[ti]Open[/ti]Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.

[sabs]

BRACKENFALL -- >

    Yet again the tabby tom had been entrusted with ceremonies this moon, and there was a lot to be done. Five apprentices to be given mentors and, three warriors, his own kits, to be given names. He had stewed for a long time over their names, as well as which apprentices to give to which warriors. He would've asked for Mothstar's input, but his sickness seemed so back and forth that the deputy wasn't sure which days were good and which days were bad. In any case, Brackenfall didn't see the illness leaving the old leader anytime soon. He figured he would have to get used to this eventually, maybe even sooner than expected. As much as he'd like to mull over that fact and give in to his anxiety, there was much to be done around the camp. With two of their warriors leaving on some strange Clan expedition, and the rogues knocking on their doorstep, there was never a shortage of things to keep the deputy's mind occupied.

    Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, the deputy pounced onto the High Rock, the warm Greenleaf sun illuminating his large form. He stood for a moment, quiet as he observed his Clanmates. Some had noticed his position and idly stood by, awaiting the initiation of the ceremony. Others were bringing in freshkill with their apprentices. The queens and their kits sat outside the nursery, sunning themselves. The deputy noticed that Eveningblaze and Milkberry had been sitting outside the medicine cat den for quite a few sunrises now, watching over Ruststripe. A pang of pity hit the tabby tom as he thought of the horror the ruddy warrior must have gone though. He caught the scarred black warrior's eye and gave him a nod, noting that him and his companion made their way towards the rock.

    "All cats old enough to fight their own battles, meet here beneath the High Rock for a Clan meeting!" His voice rang throughout the open camp as the rest of the Clan began to file in. He watched as the future apprentices stood giddily to the side, their mother giving them each one last lick before shoving them forward. His kits as well stood before him, looking eager as ever. A purr rumbled in the deputy's throat as he noticed how large their Clan had grown since the first day he joined. Mothstar really achieved it, a strong, proud, and formidable Clan. A family. His gaze traveled back to the squabble of kits once more. "Redkit." He beckoned, watching as the young tom stepped forward.

    "From this day forward you shall be known as Redpaw. Tansysong is a fierce fighter with a quick wit. I believe she will be best suited to help you hone your skills in battle. Treat her with respect and you may be so fortunate to earn hers." The tom gave a smirk of amusement. Tansysong was one of his closest friends, but she had quite the attitude. If Redpaw had the persistence, however, there was a lot he could learn from her besides the usual battle moves. Brackenfall motioned for the small black tom, Darkkit, to come forward. 

    "Darkkit, you shall be known as Darkpaw. Eveningblaze is one of our most skilled and senior warriors. He will teach you to hold your tongue and fight with your claws. Be mindful and open to his teachings, there is much that you can learn from him." The black tom had recently lost his previous apprentice, Volepaw, and it was thought that the rogues had gotten him around the same time as Ruststripe's disappearance. He assumed that the warrior wouldn't mind having another apprentice to keep his mind off of such things. Though, Darkpaw would be quite the handful for the usually quite and cold tom. He was confident the warrior would be able to shape his apprentice into a respectful MothClan warrior. 

    "Scorchkit" He began, moving onto the next apprentice. "From this day forth you shall be known as Scorchpaw. Pantherleap is a loyal and fearsome warrior. She will undoubtedly pass such skills onto you. Take honor in her teachings and I believe she will make you into the finest MothClan warrior." He nodded to the new apprentice as his mentor stepped forward to fetch him. "Cherrykit." He smiled, noting the uncanny resemblance between the small she-cat and his daughter. "From this day forward you shall be known as Cherrypaw. Batstrike may be young, but he is confident and quick, skills which I believe will make him the perfect mentor for a fiery she-cat such as yourself. Do your best to listen to what he has to offer and he will guide your paws to success."

