One Step Forward

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

((So this is for Pigeonpaw's, Otterkit's, and Rabbitkit's ceremonies because I didn't want to just skip over them. I really only need Hedgie (and Kitty) to post here, but others can as well if they wish. The time is sunset, the day is a few days before the Gathering. Have fun!))

The warm sun beat down on camp, still hot even as it was setting. The sky was drenched bright colors, reds, orange and even purple, and several clouds dotted the sky, dyed the same colors of the sky by the sun. Another day in RiverClan, another day in greenleaf. These easy times would not last forever, but while they were here they were to be enjoyed. The two kits brought from WindClan seemed to be adjusting well, Sootwhisker had successfully delivered her litter of three kits, and there was plenty of fresh-kill to go around. And most of all, today was an important day for a few certain cats.

Willowstar stood on top of the Highstump, waiting and glancing around the clearing. Her thick silvery pelt was well-groomed for the occasion and it seemed to shine in the fading sunlight. At last she lifted her muzzle to the air and yowled out, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here for a Clan meeting!" Her voice, booming and full of power, drifted through camp to the attention of all those around, and she only had to wait a few moments before cats started to leave whatever was occupying their time and coming to see what was happening.

It wasn't often that she did this, a warrior ceremony and an apprentice ceremony at the same time. But this was out of convenience and coincidence, and she figured that it would be exciting for something different. As she waited for the cats to gather, she searched for the familiar pelts of cats she would need to mention during the ceremony. She had spoken to Blackleaf earlier and made sure that Pigeonpaw was fit to become a warrior, and had carefully considered possible mentors for the two kits. Even now she wasn't sure how they would fair but she would only find out if she tried it.

"Today is a special day," Willowstar began once the Clan had gathered and quieted. "There will be not once ceremony, but three of our young cats are moving up with new names and new responsibilities. It is always a honor to perform these ceremonies and I'm sure these young cats are just as thrilled. First off, Pigeonpaw has completed his training and is finally ready to become a warrior. Pigeonpaw, please come forward."

Rabbitkit, having been enjoying a tasty fish by the fresh-kill pile and relaxing, looked up curiously when he heard the leader's announcement for a Clan meeting. Whatever it was, he was already curious and eager to see what the meeting was about, so be leaped to his paws and trotted over to get a better view. As she started to speak, the brown kit felt his eyes widen and his body tense. Was she saying what he thought she was saying? Naming ceremonies? Pigeonpaw was one, but who would be the other two? He and Otterkit were the oldest in the nursery, it must be them! Quivering with excitement, he quickly looked around the clearing for any sign of his dark-furred brother, but was soon locked back on Willowstar as she called up the apprentice, not wanting to miss a moment.

[/justify]

[hedgie]

Pigeonpaw had been curled up in his nest, a ball of dust-colored fur lumped in the back of the apprentice's den. So far, there'd been nothing for him to do today, and there hadn't been much for a while. Since he'd rescued Jaywing, everything had seemed so slow and boring.Well, maybe if he saw her again...he'd be more than just Pigeonpaw.

But a cat could only hope, so he'd been in there since he'd woken up, though his stomach rumbled for food. He couldn't eat yet, not until he went and hunted for everyone else. Still, as an apprentice, he couldn't go running off on his own to do whatever he wished. That time would come, and he'd still have to tell someone where he was going. Oh well, it wasn't that big of a deal.

The tabby tom lifted his head up as Willowstar called a meeting. Slowly rising to his paws, he padded out of the den and was almost to the center of camp when his leader spoke again. He paused, one paw held above the ground as he twisted his head to look at her. He made his way slowly through the gathering cats, happy but still a bit shock. He hadn't exactly been expecting this yet.

He had no reason to complain.

He finally reached the stump and stood there, head raised up to look at her. The only part of him moving was the tip of his tail, and he was silent, despite the excitement and energy that coursed through him. Finally! He'd been waiting for this moment since he'd opened his eyes.

