Open to Join Winds Across the Sky - Riverclan Apprentice Ceremony

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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"Lilyriver! Today is the day right?" Skykit asked, trying and failing to keep her paws still as Coldstar's voice bellowed throughout the clearing. "Will I get my mentor today?" She asked, the tip of her tail twitching ever so slightly as she moved to stand up and glanced over to Galekit, surely he would be just as excited about this day as she was, after all, they have played around pretending to be warriors, now they're a step closer to being what they pretended to be!

Skykit smiled at her brother softly and nudged his shoulder softly with her own "Who do you think your mentor will be Galekit? I wonder if Cinderwisp or Coldstar will mentor one of us" She chirped, however her soft chittering was interrupted by their mother's amused rasping.

After Lilyriver's words, Skykit took a few paces forward, looking behind her to see if her longhaired brother followed. Smiling encouragingly.

I am shaped by the trials I refuse to surrender to.

༄༅:･ﾟ🕊️･ﾟ:༅༅༄

"You won't get given names and mentors if you're not out there when he calls you" Lilyriver purred, partially relieved to get out of the nursery and reminiscing on the times when her kits were only small lumps of fur, like tiny clumps of snow. She let out another purr as she ushered both the kits out of the nursery toward the clearing, where Coldstar was looking over the clan, waiting for them, and whoever their mentors will be.

Lilyriver didn't have much to say, not yet, the promotion of senior warrior to Merryaster caught her attention though. Perhaps Coldstar is eyeing one of her kits to go to her, but she wouldn't make a fuss, as long as she Coldstar knows what he's doing then it is fine with her. Lilyriver trusted Coldstar enough.

One day, I’ll fight beside the warriors. Not against them

·: *ೃ༄ ☁︎ .ೃ࿐:·

Galekit stood up as his mother rushed him and his sister to the clearing, looking over at his sister sharing her excitement of the day. they had played pretend times before, but it felt entirely different now that they were making their way beneath the twin willows. the small tom bounced in excitement his heart jumping with him. his smile was prominent as he stayed close to his kin.

a gentle nudge caught him by surprise as he looked at his sister Skykit, nodding his head at the kitten he was going to think of who would be training him before his mother made a quick stop of it. the kittens smile faltered slightly picking up the pace with his sister, he didn't want to lose out on his name nor a new mentor.

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

The pressure of knowing what would lie ahead of her would have worried any cat. And maybe Merryaster was concerned in her own way, but most of the emotion that welled up inside her was excitement. A rare sliver of pride that she rarely ever showed as she groomed down her shoulder fluff for a second time while trying to not make the time she spent outside of the warrior's den too obvious.

Her pelt had been lightly dampened by her earlier hunt, which even now gave her coat an otterlike sheen. Her mother had appreciated the catch, and she spotted her among the crowd as Coldstar gathered her Clanmates to the boughs of Twinwillow.

She blinked respectfully towards Lilyriver as she took her place nearby, wondering if the aged white she-cat had mentally worked through her suspicions about receiving her new rank as senior warrior. Teal eyes narrowed appreciateively up at Coldstar as he called the kits forward.

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I identify as a threat. My pronouns are Try/Me.

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Coldstar gave the pair of snow white fluffs a moment to collect themselves before calling out again, his voice echoing across the clearing for all to hear. 

"Merryaster." He nodded at his own apprentice, waiting for her to get to her feet before continuing. "You have shown maturity and a deep love for your clan that none can deny or shake. You shall be the mentor for Skykit, now Skypaw. Pass on all that you have learned from your family and friends to this young apprentice."

He knew this was the correct choice. He trusted Merryaster to train another loyal, mindful warrior for Riverclan. Now all that was left was his other choice. May Starclan see he had spent many a moon agonizing over this one.

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

The she-cat practically beamed as Coldstar addressed her to step forward, assigned one of the white kits that he had promised. Skykit - well, Skypaw now - would begin her first steps learning the basics of being a warrior, and she would learn the fundamentals of mentoring.

