[Deleted]

REDSTAR

Leader of LightningClan

Another day of blistering heat. Another day of drought. LightningClan had survive today, but the question was, how much longer could they survive? The question was, what would tomorrow bring? More drought, more sunshine, more suffering for Redstar’s clan?
The red-yellow tabby gave a sigh, emerging for the shade of her den. Lately, it had become a bit of a sanctuary for the LightningClan leader, it was cooler than outside and sometimes, if she closed her eyes, she could pretend there was no drought. She could pretend it had all been a bad dream.
It wasn’t true though. Redstar couldn’t hide from the facts, there was a drought on and LightningClan had been hit hard. StoneClan’s territory had given them a little more prey, but the fresh-kill pile was still small, painfully small.
It wasn’t the prey, however, that was causing the suffering in LightningClan, it was the lack of water.

Redstar couldn’t even remember the last time it had rained. They only had a few water sources on their territory anyway and even with the bonus of their recently gained territory, they had little water.
The red-yellow tabby she-cat had been drinking as little as possible so that the clan could have a little more, after all, she had nine lives, they only had one.
Stretching in the fading sunlight, the LightningClan leader managed to force a smile. The sun was starting to dip below the horizon, sunset, her favourite time of day and not because it was beautiful, because it was the coolest time of day. It was this time that had become the most active time of day for most of LightningClan, which was exactly why Redstar had chosen now to hold some long awaited ceremonies.
Smiling to herself, the red-yellow tabby made her way to the Hill Top. This was her favourite part of being leader, watching as warriors and apprentices moved through the ranks. Redstar herself could remember the day of her apprenticeship like it was just yesterday.
She sighed softly at the thought, it had been so simple then. If someone had told a younger Redstar that she would one day be LightningClan leader, she would have been ecstatic, but being leader wasn’t all fun and games.

Paws guiding her to that familiar spot, Redstar stood in the fading sunlight, just taking in the moment. A gentle breeze ruffled her pelt and she savoured the feeling for a second before clearing her throat and stepping forward.
“May all cats old enough to catch a rabbit gather below the Hill Top for a clan meeting!”Redstar meowed, head carried high as she spoke those words she’d heard so many times. Since her time as leader, the red-yellow tabby she-cat had made a few changes to the words she’d heard Blazestar say so many times before, it was her own call now.
Slowly, cats began to gather around the Hill Top, like flies swarming around a carcass. Standing tall, the LightningClan leader let her amber gaze rake the cats for a familiar golden and white pelt. Ah, gotcha. He was here, good.
Inhaling and exhaling, the golden ginger tabby began to speak, “Cats of LightningClan, as all of you know, we are suffering a great drought,” she started, her honey-amber gaze washing over each and every one of the gathered cats, “But LightningClan are continuing to prove we can survive this great hardship. Together, we can withstand anything, we will not be driven to weakness because of this drought.”
The tabby she-cat paused to take a deep breath. Seeking out the position of a certain apprentice she began to speak again, “Today, a new warrior will be joining our ranks,” she meowed, on a roll now, “A warrior who will make our clan even stronger still.”
Redstar paused for an effect before nodding to a golden and white tom, “Goldenpaw, please step forward.”

[Deleted]

Goldenpaw was with his mentor as he had been for so many evenings since becoming her first apprentice. Both were returning from a cool and refreshing evening hunt with each having their own catch dangling from their jaws, they both agreed for mostly unanimous reasons that dusk was the best time for hunting. They quickly made their way to deposit their contributions to their clans prey stores before their leaders confident and resounding voice called them and their clanmates together for a meeting. Goldenpaw thought little of it, with the drought and other events happening to his clan he didn’t find meetings to keep Lighteningclan in the know that out of sort. However as his leader started her speech he couldn’t quite figure out what the purpose was, but he knew it wasn’t about informing the masses of the latest forest exploits. Then it was announced that a new warrior would be made from an apprentice, and before he was even called forth Goldenpaw realized that he was the purpose of the meeting. This didn’t excite him one bit, and when he was called forward the first reaction he had was to turn to his mentor with a worried look and whisper so only she could hear, “But I’m not ready…” He was saddened by the thought that he may have just hurt her badly; it was as if he had told her moons and moons of lessons hadn’t amounted to what any average warrior could produce in an apprentice. This wasn’t at all what he meant, mostly his nerves were talking, but he knew that she was overly critical on herself and was sure she would take it the wrong way.

[Fawn]

CHERRYPOOL Senior Warrior. LightningClan.

