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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2012 14:49:28 GMT -5
When Hailstrike had returned to camp with Granitepaw in tow, along with Eagletalon and Honeynose, the Clan leader had been surprised. She rushed over to the injured party, viewing Blackeagle's appearance out of the corner of her eye. "What happened?" she meowed, stiffening. Mixed in with the familiar StoneClan scent was a rough, disgusting odor that was foreign to the she-cat. Despite Fallingstar's concern, it had been Granitepaw who stepped forward and relayed the sequence of events.
It was that evening that the ceremony would take place. When the sun had touched down to the edge of the sky, Fallingstar's tall figure
transversed the camp and she made the easy leap to the top of the Rockpile. Green eyes studied the camp and the cats in it; in the midst of leaf-bare they were starving, hardened and suffering, but among those things it was time to give StoneClan a little bit of good to contrast everything that went wrong. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Rock Pile for a Clan meeting!" the leader yowled. Once the words had been uttered, a sudden sense of calm had swept over Fallingstar. Shadeclaw's betrayal had been a wound to StoneClan, but she had a feeling that somehow everything would work itself out from then on out.
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Post by Fawn on Dec 23, 2012 16:35:12 GMT -5
| [atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,415,bTable] | [atrb=style, background-color: #D0C6A4; border-top: 5px solid #75531E; border-bottom: 5px solid #75531E;][STYLE=border: 4px solid #75531E; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-left: 15px; margin-bottom: -33px; margin-top: 7px;] [/style][STYLE=float: right; width: 277px; font-size: 50px; color: #75531E; font-family: georgia; text-align: center; margin-right: 15px; margin-left: 123px; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -45px; letter-spacing: -3px;]Granitepaw[/style][STYLE=background-color: #EFE9E0; border-top: 4px solid #75531E; margin-right: 15px; font-family: arial narrow; letter-spacing: 2px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: -9px; margin-left: 123px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; color: #75531E;]12 Moons - StoneClan - Apprentice Tom[/style] [STYLE=margin-right: 15px; margin-left: 15px; font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; text-align: justify; background-color: #EFE9E0; padding: 17px; color: #3C2E16; margin-top: 8px; opacity: 0.9; border-top: 4px solid #75531E; border-right: 1px dotted #9D6F25; border-left: 1px dotted #75531E;]
He had not expected Fallingstar to call a meeting so soon. Having just finished cleaning his wounds, grooming his pelt and hunting a bit for the Clan, Granitepaw's thoughts had been strangely pleasant since the events that had happened this morning. It felt as though the slate had been wiped clean, that he had finally been...redeemed for his past failures. Everywhere he went, Clanmates were nodding in approval - and several young she-cat warriors had came up to him and told him how brave he was, which was an entirely new situation for the previously anti-social tom. He'd only swished his tail and flattened his ears with embarrassment, but had accepted their praise humbly. It was still taking a while to sink in for the gray ticked tom with the dense, short coat, and the musculature and leanness of a fully fledged warrior of StoneClan, as durable as the rocky terrain he resembled.
Expecting Fallingstar to share the news of Shadeclaw's latest string of violence, Granitepaw sought out Hailstrike in the crowd, padding over to the frosty-eyed she-cat, dipping his head to Eagletalon respectfully. He looks so much more sane NOT drenched in cat blood... For himself personally, he couldn't imagine dealing with so much of...THAT staining his fur; he wouldn't enjoy the smell, the iron tang of another cat's blood. He was certainly no warmonger, but Granitepaw had proven today that when things got hard, he could perform well under pressure - even against someone who knew all of his secrets and his fears.
Taking in a breath of the cool evening air, Granitepaw sat, wrapping a thin-furred, slightly cow-licked tail around his paws, pads cracked and worn, a small cut above his eye still visible even after Blackeagle had seen to it. Fixing his calm yellow-green gaze upon Fallingstar, the respectful silence settling over their gathered Clanmates told him the meeting was just about to start.
WORDS! 000 TAGS! dey go right here.
NOTES! whatever you want, bruh. [/style] | |
[STYLE=width: 400px; text-align: center; font-size: 9px; color: #75531E; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: -4px;]made by kiwii at btn![/style] |
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Co-Captain
INVENTORY
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Post by Phoenix on Dec 23, 2012 23:42:57 GMT -5
Having not fought in the battle herself, Hailstrike had not deemed it appropriate to linger long after Granitepaw had told his story. Even as they stood there, listening to her apprentice retell the tale to a shocked Fallingstar, she had found her mind returning to the familiar scrublands that made up StoneClan's territory. Time was passing, slipping through her grasp like water through unsheathed claws. It was time that she could be using to catch the pieces of prey that had the potential to mark the difference between life and death. Once the young tom had gone off to clean his fur and tend to his wounds, she had hesitated before disappearing into StoneClan's vast territory; it took only a moment and some carefully chosen words to hint to StoneClan's leader that her apprentice was ready to begin the next chapter of his life.
