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Post by frosty on Dec 18, 2010 21:04:29 GMT -5
Birchstar squeezed out between the roots of the High Tree, the cavern beneath of which was where she made her den. She winced slightly as she looked up, not anxious to be making the great leap in the place where Clan meetings were held. The leader was getting stiff with age, and she was just recovering from a harsh bout of greencough. Few cats knew but the sickness had taken four of her six remaining lives, leaving her with just a mere two. She knew in her heart this would be her last leaf-bare, and she would be walking up a spiral path of stars to join all her deceased kin as Stormheart took over DustClan.
She had thought about her death a lot in these past moons. Birchstar decided that she would want to die peacefully, not in some harsh coughing attack or in a revenge murder. She didn't want any cats with her when she passed, so no one would be haunted by her death. All the tabby wanted was a serene, quiet time where she could peacefully depart the mortal world and enter in StarClan. The thought of dying didn't bother Birchstar anymore, because she knew she had earned a spot in the ranks of the sky.
But today was not the day she would pass to StarClan. Birchstar was still living in reality, as the leader of DustClan. Clearing her throat, the tabby bunched her stiff muscles and leaped. It was quite a pathetic attempt, and she had to scramble up the tree with less grace than a moose taking its first steps.
Trying not to let the wave of embarrassment consume her, Birchstar raised her head high and called out to her Clan. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join with me beneath the High Tree for a Clan meeting!" she called.
((Clan assembles, not power playing here. @_@))
"It is a very special day in DustClan today, my friends. By naming apprentices we show we will survive and remain strong. Pebblekit, from now on until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Pebblepaw. Gravelpelt, you are ready for an apprentice, you will be Pebblepaw's mentor. I know you will pass on your strength and wisdom to Pebblepaw, and teach her the skills that will make her a brave warrior."
Birchstar watched as her grandson padded across the clearing with a smooth gait and gently dipped his head to touch his nose to Pebblepaw's.
"Now, I would like to summon our three oldest apprentices to the front of the crowd.
I, Birchstar, leader of DustClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice . He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Buzzradpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?
I, Birchstar, leader of DustClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice . He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Beechpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?
I, Birchstar, leader of DustClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice . He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Cougarpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"
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Post by Dawn on Dec 18, 2010 21:19:19 GMT -5
The sound of Birchstar's call jolted Beechpaw out of his thoughts. He looked up at his tabby grandmother and stood up, padding towards the place where the Clan sat during meetings. He was followed by Buzzardpaw, a reddish brown tabby tom cat who Beechpaw was sort of friends with.
Pebblekit was balanced beneath the rock, her body trembling with excitement. Her mother had not exited the nursery to watch this exciting step in Pebblekit's life, but that hardly bothered her. Spruceflower and she had had a falling out weeks ago when Pebblekit had begun to speak with her half-brother, Buzzardpaw.
He had helped her clean up for her ceremony this morning and she looked towards him as he sat, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She saw him give a wave of his tail and felt encouraged.
"It is a very special day in DustClan today, my friends. By naming apprentices we show we will survive and remain strong. Pebblekit, from now on until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Pebblepaw. Gravelpelt, you are ready for an apprentice, you will be Pebblepaw's mentor. I know you will pass on your strength and wisdom to Pebblepaw, and teach her the skills that will make her a brave warrior."
Pebblepaw's eyes widened slightly with happiness. The leader's grandson, that was an honor. She stood as her new mentor padded towards her and touched noses with him, her body trembling with her excitement. "I promise I will do my best, Gravelpelt."
[/color] She told the gray tom cat, trying to keep her voice steady. "Now, I would like to summon our three oldest apprentices to the front of the crowd.
I, Birchstar, leader of DustClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice . He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Buzzardpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?" Buzzardpaw stepped forward and looked straight up at Birchstar. "I will."[/color] He replied, his voice confident and firm. "I, Birchstar, leader of DustClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice . He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Beechpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?" Beechpaw too stepped forward, looking up at his grandmother though calm, bright blue eyes. "I will."[/color] He meowed, standing beside Buzzardpaw now. [/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]
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Post by frosty on Dec 18, 2010 21:51:48 GMT -5
"I promise I will do my best, Gravelpelt."
The gray tomcat smiled down at his new apprentice. "Thats all I ask, Pebblepaw. I'll do my best too," he meowed warmly, curling his tail around the little she-kit's shoulders. There was already a certain fondess for the gray she-cat, as if something in Gravelpelt's mind just clicked. Shaking his head slightly, he struggled to pay attention to the rest of the ceremonies.
Cougarpaw bounded up behind his brother and Buzzardpaw. He couldn't believe he was finally going to become a DustClan warrior! He had waited his whole life for this moment, now he just wanted to live in it forever.
"I do," he meowed.
"I will."
"I will."
"I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I hereby grant you three with your warrior names.
Buzzardpaw, you shall be known as Buzzardfang. StarClan honors your boldness and ambition and we welcome you as a full warrior of DustClan.
Beechpaw, you shall be known as Beechtail. StarClan honors your nature and courage and we welcome you as a full warrior of DustClan.
Cougarpaw, you shall be known as Cougarheart. StarClan honors your instinct and curiosity and we welcome you as a full warrior of DustClan."
In turn, Birchstar rested her chin on each of the new warriors' heads.
"Buzzardfang! Beechtail! Cougarheart!"
