Ceremonies...

[{ tessa }]

OOC: XD Roxie has been bugging me with this for awhile now...I almost forgot I played Maplekit. Is Hazelkit dead now that Sleet quit? Or what?

IC: Mistystar emerges from her den, her pelt brushing the lichen that hangs over the entrance. The sun is beginning to slip down toward the horizon. Sunset is upon them, and it is time for the apprentice ceremonies to begin. Mistystar looks around. She knows that Coyotespirit's kits have been waiting for this moment for awhile now. She likes doing apprentice ceremonies, personally, because she loves seeing the enthusiasm of the young cats as they begin their first step to becoming a warrior of ShadowClan. And fine warriors they'll make. She thinks, fondly. She's watched the kits play in the nursery and knows that they are ready.

In a single spring she leaps up onto the Dark Stone and looks down on her camp. ShadowClan hasn't had much to celebrate lately, so she knows that her Clan will be glad to hear about this. New apprentices were always good, and new warriors as well. It was also time for Copperpaw to recieve her warrior name.

Mistystar lets out a yowl. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather at DarkStone for a Clan meeting!" She calls down to the ShadowClan cats. Her tail raised expectantly, she waits.


Maplekit's ears prick. She looks up from her mossy nest in the nursery and lets out a tiny squeal. This is it! She is becoming an apprentice now. No more boring days stuck in the nursery. I'll be the best warrior the Clan has ever seen! She thinks fiercely, and charges out into the clearing. She places herself clumsily in front of Darkstone and attempts to sit still and refined, though the excitement in her eyes and the twitching tip of her tail gives her away.

[Roxie !]

OOC//I suppose so, unless Dawnie wants her. She's the only one who didn't pick a kit from Coyotespirit's litter, I believe.

IC// Silent paws carried the dark warrior out of the warriors den in which he'd been sleeping, his fur slightly discheveled as a result of the sudden wakeup call. Emerald green eyes he'd inherited from his mother flickered irritabley up at the leader. Pick now to call a Clan meeting, why didn't she? She could've waited an hour or so, when Bandedtail had to get up for hunting patrol anyway. But no, that would be too easy. He gave a quiet grunt and sat down near the back of the clearing, minding that he kept his distance from Maplekit. Bandedtail wasn't fond of kits; they never kept still long enough.

So what was this meeting about, anyhow? Apprentice ceremonies, he supposed. Bandedtail had never had an apprentice before. Curiousity pricked at him as he wondered what the experience would be like. Probably a whole lot of work, a waste of his time, and an unmet requirement of his patience. But then, perhaps the dark grey warrior was just in a bad mood, having just woken up. He bent his head to give his ink-black chest a few licks, before sitting up straight and staring unblinkingly up at Mistystar.

A few paces away from Bandedtail, Sandstorm padded toward the scene. Her eyes gleamed curiously as she stalked over to sit near Bandedtail, who'd been her apprentice. She sat down and curled her tail around her paws delicately. Recently, Sandstorm hadn't had much in her life to be happy about, but now her eyes gleamed in amusement at Maplekit's attempt to control herself, as the senior warrior waited for the meeting to begin.

Nearby her sat Copperpaw, who she'd recently taken out on hunting patrol. The apprentice's eyes gleamed happily; this was it! She'd finally get her chance to serve her clan. Patrols, journies, battles...she only wished that Amberpaw could be there to share the moment with her.


Brindlekit's ears twitched with anticipation as she slipped out of the nursery a few moments later, somewhat calmer than her sister's charging approach. She'd heard the call, but had taken some time to groom her fur flat and clean first, as her mother used to do. This was her moment, after all. And she swore that where ever they were, she'd make her parents proud. Purring softly under her breath, Brindlekit approached the DarkStone, her chin raised proudly.She met her leader's gaze with solid, somber determination, and gave her sister a friendly nudge efore seating herself next to her.

"This is it, huh?" Murmured Brindlekit in a low tone of excitement. "I wonder who our mentors'll be!"

