[Fawn]

Lionstar

54 Moons || Tom || TreeClan

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        Time spent with Bluepaw had been a learning experience, of this there was no doubt. Who learned more from whom, however, was up for debate. Lionstar had never before trained an apprentice so good at challenging his ideals, and she did so frequently that he could imagine how easily it would overwhelm a younger, less experienced mentor before the six moon time-crunch was anywhere near to being over. The tawny warrior had grown wilier, in his tutelage of the peace-loving Bluepaw, and had spoken with the diminutive, albino sibling of his apprentice about this very special day. It was easy enough to explain it to Pinkpaw that Bluepaw was ready for warriorhood, and Lionstar gave the pink-eyed she-cat specific instructions asking Bluepaw not to protest the ceremony's arrival on her behalf. They were of the same mind, on this particular issue. Bluepaw deserved to be made a warrior; physical combat had been a bit of a challenge, but perseverance and many late nights at the training field had gotten her into decent enough shape that he no longer worried for her safety every time she was assigned to a border patrol.

Bluepaw was ready, and he wasn't going to let anyone stop her from ascending to the rank she deserved, even if he had to stop her from sabotaging herself. Lionstar gave the call. As the dust motes swirled around in the shafts of sunlight pouring into the camp, illuminating a tawny mane and amber eyes that had been darkened with age and experience, the notable absence of Stormchaser was enough to make him blink rapidly, as though to clear away a low tide of grief that threatened to drop his shoulders and halt his breath.

This day would be about Bluepaw, and Gingerleaf's two kits, Stormkit and Nightkit, who had now reached the right age for apprenticeship.

"Bluepaw," he mewed, beckoning her forward with a low flick of his tail, his smile paternal though his eyes carried a note of caution. "The time has come for you to join your Clanmates in the warriors' den." Don't you dare refuse, Bluepaw. No holding herself back for her sister's sake, not on his watch. Lionstar had always tried to be fair, no, lenient with her, as he valued the bond between siblings just as much as he valued the bond between friendship, but it was important not to let opportunities pass the she-cat by, even if she wholeheartedly felt fine for letting them get away from her. "I, Lionstar, leader of TreeClan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. I can speak honestly when I say that she has trained hard to understand and uphold the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Bluepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Those ancient words spoken, Lionstar ignored the sensation of doubt making itself home in the back of his mind, as well as the secondhand embarrassment of having Bluepaw openly refuse to have her ceremony completed.


She was not the same cat she was six moons ago, however. Lionstar hoped that, with age had come maturity, as well as a sense of individual identity. He would always count on her to protect Pinkpaw, but some things needed to be done for the sake of herself, as well. Even if that seemed like an impossible concept for Bluepaw to fully grasp.

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Word Count: 587 Words
Tags: Insidious, @littleflower, @poptart, @zen, BlooRey DVD

[Insidious]

B L U E P A W
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Lionstar's call stretched to each corner of the camp, and she knew its purpose long before he could state it for the rest. Pinkpaw's condition held her back, and Bluepaw had known for a while that she would be expected to have her warrior ceremony alone, but each day she woke up an apprentice was another day to convince herself that minds would be changed, that Lionstar would let the sisters be named warriors together, but all the hope she had managed to gather had completely shattered the morning her leader made the call.

Pinkpaw had to force her into the open, and although Bluepaw had been reluctant, had been putting up a fight against this very moment for a very long time, she knew there wasn't anything more that she could possibly do. Her sister was smiling, this wasn't anywhere near as difficult for her as it was for Bluepaw, and that, at the very least, was the kind of encouragement she needed - if it was showing on Pinkpaw's face that this hurt her in anyway, then Bluepaw would most certainly protest for the entirety of TreeClan to hear.

She sauntered towards the rest of her Clanmates (it wasn't surprising that she was among the last to make an appearance) and took a seat, the tension visible in each of her muscles. She met Lionstar's amber eyes, and even though there was still the hints of an objection shining through to the surface, it was clear that she wasn't going to make a scene. She would tolerate becoming a warrior on this day; it wouldn't be the most favoured attitude, certainly not the attitude she would have if Pinkpaw was rightfully beside her, but it was more than she had ever previously thought herself capable of whenever it concerned her sister.