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Post by Dawn on Dec 18, 2010 22:03:06 GMT -5
Pebblepaw smiled back at her new mentor, encouraged by his kindly face and warm words. She was about to reply but Birchstar spoke again, naming the new warriors. She felt Gravelpelt's tail curl around her shoulders and felt truly grateful that she had gotten him as a mentor.
He was a great warrior and good natured so he was not likely to become easily adgitated with her if she did something wrong.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I hereby grant you three with your warrior names.
Buzzardpaw, you shall be known as Buzzardfang. StarClan honors your boldness and ambition and we welcome you as a full warrior of DustClan.
Beechpaw, you shall be known as Beechtail. StarClan honors your nature and courage and we welcome you as a full warrior of DustClan.
Cougarpaw, you shall be known as Cougarheart. StarClan honors your instinct and curiosity and we welcome you as a full warrior of DustClan."
Buzzardfang and Beechtail stepped forward, allowing Birchstar to rest her muzzle on their heads in turn then giving her shoulder a respectful lick.
Beechtail smiled at his grandmother as he pulled away, blue eyes sparkling. "Thank you Birchstar, I promise I won't let you down."
[/color] He meowed quietly. "Buzzardfang! Beechtail! Cougarheart!" The Clan chanting their new names made Beechtail and Buzzardfang's hearts swell with pride. They were DustClan warriors now. All their hard work had paid off. Pebblepaw chanted her brother, Beechtail and Cougarheart's names along with the rest of the Clan, hardly able to sit still. The feelings of excitement and pride within the Clan were contageous. [/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]
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Post by frosty on Dec 20, 2010 18:35:27 GMT -5
Gravelpelt watched as his two half-brothers became warriors, his heart thumping loudly in his chest. This was a special ceremony for both him and his appretice, because they both had half-brothers who were becoming warriors at last.
Beechtail and Cougarheart looked ecstatic to finally be full members of DustClan. Gravelpelt was happy for them, but he couldn't help wishing they were never born. Sure, they were nice cats and he would always be there for them but they could never replace Flurryfoot or Shellfang or Featherstorm. Gravelpelt winced at the hell-sent thought. He did love Beechtail and Cougarheart. They were his baby brothers, and he would never again label them as 'just his half-brothers'.
Flicking his ears, Gravelpelt looked down at Pebblepaw. This was a big responsibility, having an apprentice. She was so young and innocent, and he promised her he would do his best to shape her into the best DustClan warrior he could.
"Want to go explore the territory, Pebblepaw?" he asked, smiling down at the little she-cat.
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Post by Dawn on Dec 20, 2010 18:46:18 GMT -5
Pebblepaw watched Buzzardfang smiling around proudly at their Clan, his eyes sparkling with happiness and pride. She knew how much this must mean to him, what with the recent death of their sister Stripepaw in the battle with MarshClan.
Perhaps that had been what had opened his eyes to the fact that Pebblepaw was his kin. He had never really approached Cloudkit, but who could blame him? Cloudkit was pretty much a mind slave of Spruceflower by now. Pebblepaw counted herself lucky that she had escaped that fate. She was too strong willed and even though she had lost a mother by breaking ties with Spruceflower and her controlling ways, she had gained a strong and wise brother.
"Want to go explore the territory, Pebblepaw?"
Pebblepaw looked up at Gravelpelt and gave a little wiggle of excitement. "Oh yes! I would love to go explore the territory!"
[/color] She mewed excitetedly, leaping to her paws and starting to walk around in a small circle to let off some of her excited energy. Her mother had pretty much controlled she and her brother while they were in the nursery, barely letting them leave the nest let alone the den. She had hardly even been in the camp and now she was to explore the forest! [/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]
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Post by frosty on Dec 20, 2010 19:01:34 GMT -5
"Oh yes! I would love to go explore the territory!"
Gravelpelt purred in amusement at Pebblepaw's enthusiasm. She would be a fun cat to train, the perfect first apprentice. He watched as she bounced around in little circles, his stormy green eyes glittering with laughter.
The gray tomcat remembered his first tour of the territory. Gravelpelt's mentor had been Stormheart, the deputy of DustClan. The black tom had been a great mentor to him, and now he even considered him a good friend of his. Now it was Gravelpelt's turn to pass down the skills Stormheart had taught him down to Pebblepaw.
"Alright, let's go then," he meowed, beginning to pad to the camp exit. He turned his head to look at her while still maintaining his steady pace. "But you have to be careful. Always scent first because even though it's leaf-bare there are still going to be predators out and I don't want anything to happen to you."
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Post by Dawn on Dec 20, 2010 19:10:42 GMT -5
"Alright, let's go then, but you have to be careful. Always scent first because even though it's leaf-bare there are still going to be predators out and I don't want anything to happen to you."
Pebblepaw followed Gravelpelt as he began to pad towards the entrance of the camp, taking two steps for every one of his. "I'll be careful, don't worry."
[/color] She chirped brightly, looking up at him through her light amber eyes. She felt a thrill of pure nerves and excitement as she took those few first steps past the entrance of the camp. The scents of the forest were stronger here than they were in the camp and it took her a moment to get over how pure and different it smelled out here than in the camp. She paused a moment, taking a deep breath of the chilly air, savoring the crisp coolness of it. This was wonderful! The forest was marvelous! Pure untouched snow lay before her eyes, the white dazzling her eyes until she got used to it. The barren trees looked even larger up close than they did from the camp and she loved the smell of each different variety, even if they were only a couple around her. The barren ground of DustClan territory, now covered by a sheet of snow, felt different with every pawstep, as she released some stalks of grass of brambles from their prison beneath the frosty blanket. [/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]
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