A Day for Celebration

[mewmehh]

Lapping gently from the small puddles outside camp, formed from the waterfall’s spray, Sablestar purred and arched his back in a stretch. He moved lazily and with a hum in his throat as he pulled back from the pool to look over his shoulder at his clan. Things had settled down more quickly than he had anticipated since Rootclan and Mothclan’s visit, but he wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Mistclan needed the aid of the autumn winds and with the blazing heat of Greenleaf gone, they would need all the hunting opportunities possible. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t also be comfortable on their way to Leafbare. Already bellies were fuller than they had been and spirits more chipper now that the gusty breezes could reach their camp caves. The days were shorter and easier.

The leader’s hum deepened as he padded through camp, beaming as he passed the Nursery. While the last few moons had been quiet and empty, this past moon had brought with it plenty of buzzing noise and excitement. Kits had been born and more were on the way, of which his own grandkits were included. How could he not be on cloud nine? His family and cats were happy and healthy and the land had recovered from the extent of their good graces. Starclan shined on behalf of Mistclan’s chivalry and was blessing them in turn.

A thought tickled him; what better a time to celebrate, he wondered. Than now? With a skip in his step, the burly leader made his way to his stony alcove and hauled himself up onto the ledge. Spinning around to get comfortable, he settled and placed his warm gaze upon the clearing. "Cats of the clan old enough to cross the waterfall gather here for a clan meeting!" With his voice carrying loudly across the cavern of echoing chatter, he sat back and smiled. What a good day today will be.

”I hope you’ve all been having a good day so far,” he started with a thoughtful hum. ”Hunting’s been well and you’ve all been working hard to recover from our guests. Thank you for that.” He dipped his head a bit before raising it higher than before. ”I think it’s about time that you have some more help, don’t you think? After all, we have a bunch of strapping young cat apprentices more than ready to become warriors. Let’s have them help us carry the load. Duskpaw, Torrentpaw, Foxpaw, Rabbitpaw, Rampaw, Gladepaw, and Twistpaw! Step forward, please!!”

”Duskpaw, I have heard of your relentless will and seen you train. You carry with you a strong flame, the burning heart of a warrior. For that, I name you Duskfire. Burn bright and strong as a warrior too!”

”Torrentpaw, you have shown a lot of growth. You do not allow for your calmness to be a weakness; instead, you calculate and capitalize on the moment. I see much of myself in you in that regard. I name you Torrentclaw and hope as a young warrior, you continue to show that steady and slow, too, can win the race.”

”Foxpaw, you have shown yourself to be an amicable cat, but also a cunning one. You’ve trained hard and yet find the time to care for yourself. Your self-discipline must be exemplary. I shall name you Foxpelt, a name to match such a pelt as your own. Wear it with pride as it is now what will protect you as a warrior.”

Sablestar took a moment to catch his breath. Still more to go!!

”Rabbitpaw, you are a friend to all. A supportive shoulder to rest upon and always with keen ears open, you’ve dedicated yourself to your clanmates and that’s as strong a warrior trait as I’ve ever seen. You shall be known as Rabbitheart, so that everyone can know of your goodness.”

”Rampaw, you are full of energy. Of questions. You have a zeal about you that is ever-present and infectious. It makes you want to just get up and go, doesn’t it? For this, you shall be known as Ramlight. Be a beacon for your peers and energize on the battleground as well as the Niyike Meadows.”

”Gladepaw, always with some pep in your step! You’ve zipped your way through apprenticehood and have done remarkably well. Still, you seem to find the time to goof around. Perhaps the duties of a warrior will keep your paws busier. I name you Gladebreeze, in honor of your nature, but also as a symbol of constant change. You keep the clan in motion, and that’s something to be proud of.”

”Twistpaw, you may not have been born of Mistclan blood, but you barreled into our earth. You’ve bleed and cried and worked yourself to the bone to learn it, protect it. Mistclan is just as dedicated to you as your are to Mistclan. Now it courses within you. You will be known as Twistsong from this day forward; outspoken and honest, you are an inspiration to the clan. Keep singing your song and carry on our legacy as a warrior of Mistclan! All of you!!” His voice boomed with vigor.

