[Fawn]

Lionstar

 42 Moons || Tom || TreeClan

___________________________

"May all cats strong enough to attend gather beneath Ancient Stump for a Clan meeting!"

So the day he'd been dreading had finally arrived.

It was not the nature of the ceremony that hadn't sat well in the golden tom's heart, it was the door he was opening up for two unique members of TreeClan's youth; the offspring of Grayowl. The ghastly gray warrior being a long-time thorn in Lionstar's side, like a cold, like an abscess he couldn't quite shake, to allow that warrior's kits the opportunity to learn how to use their claws and fangs in the name of the Clan was not high on his list of priorities. Somehow, it felt as if he were playing with fire, aware that it could burn him but with no other choice than to touch it - he couldn't delay their ceremonies for no good reason. That would be an abuse of power - and it would bring Lionstar no such peace of mind to picture that charcoal feline smugly glaring at him, both of them aware of his reasons for such a delay - something Lionstar had agreed he would never consciously allow himself to do.

Gazing out over the congregating Clan, Lionstar tried to smile through his unease, standing on ceremony and recalling the names of the chosen mentors who would have the...privilege (somehow it felt as if he were mentally spitting out that word) of training such an esteemed warrior's offspring. Oh and to think, just how much better he'd feel if these were Bloodtalon's offspring - same level of lethality, Lionstar surmised, between the two toms, and yet one, at least, he knew to be of the utmost loyalty to TreeClan and was relatively transparent. Lionstar felt confident the Clan and he could handle miniature versions of Bloodtalon.

But small, impressionable versions of Grayowl?

I'd rather lose another life.

Exaggeration aside, Lionstar waited until the two kits had made their appearance, Tigerlily having groomed them both as close to perfection as one could get kits who couldn't always sit still, and Lionstar met the innocent golden gaze of Mockingkit, and the unnaturally hollow stare of Sootkit, the latter giving off the impression that he was capable of looking beyond fur, flesh and bone to something else entirely.

Creepy.

"The time has come for two of TreeClan's youngest to join their fellow Clanmates in the apprentices' den. Sootkit, Mockingkit, step forward."

Immediately the carbon copy of Grayowl took the lead, arriving before Sootkit and with obviously more enthusiasm then the other kitten had probably ever possessed in his entire life, but Lionstar admitted to not knowing either of them that well. Under normal circumstances, Lionstar always made an effort to get to know the newest editions to the Clan, the tiny little bright futures the nursery contained - but a feeling deep in his gut kept telling him to stay away. He had always made excuses up until this point.

He was getting the same feeling looking into Mockingkit's eyes, whom, for all the world, looked every bit a normal she-kitten, her paws grinding into the earth with nervous energy, her ears fully swiveled, attentively hanging on his every word.

"Mockingkit, Sootkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Mockingpaw and Sootpaw." He paused to allow the Clan to call out their new names for a few heartbeats, picking up shortly thereafter; "Mockingpaw, your mentor will be Skyfall. Sootpaw, your mentor will be Sixtoes. I trust that they will pass down all their knowledge and experience."

Feeling as if he'd just signed a contract in blood, Lionstar waited for the two cats he'd named to step up beside their newly assigned apprentices, the golden tom purposefully keeping his eyes well away from Grayowl - he did not want to see the look running across the gray tom's muzzle at this inevitable apprentice ceremony - he did not want to see the haughtiness disguised as 'fatherly pride' in Grayowl's maleficent golden eyes.

Instinctively, Lionstar sought out the other cat with a relation to his enemy, Grayowl's sister Willowfur, seeking strength in knowing that she was there, and that she was safe and in his life once more. The aurelian leader felt his core begin to stabilize, drawing in a deep, calming breath, losing a little of that sternness etched into his handsome, soot-darkened features.

OOC: Phoenix, Insidious, BlooRey DVD, nimble

[Insidious]

The day had finally arrived.

Grayowl was seated nearest the front of the assembled cats, a grin glued to his dark gray jaw that could almost pass for genuine happiness possessed solely for this the special day of his offspring. His dark gold eyes seemingly pierced through the soul of their clan leader as he spoke to the gathered cats below, searching his expression with a ferocious amount of precision to aid in determining just how he felt about this ceremony in particular. His gaze slipped from Lionstar's frame when Mockingkit and Sootkit were called forward, offering each soon-to-be-named apprentice a curt dip of his head as his congratulations should they choose to look toward him.

Skyfall and Sixtoes? He knew not of either warrior, though perhaps that was just it. Lionstar wouldn't be so mindless as to choose mentors that Grayowl was on neutral terms with, if speaking terms at all. No, Lionstar knew far better than that. It was a wise move on the leader's part, though not a move that earned Grayowl's approval. His dark eyes hardened a fraction, their intensity deepening to an equivalence of hot fire – Lionstar wouldn't look at him, but he'd be oblivious if to not know that Grayowl was watching him, carefully. Grayowl searched the crowd for the two mentors called forth, wishing to analyze each and ensure they were capable of meeting his inwardly set standards. It was mainly Skyfall that piqued his intrigue, a cat that he would perhaps be driven to interrogate at a later date. He wouldn't stand back and allow some random warrior to interfere with his workings; he had put a lot of devotion into training Mockingkit (now Mockingpaw), and Lionstar had unknowingly put Skyfall's life on a string by granting her access directly in between that cherished father-daughter bond.