    The deputy looked down at the last kit, a soft smile on his face. "Sparrowkit, from this day forward you shall be known as Sparrowpaw." He began, scanning the clearing until he caught sight of her new mentor's white pelt. "Milkberry is an excitable young she-cat with a soft heart. I believe she will be best suited to help you find your place in the Clan, just as she had only moons ago. In fact, you both may have things that you can learn from each other." The tom paused to let the pair touch noses, and to catch his own breath. He ran over the names for his kits once more before continuing, pride dripping in his voice.

    "Amberpaw." He began, not missing a beat. "You have trained zealously and learned to overcome your disability. Your determined yet gentle heart is a gift to us all. From now on you shall be known as Ambershine. May your light shine throughout the Clan on even the darkest of days." He paused to give his daughter a soft touch on the forehead before moving onto his other one. Thunderpaw stepped forward confidently, though anxiousness glimmered in her eyes. "Thunderpaw, under Lionstorm you have trained rigorously to learn his ways and the ways of our Clan. Your self-assurance is unmatched, but do not let it consume you. From this day forward you shall be known as Thunderbird. May your claws be sharp and your mind quick of wit." He gave a soft purr as the new warrior gave him an affectionate nudge before stepping back to let her brother come forth.

    The deputy looked down upon his striking red son warmly. "Pigeonpaw." He mewed, letting the tom settle in front of him. "It seems that all of my kits have quite the confidence about them, and you are no exception. You have proven yourself worthy of that confidence and made your mark. From this day forward you shall be known as Pigeonfang. Give reason to grow your confidence and strike down those who may seek to bring you or your Clanmates suffering." Brackenfall stepped forward a final time and touched his nose to his son's forehead. The cries of his Clanmates rang out as the cheered on the new apprentices and warriors, but once they realized that the tabby tom had not moved, quieted down once more.

    "The rogues seem to think that they have the upper hand. But with each passing day we grow stronger, smarter, swifter. We are learning their tricks, and once we have mastered them we will no longer fall victim to their traps." He paused, a serious expression on his face. "As well, we are honored to have sent two of our bravest warriors on a mission to find another Clan. Should they retaliate, we will show them the same treatment that we give to our hostile neighbors. Our Clan is strong, and we will show those that oppose us just what it means to be a MothClan warrior!" His voice rang out and his tail lashed about. Some cats yowled in approval before hushing themselves as he finished speaking. "Tonight, intruders beware, as we are under watch of our fiercest and bravest new warriors. Keep your eyes open when leaving camp fellow Clanmates. These are strange times, not everything is as it may seem." The deputy looked out upon his Clan once more, then jumped down as the congratulating started up again. 

[mewmehh]

Turquoise eyes watched solemnly as many young members of the clan cheered and bounced around, fresh-faced as the day they were born, it seemed to the blue queen. Bellfeather's eyes twinkled lightly, a little glimmer of joy within their cool pools as the sight of new warriors and apprentice cut through the emptiness she felt. It was brief and pleasant, but trailed in a twang of sadness. It made the she-warrior miss her own apprentice, her dearest friend. She knew he was watching over her from the stars, but Bellfeather felt just miserable without him beside her. He was always beside her.

Still, despite her mourning, Starclan had graced Mothclan. They had lost three cats to the rogues this passing moon, but alas! One had returned to their ranks. It had been a day of delight to see Ruststripe resting within Cedarleap's den, albeit battered, but alive. It was a small win, but a win nonetheless. It was a sign that the rogues were still mortals- they still made mistakes- and that Mothclan was not to be taken so lightly. Today rang true with the same message.

Many kits were named apprentices and Bellfeather's liquid voice rang out just as loud as any other's as she praised the little members. She was particularly amused at the pairing of Eveningblaze and Darkpaw. She recalled the afternoon that the little kit had gone around announcing his mateship with his silver denmate and Bellfeather knew his apprenticeship would be an interesting one. The blue warrior giggled softly as, if on cue, the black tom was at his new mentor's side.