Otterkit had been watching the rest of the Clan as it moved along, splayed out in the sun, away from the nursery. He'd eaten just a bit earlier and his tummy was full. All was good, and there hadn't been any trouble recently. The solidly-built brown tom watched Willowstar with half-open amber eyes as she hopped up onto the Highstump, his short-ish tail lightly smacking the ground.Curious, he rose up and started to walk over to Rabbitkit, who was already near the stump. A naming ceremony?

Wait!

Not one, but three. Pigeonpaw was obvious, but who else? He and his brother were the oldest kits in the nursery....so it had to be them. He bounded over to Rabbitkit's side, tail stuck straight out behind him. "Finally!" He mewed, trying to keep his voice soft. "We're gonna be apprentices, Rabbitkit! Wouldn't Momma be so proud? I bet she is! It's kind of sad, though...I was just starting to make friends with Shadowkit and Streamkit..and they won't be apprentices for a long time yet!"

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Rabbitkit jumped and turned to his brother, eyes shining as they saw the darker brown kit next to him. Today was the day, they were finally going to be apprentices! He had been looking forward to this his whole life and was determined to be a good apprentice. Of course they would be leaving the nursery behind, and the kits they had befriended that came from WindClan, but he was eager to move into the apprentices' den. Besides, they got to hang around the apprentices, most of them they had been friends with in the nursery before they'd gotten older. It was like a reunion!

"Yeah, of course she's proud! And Father too! We're gonna be great, and we're gonna get to hang out with the other apprentices, and-" his whole body was shaking now, trembling with excitement as he cut off and looked up as Willowstar started to speak the ceremonious words for Pigeonpaw. As soon as this was over, they'd be next!

Willowstar waited patiently as the young tom came forward, staying still but still giving away the excitement in his eyes. No doubt he had been eager for this day to come since he'd become an apprentice. Nodding with approval and glancing through the crowd again to make sure all were listening, she began to speak. " I, Willowstar, leader of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Pigeonpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Her voice carried throughout camp, full of power and wisdom at the familiarity of these words, being spoken again for another new warrior being made. She waited until she heard his reply before going on swiftly, "Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name: Pigeonpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Pigeonheart. StarClan honors your courage and your compassion, and we welcome you as a full warrior of RiverClan."

She leaped off of the Highstump and padded over to the newly-named warrior, touching her nose to the top of his head briefly to finish the ceremony, then stepped back as the chorus of voices rose up to congratulate him, calling "Pigeonheart! Pigeonheart!" Willowstar let them go on until the excitement started to fade, then raised her head once more to perform the next part of this meeting.

"As part of tradition, tonight Pigeonheart will sit silent vigil and guard the camp, in order to reflect on his journey to warriorhood and think about what it truly means to be a warrior. Now, for something equally as exciting, two of our young toms are also ready to move up. Otterkit, Rabbitkit, come forward." As soon as the two young toms were standing before her she began. "These two cats are now old enough to become apprentices and learn the ways of the warrior. From this day forward, until they have earned their warrior names, these apprentices shall be called Otterpaw and Rabbitpaw. May StarClan guide their paws as they learn and grow, and keep them safe until then. Gingertail and Darkfoot, you are both ready for your first apprentices and I expect you will teach these young toms everything you know. Gingertail will be mentor to Otterpaw, and Darkfoot will mentor Rabbitpaw."

Two more cats, kin of her own deputy, were now apprentices. She hoped that they would make it to warriorhood.

Rabbitkit watched with wide eyes as Pigeonpaw was given his warrior name and congratulated by the Clan. He wanted that to be him some day, standing in front of Willowstar and being given an amazing warrior name, like Rabbitheart or Rabbitleap! Almost as soon as the warrior ceremony was done, Willowstar was moving on. Yes! Rabbitkit gave a little jump as he heard that he was going to be made an apprentice, and all but bounced up toward the leader, unable to keep still. Rabbitkit, now Rabbitpaw, reveled in the sound of his new name that denounced he was a warrior apprentice, and couldn't help the beam of happiness showing up on his face. He glanced through the crowd in search of his new mentor, almost too lost in the excitement to be disappointed that it hadn't been Leopardfang. He did want the senior warrior to be his mentor, but maybe Darkfoot wouldn't be so bad... right?