The alabaster she-cat had been holding her breath from the moment she'd caught Redstar's movements out of the corners of her blood-hued eyes, conscious that this right here was about to change everything. Well, her everything, which more or less consisted of an otherwise entirely droll, if not pitiful existence as one of LightningClan's most unpopular warriors, with the exception of Goldenpaw being the one exception to the rule. Considering how big an impact the cute, feminine golden and white tom had made on her life, to see him stand before Redstar about to receive his warrior name was easily the nicest thing anyone's ever 'done' for her. Oh yes, Cherypool was of the utmost certainty that Goldenpaw had had a more positive effect on her life then he had on his; she still felt a little sorry to him, over what she felt was a one-sided relationship of give and take. It had taken her a lot more strength then she'd realized to actually approach Redstar and tell her that Goldenpaw was ready for the next stage of his life. She had wanted to be selfish, to keep him by her side longer, fearful that her life would go back to the abysmal existence it had been before he had become her pupil - but Cherrypool felt she had made the right decision this time. Goldenpaw was her apprentice, and she would see him through to the end, even if he forgot her moons later. Even if he made new friends and let her fade from his life like a long-forgotten memory. You made it to the end, Goldenpaw. You survived apprenticeship with me - and you didn't hate me for being who I am. Thank you. Letting out a tense breath, Cherrypool heard their leader speak the fateful words that would change both their lives. Just about to grin sincerely for the first time since...birth, maybe, Cherrypool's proud expression and excitement that had bubbled to the surface of her being dissipated, having spotted the fearful look in the delicate tom's eyes. “But I’m not ready…” Her mouth open and closed a few times, the albino clearly at a loss for words, shoulders drawn tight as if the bindings he had gradually been loosening up since their first day hunting together had just been retied, spine stiffening, visage lit up in shock. Had she...failed him along the way? But he's twelve moons, he's the perfect age, and he has passed Firesky's hunting assessment! What did I do wrong? How is he not ready? Perhaps, in her overwhelming drive to see him succeed, to see him prove that she was more than just 'that LightningClan freak', that she was a capable mentor, Cherrypool had overlooked the actual needs and strengths of her own apprentice? All the excitement that had been building up for the past couple of days since she'd first met with Redstar had seemingly flown the coop, deserting her like the fragile pieces of confidence in herself that she had gained in the area of teaching. "Sorry," murmured the senior warrior, unable to meet his gaze. "I'll tell her to cancel the ceremony - my mistake, it's fine." If anyone gets to walk up and make a fool of themselves in front of the entire Clan, then let it be me. I'm the one who got us into this mess and pushed him out of the nest before he could fly properly. Cherrypool stood up, feeling her throat tighten, intending to step forward on numb paws. As far as mistakes went... This was a pretty big one.

I FEAR WHO I AM BECOMING.

[Phoenix]

Though he was careful to not let the boredom shine through a carefully constructed expression of polite interest, Whiteshade thought that warrior ceremonies were considerably overrated; so few of the apprentices and these new warriors showed any potential of offering anything important to the clan’s wellbeing that the next could not. LightningClan was nurturing generations of cats who had no particular talent or affinity for anything worthwhile, save wasting prey, resources and time that could be spent on those rare few that were more deserving of it. This apprentice-soon-to-be-warrior was bound to be no different. He expected some relatively obscure feline, whom he had deemed unworthy of warriorhood, to be called to the stage. The name, however, belonged to a feline whom he recognized. Goldenpaw. His dear sister’s very own apprentice, and so far behind his own in skill that it was almost insulting that he would receive his warrior name first. Almost, because even he refused to shatter the age-old tradition that apprentices had to be at least twelve moons before receiving their warrior name. In his mind, that was the only reason Goldenpaw was up there. The young tom had no skill, no ability.

But the conspicuous absence of the subject of his thoughts caught his attention, and a trace of a smirk ghosting his lips, the tom turned an alabaster neck to focus on his sister and her apprentice. The hopeless thing himself appeared shaken, nervous and anxious. His lip curled slightly at the display of weakness and the dramatic change in Cherrypool as her apprentice hesitated, obvious to his familiar gaze. Her insecurity would be her downfall, and finding himself just as disgusted with her lack of confidence in everything, the tom was content with watching her flounder as she doubtlessly blamed herself for everything that had gone wrong. It was simply too easy to take advantage of his sister sometimes. Preventing himself from sneering outright, he turned away with disgust, crimson eyes flashing back to Redstar to see how the leader interpreted this interesting turn of events.

Was his sister such a failure at mentoring that her apprentice felt unready to face the challenges that a warrior survived daily? It was the only reason he could think of that Goldenpaw would hesitate as his name was called. The whole scene was pathetic. This cat, trained by his sister, would eventually share the same den as him, would receive his name before the infinitely more competent Nightpaw. It was no longer almost insulting. It was insulting.

