[ti]Open[/ti]We Are More Than We Are

[LupTacco]

Brushing her sides along the stone, Bearstar navigated out of her den slowly. She was almost used to it now, using her whiskers and the ends of her short fur to navigate the world, listening for where the echoes ended when others would speak or walk near her. Though she could no longer see the rise and fall of the sun, she knew her camp well. The sounds of cats shuffling between dens quietly, preparing to rest for the evening, told her all she needed to know- it was about the proper time for naming others under the first stars of the evening. Tucking her paws in neatly under her chest, she took a deep breath and let out a yowl, "Let all cats old enough to cross the waterfall gather here for a clan meeting!"

"I may not have my vision- as most of you have surely noticed by now- but I still have my strength, and this moon I am filled with great pride. Squirrelpaw and Patchpaw are ready to enter the warriors den, as are my oldest children- Hootpaw, Mothpaw, and Roundpaw. Each of you, come forward," the weariness in her heart lifted as she heard her children weave through the crowd to sit before her. In spite of everything, she still had three perfect children, and would take on the honor of naming them herself.

"Squirrelpaw, you have a wealth of knowledge and a full mind that can't help but come out in your speech- you will be named Squirrelchatter," she began first with the two apprentices she had not raised, but was still glad to be appointing to their warriorhood. "And Patchpaw, you will be named Patchfoot, for your curiosity and wandering steps."

Sweeping her tail outward and straightening up, Bearstar smiled warmly as she now addressed her only daughter. "Hootpaw, you have been by my side through so much, and I'm afraid I haven't always been by yours. You make an old queen so much more proud than I can begin to express, and I know you're as beautiful as the day you were born. I name you Hootswoop- you were always at my side, like an owl flying low, and you're as graceful as any bird."

"Mothpaw, you are a handful, to me as well as your mentor Rookshade- but you are a fine young man, and I am proud to have helped raise you into the warrior you are today. I cannot see your coat anymore, but I know it must be as messy as always," she purred with light amusement, "Your name will be Mothsnarl, not just for your tangled pelt, but for your fierce heart."

"And Roundpaw," she hummed thoughtfully, "you aren't as fierce as your brother, nor as driven as your sister- but you have a beautiful heart, and sometimes others could use a reminder to take things slow. I know you're a handsome young man, solidly built and full of warmth. I will name you... Roundface." She let her words settle in, before lifting her sightless gaze upwards.

"This meeting is concluded, but the season of Green-Leaf has just begun. Let it be a peaceful one!" The smile she wore when she had named her fully-grown kits lingered on the corners of her muzzle- perhaps, things would be looking up after all. In spite of everything that had happened in the winter and spring, perhaps things were getting better.

[Broadwaykat]

Duskypetal couldn't believe the little twerp had grown up so fast. Roundpaw...well, he was a good kid, and totally deserved any name he got - at least, that's what he thought. And just because he was in the warrior's den now didn't mean he'd stop looking out for him.

"Right on, Roundface!" He called out, easily slipping from former teacher to the idea of a possible friend - or somewhat cool older brother. At least in his own mind. "Hootswoop, Patchfoot, Squirrelchatter - all you lot. Welcome, all of ya - so long as none of you snore!"

[Storm]

Hootswoop
MistClan | Warrior | She-Cat | 12 Moons | Heterosexual

Hootpaw had made her way beneath her mother as she called her clan.  A warm smile graced her maw as she sat, eyes raised up to Bearstar.  She'd nearly forgotten it was her and her littermates time to be named warriors, but she stood and gracefully stepped forward with the others when called.  It would be a relief to finally be free of the stress of apprentice duties.  She scrunched her nose up playfully to her two brothers, giving her fluffy tail tip a soft flick at each of them before her mother began naming their denmates.  

She found her breath caught in her chest when her turn came.  Mom was naming her first; she'd be sure to tell Mothpaw it proved she was the favorite just to annoy her arrogant brother.  She swore not to toy with the tom long before she swept the thought away to listen as carefully to her mother as she should.  Other queens may have grown tired of Hootpaws attachment at their sides, but it was a blessing to hear her mother appreciated her unconditional support.  Bearstar had never let the young she-cat down either, despite her worries- she would always look up to her mother and her determination to prevail through all of her struggles.  It would be a lie to say she hadn't been jealous of her recent litter, shrouded in mystery, but maybe getting over such things was a part of growing into a warrior of her own.  

Hootswoop beamed with her new title and name, proudly glancing over her shoulder to her clans cheers.  She gave each of her brothers a kind nod as they accepted their names as well.  They were MistClan warriors now, surely her dear father and Fishkit were looking proudly down to them on this day.  

[pants]

Jaggedstream yowled in congratulations to the newfound warriors. He gave a soft smile, wrapping his tail around his paws, and puffing out his chest a bit. It was always a proud moment for him when the clan could put forth more strong, determined cats to represent their home. As quiet as Jaggedstream was, warrior ceremonies were the tom's favorite, as it reminded him of when he rose up in the ranks - the pride and excitement that bubbled up in him and his drive to serve the clan.

"Hootswoop! Patchfoot! Squirrelchatter! Roundface! Mothsnarl!" the tom called, looking at each warrior as he yowled their name in approval and encouragement.

[gingersnapsdacat]

    As usual, Daisypetals sat just outside of the medicine cat den. While his paws may have been busy pawing at some borage leaves for the queens, his eyes could not help but stray up towards his leader, and the three apprentices that she was naming.
    She looks so proud, Daisypetals thought to himself.
    He could not imagine what it had to be like, slowly losing one's sight. At least for those cats who were born blind, they had never known a life of anything else. But BearStar had... She knew what it was like to see the faces of her classmates. She knew the twinkle of a hopeful kits eye, waiting to hear their mentor call them. She knew...
    "I still have my strength!" BearStar's mew cut through his thoughts, forcing his attention back to the gathered cats.
    Daisypetals smiled gently, although he knew that the warriors on the high rock would not see him. He did not know why, but something within him was praising StarClan for the fact that BearStar was able to see her kits through to warriorhood, even if she was not really seeing them.

[bits]

Oh thank the stars, he didn't have an apprentice anymore. Rook's entire shtick during the apprenticeship had been to half-ass explain something then demand his apprentice keep trying while he offered little more than verbal haggling and nitpicking. Not particularly a kind way to train, but somewhat effective. He was certain he'd somehow avoided direct sparring for most of the training, whether it was through pawning off his apprentice or just focusing on the nitpicking. The warrior didn't enjoy sparring with others on a good day, and an apprentice? No thanks. 

It was too bad about Bearstar's sight - finicky warrior he may have been, and renowned for being the muck of the clan through his laziness and prickliness, but he had some empathy. Surprise! Anyways, the thought of losing his own sight was deeply uncomfortable, so he could imagine what it'd be like for their leader. Strength indeed. Regardless of her state though, she still managed to lift the weight of mentorship from his shoulders, and he could settle with the regular ol' weight of the world he'd gotten used to. In the sounds of the warrior names being chanted, he piped in with a half-hearted, "hear, hear" from where he sat.