The Start of a Journey (Aprentice Ceremony)

[Lupin]

Through the shadows the calico tom stalked, towards his perch on Smoothrock. Once more an apprentice ceremony was to be completed. This was a special one as well. For today, the new medicine cat apprentice would be appointed. Cursestar turned his head to search for Phantombreeze. It would be her job to properly initiate the new cat. He wondered how well she would do herself, seeing how young she was.

Finally at the top of the giant rock, Cursestar sat, paws tightly pulled against him and tail tucked neatly around his legs. From his perch, he looked truly meanacing. For once looking as a ShadowClan leader should. He had heard the other clans muttering about his small size before. Too bad they had yet to meet in battle.

The leader raised his head up the clouded sky above and yowled the summons. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath Smoothrock for a Clan meeting!" His deep voice echoed through the camp and slowly the members of his clan began to arrive and seat themselves.

The small tom looked around the gathering of cats, trying to choose which one would become the mentor for the new apprentice. His eyes rested on Silentstep for a moment before coming to rest on Sagewhisper. He smiled slightly. Maybe having an apprentice would tire the annoy tom enough to keep of Cursestar's back for a while. "Sagewhisper, you are now ready to take on an apprentice. You will be mentor to Poisonpaw. Sahewhisper, you have shown yourself to be a warrior of..." the leader paused for a moment to ponder what to say. "Cunning and intelligence. I'm sure you will pass on all you know to this apprentice," finished, Cursestar backed of and nodded towards Phantombreeze. It was her turn to continue.

[sunni bells]

OOC: Isn't it about time Meadowpaw and Falconpaw became warriors? Even though Falconpaw is in Riverclan...

[Lupin]

OOC: Falconpaw is going to become a warrior after the prophecy battle...

[Sublimeluver]

(Not sure I know how to do this..but I'll give it a shot!)

Phantombreeze padded up to Applekit and meowed in a steady voice "Today we hold another apprentince cerimony, but this one is special...Applekit has shown interest of becoming a Medicine Cat Apprentince! Applekit do you promise to train hard, protect cats, and serve this clan with honesty and compassion for the rest of your days?"

[Laughing]

Sagewhisperer rode through the spread pines on nimble legs, paws pressing in fleeting strides. He had settled along the Riverclan border for a while, long and meaningful stares sent over the plane that separated him from his homeland. He did not recall the last time that he had hopped that border, traveled so close to the camp that he could smell his sister, and then run back into Shadowclan with an emotionless face. He had shed that blood on this Clan's soil. His heritage now belonged to that of the more cunning race, his heart no longer beat the blood of those of Riverclan. He had resolved that this be true, or else Starclan smite him. Not yet had he been struck with the torture of lightning nor a battle so deadly that all of his life fluids stained the grass. He glanced at the trees that were now his home. He did not feel comfortable beneath their sparse shade.

As the tabbied tom rapidly approached the camp that contained his resting place, he heard the ominous ring of the new and young leader ripple through the branches. His soft pads slowed to a numb stop, one in mid-step slowly lowered to the ground. The traditional call of felines whispered away with the chilled winter breeze, leaving Sagewhisperer with an interested look in his eye. He had not been told of a coming ceremony, if there was a need for one. He did not come to notice the presence of younger cats, so he was completely caught off guard if there was an apprentice, or apprentices, to be made. He wondered if he should attend, not that the grumpy lead would even notice him there or not.

Deciding that his future would be so what better if he did show at the ceremonies that were being held. But, if Cursestar's voice did not carry far enough away from the camp, the felines outside would no hear and that might've been a problem. Sagewhisperer's tail was swallowed into the Shadowclan entrance as he thought about this, a smirk catching along the lines of his features as it usually did. The expression did not deteriorate as he slipped to the back of the proceedings, softly narrowing his lime gaze upon the lean tom who stood upon the Smoothrock. What a leader, Sagewhisperer grinned cheekily.

And then his fate came crashing upon him and Sagewhisperer wondered, somewhere, if Cursestar had been planning this out. Surely this was a joke. Sagewhisperer would make a horrible mentor, the tom was too lax to do any actual working with the apprentice. But this was something that the Clan needed, he supposed, but playfully sighed when he realized that he was not the only warrior in the pitiful ranks of Shadowclan that needed an apprentice. He moved through the equally minute crowd towards Cursestar, towards the warrior trainee that would be learning from him for the next couple of moons. He wished them to be quick moons.

