The sky above the Windclan camp was tinged milky white with the light of dawn and the air was tingling with excitement and energy. Blackcloud licked Lionkit's ears. "I'm clean Blackcloud," the tortoiseshell tom meowed indignantly ducking away from her.
"I want you to look your best for your ceremony tonight and the gathering," Blackcloud mewed proudly. It was an especially joyful day for her because not only was her son becoming an apprentice, her own apprentice Moorpaw was to receive his warrior name today as well.
"LET ALL CATS GATHER FOR A CLAN MEETING" Onestar yowled.
"This is it," Blackcloud nosed her son out of the nursery.
"I wonder who my mentor will be," Lionkit was bouncing excitedly. Featherpelt was sitting with her two remaining kits, Sandkit and Blizzardkit near the fresh-kill pile. Grief pricked at Blackcloud's heart as she looked at Featherpelt. The gray tabby sat hunched and dull eyed, Hootwhisker joined her and licked her cheek.
"Cats of Windclan, today is an important day for three of our younger members," Onestar began as the clan quieted, "Today Moorpaw and Foxpaw are ready to become warriors," yowls of approval rose to the sky. Blackcloud noticed that her apprentice's pale brown tabby had groomed his pelt to a sleek shine and he ducked his head as the clan yowled their excitement. His sister, Foxpaw, on the other paw sat with her head high and a smug expression on her face. Onestar beckoned them forward with a wave of his tail. Foxpaw was confident and smug as she approached her leader, Moorpaw was humble and shy. "I, Onestar, leader of Windclan , call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn," the mottled light brown tom fixed his amber gaze on the two apprentices as he continued, "Foxpaw, Moorpaw do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect this clan, even at the cost of your life?" The only sound to be heard was the wind gently blowing through the heather on the moor as the clan waited for the apprentices' response.
"I do," Foxpaw and Moorpaw answered together, their voices firm and sure.
"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior names," he fixed his gaze on Foxpaw, "Foxpaw from this moment on you will be known as Foxtail. Starclan honors your skill and courage and we welcome you as a full warrior of Windclan," Onestar stepped forward to lick Foxtail between the ears and the reddish tabby she-cat licked his shoulder. Pride tingled through Blackcloud as Onestar turned to her apprentice, "Moorpaw from this moment on you will be known as Moorwind. Starclan honors you r courage and loyalty and we welcome you as a full warrior of Windclan," Blackcloud flicked her ears in silent surprise, loyalty was an unusual virture for a leader to name during a ceremony. She lifted her voice along with those of her clanmates as they greeted the new warriors. "Before we go take care of our responsibilities I have one more ceremony to perform," Onestar called. Blackcloud leaned against Oatwhisker as the clan fell silent once more. "Lionkit will please come forward" Onestar meowed. Lionkit just stood there, his tail bristling slightly. Blackcloud purred affectionately before nosing her son forward, quiet murumurs of amusement rippled around the clan. "Lionkit, you have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Lionpaw. Your mentor will be Harespring," Lionpaw let out a squeak of surprise as the Windclan deputy stepped forward, his lean muscles sliding smoothly beneath his brown and white pelt. "I hope Harespring will pass down all he knows to you," Onestar shifted his amber gaze to his deputy, "Harespring you are ready to take on another apprentice," Harespring dipped his head in acknowledgement, "You received excellent training from Tornear and trained Slightfoot who is a great warrior," Blackcloud noticed the black tom lick the white flash on his chest to hide his embarrassment, "You have shown yourself patient and compassionate. You will be the mentor of Lionpaw and I expect to pass on all you know to Lionpaw,"
Blackcloud watched as her son touched noses with Harespring, "Did you know he chose our deputy to mentor our son," she asked Oatwhisker in a quiet whisper. Her mate merely shook his head, his own gaze dancing with surprise and delight.
Once the clan began spreading apart Blackcloud and Oatwhisker padded up to Lionpaw who was sitting next to Harespring, looking a little dazed. "I'm so proud of you," Blackcloud murmured as she rubbed her chin on top of his head.
"You should feel proud and honored to have the clan deputy as your mentor," Oatwhisker meowed seriously. Lionkit nodded his head and turned to Harespring.
"What are we going to do first," he asked whiskers quivering with excitement.
"I'm going to show you our territory," Harespring meowed then turned his head to look at Blackcloud and Oatwhisker, "Would you like to come along, I know you haven't been out of camp in a very long time Blackcloud,"
"That would be great," Blackcloud purred. It had been ages since she had been out of camp and a run across the moor seemed like a great idea.
"Alright let's go," Harespring turned and lead the way out of the shallow hollow that housed the camp. Blackcloud followed with Oatwhisker by her side and Lionpaw in front of her. The breeze blowing across the moor hit Blackcloud full in the face and she stopped to enjoy it.
"The last time I was out of camp everything was so much greener," she purred as she trotted along side the patrol.
"Where are we going first Harespring," Lionpaw asked as he pounced on a tussock of grass.
"We'll start with our border that runs along the Horseplace," Harespring's ears were flicking with amusement, "And save your energy it is a long trek around the border of the territory and if you tire yourself out you won't be able to go to the Gathering tonight,"
Lionpaw's eyes lit up with excitement as he fell in beside his mentor. He is so eager to see the world Blackcloud thought fondly.
"Horseplace" Lionpaw echoed with a tilt of his head, "What's that,"
"You'll see," Harespring flicked the apprentice's ear with the tip of his brow n and white tail.
The patrol ran across the moor, the wind whipping through their fur. Blackcloud's heart soared with joy as she flew over the ground, she had missed the open space so much. They began to slow as they approached the Horseplace. The ground beneath their paws trembled as they approached the fence at a crouch, "What's going on," Lionpaw whispered uneasily as he dug his claws into the earth.
"You'll see," Harespring mewed with a mischievous gleam in his eye. "Go look into that field over there, don't worry we are right behind you,"
Blackcloud knew what her son would find, Crowfeather had played the same trick on her as an apprentice. They crept slowly behind Lionpaw and purred with amusement as he passed one of the horses without noticing it, but the giant beast noticed Lionpaw and snorted at him. The apprentice leapt a tail length in the air with a screech of surprise. Fur bristling he shot back toward the patrol who were all mmroowing with amusement. "What in the name of Starclan was that thing," Lionpaw asked lashing his tail and glaring at the warriors.
"It's a horse," Harespring explained, "And they are perfectly harmless as long as you stay away from their feet and their territory,"
"No problem, I wouldn't want anywhere near those things any way," Lionpaw meowed shaking out his tortoiseshell pelt.
"Good now come on," Harespring purred and turned the patrol back the way they came.
"I thought that was rather mean," Oatwhisker whispered.
"Don't worry it was perfectly safe, the beast was just eating the grass," Blackcloud whispered back, "Crowfeather did the same thing to me when he showed me the territory," she flicked her tail along her mate's flank. "And now he knows why he shouldn't come here alone,"
Blackcloud was positive that Harespring was a good choice for her son and what the deputy did proved that.