Had the weather not been absolutely horrendous this past leaf-bare, she would not have let herself return with only a scrawny rabbit. Even with her knowledge of the weather, it took a lot for the she-cat to convince herself to return to camp, that there wasn't another mouse or rabbit lurking just around that rock. In any case, it was imperative that she head back now; the sun had long since passed its peak, and the long streaks that denoted sunset had begun to cross over the sky.
Just as she placed the rabbit on the meager fresh-kill pile, Fallingstar's call rang out through the clearing, and satisfaction reverberated through Hailstrike. Right on time. If the she-cat had understood her hint earlier that day, then Granitepaw's night would continue in a fashion she was sure would pleasantly surprise him. Anticipation curling in her gut, the warrior's ice blue gaze pierced the crowd, finding Eagletalon with ease. As expected, he had rid his fur of his opponents' blood. Nodding a greeting, she sat down beside him, eyes scanning the crowd and landing on Granitepaw. Evenly, she watched as he padded over to join them, greeting him with a quiet, "Granitepaw," before turning her gaze upward, eyes locked on Fallingstar.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2012 1:16:10 GMT -5
And that's how the story goes,[/font] The bright yellow-orange eyes shown with excitement when, from his place sitting at the edge of camp, Volepaw heard Sandstar call the clan for a meeting. Volepaw was unsure about what this meeting was for -- for good or for bad, but had little concerns at the time in what the answer was. Simply enough, Volepaw was glad to get something to do and the moment the meeting had been called, the tom's interest was peaked and reached a high point. No matter what the news Sandstar brought was.
The marbled brown tabby padded over to the Rock Pile, eyes shining curiously before settling down on his haunches. The Earth was so cold -- from the sky down to the even colder ground. How can it possibly be this cold? Volepaw questioned, peering at Sandstar and waiting for the meeting to begin.
As more cats arrived, the brown apprentice flicked his curled ears and picked through the crowd. He hoped to locate his mentor, Silentcloud. Maybe we can sit together! Volepaw thought to himself, grinning and thinking a little about their first training session. Volepaw was very fond of his mentor. [/color] The story of the beast
with those four dirty paws [/color]
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2012 22:43:46 GMT -5
Badgerpaw was one of the last cats to join the group that gathered around the base of the High-Rock, with only a slight curiosity as to what the Clan was being called together for. The tom sat at the edge of camp, away from the noise of the crowd, though he noticed a change among a certain cat. Granitepaw, whom Badgerpaw was used to seeing as uncertain, looked to be quite proud of himself for once. It didn't take long for the tom to put the pieces together, and his gaze returned to Fallingstar as the leader continued with her ceremony.
A spark of joy entered Fallingstar's stomach as she spotted Granitepaw; it would be her first time performing a warrior ceremony, and for that, she was mildly excited. Realizing that her usual timid posture was unsuitable for a Clan leader, the she-cat straightened up and gave a quick glance toward the heavens, recalling the voice of Foxstar when he had spoken the words for her own warrior ceremony. She stood alone, as Granitepaw did now, though she had wished at the time that Eagletalon stood beside her. Wiping away her distracting thoughts, the she-cat called out to the apprentice.
"Granitepaw," Fallingstar meowed firmly, her eyes meeting the tom's. She beckoned him forward with her tail, and when he stood at the base of the rock pile, she spoke the ancient words of the warrior ceremony. "I, Fallingstar, leader of StoneClan, call upon our 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. Granitepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" The cold night air fell silent with Fallingstar's voice. All eyes were on the apprentice.
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Post by Fawn on Dec 29, 2012 23:35:50 GMT -5
| [atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,415,bTable] | [atrb=style, background-color: #D0C6A4; border-top: 5px solid #75531E; border-bottom: 5px solid #75531E;][STYLE=border: 4px solid #75531E; height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-left: 15px; margin-bottom: -33px; margin-top: 7px;][/style][STYLE=float: right; width: 277px; font-size: 50px; color: #75531E; font-family: georgia; text-align: center; margin-right: 15px; margin-left: 123px; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -45px; letter-spacing: -3px;]Granitepaw[/style][STYLE=background-color: #EFE9E0; border-top: 4px solid #75531E; margin-right: 15px; font-family: arial narrow; letter-spacing: 2px; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: -9px; margin-left: 123px; padding: 5px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; color: #75531E;]12 Moons - StoneClan - Apprentice Tom[/style] [STYLE=margin-right: 15px; margin-left: 15px; font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; text-align: justify; background-color: #EFE9E0; padding: 17px; color: #3C2E16; margin-top: 8px; opacity: 0.9; border-top: 4px solid #75531E; border-right: 1px dotted #9D6F25; border-left: 1px dotted #75531E;]
Granitepaw had just enough time to nod in warm recognition of Hailstrike's presence before the meeting turned into a ceremony, his ceremony. Suppressing a shudder of excitement and shock, the stony-hued warrior padded forward on tingling paws and with disbelieving eyes, the astonishment soon breaking like a dam to make way for a flood of other emotions.
