WhisperClan Ceremonies 10/09/2015 [Deputy Announced!]

[Lionhearted]

OOC: Hello everyone!

First and foremost, I apologize for any typos that are in here. I finished some of the ceremonies on mobile, so autocorrect may have touched/not touched on some things ^^'

Note that all cats who have become apprentices in the September WhisperClan ceremonies are now eligible to become warriors, as more than a month would have passed.

REMINDER: If you have adopted a kitten from a litter, and made their application, it does not mean that they are eligible for apprentice ceremonies after their accepted application is two weeks old. The kitten also has to be born.This can be IC (with a birthing thread), or OOC (with the consent of the RPer of the mother, but with no birthing thread). I'm going to let it slide for this ceremony, but next time I will be double-checking with the RPer of the mother. This does not apply to kittens with NCP parents (meaning the parents are not real characters on AWRP). Feel free to ask questions if this (or anything else) is not explained clearly! 

Cats receiving ceremonies:

SPOILER: Click to show

Fangpaw
Stumpypaw
Owlpaw
Skypaw
Echopaw
Beetlekit > Frostgaze
Moonkit > Emberwind
Fleetkit > Thrushstar
Squirrelkit > Cinderstone
Cloverkit > Snakeflight
Morningkit > Wolf-flight

[?]

Cats receiving vigils:

SPOILER: Click to show

Hickoryclaw (Lionhearted)
Aspenstripe (Heron)
Doewhisker
Rubbleclaw (Lionhearted)
Duskrunner (Vinepool)
Rosebriar (@snowykcnomre)
Honeyleaf (Legit)
Finchpaw (Lightningtrail)
Fawnpaw (Phantomspirit)
Lionpaw (Lily)
Rosekit (Heron)
Amberkit (Babylonranger)

---

Thrushstar flicked his ears as he strode into the camp. Today was going to be a big day for ceremonies. Giving his Clan a sweep with his eyes, he sprang towards the center of the clearing, and raised his head towards the sky:

"Let all those old enough to run with the wind join me for a Clan meeting!" he yowled, still standing. He waited for his Clanmates to gather 'round him, and then he sat down. Murmurs arose, and he raised a paw for silence. "Today is a pleasant day for ceremonies," he began, "and so we shall hold the ceremonies that are due. At the end, we will also have a vigil for those who have passed away since the last seasons. We will begin with the apprentices. They have trained hard and I would be foolish to deny their warrior names.

"Fangpaw (Nepeta), step forward. You have completed your training. By the powers of StarClan, I name you Fangspark. WhisperClan honors your outgoing personality and confidence, and welcomes you as a full warrior. 

"Stumpypaw (ElizzaBear), step forward. You have completed your training. By the powers of StarClan, I name you Stumpypike. WhisperClan honors your skill in both swimming and hunting, and welcomes you as a full warrior. 

"Owlpaw (Isilme), step forward. You have completed your training. By the powers of StarClan, I name you Owlwhisper. WhisperClan honors your intelligence and gracefulness, and welcomes you as a full warrior. 

"Skypaw (Falcon), step forward. You have completed your training. By the powers of StarClan, I name you Skydapple. WhisperClan honors your kindness and skills in hunting, and welcomes you as a full warrior. 

"Echopaw (Heron), step forward. You have completed your training. By the powers of StarClan, I name you Echosong. WhisperClan honors your speed and responsibility, and welcomes you as a full warrior.

"And now," said Thrushstar, pausing to take a breath, "onto the apprentice ceremonies. These kits have reached the age of six moons, and are going to begin their training. I trust all the mentors I've chosen to train them hard." Casting a steely glint towards a select number of cats, he looked away into the distance to seek out the kits.

"Beetlekit (Restlessdreamer), you have reached the age of six moons, and are ready to begin your warrior training. Until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Beetlepaw. Frostgaze (Isilme), you are a dedicated warrior, and I hope you can pass down your skills unto Beetlepaw. 

"Moonkit (Ferretpaw), you have reached the age of six moons, and are ready to begin your warrior training. Until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Moonpaw. Emberwind (FlickeringNebula), you are a dedicated warrior, and I hope you can pass down your skills unto Moonpaw." 

"Fleetkit (Rogue), you have reached the age of six moons, and are ready to begin your warrior training. Until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Fleetpaw. I [Thrushstar] will be your mentor through your training."

"Squirrelkit (Falcon), you have reached the age of six moons, and are ready to begin your warrior training. Until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Squirrelpaw. Cinderstone (Kado), you are a dedicated warrior, and I hope you can pass down your skills unto Squirrelpaw.