"I promise." Normally she would have dove into a speech of some kind, would have made a statement that reflected her affection for TreeClan, but she had always pictured that statement taking place with a certain albino at her side, and without her, it didn't feel right. She stuck with the two words, plain and simple, knowing that it was enough but knowing just as well that Lionstar would be displeased. It was in her nature to communicate a silent apology, her tail tip thumping against her leg cautiously, lowering her head in a momentary display of her unhappiness with not only herself but what this entire situation had made her degrade herself to.

Which was all she needed to once again open her mouth. "TreeClan is my home, my family- " she cast a look over her shoulders, locking eyes with the familiar pink of her sister's before returning to Lionstar's vivid gold, because even though they weren't connected by blood, he acted as a father figure in Nighthawk's place. "- and I always protect my family. There is nothing I could possibly promise with more certainty than this." She offered a smile, almost shy, straightening up to better soak up her warrior ceremony. Pinkpaw wasn't at her side, but she was still in the crowd, she was still here, and that was the only thing that mattered.

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Tags: Fawn

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:999999]Feathercloud[/smear:ffffff] 

~~~~~~~~~

A familiar call broke the silence of the TreeClan camp. A heavy groan escaped the silver she-cat as she lay in her nest, blue orbs refusing to crack open against the light filtering in. Feathercloud had been a part of the Dawn Patrol earlier that morning, and hadn’t exactly had the greatest sleep before then. She could have gone with more sleep, but it seemed that today was not the day she’d achieve that. Her muscles felt heavier than rocks as she dragged herself out of the warmth of her nest, stiffness clutching to every one of her movements.

Stepping out of the den only cast more eye-burning light down on her, leaving the feather-tailed she-cat to stagger slightly. She might have fallen right over had it not been for the gentle shoulder and familiar scent of one of her close friends. An incoherent mutter, which had been meant as the statement of a name, escaped the silver warrioress, earning a silent, but very much present laugh from her companion. Though it took another few moments of fighting against the glare, she managed to clear her vision enough to catch a glimpse of the tortoiseshell tabby she-cat by her side.

Leaning against the offered shoulder, Feathercloud let Brokensong lead her forward, feeling the occasional poke and prod as her friend apparently fussed over her. Maybe she looked worse off than she’d originally thought. Soon enough, the pair was seated around the Ancient Stump, Lionstar standing proud above them. Still groggy from her awakening, Feathercloud couldn’t find the energy to fight off the torbie warrioress as she groomed her more thoroughly than most queens groomed their own kits. Every now and again, a piece of her nest would drop to the floor, having been snagged in her fur one way or another. Eventually, her friend seemed to be satisfied with Feathercloud’s appearance.

Turning her sharp blue eyes to face Brokensong, she could practically see the satisfaction rolling off the other she-cat. With a snort and a small laugh, Feathercloud leaned slightly to butt against her friend’s shoulder. “You know, for a mute cat, you sure say a lot.” Her tone was teasing and affectionate, her words only brightening the grin spread over the other she-cat’s jaws. As the two of them settled down side by side, Feathercloud was instantly aware Brokensong seemed to be searching for someone. Someone by the name of Zephyrfang, no doubt.

Hunkering down in silence, Feathercloud let her own tired gaze wander, wondering what the purpose of this meeting was. Running through the list of kits and apprentices, Feathercloud could only come up with a pawful of names matching reasons a ceremony would be held. Her thoughts proved correct the moment Lionstar began. Feathercloud’s blue gaze descended upon the apprentice in question. Bluepaw’s presence caused a slight spark of jealousy within the headstrong warrioress. It was petty and she knew it, but for some reason she couldn’t help it.

Letting out a long breath, Feathercloud straightened herself, freshly groomed pelt shinning brightly in the sun. Her ears pivoted forward to listen to words she’d grown quite accustomed to hearing over the past few moons. Though the spot directly to her other side was empty, a pawful of tail-lengths away sat a powerful white tom. Skyfall’s bi-colored eyes stared up at the TreeClan leader, every curve of his strong frame indicating attentiveness.

Featuring [smear:000000]Broken[/smear:ff6633][smear:ff6633]song[/smear:ffffff] and [smear:4e91dd]Skyfall[/smear:000000]

[Fawn]

Lionstar

54 Moons || Tom || TreeClan