Was this really happening?
There was so much he was feeling - pride, joy, sadness at having to part ways from Hailstrike as she would no longer his mentor, relief, nervousness, and an immense amount of happiness and satisfaction that came with working hard. Unable to settle on one emotion in particular, Granitepaw forced his expression into evenness, yellow-green eyes lifting from the rough base of the rock pile to look into his leader's eyes, listening to the ancient words that not only reached his ears, but flowed through him.
I'm about to become a warrior.
"I, Fallingstar, leader of StoneClan, call upon our 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. Granitepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"Yes." Granitepaw mewed instantly, his words coming out not an excited kitten about to be apprenticed, nor a timid, damaged soul who had more questions than answers, but as a warrior, ready to serve his Clan, and give them his life if fate should ever ask.
A thousand times yes.
He was burning to glance over his shoulder and read the expression all over Hailstrike's face, but Granitepaw inwardly feared breaking the spell, appearing somehow unsure of the single word of agreement he had just spoken, and he would do anything to make it not appear so. He was a brave StoneClan warrior, and he was worthy of their trust and their friendship; there would be no hesitation in his eyes or fear in his body should the time come when StarClan beckons him to his final place of rest, be it on the battlefield or as an elder, many moons from now, having lived out his life to the very fullest.
WORDS! 000 TAGS! dey go right here.
NOTES! whatever you want, bruh. [/style] | |
[STYLE=width: 400px; text-align: center; font-size: 9px; color: #75531E; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: -4px;]made by kiwii at btn![/style] |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2012 23:50:36 GMT -5
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Granitepaw, from this moment you will be known as Graniteclaw."
The words left Fallingstar and she beamed with pride in the young warrior. Gingerly, the leader slid off of the Rock Pile landing softly a whisker-length before the new warrior. Touching her nose to the tom's forehead, the she-cat finished reciting the ceremony. "StarClan honors your strength and your perseverance, and we welcome you as a full warrior of StoneClan." The tall golden she-cat lifted her head and nodded for Graniteclaw to turn and face the Clan and greet them as a warrior. She joined into the chorus of voices with a shy meow, drowned out by the yowls of the Clan.
"Graniteclaw, Graniteclaw, Graniteclaw..."
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Post by Fawn on Dec 30, 2012 2:11:02 GMT -5
It felt as though the air had been pushed from his lungs, Graniteclaw feeling slightly dizzy as he leaned forward to lick Fallingstar's shoulder, stepping back and turning, half-stunned and half-purring to hear the crowd chanting his name. A twinge of shyness settled over his chest, but the warrior instead lifted his head proudly, seeking out Hailstrike amongst the wave of cats all calling his name.
I did it, Hailstrike. All thanks to you. I'M A WARRIOR!
The thin-furred gray and tan warrior took a bold step forward, mewing his thanks to all those who came up to congratulate him, patiently waiting for Hailstrike to swim her way through the throng, already anticipating the joyous moment they would share. It had felt like he'd walked a 100,000 miles to get here, and he didn't regret any of it, Graniteclaw was surprised to say. He really did. Everything that had happened - Shadeclaw's betrayal - he didn't wish any of it gone; if he hadn't been involved in that mess that was Shadeclaw's abandonment and his schemes, then he never would have met Hailstrike.
And Graniteclaw could think of nothing worse than to have grown up without Hailstrike playing an active role in his life.
~*~
"Graniteclaw! Graniteclaw! Graniteclaw!"
This chorus was picked up by not just Pyrelight, who had been watching from the shelter of the nursery with her four kits, but by Eagletalon, who had been a spectator in the sometimes wonderful, sometimes depressing ups and downs that had been their apprenticeship. You did it kid, you and Hailstrike did it. Purring in between his shouts, Eagletalon's battle-scarred shoulders jugged through the crowd as he was one of the first to congratulate the young tom, chuckling low in his throat in a pleasant, warm manner.
"Have fun sitting vigil. It's lookin' like it'll be a cold one." Eagletalon stole a quick glance at Fallingstar, meeting her gaze with a soft, supportive nod. That had been her very first warrior-ceremony as leader, hadn't it?
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