"Cloverkit (Babylonranger), you have reached the age of six moons, and are ready to begin your warrior training. Until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Cloverpaw. Snakeflight (Lionhearted), you are a dedicated warrior, and I hope you can pass down your skills unto Cloverpaw." 

"Morningkit (Ambrose), you have reached the age of six moons, and are ready to begin your warrior training. Until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Morningpaw. Wolf-flight (Phantomspirit), you are a dedicated warrior, and I hope you can pass down your skills unto Morningpaw."

With the ceremonies finished, Thrushstar kneaded his front paws in anticipation. "We will now begin the vigils. These cats have passed away because of various reasons, and now we shall honor them, and wish them good hunting among the ranks of StarClan. Thank you Hickoryclaw, Aspenstripe, Doewhisker, Rubbleclaw, Duskrunner, Rosebriar, Honeyleaf, Finchpaw, Fawnpaw, and Lionpaw for serving the Clan to your best. May your spirit rest in peace. And last but not least, thank you Amberkit and Rosekit for being a part of the Clan. Your time was short, but not forgotten.

"Lastly, Clanmates, I must make an important announcement," said Thrushstar solemnly. "Today, I bring you your deputy. I apologize for the long wait, but I have watched all of you carefully, and I have made my choice. I say before StarClan, so that Fangstar, where-ever he is, and the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. Hawkeye (Icestorm) will be the new deputy of WhisperClan. Your dedication to this Clan and your nobility cannot be described in words. I trust you with all my nine lives, and I hope that you will step forward to stand by my side as my second-in-command. 

"A final congratulations to all of the new warriors and apprentices, and to Hawkeye. I trust that everyone is working hard to keep this Clan running. This meeting is dismissed." Standing up, he waited for the cats to depart before striding to Hawkeye. Dipping his head in respect, he blinked at the other tom warmly. "I wish to see you in my den after I talk with my apprentice," he said briskly but not curtly. "We have matters to discuss."

OOC: Icestorm, I can make a thread for Thrushstar and Hawkeye ^^ 

Rogue and Babylonranger, shall I make the training thread, or you would like to? 

---

OOC (please read): 

SPOILER: Click to show

If I have made a mistake on anyone's ceremony, please PM and tell me so! This includes a cat getting more than two apprentices, duplicated names (I have checked on the Actual List of All Cats, but if you know of a cat who has the same warrior name, then I will change it), or anything else. This does not include typos of words in the thread.

Lastly, don't forget to post if your cat can take an apprentice here! I will be updating the mentors list after each ceremony, so you do not need to worry about posting that your cat can take one less apprentice each time. Also, click on the Actual List link above (in spoiler) and post your cat's name there to place a reservation! :3 Thank you!

[Ferretpaw]

Moonpaw jumped for joy. I-I'm a apprentice I can't believe it! Purring to herself, Moonpaw decided to get up and look for her mentor Emberwind. She shoved her body between multiple cats with different pelt colors. "Hello?! Emberwind, where are you it's your apprentice Moonpaw!" She let out a small whine.

[Restlessdreamer]

OOC: Rogue, Isilme

---

"Let all those old enough to run with the wind join me for a Clan meeting!"

Beetlekit jumped when he heard Thrushstar's voice. His mother gave him one last lick, to make sure he looked perfect, and sent him off.

Beetlekit bounded into the clearing, and could hardly contain his excitement; he could barely even sit still.

His heart skipped a beat when Thrushstar called his name.

"Beetlekit, you have reached the age of six moons, and are ready to begin your warrior training. Until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Beetlepaw. Frostgaze, you are a dedicated warrior, and I hope you can pass down your skills unto Beetlepaw. "

"I'm an apprentice! he whispered.

Then, he heard that Fleetkit had gotten Thrushstar himself as a mentor.

"Oh, wow! Fleetkit is so lucky!" Beetlekitpaw mewed. He started wandering around the clearing, looking for his new mentor.

"Frostgaze?" he asked.

[Icestorm]

OOC: That would be great Lion.

Hawkeye made his way out into the clearing, glancing at those who were already out and waiting for Thrushstar to start. He could see some excited faces for the younger she-cats and toms. It was nice to see bright faces waiting for the unknown. He never had the chance to experience that excitement. Not with the incident of his...

The gray and white tom shook his head. He wasn't going to think of his past at a time like this. He had no need to do that, this was a ceremony - a time for excitement.

