"Cloudpaw. Step up." Cedarkit's ears perked as he watched the She-cat step, her yellow eyes shining.
she's receiving her warrior name now! He thought excitedly. I wonder what mine will be... I like Cedarclaw or Cedarjaw... I hope I'll get Weedtail's body, he has long claws and a tough jaw... he's very big too...
"Cloudpaw, do you promise to follow the warrior code and protect your clan, even at the cost of your life?" Oh! Hazelstar was finishing the ceremony.
"I do," Cloudpaw's tail was pricked up and her voice was full of excitement.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. CLoudpaw, from this moment onward you will be known as CLoudstrike, for your powerful paws."
CLoudstrike stood proudly, her chest puffed out for a heartbeat, then padded away to sit by Icestrike.
Thinking about Cloudstrike's new name reminded Cedarkit that Icestrike was the new warrior's grandma. What happened to her mother? He looked at Otterbriar with love in his eyes. I don't know what I would do if Otterbriar left me.
"Cedarkit." He was jerked out of his thoughts by Hazelstar's gentle voice. "Stormkit. Shellkit. Flailkit." Cedarkit leapt up and went to stand up by Hazelstar. He looked over his shoulder and saw Weedtail nuzzling Otterbriar. They were smiling at him.
"Concentrate!" Flailkit's laughing mew surprised him, he spun around to face VineClan's leader again.
"You will be known as Stormpaw." Oh. She was already half-way through his sister's ceremony. "Your mentor will be Wetdapple. Wetdapple, Stormpaw will be your first apprentice and I know you will do your best to turn her into a wonderful warrior."
Cedarkit watched in awe as Stormpaw touched noses with the young blue-grey warrior. "Shellkit, step up. From this moment onward until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Shellpaw." Shellpaw's brown eyes flicked over the crowd of warriors, Cedarkit guessed she was wondering who her mentor would be. "Molebird, you will mentor Shellpaw." Molebird stepped up, a smile on her face. She touched noses with Cedarkit's brown sister. Cedarkit's tail twitched excitedly. Is it my turn yet?
"Flailkit. From this moment until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Flailpaw. Flailpaw, your mentor will be Breezeeyes." Flailpaw's nose twitched, it looked like she was nervous about touching noses. Cedarkit's mind drifted away... what is touching noses like? What mentor will I get?... "Cedarkit." I hope I get a senior warrior like Flailkit - uh, paw - "Cedarkit."
"Ouch!" Flailpaw had kicked Cedarkit in the backside.
"Cedarkit, step up...!" Oh. Oh! OH! Cedarkit stood up straight and looked at Hazelstar. He could feel himself going hot underneath his coat of shaggy fur. Oops.
"Cedarkit." Hazelstar's eyes met his. He winced. The leader's yellow eyes were boring into him like fire. "From this moment onward you will be known as Cedarpaw." Cedarpaw blinked, turning away from her gaze. She brought her tail round and ran it along his cheek, turning his head toward her. "I will be your mentor. I have only finished training Cloudstrike today but I feel ready to take on another apprentice." Cedarpaw felt pride and joy welling up inside him. The leader for my mentor! What an honour!
He touched noses with Hazelstar, stretching his legs to reach. Then he turned and scanned the crowd for his parents. His eyes fell upon them... and on the cat next to them. Thornmask! They were close to where the deputy sat, and Cedarpaw saw a flare of surprise and disapointment behind the deputy's eyes. He blinked, and it was gone. What was going on? Didn't the deputy like having new apprentices for the clan - and a new warrior! Cedarpaw's gaze flicked to Cloudstrike.
"I'm looking forward to mentoring you," Hazelstar flicked her tail over his ears. "I'm especially wanting to teach you to gather moss!" The leader's eyes glittered with amusement, reminding Cedarpaw of hide-and-seek as a kit.
"Well let's do some training now then!" Cedarpaw mewed impatiently.
"Not so fast." A snarl came from behind them. "Hazelstar, I want to talk with you." Cedarpaw spun around to see the white face of Thornmask.
"What?" The leader asked curtly.
"Why did you change your mind? Why am I not the mentor of Cedarpaw?"
Cedarpaw pricked his ears up. Hazelstar was not always going to be his mentor?
"Why did you want to be his mentor so much anyway? We are sure to have newly expecting queens soon enough... You can get your apprentice then!" Hazelstar challenged.
"I like his spirit." Thornmask's paws shuffled, Cedarpaw thought he was hiding something...
"Well my choice has been made. The ceremony is done."
"But..."
"No buts!"
VineClan's deputy shot a glare at Cedarpaw, then turned and ran into the forest, his paws sending dust flying.