"I am grateful that you consider me to be worthy of an apprentice, Cursestar. Surely, I will train him well," that sly, cunning grin hid his distaste. "I will gladly pass unto him skills I learned for generations past." Smoothly, Sagewhisperer turned from his leader and looked for the tom that he would be training. The young one would have to come to him, for the ex-Riverclan tabby had a problem; he hadn't the faintest clue who Poisonpaw was.

[Sublimeluver]

(ooc:My cat Corruptionpaw needs a mentor...Could you make it a really tough tom that works their apprentinces really hard?)

[02moonpelt02]

Poisonpaw's tail quivered in excitement as he was given his name and mentor. He padded quickly over to Sagewhisper and touched his nose, his eyes narrowed as he smirked in anticipation. He sat down in his new place beside his mentor and his amber eyes shined with pride as he looked up at his mentor befre turning to his brother's own cerimony.

Applekit smiled, his small body calm as he watched his brother's muscles tighten with emotions. He brushed his tail against his brother's side before he ran to meet his mentor and touch noses as the tradition. As Poisonpaw took his place among the other cats, Applekit listened to the leader and medicine cat with a calm smile, hs pale green eyes flashing momentarilywith happiness. He would finally learn to protect and serve his Clan on a different path, learing the uses of herbs, staying out of Clan rivalries, and healing his Clan with sympathy and affection. He cleared his voice before speaking to the medicine cat. "I do," he said, keeping his voice even as he looked up at the two higher ranked cats. He looked at Phantombreeze, pride swelling in his chest as he thought of his future. 'That'll be me one day,' he thought to himself and he stood up straighter at the thought.[/size]

[Sublimeluver]

Phantombreeze smiled pride warming her thoroughly. "Then by the powers of Starclan I now prounounce you as Applepaw medicine cat apprentince of Shadowclan!"

[Darkheart]

OOC: Mind if I join in?

Darkheart sauntered into the camp, dropping a plump wood pigeon on the fresh kill pile and licking a paw idly as she took in the scene. She didn't feel particularly crushed that another apprentice naming ceremony had begun without here. Deep down, she very much suspected Cursestar knew better than to appoint her as a mentor. With her grouchy demeanor she'd drive all their best young apprentices to Thunderclan within a moon.

Thus she worked at a clump of dirt lodged under a claw, ignoring the entire ceremony.

[Sublimeluver]

(Pretty pic Darkheart! :])

Phantombreeze smiled and meowed "I'm very proud of you all."

[Lupin]

The young she-cat was not to be so lucky. Cursestar had his own plans for her. Although Darkheart was not his first choice, the clan was low on warriors and plentiful in apprentices. Sending Corruptionpaw to work with her would work out well enough. He hoped.
"Another young cat sits among us with his mentor needs unmet. Corruptionpaw, it is time you were given a proper mentor. Darkheart, you are old and experience enough to take on your first apprentice," Cursestar bowed low to look more specifically at the she-cat. "Do not dissapoint me," finished with his speech, the tom stepped off the rock and onto the ground. From there he dissapeared back into his den, ready for a quick rest before sending himself out on another patrol.

[Sublimeluver]

A flick of horror crossed Corruptionpaw's fae but it vanished as quickly as it had come. He padded up to Darkheart and nodded a greeting

[Darkheart]

OOC: hey guys, back I am soooooooo sorry my computer completely crashed on me, i promise to make it up (purrs and gives you big pleading kitty eyes) Don't banish me from the clan??

Darkheart's fur poofed out in shock, standing on end,"Wha..wait..uh.." she looked sourly at Corruptionpaw and sighed deeply,"Alright then, I guess we may as well go and start restocking the Fresh Kill Pile....that is if you can keep from scaring everything in the territory away by clomping through the bracken like a badger with a bad foot.." she sniffed and turned, stalking off out of the camp.

[Sublimeluver]

Corruptionpaw glared at her "Okay...I can do that, but can you hide your stench to keep the prey from running from you as well?" he asked sourly

[Darkheart]

Darkheart turned sharply and cuffed Corruptionpaw on the ear, "Smart tongues don't equal smart cats." She paused and eyed him thoughtfully though, seemingly more impressed with her new apprentice than before. At least he wasn't bouncing all over the place like a toad. "Maybe you will make a decent apprentice after all.." she remarked, finally, briefly touching noses with him before turning and trotting off.

"Let's go, we'll bring back no less that three pieces of free kill apiece then I'll show you the border markings. Tomorrow we'll start your battle training so you better not think you're going to take it easy and squeeze by with simple tasks like fetching moss for the elder's den.."