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    Preparing himself for a declaration of refusal, the almost guarded look in the Clan leader's eyes grew soft at Bluepaw's sincerity. He knew perfectly well that at her age, in her place, he had never been nearly so eloquent, and Lionstar found something to admire in the young she-cat—who had her head fixed so firmly upon her shoulders. She was everything he had envisioned in TreeClan's apprentices, everything he had hoped for; even if she had refused, there was still something positive to be said about her sense of character. Fortunately for everyone present, this was not an awkward ceremony ground to a screeching halt by stubborn, sisterly affection, but proceeded onward with an air of maturity. Bluepaw would not become a warrior because it was 'the right time', she would become a warrior because she was ready to take up that responsibility.

Lionstar's heart swelled with pride, catching sight of his other former apprentice, Feathercloud, sitting in the crowd beside Brokensong. This was the legacy he was leaving behind, and he couldn't have been more proud of them all if he tried.

"Well said, Bluepaw," then, in a louder voice, "then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Bluepaw, from this moment on you will be known to your family as Bluejay. StarClan honors your pacifism and your compassion, and we welcome you as a full warrior of TreeClan."

He wore a smile that was almost paternal, and came to rest his chin on Bluejay's head in a sign of blessing. I'm starting to get old, it occurred to him then, my apprentices just keep growing up. It was bittersweet; they had their fair share of trials and tribulations, but he would not have changed this for all the stars in the sky. He loved mentoring. He loved playing every part in an apprentice's young life—their tutor, their role model, and eventually the cat chosen to give them their new name, and in due time, their own apprentice.

Leadership was not for the fainthearted, but nor was it for hardhearted either. Bluejay had taught him almost as much as he'd taught her, and he took those lessons with him as she graduated into warriorhood right before his eyes. For the gray she-cat's ears only, Lionstar spoke in a low, warm tone, just before the chanting of her new name began. "I'm proud of you, Bluejay. I know your father is, too."

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Word Count: 404 Words
Tags: Insidious

[Deleted]

Lionstar had come to her for help in seeing that Bluepaw did not hold herself back unnecessarily. She knew her sister well, and though she herself would have loved to become a warrior beside Bluepaw, she knew it wasn't something that was realistic. Bluepaw was healthy and normal and there was no reason for her to wait to become a warrior until Pinkpaw was ready. She didn't want to hold her sister back from living her own life, it would make her feel awful if Bluepaw held herself back because of her. She had promised Lionstar she would make sure her sister knew how it would make her feel if she didn't accept her warriorhood now, when she was ready, just because they couldn't be made warriors together, and try to convince her it was okay this way.

When Lionstar's call came all Pinkpaw felt was a swell of pride for her sister. She had thought she might feel a little sad that they would, for the first time in their lives, not be sharing a den, that at the end of a long day she wouldn't be able to settle down beside her blue furred sibling for a good night's sleep, but the feeling never came. Perhaps it would later when she settled down alone in her nest, but for now she was just happy to watch her sister start the next chapter of her life, and excited to hear what her new name would be.

When Bluepaw turned to look at her, she purred softly, encouragement reflected in her pale pink gaze. Today was her sister's day to shine, she deserved the recognition. And then she was no longer Bluepaw, but Bluejay. She hopped to her paws, eager to be one of the first to call her sister by her new name, “Bluejay! Bluejay!” She lifted a paw to step toward her, but another familiar blue-gray pelt brushed past her and blocked her way, turning to glare icy blue eyes back at her in warning, and she replaced her paw to the ground, feeling the warmth draining out of her. Mistfur moved forward to congratulate her daughter while Pinkpaw shifted from one paw to the other, unsure what to do. Taking a deep breath, she decided she wouldn't let her mother keep her from her sister today. What would Bluejay think if she didn't come up to congratulate her and call her by her new name?

Still, she felt herself dropping into a slight crouch as she approached, as though she could hide from their mother's cold, hateful eyes by doing so. Mistfur saw her anyway, of course, and after giving her a hard stare, gave Bluejay an affectionate lick and turned to walk away, wanting nothing to do with her albino kit, but also willing to not make a scene so as not to overshadow her perfect daughter's special day. Pinkpaw felt tension leave her body all at once as Mistfur disappeared into the warrior's den, her happiness for Bluejay returning in a rush as she was able to put her mother out of her mind for her sister's sake, “Bluejay!” She wound herself around her littermate, purring, “What a great name. I'm so happy for you!” She rubbed her cheek against her sister's shoulder affectionately, “We won't be apart for long, so save a nest for me in the warrior's den, okay?”