The First Ceremony

[wren]

Flystar


Aaah. Sometimes the blazing she-cat had to admit it was good to just relax. Recently her worries had been massing towards Startclan. The life of a leader was something she had idolized as a kit. The position was every ounce as great as she had dreamed. It was just when she was young the time between sunrise and sunset had seemed longer. Their was a lot that needed doing even in these peaceful times. Along that thought trail she was reminded of the days remaining tasks. For the first time in awhile she would voice the ancient words that would bring her clan together. A smile slipped over her maw as she mused. What if she forgot the words?

Flystar chuckled and rolled over, their was no way she’d ever forget. She just hoped Cricketpaw was ready for this ceremony. For the moment though, the young leader needed another minute to get up. The sun rippled over her fur in waves of wind. Their were no trees in Fleetclan to diffract its rays. The ground was hot and the air was warm. It happened to be the perfect conditions to fall asleep in. "Theirs no time for that". With a force of will she yawned and rolled up, her eyes opening to the familiar sight of Fleetclan camp.

She never wanted to see it any other way. It was a safe haven from the forest with sapphire skies dazzling above, and lush green fields growing below. Thorny walls kept out the worst of the dust and wind along with providing security from prying eyes. Anyone would be jealous of the life they had here. Sparkling joy pushed up from her paws and bubbled in her chest. She was so proud of the warriors that had made all this possible. The feeling was so strong Flystar found it impossible to stay still. Her spirit was energized by all they had accomplished. Now it was time for a young cat to take another step forward.

Powerful hind legs launched her to her paws. After a quick shake Flystar was glade their had been no serious dust problems. When the storms picked up no cat could escape looking like a dirt ball. Even if her fur wasn’t gleaming though, Flystar wasn’t ready to postpone this ceremony for anything. She trotted toward the meeting area, within a swish of her tail she turned and was ready to make the announcement. Sucking in a deep breath her tense muscles relaxed. It wasn’t that the fleetcalnner was nervous, just the opposite, she was exited! This was one of the best parts of her job.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here for an apprentice ceremony". Her voice rang out with the life and youth of a young leader. She wasn’t incompetent, starclan was with them and being an old badger didn’t make one great. "Just grumpy". An ear flicked as she took in the sight of Fleetclans warriors joining together around her.

[ace]

Cricketpaw

I'm standing in a room...

[/i][/color][/size]

... made up of only big white walls.

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Being an apprentice was great, yes. Having a mentor was, well, not on Cricketpaw's list of things to be excited about.

It wasn't that she hated any of the cats in the Clan, but, most tended to hate her. She couldn't change the past to be something that these cats could approve of, though. Honestly it didn't matter to Cricketpaw that many cats disapproved of her arrival. What mattered was the fact that, if she got one of these hateful cats as her mentor, her training sessions would be no longer fun and she'd probably never get to become a warrior until she was the age of an elder. That wasn't on her list either. Sighing, Cricketpaw loped toward the fresh-kill pile, planning on eating a bit before her ceremony. She'd hunted earlier, so no cat could yell at her, although they probably already would anyway. Cricketpaw flattened her ears, looking at all the deceased prey in front of her, and her eyes fell on a mouse she'd caught earlier.

Cricketpaw picked up said mouth in her jaws, feeling a huge stab of guilt. She'd been the one to kill this poor creature. For a moment she wondered if it had hurt. Had she killed it too slowly? Cricketpaw walked over toward the Apprentice Den, lying down and setting the mouse at her paws. She stared at it a moment, suddenly feeling the urge to talk. Cricketpaw raised her eyes and looked around, not seeing another cat nearby to talk to that wasn't either asleep or that hated her presence. The little mouse probably hated her too, but hey, it was dead. It couldn't complain. Cricketpaw smirked as she mewed "Hi there, mousey-mouse."

[/color][/b] She didn't expect a reply, though she had hoped to be able to talk to someone.

"I'm getting a mentor today,"[/color] she continued, looking into the mouse's glazed beady eyes. "Most cats here... they kind of don't like me though. You probably don't like me very much either, I mean I killed you after all. Sorry about that, but my Clan has got to eat. Think of it this way, you could've fed a starving kitten or dying elder and given them a few moments of happiness. Does that make you feel better? I doubt it. Again, I'm sorry. Hm, it didn't hurt right? I tried to make it quick, I always try to kill prey swiftly. Maybe I hesitated too much. I do that sometimes when my thinking is off just a bit, so if I did that I'm very sorry. Wow, I keep apologizing to you. I'm-"[/color][/b]

It was Flystar's call that shut Cricketpaw up. She looked reluctantly down at the un-eaten mouse, and she regrettedly brought him back to the pile. Maybe he would get to feed a starving kit or dying elder now. Still, Cricketpaw could no-longer worry about an already dead mouse. She smoothed her brown-tabby pelt, the black spider-web patterns along her back glittering in the sunlight. She flicked her ears back once, one completely black and one brown with black dapples, out of habit. To her it brought good look. Her eyes, one a bright emerald and one a dull sky blue, stared at up Flystar, brimming with nothing but respect for her leader. How amazing would it be if she got Flystar as a mentor?