Hawkeye made his way towards Ravenpaw who seemed to be brooding yet again. The young apprentice never seemed to smile, it was really starting to worry the warrior. but for now he would just keep an eye of the tom. After all, he had to watch him and Foxpaw (Anya) until they were ready to be warriors. Such a drag and they were both kinda brats, but slowly he was finding them more important to him. Maybe it was because they were all each other had.

"I swear to Starclan you are going to die with that look on your face if you keep it up. You gotta relax Ravenpaw. If not I'll put you on more duties." The warrior said plainly to his black apprentice. The apprentice only grunted in return though, typical.

The ceremony went on without a hitch. The new apprentices all made the clan stronger, while the new warriors showed great promise for the clan as a whole. They were all the future.

Hawkeye will be the new deputy of WhisperClan. Your dedication to this Clan and your nobility cannot be described in words. I trust you with this life, and I hope that you will step forward to stand by my side as my second-in-command.

Hawkeye froze with shock. A warrior like him. A warrior with his past... as deputy... was it truly possible? Looking around the tom nodded his head to Thrushstar. He had to keep his head up and accept the position proudly. He couldn't let the clan see any weakness. No. He would step into his new role with confidence.

After the ceremony the tom waited outside the leader's den.

[Rogue]

~Fleetpaw~ [Lionhearted] [Restlessdreamer]

Fleetkit shuffled his white paws anxiously as both Beetlekit and Moonkit received their mentors and became 'paws before him. Both of them had gotten great cats to teach them the ways of a warrior, and his little heart fluttered anxiously. He really hoped he got someone nice and brave. When Thrushstar called his name, he sat up a little straighter, his ears pricked and his pale green eyes wide and attentive.

"I will be your mentor through your training."

The newly-named Fleetpaw struggled to keep his jaw from dropping. Thrushstar was his mentor?! Excitement filled the new apprentice from his paws to his ear-tips. Not only was it a great honor to be mentored by the Clan leader, but Thrushstar was exactly the kind of cat that he had hoped for. It was a struggle to keep himself still until the end of the ceremony, and as soon as Thrushstar ended it, Fleetpaw sprang up and padded over to his new mentor.

"Hello Thrushstar," the young black tom meowed a little shyly.


~Ashfrost~ [Heron]

The grey-spotted warrior sat quietly at the edge of the crowd, listening intently as Thrushstar began the ceremonies. The ginger and white tom began with the warrior ceremonies first, and Ashfrost felt his heart speed up just a little bit. For the first time in moons, Echopaw wasn't sitting beside him. Instead, she was sitting up with the rest of the apprentices, her blue-striped pelt sleek and shiny. His heart fluttered a bit as he looked at her, and it seemed as if the ceremonies couldn't go by faster. Suddenly and abruptly, or so it seemed to him, it was her turn.

"Echopaw, step forward. You have completed your training. By the powers of StarClan, I name you Echosong. WhisperClan honors your speed and responsibility, and welcomes you as a full warrior."

Echosong. It fit her.

Ashfrost felt an almost overwhelming swell of pride as Echosong stepped back into place, and even from his seat at the back of the crowd, he could tell that she was bubbling over with excitement. She of all cats deserved this. It had all been worth it, every last moment. The badger fight, the accidental crossing of StormClan's border, even his bout of greencough. He would scar his face all over again just to give her this. It was long overdue.

[Ferretpaw]

Moonpaw sighed giving up on trying to find her mentor. Though she saw this weird tom outside the leaders' den. That must be Hawkeye the new deputy! I must say hello! Letting out a pleased purr at her conversation with herself she padded forward to the weird tom. "Hello? Who are you? I'm Moonpaw!"

---

Icestorm Hawkeye

[Babylonranger]

((That would be great if you did, Lion, thank you.))

The white long-furred she-cat endured her ginger tabby mother's attentions silently, though Cloverkit's golden eyes narrowed with frustration. Why did Applestrike insist on cleaning her fur for her? "This is the last time I'll be able to do this for you, love," Applestrike said softly, giving her sullen daughter a final nuzzle. "Your Apprentice Ceremony is today."

The white she-cat huffed quietly, but said nothing. She moved to sit next to her brother, Squirrelkit, and waited for Thrushstar to call her name.
Snakeflight? Cloverpaw wondered with a frown. What sort of name was that? Snakes couldn't fly, unless some bird was carrying it off. So what kind of cat would have that name? Probably a fast tom she thought grimly.

