Post by BlooRey DVD on Aug 30, 2016 22:47:51 GMT -5
Hawkstar
may your dreams be larger than mountains
The Greenleaf sun had been unrelenting in its heat the past few days. Relief came only as the sun began to set, and it was beginning to wear on the warriors of StoneClan. The large sandy tom stood atop the Rock Pile, the heat from the sun still present on the surface of the stones, despite the fact the sun had begun its descent below the horizon. The sky blazed orange, the sun's hue stretching across the land like great wings of color. As he breathed in the slowly cooling air, he felt a flutter in his chest. He'd notified Frozenrain earlier; this was the perfect thing to bring some life back to StoneClan. It was time.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Rock Pile for a Clan meeting!" His voice echoed across camp, the call familiar on his tongue now that he'd stood here so many times to call his Clan together. Patient amber eyes watched as figures began emerging from the depths of the StoneClan camp, uncertain murmurs following the uncertain glances he received. He would be the first to admit that some of the meeting he called did not bare good news.
But today was not one of those days. Cats who knew him well would see that in the relaxed posture of his shoulders, the way he stood with his chest slightly puffed out in pride. He felt this way with any apprentice, he would assure you. It was an amazing event, bestowing upon a young cat the name they'd been awaiting for so many moons. He was always right with them, their excitement buzzing through him as though it were his own. But today... Today, he hadn't even glimpse the warrior-to-be's excitement yet, and he felt as though he could fly.
A knowing gaze landed upon his friend and brother, Eagletalon, the StoneClan leader giving a nearly imperceptible dip of his muzzle. Eagletalon had notified Hawkstar of the readiness of a certain apprentice. His friend's statement had been backed by the trusted voices of Ashflame and Valleyfall, and further reinforced by the hawk brought into camp just yesterday. He waited until the familiar gray and white frame of his mate slipped out of the shadows with a thoroughly groomed cream and white apprentice at her side before collecting the attention of the cats gathered below.
"The Greenleaf prey has been plentiful, but the sun has made its presence known. Still, we as a Clan have pushed through the heat, picking the best times to hunt and patrol, all to ensure StoneClan remains at its strongest. Some among us are learning the ways of our Clan all while battling the intense heat. Today, it is time to reward one such individual who has worked hard to earn her warrior name." He paused, finding his friend's gaze once more. "Eagletalon, you have once again showed your mentoring prowess." With a grateful nod to the other tom, he let his amber gaze slip to the young she-cat staring up wide eyed at him from beside her mother.
"Heronpaw, please step forward."
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Rock Pile for a Clan meeting!" His voice echoed across camp, the call familiar on his tongue now that he'd stood here so many times to call his Clan together. Patient amber eyes watched as figures began emerging from the depths of the StoneClan camp, uncertain murmurs following the uncertain glances he received. He would be the first to admit that some of the meeting he called did not bare good news.
But today was not one of those days. Cats who knew him well would see that in the relaxed posture of his shoulders, the way he stood with his chest slightly puffed out in pride. He felt this way with any apprentice, he would assure you. It was an amazing event, bestowing upon a young cat the name they'd been awaiting for so many moons. He was always right with them, their excitement buzzing through him as though it were his own. But today... Today, he hadn't even glimpse the warrior-to-be's excitement yet, and he felt as though he could fly.
A knowing gaze landed upon his friend and brother, Eagletalon, the StoneClan leader giving a nearly imperceptible dip of his muzzle. Eagletalon had notified Hawkstar of the readiness of a certain apprentice. His friend's statement had been backed by the trusted voices of Ashflame and Valleyfall, and further reinforced by the hawk brought into camp just yesterday. He waited until the familiar gray and white frame of his mate slipped out of the shadows with a thoroughly groomed cream and white apprentice at her side before collecting the attention of the cats gathered below.
"The Greenleaf prey has been plentiful, but the sun has made its presence known. Still, we as a Clan have pushed through the heat, picking the best times to hunt and patrol, all to ensure StoneClan remains at its strongest. Some among us are learning the ways of our Clan all while battling the intense heat. Today, it is time to reward one such individual who has worked hard to earn her warrior name." He paused, finding his friend's gaze once more. "Eagletalon, you have once again showed your mentoring prowess." With a grateful nod to the other tom, he let his amber gaze slip to the young she-cat staring up wide eyed at him from beside her mother.
"Heronpaw, please step forward."
leader of stoneclan
and may you have the courage
to scale their summits
to scale their summits
HERONPAW
"Heronpaw, please step forward."
Her father's words ricocheted through her mind like a frantic bird, desperate to escape the clutches of a predator. For a strange moment, she forgot how to breathe, her lungs simply refusing to expand from within her chest cavity. It wasn't until her mom, seated at her left side, gave her a soft nudge that she was roused from her stupor. Desperately hoping her physical being wasn't trembling as much as her mental self, the cream and white apprentice silently stepped forward to separate herself from the throng of cats gathered just behind her.
