[ti]Open[/ti]From the Ashes

[KingHarry]

"Let all cats old enough to fight their own battles gather for a clan meeting!"

The yowl of the clan leader echo around camp, bouncing off the rocks and into the evening sky. Mothstar had waited until it began to grow dark to do this having been busy all day ensuring the safety of the cats in his clan. This illness that was going around, it was causing MothClan to begin to wear down at the edges and it was worrying Mothstar. Dying hadn't helped either - it had only exhausted him and most likely caused those to realise what had happened to doubt their leader.

Life went on, though. It may seem like everything was burning to the ground around them, but new life always arose from the ashes. Today that was some new warriors. In this time of fear, that might brighten the world a little, yes?

"The past moon has been hard on us all. We have, unfortunately, lost good cats to this disease that has spread among us. Lingering on this will do us no good, though, and therefore I think the time has come to welcome some of our kits into the apprentice den. Yewkit, Hemlockkit, please step forward."

The two siblings were a pair of oddballs and it was certainly a little strange seeing them walk together like reflections of each other, but they were good kits. So far, Mothstar had no regrets about allowing them into the nursery. Once the two kits had stepped forwards, Mothstar turned his gaze to a warrior in the crowd.

"Littledash, it has been strange to see you constantly by your brother's side as he trains Rustpaw. Perhaps the two of you could train together while you teach Hemlockkit all he needs to know? May you show him that being quiet is not necessarily a weakness, and how to use his personality to his advantage." Hopefully, the two of them would be a good match - Littledash also being one of the kinder cats in the clan. That was the problem with picking up the headstrong and pushed away from the other clans and the surrounding area - a lot of them weren't particularly nice.

"As for Yewkit, you will be mentored by Sweetbriar. I hope that you do not underestimate her strong will and prowess in battle."

There. That was the new apprentices done - now for some warriors. "With Hemlockpaw and Yewpaw in the apprentice's den, some space will need to be made. Fatpaw, you will move to the warrior den as a fully fledged warrior. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Mothstar waited for an answer of confirmation before he continued. "Good. Then I grant you the name Fattail. May StarClan honour your speed and approve of this decision."

As the clan cheered for the new warrior, the leader looked towards the next apprentice to become a warrior. "Tawnypaw, you too are ready to become a warrior. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Again, he waited for the younger cat to reply. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Tawnypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Tawnystorm. StarClan honours your determination, and I wish both you and Fattail luck in your vigil tonight."

Ceremonies complete, Mothstar addressed the entire clan again. "This sickness will not last forever. Until Cedarleap finds a cure, keep the symptoms in mind and, should you contract this cough, attempt not to infect any other cat. Should any of you have any worries, talk to our medicine cat about them."

And with that, the meeting was over. Mothstar hopped off the large rock he had been stood upon - joining his clan back on the ground.

[silverfang218]

Fatpaw vaguely knew that he was due to become a warrior soon, though it wasn’t until the familiar words calling a clan meeting did it actually hit the lazy apprentice. He pulled himself out of the medicine cat’s den; luckily, he is nowhere as ill as many of the other cats who had made their nests in Cedarleap’s den. Even so, he stayed back, out and away from the crowd of his healthy clanmates. He might not be the most productive cat around, but he certainly has no desire to spread the deadly disease to any of his clanmates.

His normally intense gaze has been dulled by his constant coughing, but it still pinpoints the new apprentices being called up. He hasn’t gotten to know many of his clanmates, having not felt bothered to do so yet, but those two kits had always struck him as strange, though not necessarily in a bad way. It should be interesting to see what happens as they grow into their training… not that Fatpaw will put in the effort to keep an eye on them.

His eyes widen a bit as his own name is called, and the apprentice stifles a cough as he makes his way towards his leader. He goes around to one side, once again doing his best to avoid his healthier clanmates. He nods solemnly at the question Mothstar poses; to give up his life in defense of his clan? Despite his chronic laziness, Fatpaw knows that if his clan called on him, he would answer to the best of his ability even if answering would cost him everything. “I do.” He promises, in a voice turned raspy from illness. Fattail. Since he was a young kit, it’s a name he had always known he would one day be called. Even so, hearing it made the young warrior’s heart swell with pride. Even if this illness ended up killing him, he was a full warrior with a warrior’s name. Nothing could take that from him now.

