The second chapter of the month is here! Enjoy!
What she fondly called the 'Webhollow method' had its perks, Pricklesong mused as she reached the border of the territory. Everything was alright these days, but she felt stifled in the camp and the trip to the Moontree was a welcome reprieve. With a bit of luck, Snaildapple would have fresh news about what was going on with Blossomstar and Tornacornwhen she came back. Running after gossip made them hardly better than apprentices but one had to entertain themselves!
Besides, even if she had kept her visits to StarClan regular, this time was special. Pricklesong had something planned and now was the perfect occasion. Walking a little faster, she urged Baypaw on; they had left earlier that they usually did, but she needed a bit more sunlight than usual for everything to be perfect. If her apprentice found her behaviour strange, she had the tact not to show it.
When they finally reached their destination, Pricklesong sat primly in front of the trunk, scrutinising the younger she-cat.
"You're going on sixteen moons, right?"
"Hm, yeah… Why?"
"It's going to be strange, doing this alone… But there's no sense in pushing it away further either," she sighed. "I'm going to perform your ceremony tonight."
"Now?!" the tabby apprentice exclaimed. "But I still have much to learn…"
"And you will. Still, you have to realise that you don't need my help for menial everyday tasks. I don't want to wait for one of our Clanmates to break a leg or eat rotten meat so that you can practice what you have only heard off in theory."
They both stayed silent for a moment before the medicine cat began with the ritual words.
"I, Pricklesong, medicine cat of MistClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help she will serve her Clan for many moons. Baypaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?"
That last line could do with a change, she thought as she said it, but she hadn't realised that even some of the oldest traditions would need a freshening up before tonight.
"I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Baypaw, from this moment you will be known as Bayfur. StarClan honors your patience and you commitment, and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of MistClan."
The new medicine cat's tongue was scratchy and rough on her shoulder, but Pricklesong exulted. Her very first apprentice, finally formally named!
"Before, medicine cats from different Clans would gather for this. It would be a bit sad for me to greet you alone, so we'll do that when we'll introduce you to the Clan, alright?"
They both took place in the Moontree and, right before sleep claimed her, Pricklesong spared a thought for Heatherrump. He would have loved to be there, and it felt wrong to have marked such an important milestone without him. But then, the privileged relationship between medicine cats and their ancestors made her certain that he would be the first to congratulate Bayfur as soon as she closed her eyes.
Doesn't it feel like something is missing without all the angst and drama? Don't worry, it'll come back soon enough...