Darkpaw barreled over from he had been standing by his littermates, ignoring the dismayed cries of his annoyed mother, to where Eveningblaze had been sitting by the Medicine Cat's den. Not hesitating to wait for his new mentor to stand and greet him, Darkpaw smashed his large head into the scarred warrior's, crashing his noir nose into Eveningblaze's. "I can't wait to start training," he exclaimed loudly, his voice a cracking mixture of prepubescent squealing and a deep rumble. His tail lashed happily, and managed to smack an unassuming Milkberry as she sat beside the senior warrior.

The pale warrior had sent Darkpaw a daggered look before her attention was torn away from the black brat and pulled to Brackenfall. It took her a minute to register what he had said, and before she could think, Milkberry reflexively hopped to her sooty paws. She sported a bit of a dumbfound look as she trotted over to the front where Sparrowpaw stood, though her expression shifted into a more confident smile with every step she took. As she reached the fluffy brown she-cat, Milkberry's eyes were full of warmth despite their deep blueness of their depths. She delicately and affectionately touched her nose to her new apprentice's and purred,"I'm looking forward to it."

[Storm]

BATSTRIKE
MothClan | Warrior | Tom | 14 Moons | Heterosexual

The lean black and white tom caught the deputy’s voice from his place near the edge of camp. As per usual Batstrike padded nearer but remained at the back of the gathered clan. Watching the ceremony from the back was no issue with his tall build. His yellow gaze was idly set forward as the proceeding went on, mind busy with other things such as Shadowstorm’s health. His thoughts only minorly holding on the new apprentices since he had avoided the young cats for the sake of his own patience. He hadn’t known any of their names and they were of no interest to him until now.

Cherrypaw was the next cats name, the tom had little time to examine the apprentice before his attention was snatched by the mention of his name. He gathered his paws beneath him and stood momentarily confused, listening to Brakenfall’s words of belief in him. Pushing aside all his hesitation about the clan and resentment of pushy authority, the words filled him with some pride for once. I’m going to be a mentor, he thought a bit questioning at first but as he strode forward through his clanmates the thought was more sound. Confident.

Towering the apprentice he had stepped up to Batstrike dipped his head to his new apprentice. Offering his dark nose to meet with the she-cat. “Nice to meet you Cherrypaw,” the cat coed with his charming white grin. A good mood mixed with the feeling that he shouldn’t form any expectations for his new apprentice quite yet.



SPARROWPAW
MothClan | Apprentice | She-Cat | 7 Moons | Heterosexual

Sparrowkit, fluffy tail high, happily followed her fellow den mates.  Little heart fluttering as she found herself in the group before the entire clan. It was finally time, worry had gathered in the back of her mind for this moment over the past moon. She was going to be an apprentice with all kinds of new duties and challenges to deal with. The fear of not being able to stack up with the many others of mighty MothClan had her trembling beneath her fluffy long brown fur. She sat quietly with a nervous smile on her maw, warm orbs cast down to the flat grass beneath her pink paw pads as the ceremony began.

As the names were called she started to shift her weight awkwardly. As each kit was placed with their mentor her name drew closer and heart beat a little faster. Finally, Cherryki-paw was called forward and the little kits eyes flicked up realizing she sat alone. Her tail wrapped over her paws and she tried to grow even smaller, anxious she may even be forgotten this moon; too small to be an apprentice yet. Last, her thoughts and heart raced wildly, she hoped the clan was watching the mentor-apprentice pair meeting and not the little figure sitting on her own. As Brackenfall moved on to her she looked up to him, his face kind she felt a bit more at ease focusing on him. She shakily found her paws beneath her to stand, Sparrowpaw. I’m Sparrowpaw now, she reassured herself as he spoke of her new mentor. All along she had wondered if she’d be placed with one of the many big, scarred and scary felines of the clan. She feared how difficult it would be to train under someone like that, she turned to follow the deputy’s gaze to the cat he had assigned over her and spoke so highly suited for her.