He bows his head a bit to his leader as he steps away, once again moving to the edge of the clan gathering as the next new warrior is called. The normally reserved new warrior smiles a bit as Tawnypaw recieves her name. Tawnystorm, it’s a pretty name. Very fitting too. He didn’t know Tawnypaw very well, but he had trained with her and interacted with her enough to know that she could indeed a force to be reckoned with, just like the most furious of nature’s storms.

Mothstar’s mention of the illness wasn’t unexpected, but it was brief and just as soon as the meeting had begun, it was over. Fattail stayed where he was for a few moments; he didn’t look forward to this vigil, but this was one, perhaps the only, time he didn’t want to slack off. He’d watch over his clan to the best of his ability until morning, come what may.

[Mama]

Yewpaw had a cold and unblinking stare the whole time, however her claws flexed in and out with anticipation. She had a bit of training from a strange cat named Rosespark, who came from 'Starclan.' If that queen was from there, then she was from Ivyclan. It was a bit too obvious there was something up with her surroundings... but for more training and better moves? The risk was worth it. Besides, when she had shown her interest, the odd cat had given her more and more moves and tested her every night. Maybe her mentor, Sweetbriar, would be impressed. Or, she would be the lazy mentors she had heard about. The apprentice prayed that it was the first option.

Throughout the whole speech, she had her almost statue-like expression on her face, but nodded at certain parts and eventually got up to touch her mentor's nose. "Hello." She said in her usual monotone voice, giving a cold stare before sitting back down in the middle by her brother. Yewpaw had shown no sign of excitement, but inside she was quite happy. Too bad she stunk at emotions and luckily that wasn't a thing she had to train for.

[M'Lady]

Sweetbriar's eyes widened slightly as her name was called to mentor Yewpaw. She didn't... Quite expect Mothstar to give her an apprentice. She was a fighter, that was for sure, but given her leader's personality (and her own) she didn't see that happening at all. Despite this, her chest puffed out with pride as she strode forward, her wide paws thumping softly against the ground as she met her apprentice halfway. She bent down to touch her nose gently with that of her newfound apprentice, and smiled sheepishly at her cold attitude. Oh well, she was probably excited on the inside. Or at least, Sweetbriar certainly hoped.

"Hello," She spoke back warmly, eyes gentle compared to her otherwise lean, battle ready composure. She was certainly a sweet cat for one that was most definitely a fighter. She would train her apprentice to be the same. "Get ready for training," Was her only warning, though there was a touch of mischief to it. Despite her efforts, Sweetbriar was definitely not a threatening cat, well, at least to her lovely clanmates. In battle she was fearsome, they would see. She then stepped back to sit by her new apprentice, cheering her name proudly once Mothstar had finished his announcements.

[Dofferz!]

Tawnypaw had gathered when she had heard Mothstar's call. Sunset was a rather new time for a clan meeting to be called (as usually kits turned apprentices would have time to explore the territory soon after being made), but even so, Tawnypaw's mind prickled with one thing in particular. The bengal was most certainly ready to take on her warrior name, and as she pushed her way forwards to the front of the growing mass of Mothclanners, her pelt prickled. Surely today would finally be the day in which her leader would announce her!

Yewkit and Hemlockkit. The two identical twins finally being announced as apprentices sent a shiver don her spine. Much like many other Mothclanners, something about the two caused a nagging sensation in her stomach. they were so quiet and unnoticed that she was grateful that with Starclan's blessing she would be moving out of the apprentice's den tonight.

And at last! Tawnypaw focused intently as the leader began to announce new warriors, starting with Fatpaw. No, Fattail! The bengal sniffed at the new warrior's name seeing that it fit him perfectly. She still didn't entirely know how Fattail's tail was so fat.

"Tawnypaw, you too are ready to become a warrior. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" she did not hesitate for this was the moment she had been waiting moons for. "I do." she breathed, eyes glimmering in excitement. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Tawnypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Tawnystorm. StarClan honours your determination, and I wish both you and Fattail luck in your vigil tonight." she puffed her chest out in pride. 'Tawnystorm.' a name strong and brave. She would certainly carry it with pride.

The night's vigil will be long and cold, but Tawnystorm was ready to embrace it.

---

Meanwhile, Smudgekit watched them from the sidelines, staring up quizzically at her father. Humph, although she somewhat regarded him as much as a flea and mousebile, she was proud to see him address the clan from up high. The tortoiseshell wiggled and squirmed back into the nursery, dreaming of the moons she would be recognized as more than a mere kit. For the days that she could hep serve Mothclan as its very own apprentice, Smudgepaw.