Through the Long Winter || TalonClan Ceremonies, 5 September

[Carotius]

OOC: Midnight has given me permission to post up the ceremonies this time!

Receiving ceremonies: Isilme, Asher, Dyzzie, Falcon, Otterpotter, Phantomspirit, Deku, Anya, Clemintine

Receiving apprentices: Anya Kado Lionhearted Isilme

Fresh warriors, please remember to post your cats in the All-Cats list! If there are any issues after this, please refer them to me. ^^

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Leaf-bare seemed to have stretched on for as long as any cat could remember. The prey pile hadn't depleted to a terrible extent, thankfully, but it was still pitifully small and worth a worry. Greencough had ravaged through the Clan, turning healthy warriors sick one after the other, running their available hunters to low numbers. but even with the troubles thrown their way, a beacon of hope was about to make their way into the Clan, in the form of new warriors and apprentices.

Thistlehawk glanced towards the leader's den, blinking thoughtfully. He had only ever attended ceremonies, and this was to the first in his life to summon one and give the names to those ready - Briarstar had given him permission to proceed with it. Tail waving, he stood at the usual spot, and let out a yowl to gather everyone.

"My fellow Clanmates, the leaf-bare has been long and hard, and the epidemic hasn't made it any easier on us. but look around you! You're all here, standing tall despite life's challenges, a feat that only the warriors in our hearts can triumph over!" the deputy paused, nodding to affirm his words among the cheers. "It is now time to bring forth new energy. We have apprentices who are ready to join the Clan as full warriors, and kits who are ready to take on their apprenticeship. I call upon StarClan to watch over the ceremonies, to give these cats the strength, happiness, and health."

"Redpaw, you have earned your wings. Please step forward. For your boundless energy, I name you Redspark, warrior of TalonClan."

"Rowanpaw, you have earned your wings. Please step forward. For your fighting ability, I name you Rowanblaze, warriors of TalonClan."

"Mudpaw, you have earned your wings. Please step forward. For your dedication in completing your training, and your resilience in the delays of earning your warriors name, I name you Mudgorse, warrior of TalonClan."

"Oakpaw, you have earned your wings. Please step forward. For your calm nature and kind heart, I name you Oakcloud, warrior of TalonClan."

"Beetlepaw, you have earned your wings. Please step forward. For your swimming ability, I name you Beetlecreek, warrior of TalonClan."

"Foxpaw, you have earned your wings. Please step forward. For your resilience in training despite your setbacks, I name you Foxfern, warrior of TalonClan."

"Mistpaw (Otterpotter), you have earned your wings. Please step forward. For your benevolent personality, I name you Mistwillow, warrior of TalonClan." ((Sorry I missed them out! ^^;)

"Phantom, you have agreed to abide by the warrior coded, and are thus ready to earn your new name. Your mentor will be Lightningfire. May your mentor help you in growing your wings. I now name you Ravenpaw, apprentice of TalonClan."

"Tinykit, you are six moons old, and are thus ready to earn your new name. Your mentor will be Featherstorm. May your mentor help you in growing your wings. I now name you Tinypaw, apprentice of TalonClan."

"Cloudkit, you are six moons, and are thus ready to earn your new name. Your mentor will be Larkspring. May your mentor help you in growing your wings. I now name you Cloudpaw, apprentice of TalonClan."

"Pebblekit, you are now six moons old, and are thus ready to earn your new name. Your mentor will be Ratfish. May your mentor help you in growing your wings. I now name you Pebblepaw, apprentice of TalonClan."

Thistlehawk dipped his head in congratulations to all the newly named warriors and apprentices, while also in silent thanks to StarClan for giving him the strength to hold the ceremony for them. Raising himself to full height once more, he let the pride flow through him as he called out the new names of his Clanmates.

[Clemintine]

Ugh I can't see!

Pebblepaw stood on her short legs trying to look over warriors and apprentices in front of her, she gave a defiant hiss before lowering her head and charging through the crowd attempting to get to the front, she opened her eyes when she heard her name and smiled. She was now Pebblepaw! PAW! She began to nod her head back and forth clearly in her own little land when suddenly she heard her mentors name.

