[Hellion]

the moments when you're in so deep

FEELS EASIER TO JUST SWIM DOWN

Grooming the last of the rabbit from her chops, Firestar waited to catch a glimpse of Redscar before deciding it was time. Her youngest kits were ready to be named 'paws and transition into their lives. Lynxkit would be heading down the path to warriorhood. Tigerkit down the opposite path that of a healer instead of a fighter. While she had a strong sense of pride for her son's choice, she feared Lynxkit's reaction. It was decided no one know until the ceremony, normally not an issue, Firestar struggled with trying to soften the blow. Adding to her minuscule bit of guilt was her talk with Lynxkit just the night before. Her daughter's promise to always take care of Tigerkit was still echoing her ears, a vow she was proud Lynxkit made. 

Heading for the hill, Firestar dipped her head toward various clanmates, it was clear they had a good idea of what was happening and started to gather before Firestar called for them. "Let's cats quick enough to chase their own prey gathering before the hill for a Clan Meeting," Her words carried well in the expanse of space that was LightingClan camp. As expected she didn't have to wait long for the cats to gather. Russetfall nudged their kits out of the nursery. Flashing him a smile, Firestar felt a renewed sense of maternal pride as well as dread. Her kits were growing up and preparing to face their own challenges. 

Sinking back into old memories, Firestar could relive the sound of Mapleheart and Wildcall being named apprentices. She could name all the scents on her tongue and the feel of the cool leaf-fall day that it had been. Back then her youth clouded her judgment, it was a time before her ambitions really took root. She had been a better mother in those moons. 

The voices of the gathered cats finally hushed which drew Firestar out of her memories and back to the present. Focusing her attention on Lynxkit and Tigerkit, she beckoned them forth with a flick of her tail. 

"Lynxkit 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 Lynxpaw. Your mentor will be Redscar, I trust he will guide you along the path of a true warrior of LightingClan," There was a pause as Firestar allowed for Redscar to step forward. "Redscar, you have proven yourself to be a loyal deputy and I believe you will train my daughter to the best of your abilities," Another pause allowed for the named cats to touch noses as expected. 

Firestar dipped her head and allowed for the gathered clan cats to call out Lynxpaw until she silenced them with a flick of her shorter tail.

"We have one more apprentice to name, Tigerkit step forward," Her fiery eyes settled on her son and for a moment Firestar thought she caught the scent of Mapleheart on the breeze but dismissed it as maternal longing. 

"Tigerkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you are fully trained you will be known as Tigerpaw. You have chosen to walk a different path, that of a medicine cat. You shall train under Kindleflare and she will pass all that she knows onto you. May StarClan light your path," Her words were carefully chosen as the murmurs of surprise or praise rolled through camp. Giving Kindleflare a moment to come forward, Firestar continued on. "Kindleflare, you have shown to be an excellent healer and spiritual guide for our Clan. I know you will train him well," She dipped her head formally to her son and Kindleflare, a signal for the cheering to start again. This time their names were said in tandem. Settling back onto her haunches Firestar joined in the cheering. 





 

FIRESTAR

background image | its quiet uptown | table by phoenix

@zen Taxx

[Taxx]

L Y N X P A W

I've got the eye of a fighter
Dancing through the fire

Pride was obvious. From the unusually calm stride, right down to the quiver of her whiskers, Lynxkit was relishing this. In just a few minutes, she would no longer be under half so many confinements and restrictions, she could go where she wanted, when she wanted, do what she wanted. Her name would change and she would be free.

Excitement bristled her carefully groomed fur and she broke, skittering forward to where Firestar was waiting, her gaze on Lynxkit, Tigerkit, and Russetfall as they approached. Then, side by side with her brother and their father settled behind them both, the LightningClan leader began the ceremony. Lynxkit was addressed first, and she sprang forward, stub tail quivering with anticipation; her eyes closed as she finally, finally, left behind the ‘kit’ part and received that which marked her as an apprentice. “I’m Lynxpaw!” she crowed aloud, stretching herself up on her toes, and then whipped around, eyes wide with surprise, as Firestar announced her mentor.