She swallowed difficulty as the warrior approached, she tried to puff out her chest for her new mentor, but her eyes were wide and revealing. She lifted her pink nose to meet with Milkberry’s, she smiled in response to her kind words. This she-cat didn’t seem so bad, maybe Sparrowpaw really could do this.

[Miss Tactical]

Redkit had been groomed by his father making sure each fur was nice. Despite being MothClan's flirt, his dad was very much apart of his and his brothers life and it meant a lot to the red tom. He puffed up his chest ready to become an apprentice! He sat next to his best friend Cherrykit whom was also going to become an apprentice. His dad had brought him another shiny rock. Before his name got called he placed it at the she-cats paws. "This is for you." He mewed handing his gift to the she-cat. His name was called shortly after, his mentor being Tansysong. He had to swing his head around to figure out where the she-cat was. he locked eyes with her before padding over touching his nose to hers. "I will work hard for you I promise!" He beamed. He had a slight deficit only being able to see out of one eye, but he would do his best nonetheless!

---

Lionstorm watched as both Dark-kit Redkit and Scorchkit become apprentices. His three boys...Leafkit didn't make it to apprenticeship and it was quite a shame. He sighed softly looking as Emberbrook made her way back towards the warriors. He didn't feel a connection with the she-cat but these three boys meant the world to him, thus he made sure no fur was out of place for there ceremony. "WOO THOSE ARE MY BOYS!" The red tom mewed. He puffed out his chest watching as each one went towards their mentors. MothClan was strong, and he couldn't wait for them to be warriors! It was then next Brackenfalls kits were becoming warriors, one of which was his own apprentice Thunderpaw.

One of her siblings and two of her den mates became warriors early and despite that it didn't shatter her spirit. She continued to work hard day in and day out, he couldn't have been more proud. So when Brackenfall called her new name as Thunderbird he stood up, took in a deep breath and yelled. "YES THUNDERBIRD THAT'S MY GIRL!" He let out yowls of excitement, she was almost like a daughter to him, spending almost every day for the past 6 moons training to be the best warrior MothClan could see, and he believed whole heartedly that he had succeeded in creating a great warrior.

---

Eveningblaze sat next to Milkberry just outside of the medicine cats den. As days went by, Ruststripes strength grew and he spent less and less time there. Not because he disliked the rust colored she-cat but space was a factor. He grumbled a few words to himself as Brackenfall took his spot knowing very well there were some excited kits becoming apprentices today. It was when his name was called he stood up making his way to the center, a ritual that was almost auto pilot to him lately training apprentices back to back three times now. As Darkpaws named was called, his eyes locked onto Brackenfall with a "you have got to be joking me" kind of look.

He raised a brow as Darkpaw trotted forward exclaiming how excited he was to start training. Eveningblaze chuckled slightly shaking his head from side to side. The energy of young apprentices amused him. Finally his fierce gaze locked onto the apprentices and he narrowed his eyes. "Don't be. Because day in and day out you will be worked until every muscle in your body is screaming at you to stop. He mewed trying to spook his apprentice. He did the same thing with Bristleblaze and that warrior turned out just fine. He padded away to take his place back to Milkberry, congratulating her on her apprentice.

---

Shadowstorm watched from the medicine cats den, his leg tied up between bark and bindweed. He puffed out his chest when Batstrikes name was called. When all had settled down, he hobbled over with a limp, the bark making a loud thudding noise in the dirt. He gave Batstrike a playful nudge before dipping his head. "Congratuatlions." HE mewed sternly. Now that Batstrike had his first apprentice, it was his time to stop watching out for him. Shadowstorm had high expectations from everyone, and honestly, Batstrike met them, he went above and beyond he was proud. "I'm proud of you."He mewed. In the 6 moons that Shadowstorm trained the tom, not once had Shadowstorm ever said he was proud, it was a first.

"Now it's your turn. You watch over Cherrypaw like I watched over you, even when she's warrior until she gets her first apprentice. Until then, she's always your apprentice even when a warrior." He mewed. Shadowstorm always considered Batstrike like a son, perhaps that's why the black warrior was always so tough on him. Either way it was time to let the bird fly from the nest. He had his own apprentice now, and he had a feeling they would learn a lot from each other, and Shadowstorm couldn't wait to see what happened with that.