With a flick of her dark ringed tail, she approached the apprentice and gave the customary greeting between apprentice and mentor, the lights of her eyes shining down at her new ward. "Skypaw." She nodded towards the young she-cat, the first to address her directly, whie the edges of her smile grew and eyes half lidded with the promise of adventure.

She was prepared for the long winded border patrol and she couldn't wait to get to know Skypaw better.

Stars do not pull each other down to be visible, they shine brighter.

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Skypaw's ears picked at the mention of her new name. Flicking every so often as if to try and memorize it as her own. After all, she had gotten very used to everyone calling her Skykit. Now she was a new cat entirely, one unbound by nursery walls, but bound only by. "Merryaster." her returning chirp came warm and bright as she pressed her small pink nose against Merryaster's black nose.

She moved her gaze towards Coldstar standing on the twin willows, as if to wordlessly show her thanks before joining Merryaster where she sat among the cats in the clearing, after all, she didn't want the spotlight on her more than it ever needed to be. Skypaw took in a breath her first day as an official apprentice. This is one she will remember for the rest of her life, she was sure of it.

"Could I talk with Lilyriver and Galekit after the ceremony?" It felt strange to continue calling her brother, Galekit when she was now an apprentice, but it was only momentary, given that Coldstar seemed well prepared to announce Galekit as an apprentice next, just a few more moments, then they will be apprentices, both of them, together again.

I am shaped by the trials I refuse to surrender to.

༄༅:･ﾟ🕊️･ﾟ:༅༅༄

Lilyriver easily noticed Merryaster's respectful blink at her, to it, she nodded. She was a good cat she wouldn't be one to deny that, but part of her still had doubts, best give Skypaw to someone with less experience anyway, Galekit will be a little more troublesome, given whoever his mentor is going to be, she wished them luck on the endeavor. After all, he was an extremely tempermental kit to take care of, not that she minded really. But she knew that a warrior that lacked experience could crumble if unprepared, Skypaw was good for Merryaster at least.

Lilyriver then took her gaze to Coldstar, a stare that could shatter ice was directed at him, she said nothing, but the wordless stare definitely should have gotten the message across. 'Make the right choice.'

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I identify as a threat. My pronouns are Try/Me.

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And now came the other one. He could feel Lilyriver's eyes on him and the gaze of the entire clan. It had not escaped his attention that Galekit had a tendancy to get frustrated and lash out at his clanmates. Not that it was unexpected for a cat of bolder bearing but that would have to be tempered or redirected with time. It wouldn't be fair to give a new warrior such a tempermental ward. 

"By the grace vested to me by Starclan, I, Coldstar will be the mentor of Galekit, now Galepaw. As a mentor and a leader - I will teach you all that I know." 

There were few as stubborn as himself in Riverclan. Even if it meant he couldn't take a personal touch in training his own kits, this is what was right. He had a duty to his clan over his kin. Coldstar hopped down from his perch and stooped to touch noses with his newest apprentice. "I expect great things from you. From all of you."

One day, I’ll fight beside the warriors. Not against them

·: *ೃ༄ ☁︎ .ೃ࿐:·

Galekit swallowed hard, his whiskers twitched, as his eyes fixated on Skypaw as she moved to take her spot with the rest of the clan next to her new mentor, it was now his turn to get his name, he had waited for so long but standing alone felt strange, but he knew it was only going to be for a moment. The white tom's body was rigid he only drawing shallow breaths. But now it was his turn and even those small puffs of air felt hard to do.

He stared at the tabby that perched on the tree, waiting for his words like every other cat. he felt his heart skip a beat as Coldstar stared down at the clan then opened his maw to speak. when the Leader’s decision rang out, Galepaw could only blink in astonishment. He expected a normal warrior, not Coldstar. His body tensed as the Leader approached. Taking a step to the tom, he lifted his head he pressed his nose to his now mentor.

Looking up at the tabby he thought to speak but instead he simply nodded. Though a part of Galepaw was excited he was finally an apprentice, and he liked how Galepaw sounded