[le Dawnz]

I didn't? Hmmm... -goes to find thread- Hey! -huggle Copperpaw- Be nice to my old character. -shakes finger at Roxie-

[{ tessa }]

Maplekit turns to her sister and twitches her whiskers happily, pressing against Brindlekit's dark pelt. She quivers with excitement along with anxiety as she wonders what apprentice life will be like. It seems as if there is a whole new world waiting beyond the boundaries of camp that she has formerly been forbidden from crossing. "I don't know any of the warriors very well yet." Maplekit replies softly, looking around at the gathered cats. "But I'll be glad to have anyone, just as long as we can start training soon!" She turns back to look up at Mistystar again with a mix of anticipation and admiration.


Mistystar looks down at the ShadowClan cats as they gather, her eyes glimmering. She speaks loudly so to be sure that they all can hear her, "As you all know, times have been grim for ShadowClan lately." She says bluntly. "Prey has been nearly non-existent with leaf-bare upon us, and our numbers are lessening." She states this just to begin her speech; she doesn't really think they need reminding of all of this. Though these matters are serious and not something that should be ignored, she will save them for other times.

"But this is a time for celebration," She continues with a faint hint of a smile. "Today I would like to welcome two apprentices and one warrior to our Clan." She looks down again and scans her gaze over the cats expectantly, lingering on the kits for a moment before resting on Copperpaw. Mistystar lifts her chin expectantly and sweeps her tail across the rock in a beckoning motion. "Copperpaw, come forward." She says with a hint of a purr. New warriors are always good news, especially in harsh times like these.

Mistystar waits for the apprentice to obey, and to prepare for her warrior ceremoney.

[Roxie !]

The she-cat's golden paws trembled slightly as she stood up and gazed around at her expectant Clan-mates. These were the cats she'd devote her whole life to, and she vowed to be the best warrior she could be. Of course, there'd always be a part of Copperpaw that would miss the care-free lifestyle of an apprentice, but it was time to move on. And she was ready. Copperpaw inhaled sharply, sheer anticipation making her nervous. The rest of the world seemed to cease to exist as she padded forward to meet her leader, her head raised proudly, the amber fur along her spine bristling with excitement.

As Copperpaw reached the rock, she paused, as if uncertain what to do as she waited for her leader's words. A wind swept the camp, chilling her slightly as a light, icy rain began to sprinkle down on the clearing. Yet through it all, Copperpaw met Mistystar's eyes with as much determination as if her life depended on it. Perhaps her sister was watching her somewhere from the clouded skies above. She hoped so. Unusually serious, Copperpaw stood before her leader and her Clan, barely moving except for the gentle rise and fall of her flanks that indicated her breathing.

And then, in one smooth movement, Copperpaw bowed her head deeply, staring at the ground through eyes narrowed into slits in a gesture of both respect and awe for what was about to happen. Then she lifted her head again looked directly at Mistystar, waiting for the ceremoney to begin.

OOC// omgg. This is soooo short >< But theres not really anything to say, so yeah..

[le Dawnz]

OOC// -huggles Copperpaw- You make her so much awesomer and your making me want her back! But if I took her back my roleplaying with her would probably go -exploding sound- So yeah, ignore me.

IC//

The lichen of the nursery tunnel twitched as Hazelkit stepped out behind her siblings. It was increasingly amusing to see them making such a fuss. First came Maplekit, who either couldn't seem to control her excitement or wasn't bothering to try. Next was Brindlekit, whom was calmer, but ended up giving away to her own enthusiasm as well. And then of course came Hazelkit, looking cool and collected. Her downy grayish brown fur had been smoothed by their surrogate mother as she proudly announced that today was the day they were to be apprenticed. Witty and sarcastic, perhaps a little arsenic, the young she-kit rolled her eyes at her sisters.

Without halting, she twisted her head to look up at Mistystar. And slammed straight into Brindlekit, who had stopped beside Maplekit. Flattening her ears in embarressment, she muttered an apology and sat down next to the pair, licking her paw and running it over her ears once more. "I wonder who our mentors'll be!" she heard Brindlekit whisper beside her. "Does it matter?" she replied under her breath. Although she tried to appear dignified and as though she didn't care, there was no mistaking the thrilled sparkle in her eyes. Underneath it all, she was just as excited as they were.