Don't think about how they are all looking at you. She told herself, instantly regretting the thought. At least your fur looks nice? She offered herself meekly. She'd been stupid; she'd chalked off her mother's incessant need to groom her down to the events with the hawk yesterday. Heronpaw had muttered about it for a while, insisting that Honeypaw had been the only one in any real danger, but her attempt to shift focus to someone else had failed. Thus, she'd relented to allowing Frozenrain to frantically groom her fur, reminding her mother to be careful around the mark left on her shoulder by the hawk's beak.
She should have seen the look of pride in those shining blue eyes, the same one she could see in her father's even from down here. Even Eagletalon had the same look! Wincing inwardly, she turned her attention onto Hawkstar as his voice broke the silence once more. "I, Hawkstar, leader of StoneClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn." The weight of her father's words drifted down to her, despite the she-cat knowing that it would only grow more intense.
"Heronpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" The question hung in the air, yet the she-cat felt little hesitation within her. StoneClan meant everything to her. This was where her family was, where her friends were. There was no need for her to consider whether she would lay her life down for the sake of her Clan, because she'd realized in the last few moons with LightningClan that she would. In a heartbeat. "I do."
Her voice was strong, despite any nervous excitement, backed by the conviction of her thoughts. Hawkstar dipped his head slightly, before his amber gaze swept over the rest of the Clan. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Heronpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Herondive. StarClan honors your unshakeable loyalty and the fervor with which you approach all tasks, and we welcome you as a full warrior of StoneClan." Silence hung in the air as Hawkstar picked his way down the Rock Pile to join her on level ground.
Herondive. She tested the name, feeling a sense of pride swell in her chest. She'd done it. She'd finally done it. She would have to reflect on why Hawkstar had chosen the name later. For now, she had other, more important things on her mind. Her father's broad frame closed the distance separating them, his head coming to rest atop her own. Her tongue rasped over his shoulder just as his familiar voice rumbled quietly in her ear. "I am so proud of you, Herondive." Somehow, hearing him say her name first just felt... Right. "I love you, Daddy." She whispered as she stepped back, the smile of her father's face evidence enough that he'd heard her.
Without delay, the Clan's joined voices rose in a roar calling out a name, her name.
Her father's words ricocheted through her mind like a frantic bird, desperate to escape the clutches of a predator. For a strange moment, she forgot how to breathe, her lungs simply refusing to expand from within her chest cavity. It wasn't until her mom, seated at her left side, gave her a soft nudge that she was roused from her stupor. Desperately hoping her physical being wasn't trembling as much as her mental self, the cream and white apprentice silently stepped forward to separate herself from the throng of cats gathered just behind her.
Don't think about how they are all looking at you. She told herself, instantly regretting the thought. At least your fur looks nice? She offered herself meekly. She'd been stupid; she'd chalked off her mother's incessant need to groom her down to the events with the hawk yesterday. Heronpaw had muttered about it for a while, insisting that Honeypaw had been the only one in any real danger, but her attempt to shift focus to someone else had failed. Thus, she'd relented to allowing Frozenrain to frantically groom her fur, reminding her mother to be careful around the mark left on her shoulder by the hawk's beak.
She should have seen the look of pride in those shining blue eyes, the same one she could see in her father's even from down here. Even Eagletalon had the same look! Wincing inwardly, she turned her attention onto Hawkstar as his voice broke the silence once more. "I, Hawkstar, leader of StoneClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn." The weight of her father's words drifted down to her, despite the she-cat knowing that it would only grow more intense.
"Heronpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" The question hung in the air, yet the she-cat felt little hesitation within her. StoneClan meant everything to her. This was where her family was, where her friends were. There was no need for her to consider whether she would lay her life down for the sake of her Clan, because she'd realized in the last few moons with LightningClan that she would. In a heartbeat. "I do."
Her voice was strong, despite any nervous excitement, backed by the conviction of her thoughts. Hawkstar dipped his head slightly, before his amber gaze swept over the rest of the Clan. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Heronpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Herondive. StarClan honors your unshakeable loyalty and the fervor with which you approach all tasks, and we welcome you as a full warrior of StoneClan." Silence hung in the air as Hawkstar picked his way down the Rock Pile to join her on level ground.
Herondive. She tested the name, feeling a sense of pride swell in her chest. She'd done it. She'd finally done it. She would have to reflect on why Hawkstar had chosen the name later. For now, she had other, more important things on her mind. Her father's broad frame closed the distance separating them, his head coming to rest atop her own. Her tongue rasped over his shoulder just as his familiar voice rumbled quietly in her ear. "I am so proud of you, Herondive." Somehow, hearing him say her name first just felt... Right. "I love you, Daddy." She whispered as she stepped back, the smile of her father's face evidence enough that he'd heard her.
Without delay, the Clan's joined voices rose in a roar calling out a name, her name.
apprentice of stoneclan