[gingersnapsdacat]

Bunnypaw weaved and pushed her way to the front of the crowd, stepping on tails and squashing many paws in the process. Usually, she might try to be a bit more careful, but today, she had more important things on her mind. Today, she was FINALLY going to be reunited with her beloved Darkkit. Granted, before they had only been a den away from one another, but it just felt so much further! She could hardly contain herself as she watched the handsome young tomcat stride up and receive his apprentice name.
Eveningblaze...isn't he that spooky one-eyed guy? The one who was hanging out around the medicine cat den?
She looked over her shoulder, finding the cat who was her friends new mentor, before she looked back to the highjack to see Sparrowkit becoming an apprentice as well. 
I forgot! She is only a moon younger than me! YEs! Operation apprentice gang has began! 
She wove her way through the crowd once more, making her way over to congratulate both the tomcat she loved, and the friend she had met a few sunrises ago. 
"CONGRATULATIONS!" She squealed. 

[noctemq]

Cherrypaw

Sparks were practically flying off of Cherrypaw's pelt when she heard her name called. She was still very new to the practices of clan-cats, so she had no idea what was going on at first; her nosy little self was just drawn in with the crowd with curiosity beaming out of her widened eyes. Age had never occured to her and Cherrypaw felt like she was going to be a kit for much longer, but it was time to become an apprentice now!

"Wha-" Cherrypaw had very little time to react to Redpaw's present before she was called
up to meet her mentor. Not knowing what to do and trying her best to think on her feet, she quickly scooped up the rock into her mouth and marched up to imitate what the other apprentices were doing. She didn't want to lose her new gift among the sea of Mothclan cats and couldn't think of a better idea besides bringing it up with her. With little hesitation, she touched noses with Batstrike, her posture straight and full of confidence.

"Train meph goodth," she garbled out firmly to her new mentor, the rock still in her mouth.

[Storm]

BATSTRIKE
MothClan | Warrior | Tom | 14 Moons | Heterosexual

The dark tom rose with a with a single chuckle at Cherrypaw’s speech through the rock. An action like that would have annoyed him usually, a little too kit-like still, but they would be celebrating soon and she was his apprentice now. He’d let it slide as to not ruin the pride he felt now. Besides, he had just went through trying to keep his initial judgment of her at bay, he’d see her true colors with all the time they would spend training together. He turned with a smirk and a sideways flick of his white tail tip to her, his way of conveying his thoughts to enjoy the nights vigil.

The feline watched the rest of the ceremony quietly and once it ended his gaze contently checked on his exuberant clanmates. Sparrowpaw, a kit he was unsure he had ever even seen before, was spotted happily nuzzling Bunnypaw in thanks. Even he had heard her squeaking out to the younger cats she must have been friends with.

Batstrike noticed the thump of Shadowstorm’s approach and moved to shorten the distance the cat had to travel. Playing off his former mentors nudge he dipped his head in return with a smug look held on his face. The older toms next words cut the expression into a dumbfounded one though, he looked far more lost even from when his name was called to come fetch an apprentice. He’s proud… of me. The cat buried his square head into Shadowstorm’s black fur, hopefully not jostling the currently tripoded cat to much with his nuzzle. “Thank you for everything.” He stated softly, he could never appreciate all the tom had done for him enough and he still planned on leaning on his experiences in the future. He nodded again to his advice, smiling as he caught its two-sided meaning. He would do his best as a mentor, but the older tom wasn’t going to get rid of his former apprentice even now. Batstrike fully intended to continue to pester the cat he had adopted as a father figure. He feared he would need his advice more than ever now for training his first apprentice.