Cricketpaw walked toward the meeting area, not without a spring in her step though. She hated walking, and whenever she had to she tended to rather skip or trot. The oddly-colored she-cat sat down in front of Flystar, feeling the eyes of the other warriors on her back. Her rather large ears flattened anxiously. Who would be her mentor? There were plenty of warriors, though Cricketpaw worried that, no matter who she got, they'd all hate her. Not that she didn't like to be hated, no, she just didn't want to have to do extra work because her mentor held a grudge. Hopefully, she wouldn't get a cat like that though. Pushing all these thoughts aside, Cricketpaw looked up at her leader, waiting for the ceremony to continue.[/blockquote]

[quicksilver]

Snowsong heard the call of her leader, even though she was only half way through a pice of fresh kill. She hadn't been the one to catch the small hare, but the she-cat wasn't complaining in the least. It was early, and a bit of something in her system was much needed first thing. A cat needed to get some energy from somewhere, right? Though now she wasn't even partially interested in finishing her food. The white feline took a last finishing gulp of her skinny rabbit and followed the members of her clan over to the meeting area.

Every meeting was exciting to her, and reminded her of her own apprenticeship and even the ceremony where she received her warrior name. Both were important events in a clan cat's life that usually weren't forgotten. For Snowsong, it wasn't just something that was remembered. It was huge! Her mentor had been an enourmous impact on her life. He had taught her to be patient, at least somewhat anyways. And of course, most of what she knew to this day couldn't have been done without the efforts of her lovely teacher. There wasn't a day that Snowsong didn't pass the cat and look to him with respect.

Though there are meetings that are called for reasons that aren't beneficial... The warrior pondered, though the atmosphere wasn't one of dread, but almost uplifting in the way every cat was turning heads and gosspping about who they think should be the next warrior or apprentice. Snowsong did also, and along with the kittens that might be given a mentor, she idly wondered who those mentors might be. The leader or deputy could easily be given a mentor; but there were elder warriors that made excellent teachers also.

The she-cat was soon amidst many cats with the same questions. Most wondering the same thing...What is this meeting for?

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((DONE! Short, but finished. Sorry for the wait :c))

[wren]

Flystar


Her eyes flicked over each cat. Scanning, like she did at times, to ensure everyone looked strong and well fed. It was true that this was the end of green leaf. Only yesterday she had stalked along the Rushclan boarder, not missing the sharp amber turn in the leaves. Like always it seemed leaf bear was preparing to ravage the land of its recourses. The hares were still hopping but the lucky young had grown and were no longer easy meals. Her tail tip began to twitch as her thoughts thickened and drowned out the scene before her. Little tendrils of dust stuck in the air after every pat of her tails feathered end. No cat was expecting kits she realized. It wasn’t a good sign for such a small clan, but it did mean their would be no wailing young ones if the cold season turned harsh. A pang struck deep in her stomach. The leader wasn’t hurt, not physically, it was the remnants of her old dream.

The distant look that had come over Flystar suddenly vanished, her gazed drifted up from her thoughts and locked on Cricketpaw. She blinked as a warm inviting light shown in her orbs green depths. A small encouraging smile twitched near the corners of her lips. This would be no easy apprenticeship. The tangled stripped tabby before her would train in the harshest of moons. She wouldn’t get to learn to hunt on plump soft prey. Her limps would be cold when she battle trained. But when, for Flystar was sure the new apprentice would rise to the task, she was ready to be a warrior Fleetclan would welcome a talented and proud new member to their ranks.

Behind the little tabby the ground was flecked with shadows as approaching warriors pelts shimmered in the sun. A Stunningly bright one caught Flystars eye. The young warriors snow colored fur bounced as she brushed forward. Flystar couldn’t wait to announce the new paring. Their weren’t many cats to choose from but as she absently adjusted her position Flystar was confident in her selection. All of her warriors were competent for this task. She had even debated training Cricketpaw herself. Life was always more exiting with an apprentice. It was a totally new experience every time. Her mind captured each of her own apprentices images momentarily; their scents had become as familiar as her own.

But it was time to get back to the present. She took in everyone’s faces in a swift once over. None were disapproving, this was an exiting moment. Thistle fangs glinted as she smiled at everyone, her posture took a new alertness that motioned she was ready to begin. “Your all here for one of my favorite duties.” Her voice rang with excitement; each fur seemed to glisten with it, perhaps it was the look in her eyes. She was completely sincere as she continued. “Cricketpaw has reached the moon where she will receive a mentor.” Now she stared directly at the new apprentice, “She was waited longer then usual for this ceremony, I hope in her free time has been spent preparing herself for all the lessons she has yet to learn.” Her words were steady and seemed to spread out as she looked up and paused. This was it; the next few moments would change someone’s life for the season to come. “Snowfall. Your speed and skill in the art of hunting has made you invaluable to this clan. You have all the spirit and energy of a true warrior. I trust you to pass on all your strengths and knowledge to make Cricketpaw a warrior we can be proud of.”

She was quiet now, shifting between the mentor and apprentice. Silently wondering what they thought of one another. She’d wait to call out Cricketpaws name until after the two touched noses. It was the first real meeting between the two cats and Flystar didn’t want to interrupt. When the cheering voices cleared it would be time for them to take a step forward into a new section in both their lives.