Mistystar's yowl rang in the clearing, calling for Copperpaw to step forward. Confusion bubbled up from beneath her paws. Copperpaw was already an apprentice, so why was she being called instead of them? Mouse-brain! she scolded herself, realizing that Copperpaw was being made a warrior. At least the apprentice den wouldn't be as crowded. Hazelkit remembered that Copperpaw and her sister Amberpaw had used to come visit them in the nursery and teach them fighting techniques. She was going to be the best warrior in all of ShadowClan!

Perhaps more than anything, she wanted to make her parents proud. She knew they were watching her from StarClan, maybe even right now. Hazelkit wanted them to be proud to call her their daughter. Glancing beside her at Brindlekit and Maplekit, she silently wondered if her denmates shared her hopes.

[Roxie !]

Though her gaze stayed fixed upon the Darkstone, Brindlekit's ears twitched in the direction of Maplekit's voice to signal that she'd heard her. But before she could reply, Hazelkit made her entrance. The tiny tabby startled slightly in alarm when her sister slammed into her, twisting her head around with a puzzled expression playing into her amber gaze. There was no need to point out Hazelkit's mistake, as she looked embarassed enough already. Perhaps the most empathic of her siblings, Brindlekit was sensitive to others' feelings. Still, she had to fight to keep her whiskers from twitching in amusement as she straightened again. She knew that such an action would only provoke the other kit anyway.

Though Hazelkit was the youngest of the litter, she was without a doubt the most sharp-tongued of them. Brindlekit often found herself playing the mediator between her two younger sisters. She had enough patience to deal with Maplekit's constant hyperness, and with Hazelkit's sardonic attitude. Still, it became tiring. Right now, for instance; she only just caught her sister's muttered comment, and turned to look at her with something close to shock glittering in the depths of her golden eyes. This was their apprentice ceremony! How could Hazelkit pretend it was no big deal? Perhaps Brindlekit would never fully understand her sister. With a slight tilt of her head, the dark tabby studied her for a moment in silence, before speaking softly.

"Of course it matters," She mewed gently. "Our mentor is going to be the most important cat in our lives for a long while. They're going to teach us...everything." Brindlekit turned back to the meeting and crouched, tucking her paws beneath her and glancing uncomfortably between the cats on either side of her. This was a day for happiness and celebration. It was the day that their lives would truly begin, and she couldn't let sibling rivalries getting away. And deep down, she knew that Hazelkit was probably just as excited, and perhaps anxious, as she and Maplekit were. Brindlekit pressed her flank gently against Hazelkit's, knowing that her sister could probably now feel her own pounding heart as she waited anxiously. But Brindlekit was never one to hide her feelings, anyway.

With another glance between her sisters, she spoke again. This time, it was a statement that both added to what she'd just said, and answered Maplekit's previous question. "Personally, I'd like...maybe a senior warrior, someone who's wise and noble and experienced..." Her eyes sparkled at the thought as she became lost yet again in her fantasies of apprenticeship. She wondered what it would be like, out there in the wilds of the forest and marshland that ShadowClan owned. Her paws pricked with excitement. Would they be able to see the Thunderpath? Or catch frogs in the marsh? Or hunt in the forest? But before she could get too carried away, Brindlekit brought herself back down to earth. There'd be plenty of time to train, and they'd learn all they needed to know with patience. And she knew that whatever mentor Mistystar gave her, she'd be happy.

Presently, Brindlekit gazed up at the rock, feeling Copperpaw's own excitement coarse through the air. That would be her someday. She'd train hard to make it so.

[{ tessa }]

Maplekit's tail flicks in annoyance at Hazelkit's words. She flashes a sharp look at her sister, but also a curious, exasperated one. "Aw, come on, Hazelkit." She growls, twitching her ears as she lowers her head. "Do you have to act all high and mighty even on the day of our apprentice ceremoney?" Before she can say any more, Brindlekit speaks. Ever the peace maker. Maplekit bends to give her chest a few licks to hide her distain. Her sulkyness doesn't last long though, because unlike her sisters, she can't seem to contain her excitement. "I just want a mentor who's fun! And has a sense of humor!" She adds with a pointed look at Hazelkit.

Mistystar gazes at the apprentice for awhile, the pride of any leader looking upon a new warrior of her Clan showing in her eyes. "I, Mistystar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice." She looks up at the sky with trust and faith, knowing that StarClan is watching. "She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn." These are the words she has spoken many times to many apprentices, but she never gets tired of seeing the looks on their faces as they become warriors. Mistystar holds Copperpaw's gaze solemnly.

"Copperpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Mistystar asks. It is a big question, and one that isn't to be taken lightly. But she knows that Copperpaw has come to understand the ways of the warrior code, and she trusts the apprentice to respond.

[Roxie !]

Copperpaw stood with silent anticipation as her leader spoke the traditional words that would make her a warrior. Her eyes darted briefly to the sky as Mistystar spoke of StarClan. She could see glimpses of the fair blue sky through the tree tops that sheltered the camp, and with a warm sense of pride, knew that her family was looking down on her at this minute. Amberpaw, who should have been becoming a warrior with her today, who'd been killed by a rabbit(jks, jks) BloodClan patrol soon after they'd begun training. Amberpaw would be proud of her, she knew, and Copperpaw vowed to be a warrior for both of them. Perhaps Cheetahpelt was watching her too at this moment. Though her mother had been very detached to her, Copperpaw hoped that in death she'd found it in her heart to be proud of her daughter. And Dustfall, her father, was still with her here in life. And Frecklenose and Bandedtail, her half-siblings, and Sandstorm, her aunt. A warmth spread to the apprentice's paws. This was her Clan.

As Mistystar solemnly asked her the question she knew had been coming, Copperpaw realized that she'd never really felt the weight and meaning behind it until this moment. Now she felt the fierce pride of a warrior, of hunting for and protecting her Clan, and she knew she was ready. Lifting her chin, Copperpaw mewed firmly, "I do."

[{ tessa }]

Mistystar gives a small nod. She knows from the look in the younger cat's eyes that Copperpaw means it. She'll make a fine warrior. "Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Copperpaw, from this moment, you will be known as Copperpelt. StarClan honors your bravery and your strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Mistystar's eyes glimmer as she leans down and rests her muzzle on Copperpelt's head, as is tradition.

Below, Maplekit springs to her feet and yowls enthusiastically. "Copperpelt! Copperpelt!" She repeats the cry excitedly, her eyes glittering with admiration for the new warrior. She knows that will be her some day, and she will work hard to get there. She can only imagine how Copperpelt must feel at this moment.

Mistystar purrs softly and waits for the noise to calm down before she calls, "Hazelkit, step forward."

[le Dawnz]

"Yes." Hazelkit replied bluntly, emerging from her thoughts. "I do." she said with a sarcastic smirk. Then rolled her eyes as Brindlekit intervined. Her sister was always the medium between her and Maplekit. "Personally, I'd like...maybe a senior warrior, someone who's wise and noble and experienced..." the tabby kit meowed beside her. "I just want a mentor who's fun! And has a sense of humor!" Maplekit replied with a glare at Hazelkit.

She stuck her tongue out at her sister, but it was accompanied by a good natured smirk. Turning back to the Dark Stone, Hazelkit watched as Mistystar recited the usual words and gave Copperpaw her warrior name. "Copperpelt! Copperpelt!" she yowled along with everyone else. As the noise died down, the great leader called her name.

Her eyes widened in shock. She was going first? The youngest of the litter was going to get her apprentice name first? At this, she could no longer contain her excitement. With a wide grin, she trotted steadily forward, paying close attention to where she placed her feet so she wouldn't end up tripping and embarressing herself in front of the whole clan.

[{ tessa }]

Mistystar watches Hazelkit calmly as the she-cat proudly approached. She surpresses a soft purr as she remembers her own apprentice ceremony. This is the day when any clan cat's life truly starts. She has faith that Hazelkit will make a good warrior some day, along with her siblings. "Hazelkit," She speaks as the kit comes closer. "Until you have completed your warrior training, you will be known as Hazelpaw." Mistystar flicks her ears approvingly, and looks down to scan the crowd below. "Bandedtail," She calls. "You have proven yourself ready for your first apprentice. You are a warrior of intellegence and skill. Do your best to pass on these qualities to Hazelpaw."

Despite her contempt earlier, Maplekit is now at her paws, her tail raised proudly as she calls her sister's name.

OOC: Dawnie, Roxie has already told me about her charries, but are any of yours free to take apprentices?