[Heron]

Echopaw felt her body go very still, and her gaze rested on the new leader with intensity and concentration. The last thing, Starclan forbid, she wanted to happen was to not hear her brand new warrior name. She felt excitement roll off of her in waves, as long as a burst of nervousness. Only recently did she and Ashfrost declare their love for each other-- something so fresh and new the clan hadn't yet a clue about. Unless, of course, a cat had the two of them under a watchful eye. Speaking of eyes, she could feel the whole clans' on her. Somewhere in the midst was her mentor, and her love; if only she could know what he was thinking about her now! She hoped, and knew, he would be proud.

It happened very quickly, and suddenly she was no longer the young she-cat fumbling for her way to prove herself. She'd done it. She was Echosong now, and she couldn't help but think of her own name as superior than the others that she heard today. Thrushstar had given her her warrior name, and now she fully understood the extent a warrior would go to defend their leader. Looking at the ginger leader, she credited him for the last few steps to accomplishing her goal. When the names of the deceased echoed throughout the clan, Echosong could only be grateful that Ashfrost's name was not one of them. Silently she turned to peek at the gray spotted warrior; ignoring the tightening in her chest when she did.

When the vigil was completed, she congratulated Hawkeye quickly on his new position. Doubtful that he even heard the newly made warrior, she turned to happily trot over to Ashfrost. She warmly approached him with an affectionate graze of her muzzle, taking the step even further to walk into him and press the side of her against his broad chest. A delighted purr escaped her, and she smiled at her mentor -- no, her equal -- with a proud gaze. "I'm Echosong now," she managed to choke out. (Rogue)

[Rogue]

Ashfrost got to his paws as soon as the ceremony was over, watching Echosong as she padded over to congratulate their new deputy, Hawkeye. He made a mental note in the back of his mind to do the same, but then his attention was drawn to his former apprentice as she picked her way through the crowd of cats to him. His heart swelled with pride again at the happiness in the new warrior's green eyes, and he gifted her with one of his rare smiles, the ones that only seemed to emerge whenever she was around. He purred as she brushed her muzzle against his lightly, feeling complete for the first time in moons.

"So I heard," he responded when she mentioned her new name. "It fits you." He licked the top of her head tenderly, and then added, "I'm even more proud of you now than I was before, and that's saying something." When she had first been given to him, he had to admit that he had felt overwhelmed with the task before him. Echosong had been his first apprentice, and the challenge that her disability had posed had seemed almost impossible. At first he had doubted that he would be able to help her make it to this day, but the more time he had spent with her, the more he had realized that she wasn't going to give up any time soon. So he had sworn not to either.

Now here they were.

Touching his nose lightly to Echosong's ear, he said, "You have your vigil to sit tonight. I'll prepare a nest for you next to mine in the warrior's den so it will be ready for you in the morning."

Heron

[Heron]

Echosong let out an appreciative purr, her ears flicking and her tail twitching in excitement behind her. He was right, after all. She would have to start off her new warrior duties by sitting in silent vigil, unable to speak until the sun rose again. She had wondered how cats were able to do it and not fall asleep, but now she could understand. The adrenaline coursing through her was unlikely to settle any time soon, and Ashfrost's promise for a secure spot in the den made her feel suddenly bashful.

She had forgotten that her new den would be with the other warriors. Curling next to Ashfrost, sleeping soundly, was always a far-away dream. Now, it was her reality. No longer would she share a den with the newly made apprentices and others. She would be with the warriors of the clan, taking her rightful place. The young cat longingly eyed Ashfrost's long fur, remembering how warm it had been in the cold months.

Alas, she nodded sternly, lifting her chin and boldly presenting herself. "Thank you," she said simply, though the thank you held weight in everything - for training her, for being him, for promising her a spot next to his. She pressed her pink nose to his, and then her blue-striped self was slinking off to her rightful position to ready for her vigil. All the while, she never felt better. (Rogue)

[Rogue]

The grey-spotted warrior watched her go, feeling oddly content. He knew she would do just fine; she had been preparing for this moment for moons. He turned after a moment and headed over to the warrior den, noting that some of his Clanmates were already retreating inside for the night. Gathering together some moss and heather, he made a nest right next to his, just as he had promised Echosong. After making sure that it was as comfy as possible, he curled up in his own nest and closed his eyes, ready to get some sleep.

It had been no more than a few heartbeats when Ashfrost opened his emerald eyes again, huffing in annoyance. He knew he wasn't ready to go to sleep yet; his mind wouldn't settle. He lay there another moment more before getting up and slipping out of the den, careful not to step on anyone. Outside, there were still cats milling around the clearing, and he spotted Echosong's blue-striped pelt a few tail-lengths away, sitting for her vigil. After a moment of looking at her, he turned and settled down in the shadows of the warrior den, still able to see her. Since he couldn't sleep, he would keep vigil with her.

Heron