It wasn't scary, on the contrary it was a bit exciting. Something that made him feel like he was truely leader of SkyClan. He leapt expertly onto the High Ledge and stared out into the clearing below. With a deep breath, he yowled into the camp.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the High Ledge for a clan meeting!"

He had been very thoroughly fussed over by Breezebranch before the ceremony had begun, his poofy fur had been tamed and framed his face, illustrating the lack of kit fat that the tom had. Lionpaw had grown very tall over the course of his apprenticehood, taller than his adopted mother, and he wondered if his father was to thank for this one trait. Despite the height he had taken on, he still held the bulk of a SkyClan cat, and a smirk burned in the back of his brain as he remembered Coalpaw's comment on his height. He was going to be a warrior before her, she should respect him!

Making his way beneath High Ledge, he gazed up at Silverstar with excitement and nervousness, hoping he would be able to serve his clan as well as the leader perched upon the rock.

Silverstar watched as the clan gathered. He couldn't help but smile a bit when he saw Lionpaw approach. The tom already seemed like a fine warrior. Not just physically, but he proved that he heart and the compassion of a great warrior. Now, all he had to do now was make it official. Silverstar held his head up high as he spoke. "We are gathered here today to premote one of our apprentices into a warrior, Lionpaw." he called. He then faced towards Lionpaw before continuing, the traditional words coming naturally to him.

"I, Silverstar, leader of SkyClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained well to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn," he stared at Lionpaw with a golden gaze, "Lionpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

His warrior ceremony, nothing could be better than this. A warm breeze fluttering through the clearing, far off trees swaying and providing a very serene feeling to the tomcat, he wondered briefly if his mother and father were looking down from StarClan, when he'd gone to the moonstone Flamefur had assured him she'd always be there. He hoped she was.

His thoughts had trailed a little while Silverstar had spoken, but he met the golden gaze with his own azure eyes, and a small smile graced Lionpaw's features. Of course he'd give his life for his clan, his clan was everything to him, and he looked forward to serving them for many seasons. "I do," he responded, his voice strong and clear, reflecting the confidence he felt inside.

Silverstar nodded in affirmation before speaking once more, "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Lionpaw, from this day forth you will be known as Lionflame. StarClan honors your passion and brotherly love, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan!" For some reason, it felt nice to say those words, it made him feel proud. He was glad Lionflame was the first warrior he appointed.

The leader then hopped off of the High Ledge and rested his muzzle onto Lionflame's forehead as the clan cheered his new name. Silverstar took a pace backwards and allowed the cheers to die out on their own, he wanted the new warrior to enjoy them.

Lilypaw watched as her adopted brother became a warrior. ”Lionflame! Lionflame!” she chanted loudly.

He couldn't fight off the purr that had rumbled in his chest, and it spilled over like a waterfall, consuming him in happiness and satisfaction. He'd made it! Swiftly licking Silverstar's shoulder and murmuring a quick thank you, he looked around in excitement for Breezebranch and his family. The warrior had not only mothered him and took care of him after his own mother passed, but she had mentored him and loved him despite all his flaws.

As Lilypaw chanted his name, he padded over to her, licking the top of her head in affection. "Thank you!"

And then it hit him, Lionflame, like his mother. The bittersweet happiness threatened to knock him off his paws, and his purr caught in his throat as he caught whiff of the familiar, milky scent of his birth mother. He loves Breezebranch, but Flamefur would always have a huge part of his heart, and to now have a name that carried on her legacy further, the happiness was enough to knock him out for moons. Lionflame would be the best warrior SkyClan had ever seen!

Lilypaw smiled. She couldn’t wait to be a warrior and join him. It was so exciting for him to be a warrior! Lionflame suited the warrior very well. She thought it was a perfect name for the tom.

"Lionflame! Oh...!" Breezebranch's heart swelled with absolute love and joy as her adopted-- no, her son-- gained his Warrior name. Lionflame she mused, Just like Flamefur. Flamefur had been a comrade, and she'd raised her son as her own. Breezebranch just hoped that Lionflame's mother approved of her. After all, Breezebranch forgot most times Lionflame and Icepaw were not actually her own. But even if Flamefur came down from StarClan herself and denounced her as Lionflame's mother, she'd always see the tom as her son.

Running up to the tom she loved so dearly, she licked him fiercely, purring so gard she couldn't manage any words.