Late, As Per Usual

[KingHarry]

The ceremonies were late. That seemed to be a growing trend in Rookstar's leadership - something that he was far from proud of. Why was everything going so wrong? maybe Mudjaw had been right - maybe he had brought this on himself. Did StarClan hate him? Rookstar hoped not... What would he do if they did?

His ears twitched in the way that had become so common as he leapt up onto the high ledge, a jolt of pain zapping through his mind as he did so. Sometimes he thought that he was growing used to the pain - after all, it never seemed to go away - but every now and again it just seemed to flare up and remind him that no, he wasn't used to it. Yes... Maybe StarClan did hate him. Maybe this was their punishment.

But he had to push on. "May all cats-" Rookstar stopped, realising that he was talking too quietly, before starting again in a louder, more commanding voice. "May all cats old enough to climb the rock face gather underneath the High Ledge for a clan meeting!"

Right. What needed doing? Apprentices needed to be made warriors, yes? The tom's face glanced over the crowd as he worked out just who needed their names. Ah, yes. He remembered now.

"We have many apprentices that have proven themselves enough to become warriors," Rookstar announced. He opened his mouth to start complimenting them all, just like Owlstar would, when he felt another stabbing sensation in his head. The tom winced and, for a brief moment, bent down to bat at his head with one of his paws. Maybe he should go and see the medicine cat later- Oh. Wait, no. His sister was gone and, since then, he hadn't really trusted his medicine cats. Though, maybe Finchtuft would be trustworthy... He'd have to see her later. In the meantime, best to cycle through these ceremonies as quickly as possible.

"Bubblepaw, you will be Bubblefly. Ripplepaw, you will be Ripplefoot. Splashpaw, you are now Splashwhisper," Rookheart quickly said, rattling off names as quickly as possible. "Truffle - Tuffletoes. Morelpaw will be Morelshine, Weedpaw will be Weedpelt, Crowpaw will be Crowhunter, and, finally, Irispaw will be Iristongue."

There. Done. Now he could- Oh! And the kits! Owlstar's kits.

As Rookstar's gaze turned to the grown kittens, he quickly had to think about who would be best for them - because he had to pick the best. For Owlstar. Hm... How about his sister? She was certainly trustworthy, no?

"It is also time to empty the nursey. Dashpaw, I have decided that your mentor shall be Owlcry. She is a strong warrior, and I am certain that she will teach you well."

Okay, now who else? Swiftwing, perhaps. There was another hardworking, strong warrior. "Blitzpaw, your mentor shall be the loyal and justifiably proud Swiftwing. You will learn much from her, I am sure."

And then... "And Snowfawn shall mentor Prancepaw. You will undoubtedly benefit from the wisdom that she had picked up over the years."

Then that was all? It certainly seemed so. Rookstar nodded once, as if confirming it to himself. "I am done now. Creeksong, organise some patrols to check the MothClan border. I am sure we all remember how they pushed at our borders last year, so we should ensure that we keep them strong. If anybody wants me, I will be in my den." Curled up in there, begging everything to start going correctly for once, and for a moment of peace without the constant buzzing in his head.

Rookstar nodded once more, then hopped down from the ledge and, as he said he would, returned to his den.

[bits]

Swiftwing knew it was important to attend meetings - there were important announcements, updates when it came to clan affairs, and so on and so forth. It wasn't precisely interesting, but for an individual whose life seemed to rotate around work, ceremonies were significant to her. Swiftwing believed it partially her duty to attend, to listen, and to absorb the information provided in these clan-wide gatherings - after all, Ivyclan was her entire world. Even if the last meeting was unfortunate in terms of content, she was still invested in the wellbeing of her clan as a whole. 

New warriors - they were announced by a Rookstar who seemed to be having less than a good time. Swiftwing wasn't a particularly empathetic individual, and she had no guesses for why Rookstar seemed off; nor did she particularly have a care as to why. It wasn't meant cruelly - it just wasn't her area of expertise. She wasn't made for emotional support. She nodded along with the announcements of warriors and listened with her tail curled around her red paws. Kittens becoming apprentices was always exciting - Dashpaw was given a mentor, Blitzpaw was - hold on, what? Flattery aside, she was being given her very first apprentice. The poor molly nearly jumped out of her own skin when she was called upon. An apprentice? Was she ready for that? She wasn't lacking in qualifications, but the nerves began to flood her mind immediately. She could handle this - right?

Questions about her confidence aside, the warrior puffed out her chest not long after she was given an apprentice, nodding and looking for the aforementioned Blitzpaw with sharp green eyes.

[Broadwaykat]

Dustytuft didn't have an apprentice anymore whom she hoped would get a warrior name, nor was she really waiting for a kit of her own to become an apprentice; but she was happy nonetheless for those cats who were getting a chance to move on. It felt to her, after the loss of Owlstar, that everything was getting back into place once more. There were so many new warriors to cheer for, too!

"Bubblefly, Splashwhisper, Ripplefoot, Weedpelt, Morelshine, Iristongue, Crowhunter, Truffletoes!" She called out gleefully, trying to cover up the misgivings she felt about how exhausted and out of sorts their own leader seemed to be. "Well, we'll have to make a day of it soon; a great new hunter's patrol with all of you! A proper way to ring new warriors and a thriving Newleaf to boot, right?!"