[/justify]

[hedgie]

He'd only been standing there for a few minutes, right?

Why did it feel so much like hours?

Pigeonpaw watched, still perfectly still, as Willowstar glanced about the gathered cats, heart beating quickly, a sped-up staccato in his chest. And then, as if she was reading his mind, as if he knew he was growing steadily impatient, Willowstar started to speak. Ears perked, the light-colored tabby tom listened intently, concentrating on every word spoken as if his life depended upon it.

At her question, he answered with a confident "Yes." , with a curt nod afterward. And then finally, finally...he was no longer an apprentice, no longer Pigeonpaw.

Pigeonheart. He liked the ring of that.

Willowstar touched her nose to the top of his head, and then she stepped away. Now, he just couldn't stop smiling as the rest of the Clan called out his name. He didn't mind having to sit vigil all night. Right at that moment, he doubted he'd ever be able to sleep again. It was just so exciting.

At his leader's command, Otterkit raced forward, knowing his brother was right beside him, his short, thick tail held out behind him until he came to a complete stop, his nose almost touching the Highstump. He took a few steps backwards, smiling and a bit embarrassed. Hey, they couldn't blame him for being excited.

It was to be expected.

The young brown tom raised his head higher and beamed at the crowd as he became Otterpaw. Not Otterkit.

Otterpaw.

He looked around quickly, twisting his neck as far as he could to find the warrior that would help him on his way to being a warrior himself. He spotted her, amber eyes sparking with energy, and it took almost all of the apprentice's control not to race over to her.

[Kitty]

This was it. This was the day he and his sister would be getting their first apprentices.

As Willowstar called the Clan meeting to get the ceremonies started, Darkfoot tapped Gingertail with his tail tip and gestured for her to follow. She obeyed, and together they went and took their place among the warriors to listen to the meeting and the naming ceremonies.

First up was Pigeonpaw, and Willowstar went through the traditional ceremony easily, Pigeonpaw agreeing to serve his Clan, and then he was no longer Pigeonpaw, but instead Pigeonheart. The dark tabby yowled his name along with the rest of the Clan, Gingertail's voice ringing out beside him. "Pigeonheart! Pigeonheart!"

And then Willowstar called the two kits up, and Darkfoot felt his sister trembling next to him in excitement, as if this were her apprentice ceremony instead of theirs. Gingertail always was easily excited over things, though.

Finally, Willowstar was calling their names as mentors. The warrior strode forward, head held high, and approached his new apprentice. Rabbitpaw. From what he knew of the former kit, he was a lively cat to be around. He touched his nose to the young tom's and blinked at him encouragingly.

He had an apprentice to train now.

Sitting through Pigeonpaw's warrior ceremony was a form of torture in itself, Gingertail was so eager for her new apprentice. But she yowled out the new warrior's name - Pigeonheart, nice choice - along with the rest of the Clan. Finally, it was time for the apprentice ceremony. Willowstar had already informed them that they would be mentors to the two kits - sibling kits get sibling mentors, how nice! - and now Gingertail was practically quivering in excitement for her new responsibilities.

Willowstar dubbed the two kits - formerly Rabbitkit and Otterkit - with their new names, Otterpaw and Rabbitpaw, and announced their mentors. Gingertail bounced foward out of the crowd of warriors and very nearly ran to her new apprentice. Otterpaw. Otterpaw. Finally, she had an apprentice! She touched her nose to the young tom's, and like that, she was talking. "We're gonna take you on a tour of the territory, kay? Right now, as soon as the ceremony is over!" But she had the good sense to keep her voice down. "You're brother's coming too, me and Darkfoot already have it all planned out!"

This mentor thing was going to be great, Gingertail could already tell!