Post by Fireflake on Dec 15, 2019 7:57:35 GMT
Mantisclaw took a deep breath as she leapt up onto the rock that she'd seen so many use for announcements. It occurred to her as she did it that she'd seen every one of MothClan's leaders since its creation, though Mothstar was nothing but a bunch of stories and fuzzy memories. The idea that she might follow in those pawsteps one day, and maybe one day a lot sooner than she'd expected, almost scared her. While she thought about it, the rush that she usually got during her ceremonies hit her, and she realized exactly how natural it felt, and had always felt, to be standing up there. If Tansystar couldn't be found, Mantisclaw would be alright.
"All cats old enough to fight their own battles, gather for a clan meeting!" she called out. The tabby waited for her clanmates to come, and didn't have to wait long. Everyone had been wondering when the ceremonies would be for days on end now. The sound of her voice had likely brought out a few souls from simple curiosity.
"I'm sure you're wondering why it's me up here instead of Tansystar. Well, long story short, we can't find Tansystar. Don't worry, though, I'm sure she'll be back with a good reason for that soon. In the meantime, we have some cats progressing through our ranks!"
She turned to the young cats in the crowd, beckoning them up with her tail as an excited look rippled through her posture.
"Volepaw, Featherpaw, and Gopherpaw, please come forward. Your patience is admirable, maybe even enviable. You've waited longer than any of us for a ceremony done the proper way, in front of MothClan in MothClan's camp, since you were named apprentices in MistClan's as we recovered from the fire. Just remember that we survived that, and whatever comes next, we will continue to survive. You lot especially have already seen the worst life has to offer, so I think it's time that you saw the best."
Mantisclaw had hardly spoken to the younger warriors, but they'd all been mentored by her family, at least at first. Combined with the fact that Darkstorm was their father and Mantisclaw considered him very close to family, that meant they were included in her social circle by default. She found herself with so much to say, without even knowing them.
"Volepaw. You started your training at a disadvantage, but, from what I've heard, your hard work has more than made up for it. You strike a balance between performing the duties of a warrior and speaking up in the name of caution. Know that it's not for appearance alone that I give you the name Volemouth."
"Featherpaw. There are too many attributes to list in one short speech, or to contain in one name. Since I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to name you Feather-flame-heart-owl-chest, I've settled on something simpler that I hope you'll appreciate. From this day forward, you will be Featherfur."
"Gopherpaw. I considered the name Gophertail for you, for quite a while, but it doesn't seem to encompass everything that.... Well, it seems a bit boring for you, is what I'm trying to say. You're a valuable member of MothClan, and maybe I'm imagining it, but you remind me a bit of someone. For your tail, and for that resemblance, your name will be Gophercloud."
She would have liked to have named their two other littermates as well, but there had been no sign of them, just like Tansystar. It wasn't the short-reigning leader that they reminded her of most, though. Mantisclaw's brothers were on her mind as she pushed on.
"Goldenkit, you next!" The she-cat pricked her ears again. She might have wanted to mentor the young tom herself, if she hadn't been so busy already. Her eyes flicked to her sons in the nursery and she stood up a bit straighter for them. "From this day until you earn your warrior name, you will be Goldenpaw, and I think that you and Mottledfeather can learn a lot from each other."
"All cats old enough to fight their own battles, gather for a clan meeting!" she called out. The tabby waited for her clanmates to come, and didn't have to wait long. Everyone had been wondering when the ceremonies would be for days on end now. The sound of her voice had likely brought out a few souls from simple curiosity.
"I'm sure you're wondering why it's me up here instead of Tansystar. Well, long story short, we can't find Tansystar. Don't worry, though, I'm sure she'll be back with a good reason for that soon. In the meantime, we have some cats progressing through our ranks!"
She turned to the young cats in the crowd, beckoning them up with her tail as an excited look rippled through her posture.
"Volepaw, Featherpaw, and Gopherpaw, please come forward. Your patience is admirable, maybe even enviable. You've waited longer than any of us for a ceremony done the proper way, in front of MothClan in MothClan's camp, since you were named apprentices in MistClan's as we recovered from the fire. Just remember that we survived that, and whatever comes next, we will continue to survive. You lot especially have already seen the worst life has to offer, so I think it's time that you saw the best."
Mantisclaw had hardly spoken to the younger warriors, but they'd all been mentored by her family, at least at first. Combined with the fact that Darkstorm was their father and Mantisclaw considered him very close to family, that meant they were included in her social circle by default. She found herself with so much to say, without even knowing them.
"Volepaw. You started your training at a disadvantage, but, from what I've heard, your hard work has more than made up for it. You strike a balance between performing the duties of a warrior and speaking up in the name of caution. Know that it's not for appearance alone that I give you the name Volemouth."
"Featherpaw. There are too many attributes to list in one short speech, or to contain in one name. Since I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to name you Feather-flame-heart-owl-chest, I've settled on something simpler that I hope you'll appreciate. From this day forward, you will be Featherfur."
"Gopherpaw. I considered the name Gophertail for you, for quite a while, but it doesn't seem to encompass everything that.... Well, it seems a bit boring for you, is what I'm trying to say. You're a valuable member of MothClan, and maybe I'm imagining it, but you remind me a bit of someone. For your tail, and for that resemblance, your name will be Gophercloud."
She would have liked to have named their two other littermates as well, but there had been no sign of them, just like Tansystar. It wasn't the short-reigning leader that they reminded her of most, though. Mantisclaw's brothers were on her mind as she pushed on.
"Goldenkit, you next!" The she-cat pricked her ears again. She might have wanted to mentor the young tom herself, if she hadn't been so busy already. Her eyes flicked to her sons in the nursery and she stood up a bit straighter for them. "From this day until you earn your warrior name, you will be Goldenpaw, and I think that you and Mottledfeather can learn a lot from each other."
"Last but not least, Flurrykit! From this day on, until you become a warrior, your name will be Flurrypaw. Waspthroat will help you grow into an efficient clanmate and a formidable foe."
Mantisclaw took a small step backwards. She had done it. The deputy drew in a deep breath, then began to call out the new names, with other chanters soon joining in.