”You all wear the title of Mistclan Warrior with honor and poise, for you will all attend this next Gathering. Now, time to celebrate!! Here here!! Remember that you’ll need to sit in silence for tonight’s vigil, but until then, be merry and full!!”

[Deleted]

The white perm-queen of Mistclan, stepped out when called for a meeting. She found a good spot to sit, and sat down, wrapping her tails around her paws. She knew one of her missing kits and only daughter Bunnypaw wasn't here to be made a warrior, for her vanishing, just as her kits father won't be here to see it for he also vanished too.

She despite that felt pride for her two sons Rampaw and Rabbitpaw. She chanted their new names when it was time to. "Rabbitheart! Rabbitheart! Ramlight! Ramlight!"

The white tom lifted his head to look at his leader, he felt excitment for getting his new name, along with his brother getting his own new name. Rabbitpaw now Rabbitheart felt pride for his new name, a name he felt he earned.

[GnawingOnIce]

The day had finally come for his kits to become warriors.

His black heart swelled with pride as each of their names were announced for all to hear. He smiled his wicked smile as he waited for the other, lesser, apprentices to be given their names before walking forward to his kits. A low growl rumbled deep in his throat as he strided past the nursery, doubted to be heard with all the chanting.

His smile returned as the chanting finally died down. “Duskfire, Torrentclaw, Foxpelt.” he pronounced their warrior names clearly, “I am impeccably proud of all three of you. You have earned these names rightfully.” he leaned in closer to the three of them and said, now as a whisper, “Now, never forget what I, Hawthornhowl, and Nettletooth have taught you. Take what you like and hide it right under their, your Clanmates, noses.”

He leaned away from them and acted as if hadn’t just spoken what he whispered. “Stay strong during your vigil tonight. Continue making me proud.” he gave a slight bow then turned and made his way to the forest. He needed to think and find something to eat.

Tags;; Ava, LupTacco, Mama
Notes;; n/a

[Mama]

Foxpaw, no Foxpelt, was a warrior now. He wasn't looked down on by.. these so called senior warriors, or cats who thought they were better. A smile hid his smugness well enough, as he listened for his name to be announced.

He hadn't met, or really interacted, with the rest of those apprentices. They hadn't meant a thing to him, or even gained a drop of his respect. Even his own mentor, he felt, was too soft and too naive. But he wasn't done learning, as Murkdusk, Nettletooth, and Hawthornhowl had plenty of secrets that they could share to him, and maybe his siblings.

Just, maybe.

His eyes turned as he saw his father approach, his mother no where to be found. Where was she? Missing her own kit's ceremonies? The thought made his claws dig into the dirt, and as soon as Murkdusk finished congratulating them, he spoke up for a question.

"Where's mom? Or is she not even bothered enough to make her own kit's warrior ceremonies?" He almost innocently asked, giving a head tilt. His tone was low enough so no others would hear, besides his close family.

[GnawingOnIce]

Murkdusk stopped in his tracks, not even able to make it near the entrance when Foxpelt spoke up.

“Where's mom? Or is she not even bothered enough to make her own kit's warrior ceremonies?"

His ears stood straight up from their once relaxed position and his pupils turned to slits. He almost didn’t want to answer his son, but he couldn’t lie to him. So, he turned slowly and padded back to them.

”Your mother, Petaldawn...” he paused. Her name was foreign on his tongue. ”She is gone. I will not lie to you.” he spoke softly and quietly. His eyes searched the ground in front of his paws for nothing, his gaze turning vulnerable as thoughts tried to lure him into his memories before hardening. ”She was a traitor. Don’t worry about her.”

Tags;; Mama, Ava, LupTacco
Notes;; n/a

[beatae]

The call from Sablestar had initially caught the kittens attention, ears perked and eyes set on the leader. Lemonkit's expression turned down in a frown, sitting where he was and listening. He wasn't old enough to stay out of the nursery for more than a couple of hours, let alone cross a waterfall. So, he would remain behind the crowds at the nursery's entrance instead.

Oh. Just warrior ceremonies. Lemonkit's chest felt heavy at no other announcement, naively hoping it was something about his mother or father.