NOTES: Crying

[KingHarry]

Mothstar seemed fail as the old leader shuffled his way out of his den, lured into the waking world by the voice of his deputy. Oh, yes. Ceremonies. He'd missed them, it seemed. That was okay, though. Brackenfall was becoming more competent day by day, and Mothstar had no doubts that he would make a good leader when the time came. 

His tail brushed against his deputy's back as he walked past, ensuring that Brackenfall was aware of his presence, before the leader hopped onto the rock himself. "MothCl-" Mothstar started, before cutting himself off with a violent cough. His health had hardly been the best recently - that was no secret - and it seemed that the issues only continues to flourish. 

"MothClan, I have something else to say concerning the rogues." His voice was croaky, but at least it was loud enough to boom across the camp. "Those foxhearted cowards dare not face us on the battlefield because they know that we are stronger. They resort to sneaky tricks suited only to the weakest inhabitant of the Dark Forest, and we cannot allow that to stand. I did not form this clan only to have it bow to the lack of power of an insignificant group of  flea-infested brutes."

As he spoke, Mothstar's voice seemed to grow stronger - the leader easily slipping into back into the form of the passionate, brave warrior that he had been when he was younger. No - that he still was. Age had not dulled his sense of honour and loyalty - it had only increased it. If these rogues thought that they were going to get the better of him and his clan, they were wrong.

"MothClan, as of this moment, I am declaring war on the rogues. I want extra patrols along our border with the twolegs - double the size of a usual one in order to crush any pitiful attempts of attack that our enemies can muster-" The leader coughed again, spit flying down from the rock he was standing on. "Hailstrike, I want you to go to MistClan. Tell them of this and ask if they wish to join our efforts. Alderfall, you do the same with IvyClan. These rogues are an issue for us all, and if I can have it I want to support of my fellow clan cats. These rogues are the enemy of StarClan itself, thus they are the enemy of every single one of us."

[foggy]

♚♚♚♚♚♚♚♚♚♚♚

The long-haired feline was sat amongst those gathered for the ceremony, watching as Brackenfall called out the names of apprentices and warriors alike. None of the names called out sparked any particular significance but she most of the new warriors were once her denmates who she had trained alongside, so the least she could do was offer them the respect they had gave her when she was made a warrior. She couldn't say she was the most humble of warriors but she knew simple decency could get you a long way. Her sister had taught her that.

Brackenfall ended the meeting with spontaneously becoming a poet, albeit a vague and morose one. The warning put a bit of a dampener on the whole thing, but Hailstrike knew that it had to be mentioned at one point. Times truly were changing, the rouges had been a threat for a while now but there presence had not dimmed in that time, and now there was the added apprehension with a new clan, that could be good or bad. Most likely bad, a new clan meant more competition, and that meant fighting. Though, the tabby had no doubts when it came to Mothclan's superiority and enjoyed a fight as much as the next warrior, she would prefer for any injuries amongst her clanmates to be minimal when there was so much danger about.

Having said her congratulations, she began to turn away, she had a patrol later so she'd best get ready. However, a familiar figure made an impromptu appearance, wordlessly summoning everyone's attention. Hailstrike figured that her father had sat the meeting out due to fatigue or illness, it was usually one or the other these days, but when her amber eyes settled on the aged face of the leader, she noted an intensity that outshone the persistent woes of aging.

War. A wry smile passed her lips, she had already been at war with the rouges since her mother's untimely demise, but now she could finally have a chance at doing some real damage. As her father said at her warriorship/punishment, the back-up of her clan would give her an advantage against those flea-bags that gave her a real chance of finally taking her revenge. Mothstar continued on, not wasting time. She was to go to Mistclan, ask for help. Hailstrike felt a sliver of indignation of being forced to ask for aid, but she quickly decided that she didn't mind if the rouges got squashed as a result. "Right away," Without waiting, the she-cat fled the meeting, though she would not be opposed to company from some apprentices or warriors willing to join her, she just hoped they knew that this was a sensitive topic for her, so urgency was key. The quicker the rouges were destroyed, the sooner Hailstrike could live knowing that she had finally avenged her mother.