Minnowpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Lichenstar's pelt twitched with barely-contained excitement as she paced her den. This would be RiverClan's first new warrior since that terrible battle. The frost was breaking on her clan's future, and she could see the buds of new life heralding what this day symbolized. With a deep breath that calmed her unruly fur, the calico emerged into the sun and leaped upon her mother's branch. This was it. "Let all cats old enough to swim gather beneath the Willow Branch for a clan meeting!"

Minnowpaw padded up, to see what Licenstar had to say. Was there going to be another apprentice? Riverclan did have a good amount of kits. Maybe a warrior ceramony. But for who?

Lichenstar's found just the young cat she was looking for. Her eyes met those of Minnowpaw's and she nodded her head in her direction. "Minnowpaw, please step forward." Once the apprentice had done so, she recalled her mother's words. How odd to be just as excited for a ceremony as the cat it was for.

"I, Lichenstar, leader of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Minnowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Minnowpaw nodded. She couldn't believe it. She was going to become a warrior! "I do."

Bluepaw answered the summons, heading over to take his place beneath the Willow Branch. He remembered his apprentice ceremony with a soft purr, his gaze seeking out Minnowpaw and resting on her as her name rang through the camp. His heart beat faster hearing the question posed to her, and he had to fight back a premature cheer at his adoptive sister's response.

With those two words Minnowpaw cemented her loyalty. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Minnowpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Minnowstream. StarClan honors your energy and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of RiverClan." Lichenstar's eyes blazed with pride for the young cat, and for her clan. RiverClan was a late bloomer, but my, what a beautiful flower it was. Her voice rose to meet the chanting of the new warrior's name.

Minnowpaw smiled as she was no longer Minnowpaw and was now Minnowstream. It was such a beautful name.