Even with there being so much new information to contemplate and organize, Grayowl couldn't help but feel immensely satisfied. If Lionstar believed Grayowl to be his biggest problem, he was slowly becoming the least of his worries. Mockingpaw was but a fine addition to his plans for the golden tom, Sootpaw's purpose still being determined. He spotted his sister, Willowfur, along the sidelines – her smile warm and inviting as her eyes flickered between the two newly named apprentices and Lionstar – her memory was still short, but it was returning. For a moment, he met his sister's eyes, exchanging a pleasant smile with her. If only she knew... only time could predict the outcome of his forming plans, but nevertheless, he would deal with her eventually. Deal with her for good.

[Phoenix]

Sootkit

- - -

In the same apathetic way he had approached the rest of his days, he considered this one as well, not oblivious to the obvious significance behind his mother’s excessive grooming but simply deeming the whole ceremony to be unworthy of occupying more than a few moments of his thoughts. As he had soon found out, most features of clan life were full of some sentimental value, born of either tradition or fond memories, and without a care for either, he was severely lacking in enthusiasm when it came to these large ceremonies, which were no exception to the general observation. They were debatably a waste of time, for the same could be accomplished quietly, concisely, and in the presence of perhaps his family and new mentor; the entire clan did not need to witness this special – or so he was told – ceremony. Not that it mattered to him whether he was displayed in front of the ranks of warriors, but it would be far more practical and time-saving if they did not have to wait for the entire clan to gather at the base of the stump.

It was with this on the forefront of his mind that he strode forward upon hearing his name, walking as though he were simply moving from the edge of camp back to the nursery. Practically trembling with excitement and further emphasizing the dramatic difference between the two of them, Mockingkit bounded far ahead of him, reaching the base of Lionstar’s perch long before her brother, who, unsurprisingly, remained composed enough to merely walk. It was only for his sister’s sake that he quickened his pace, an action unnoticeable to all but those who made a habit of watching him stride from one place to the next.

Sookit – Sootpaw now, he supposed – pivoted slightly as pale blue eyes sought out the tom who would be in charge of his education for the next six moons of his life. Part of it, at least, for he had little doubt that he could learn based off of his own observations, unclouded as they were by the powerful emotions with which others were plagued. The name Sixtoes was unfamiliar to his ears, and as a result, he was incapable of bringing forth a face to go with the name. If he was worried at all about the competency of the mentor to whom he had been assigned, he could always draw comfort in the fact that Lionstar had practically vouched for him, promised that his mentor would pass down all his knowledge and experience. Because it was so hard to break a promise when, in actually, all they really consisted of were words.

- - -

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:4e91dd]Skyfall[/smear:000000]

~~~~~~~~~

The white TreeClan tom had been minding his own business as usual, a neutral expression sitting upon his face. He approached the fresh-kill pile slowly, two mice locked in his jaws. He'd spent a good portion of the day outside of camp, patrolling and hunting. He had been able to spend a little bit of time with his sister, Swandive, as the she-cat of equally white-pelt had joined him on his hunt, though she had left much earlier, apparently having had something important to attend to. He hand't asked what it was that had been so important to her, not wanting to interfere in her business. And so, for the remainder of his hunt, he had been alone. Not that it bothered him all that much. With a shrug of his strong shoulders, his agile paws carried him the rest of the way to the fresh-kill pile.

He was careful as he lay the two mice on the top, not wanting to cause the whole thing to topple over. It was standing on its own by some miracle, and he'd seen it be knocked down far too many times in the thirty-some moons he had spent on this earth. Satisfied with his contribution to the Clan, Skyfall's mismatched gaze searched the clearing, taking note of the two kits at the entrance to the nursery. They were being groomed rather vigorously, and immediately Skyfall wondered if today was the day they were to be assigned mentors and given their apprentice names. Such an exciting day indeed... He could see it written on the face of one of the kits, though he couldn't exactly say the same for the other. Having spotted one portion of the evidence to an apprentice ceremony, Skyfall's gaze began searching out the familiar figure of TreeClan's figurehead. Upon spotting the golden tom exiting his den, the white warrior moved to take a seat, even before TreeClan's lion called them all together.

He waited patiently as cats gathered round, answering the call that had been sounded. Skyfall's attention lifted to Lionstar as the TreeClan leader began to speak. He listened politely as the ceremony ensued, the two kits stepping forward when beckoned by Lionstar. For a moment, Skyfall thought back to the day he had been made an apprentice. He could almost feel the excitement that had coursed through him, and his efforts to keep it hidden, wanting to be seen as mature. It hadn't exactly worked, but that was fine. He'd grown up eventually.

He was brought rather suddenly back to the present when he was named as the mentor for one of the kits, the she-kit, now named Mockingpaw. His shock was reflected in his eyes as he rose slowly, questioning gaze falling upon Lionstar. After a moment, he managed to resume his neutral attitude, weaving amongst his Clanmates until he stood before his new apprentice. Bending slightly to touch the younger cat on the nose, hearing the new names being called out all around him. When it died enough for him to be heard, the stoic TreeClanner offered Mockingpaw a first greeting. "Greetings, Mockingpaw. I am Skyfall."