Redscar???

Delight quickly chased away the surprise and she willingly reached out to touch noses with the ginger tom. Her mentor was the deputy! “I’ll be the best apprentice!” she vowed, following him back to the crowd, her whole body glowing with warmth as the gathered cats called her new name to the sky. Sitting next to Redscar, the new apprentice now turned her attention back to Tigerkit, her green gaze fixed on him as Firestar continued with his part of the ceremony.

And she felt the twinge of remorse- she knew Tigerkit was doing what he thought was best for him, but she couldn’t help but think back to all the plans she’d made to help him on their path to warriorhood- to her promise to her mother to help him, to look after him. How could she do that when their paths were so different?

“Tigerpaw!” she yowled to the sky, and for a moment she left the crowd, to bounce to her brother’s side and swipe her tongue over one of his ears. “We’re apprentices!” she cheered. “This is gonna be great!”

And you're gonna hear me roar

@zen Hellion @poptart Notes

[Deleted]

Can you hear my heartbeat? Tired of feeling never enough...

---

As with anything new, any change, Tigerkit was nervous for their ceremony. At least he knew his sister would be supportive, and that helped, a little. He was glad he had talked to her earlier. After her initial confusion and hurt, he was sure she wouldn't have liked it if she had only found out during their ceremony. And he could never have kept it from her, he would have felt far too guilty. He had gotten to explain himself, and it seemed like she understood, accepted, supported, even if she might still wish he was training beside her instead. Lynxkit was often pushy, dragging him into her adventures and forcing him out of his very narrow comfort zone, so he felt a renewed affection for his sister for putting aside the plans she'd made for them in order to support his own goals and dreams.

He stuck close to her side as Firestar called the Clan together, his heartbeat quickening as they left the nursery with Russetfall, both carefully groomed to look their best on this important day. Standing before their mother, he pressed against Lynxkit, taking comfort in her confidence, which she had enough of for both of them. Lynxkit was named first, becoming Lynxpaw, entering a new stage of her life as Firestar named the deputy Redscar as her mentor. The newly named Lynxpaw declared her own name with excitement and stepped away to touch noses with her mentor, and Tigerkit joined his voice in with the rest of the Clan to greet his sister by her new name, "Lynxpaw!"

Then he realized he was standing there alone in front of the entire Clan and he shrank a little, his fur fluffing out in alarm as the calls of Lynxpaw died down and all eyes were turned on him. A half familiar scent seemed to wreathe around him, somehow a comfort, a strange mix of Firestar and Russetfall and LightningClan and something cool and pure that he couldn't place. A memory of Russetfall reassuring him once, some moons ago, that he shouldn't be afraid because he was never really alone, StarClan watched over him, came into his mind and he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and managed to make his fur lie flat. He was becoming a medicine cat apprentice today, he would be closer to StarClan than any cat in LightningClan, besides Kindleflare anyway.

Swallowing a lump of fear, he opened his eyes as his mother called him forward and forced his paws to move. He gazed up at her, pelt prickling uneasily as he tried to ignore all the eyes on him as she gave him his new name and announced before the Clan that he would be Kindleflare's apprentice. Taking another deep breath to steady himself, he turned to meet Kindleflare, reaching up gently to touch his nose to her own and feeling again a sense of certainty that this was where he was supposed to be. He even managed a small purr for his mentor, his voice quiet, “I can't wait to learn all the things you have to teach me. I'll do my best to make you proud you picked me.” And then he squeaked and jumped a bit as the Clan began calling his new name, flushing beneath his pelt and ducking his head in embarrassment. Before he could dwell on it, Lynxpaw was beside him, tongue swiping over his ear as she again expressed her excitement and he purred and rubbed his cheek against hers. Feeling a bit emboldened by making it through his ceremony, he even managed a friendly tease for his headstrong sister, “Just make sure you actually listen to your mentor, Lynxpaw.” He ducked his head again, as if to avoid a swat.

---

I close my eyes and tell myself that my dreams will come true.

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Taxx
Hellion
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