[Abyss]

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cricketchirp

[attr="class","trait"]NIGHTCLAN WARRIOR

[attr="class","lyrics"]i'm not crazy, i'm just a little unwell, i know right now you can't tell

[attr="class","words"]

[attr="class","fletter"]I

t was amazing how her heart could really go from calm and collected to pounding out of her chest in an instant. This was just a normal ceremony. Some kits being promoted, maybe an Apprentice or two being promoted, the usual. She had gotten so used to watching little kits be given their new names and their mentors, watching them touch noses and cheering their new names. Ceremonies were always a fun time, one that she joined in for a good experience.

But never had she actually expected that her name would be called when a brand new Apprentice was being given their mentor.

Cloverstar’s voice calling her name nearly made Cricketchirp jump out of her skin, for a moment wondering if she was being yelled at. Eyes turned to look at her, and suddenly she almost felt as though her mind and body had been reverted back to her kithood days. Back when everyone turning their eyes towards her either meant that they were questioning her ability to be a proper Nightclan cat, or she was being made fun of and insulted. She could feel herself beginning to sink inwards, but she knew she had to stop. She was being summoned, and to just not walk forward at the Leader’s word would probably be a terrible move.

The black and white she-cat padded forward slowly, trying to avoid eye contact with those around her. Over time Cricket had gotten better at interacting with her peers and getting over the intense shyness she had towards others in her kithood and Apprenticeship days. But that was when it was just her and maybe a few other cats, and they were separated from a crowd or were on patrol. But in the middle of a ceremony? She couldn’t move her eyes anywhere except forward.

Reaching the Lichen Ledge, light brown eyes peered up at Cloverstar, half grateful, half terrified. She listened to what the Bengal had to say, and while she appreciated the words, she didn’t know how to feel. When the short speech ended, she turned her head to find an orange and white face peering up at her. Orchidpaw.

She leaned her head down and touched noses with the young Apprentice, moving to the side of the crowd.

When the ceremony was over, her body felt frozen in place. She slowly turned to look at her new Apprentice, swallowing down the nerves that had built and were continuing to build in her throat.

“H-H-H…” She stopped, shaking her head for a second. She needed to get with it. Yes she was surprised and still in shock, but she had to focus. She cleared her throat again before she spoke. “Hello, I am Cricketchirp. I…am your mentor now…you…um…first things first, we need to…get…you a nest, in the Apprentice den. We can go out not too far away and bring back some moss for you to use.”

She turned and waited for any response from the Apprentice, unsure of what to expect. This was just what she remembered from when she had her own Apprentice ceremony, so surely this was what mentorship usually started off with, right?

[attr="class","ctag"]tagged xvinn

[attr="class","cnotes"]notes blah blah blah

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[xvinn]

orchidpaw (she/they) | mistclan

The entire ceremony had felt like a blur through Orchidpaw's excitement. Orchidpaw. The name kept repeating in her mind over and over, almost unbelieving that this was really happening, that she was finally an apprentice. Her enthusiasm almost hit a peak so high that she forgot what she was actually supposed to do - right, touch noses with your new mentor. She eagerly did as she was expected, her paws kneading at the ground, itching to just start running laps around the camp.

Orchidpaw had always been a cat with bursts and surges of energy, more than the average young cat. Sure, kits and young apprentices always had more energy than some of their warrior counterparts, but it always seemed like there was a little something extra boiling down inside of the young orange and white tabby. Like when she needed it most, she could tap into some extra energy deep down inside of her and sprint the entire length of the valley and back again. It could very well be a lot for the poor nervous warrior who approached and introduced herself as her mentor.

The young cat was too excited to really notice any nervousness stemming from Cricketchirp. Reality was that Orchidpaw probably held enough excitement for the both of them, whereas Cricketchirp had enuogh restrain and nerves for the both of them. It was a lot of emotions balled up into a single spot between only two cats, but it could likely be felt from any cat in camp. At the words "apprentice den", Orchidpaw's ears shot up as they remembered they would be getting their own nest now, rather than having to pretend to try and cramp up beside their sisters, Dahliapaw and Magnoliapaw. Now they would have a nest all to themselves, no need to worry about being kicked in the night by a dreaming littermate.

"Moss! Yes! They're always on rocks and stuff, right? Well, let's goooo!" Orchidpaw bounded at full speed towards the camp entrance, their excitement palpable at now being allowed to actually leave the camp rather than being constantly watched by their mother or other warriors, thinking them too fragile to go on an adventure. Strange how that was only just yesterday that Orchidpaw was getting scolded for trying to leave camp, but now, today, they would be given permission to do exactly that. It wasn't as though she were that different from one day to another, right? Granted, she certainly felt different with her new name, but objectively, she was practically the same cat, right?

She didn't look back as she sprinted towards the camp entrance, not fully paying too much attention to whether Cricketchirp was behind her or not. She knew deep down that she might get in trouble for abandoning her mentor less than an birdsong of time after being named an apprentice, but she could hardly wait! This was going to be her first time finally setting foot out of camp without someone's breath running down her back at her every pawstep. It was exciting!

As they left the camp entrance, everything suddenly came flooding over them. They looked around, wide-eyed, feeling almost powerful at what they could see and smell and hear. Sure, it wasn't that different from how things looked only a fox-length behind her in camp, but it felt different. Orchidpaw closed her eyes and opened her maw, taking in a deep breath, feeling her fur tingle with joy and letting all the new feelings wash over her. It was as though her life started today, and she couldn't wait.

Abyss / cricketchirp ● 596 words