Why would they bother. We're the weird ones. He thought bitterly, standing up once more and approaching the crowd of newly named warriors. His gaze set first on Foxpelt and Murkdusk, coming to the pair first.

"What are you talking about?" He mewed curiously, looking up at the two. "Do you guys really have to stay silent for a whole night? Not talk at all? What happens if you do?" He badgered them insistently, leaning closer with each question.

[Mama]

"Fine." Foxpelt bluntly stated, his tail twitching with discontent before he turned his head back to the meeting. Even if he didn't want to admit it, he felt bitter. Angry. She left them. Even if she wasn't really.. mentally around, she'd finally kick the bucket. 

Stupid shecat.

A voice knocked the bright ginger tom out of his thoughts, and his gaze flicked back to a voice. An absurd looking kit was speaking to him, with big ears, and long legs. Even their tabby markings looked.. weird. What was wrong with this kit?

"We remain silent or else we don't become warriors. It's as simple as that." The tom replied, glancing the freakish kit up and down. Who, when did they have this thing born?? Was there more of them? He wasn't sure if they'd be any good at being warriors or not, but it was just a kit.

[GnawingOnIce]

Murkdusk looked at his two daughters to see if they had anything to say, but it seemed they didn’t. Just when he was about to turn away, a kit stumbled up to he and Foxpelt. He recognized the freakishly long legs and spotted pelt. He wanted to snarl and swat the kit away but knew he couldn’t risk doing that in front of the entire Clan. So, he just flattened his ears against his head and let a low growl rumble in his chest.

Honeywing watched as her Clanmates gathered and celebrated. The death of Petaldawn did sadden her but she didn’t feel any deep grief for the she-cat apart from the fact that she never got to see her kits. She didn’t pay attention as Lemonkit scampered away and her own kits stood under and around her legs. However, her keen ears did hear a deep sound. A growl. She turned her head with her ears toward the source. Murkdusk.

She never felt a good thing about that tom. After observing why he was growling, she discovered it was Lemonkit. She jumped up from where she was sitting and trotted over to Lemonkit. She stood between the small kit and Murkdusk, glowering at him.

Murkdusk stared blankly at her and slightly raised a kitty-brow.

She nudged Lemonkit with her muzzle, encouraging him to start padding back to the nursery. “Come on, Lemonkit. Don’t pester them with your questions.” she told him in the calmest voice she could manage.

Tags;; beatae
Notes;; n/a

[continlula]

Nectarkit had been watching the apprentices become warriors. It was one of her first time's outside the nursery. That will be me one day. She sat straight and tall, a sense of pride washing over her. She puffed her chest out, looking at her brothers and sister. Wait. Where is Lemonkit? She looked around eventually spotting him talking to one of the newly named warriors. What was his name? Fox, fox... Oh! Foxpelt! When Honeywing got up from her position next to the kits, Nectarkit decided she would go to.

Scampering off behind Honeywing, she called out to her brother. "Lemonkit! Lemonkit! We're going to be just like Foxpelt and them! We're going to be warriors!" she squeaked, playfully battering him. Nectarkit ignored Honeywings words and apparent bitterness towards Murkdusk and her half siblings, instead choosing to talk to them. "Hey! Hey you guys! Do you thing I would make a good warrior," she asked, eyes shining with pride. For a moment, she thought that the trio of older cats looked kinda like her siblings.

[beatae]

Foxpelt's curt response did rather little to Lemonkit's insistence, still looking chipper. The awkward-looking tabby's expression remained uplifted, and his jaws opened to ask just one more question, before snapping shut. He almost bit his tongue!

His eyes turned to Murkdusk, eyes narrowed down at the older tom. Lemonkit, of course, knew nothing of the relationship he and Petaldawn had, but like Honeywing… he felt nothing good from him.

"What?" He hissed, fur raised.

His vision of Murkdusk was suddenly blocked as the queen stood between them. "'M not pestering. They're being stupid mangy grumps." He huffed, begrudgingly allowing himself to be nudged away.

His gaze flitted to his littermate and he almost immediately felt his mood soften. "No, Nectarkit. We're gonna be better than them." He declared, aiming to hold her tail in his jaws and pull her away from them. "C'mon, you don't need their approval. As long as you got us, we'll all be awesome warriors."