Rat...Fish...? She instantly pictured a rats head on a fish body. Shaking her head in disapproval she walked towards the deputy "Hey, hey! Wait a second are you sure you know what your doing? I mean Ratfish.. that sounds like it wouldn't be good to eat let alone train an apprentice." She stared, more like glared, down the deputy.

[Respronics]

Antfern watched the apprentice and smirked. Good point. She decided to stay silently.

[Otterpotter]

I hate to be a party pooper but Mistpaw isn't in there

[Deku]

OOC: Does the word count not work anymore? I thought it was only me.

Tinykit sat near the front of the crowd. Today was his apprentice ceremony! He had been waiting forever for this day. He waited patiently for Briarstar to begin the ceremonies. However Thistlehawk began instead of their leader, and while he was surprised it didn't really bother him much. As long as he became an apprentice. First the deputy named warriors. Tinykit sat silently for each one. After Foxfern had been named, a cat named Phantom was called up. 'Were they like a kittypet or something?' Inside his mind he disapproved of an outsider joining the clan, but he wasn't going to say that to the deputy's face. Right after Ravenpaw had been named, Tinykit heard his name called. This was it! It ended far too quickly for his liking, but he had finally become an apprentice. Now, who was his mentor supposed to be? Featherstorm? Who was Featherstorm? "Featherstorm? Are you here somewhere?"

[Kado]

A black and blue tom sat at the edge of the crowd, tail curled tight around the paws. Yellow eyes watched the ceremony as apprentices evolved into warriors and kits became apprentices. Blue ears twitched as...her name was called. "Your mentor will be Ratfish." She could feel herself fill with a mix of excitement and nervousness. She urged her legs to pad forward, looking for the apprentice, Pebblepaw. The tom's gaze fell upon the small cat just in time to hear her words, "...are you sure you know what your doing?...Ratfish...that sounds like something that wouldn't be good to eat let alone train an apprentice"

Ratfish halted, unable to move forward as anxiety and doubt on her abilities took over. Am I cut out to train an apprentice? Could Briarstar and Thistlehawk be wrong?...I mean, ... they wouldn't assign me an apprentice to train in a harsh time such as leafbare if I couldn't. She swallowed, gathering herself before padding up to the apprentice. The tom tapped her tail lightly on the apprentice's shoulder. She gave a quick smile, barely holding her emotions back. "Hello. I do agree a ratfish would taste horrible, but..." She glanced up quickly at Thistlehawk. "...I can assure you that I'm capable to train you."

[Carotius]

Clemintine Kado

When Thistlehawk called to the ceremony to a close and dismissed his Clan for the day, he wasn't entirely surprised to be approached by one of the newly-named apprentices. It was expected for at least a warrior or apprentice to approach the leader, or in this case, deputy after the ceremony, probably as an added thank-you or to discuss some other matter that needed to be settled in private. The blue-grey tom was taken a little by surprise by the dislike showing in Pebblepaw's voice; part of the deputy was ready to glare back and reprimand the apprentice for disrespect to her mentor, but he kept his mouth shut when Ratfish came along.

He gave the she-cat a hard stare, locking gazes with the doubtful-looking warrior. Did I make the right choice for these two? Could I have chosen otherwise? The deputy shook his head briefly, flicking his ears in added measure to dispel the doubts in his own head. Briarstar assigned him for ceremony duty today, and that meant she trusted him with the decisions he was to make - there was no reason he shouldn't believe in his own choices.

Thistlehawk nodded to Ratfish, then maintained eye contact with the two cats. "My mentor once told me that the most unlikely decisions may turn out to be great ones. All it takes is time and effort," he gazed at Pebblepaw, curling his tail curiously over his back. "but finding a rat-like fish sounds intriguing. Mind if I join your hunt for it someday?"

[Anya]

Featherstorm flattened her ears as her name was called up. Great. Another apprentice? She had messed up pretty badly on her last one and this Tinypaw didn't sound too...durable. Who was he now? She had always tried to avoid the kits.

"Congratulations Tinypaw, Cloudpaw!" Fallenpaw bounded over to where her siblings were. Copper-rush flicked each of his sons' shoulders. He stood proudly, like he had when they had been born. Though he was a but anxious. Featherstorm was not...the most gentle of she-cats.

"Who's Larkspring? Cloudpaw turned his head this way and that. His large blue eyes searching for his mentor.