[Deleted]

REDSTAR

Leader of LightningClan

There was uncertainty amongst those of LightningClan gathered and it was coming from who Redstar least expected. Goldenpaw. The golden and white tom muttered something to Cherrypool which the yellow-red tabby couldn’t quite catch.
The LightningClan leader frowned, studying Goldenpaw with confusion. When Redstar had, at long last, been made a warrior, all those moons ago, she’d been absolutely ecstatic. Each apprentice spent six moons minimum training to be a warrior, it was a long-awaited day, the day of your warrior ceremony. What confused the red-yellow tabby didn’t quite understand was why the golden and white tom wasn’t like all those other cats.
Why isn’t he excited? This is possibly the biggest day of his life so far, shouldn’t he at least be smiling? Redstar wondered if it was something she had said, had she upset him?

The tabby she-cat shot the apprentice a questioning look, before letting her honey amber gaze rest on his mentor beside him, Cherrypool, one of the two albino warriors of LightningClan. The she-cat muttered something inaudible to her apprentice and guessing from her body language, she was upset about something.
Oh no, it was something I said, wasn’t it?
The senior warrior rose to her paws and Redstar held her breath for a moment, she could feel all eyes on her. She studied Cherrypool for a moment before speaking, her voice crisp and clear and getting right to the point, “What is it? Is there a problem?”
Redstar’s amber orbs shifted to the golden and white apprentice. What if he doesn’t want to be a warrior, maybe that’s it? The yellow-ginger tabby contemplated the thought for a moment before dismissing it, Who wouldn’t want to be a warrior?
She let her eyes rest on Cherrypool once more, calmly awaiting an explanation.

[Deleted]

As Goldenpaw watched Cherrypool flounder he couldn’t believe how quickly the situation had gotten out of hand, “Sit down…” He hissed softly at his mentor, “I’m talking about my fur, look at me.” The apprentice was right; his usually meticulously clean and groomed fur was, for lack of a better word, patchy at the moment. A few tufts stuck up here and there from previous hunt, “Now help me groom and stop being weird!” He purred softly as he delivered a few well placed licks to his chest fur and other places. Soon he felt he was looking proper, and calm enough for that matter, so he approached Redstar and stood before her with a nervous look in his eyes. “I’m sorry Redstar…” He said under his breath, “I think shes more afraid than I am that something will go wrong.” He stood facing his leader with his clan behind him; he could feel their eyes on him as the ceremony continued hopefully without any more incidents.

[Fawn]

CHERRYPOOL
Senior Warrior. 47 Moons. She-Cat. LightningClan.

The relief Cherrypool felt at Goldenpaw's words was nearly tangible, and her fur gradually began to lie flat as she set about cleaning his in quick but effective swipes of a bright, bristly pink tongue. When they were both finished getting him back to his usual pristine state, Cherrypool's heart no longer sitting on the floor as though it had fallen out in dejection earlier, the albino feline edged back and stood up straighter. My first apprentice is about to become a warrior. In the earliest moons of her warriorhood, Cherrypool had dared to be optimistic about the possibility of having her very own apprentice soon enough, as her peers were each in turn awarded with the task of mentorship. Unfortunately, the moons kept rolling by, new kits would move on to the next stages of their lives, and the apprentices her generation had started training were all graduating into the world of adulthood. That optimism dying in a burst of fire like a moth against a flame, to be passed over at least a dozen times during the apprentice ceremonies had instilled a bitter resenting hatred in the pit of her stomach that had stayed with her for nearly 30 solid moons. That is, until something strange had happened. A small fluffy golden and white tom-kit had bounced into her life in a way that left her distrustful and shocked, unwilling at first to see that the fortunes had finally looked past her red eyes and white fur to the ostracized soul underneath, deeming her deserving of proving herself. Oh how she'd distrusted him at first! She'd looked at him at first with the same cold unease as one would look at a bomb, frightened it would go off at any moment, the trap sprung and Cherrypool the dumb animal that had been caught in the middle of it. But it hadn't been a trap. It had been a life-altering moment that Cherrypool wasn't sure she'd ever get again. Would she continue to worry about Goldenpaw even after the much-sought-after achievement of a warrior name? Yes. For the sake of her own mental health, however, Cherrypool hoped she would stop having this almost hen-like fussiness over her first ever apprentice, intending to prevent any attachment issues or some other nonsense that would likely make her next apprenticeship rather difficult. That is, if she got a second one. Maybe once every 30 moons I'll be granted with another apprentice. In 30 moons she'd be nearly 80 moons old. If she was still alive. As if conscious of the murderous intent flowing off of her kin, Cherrypool glanced in Whiteshade's direction. That inner monster of hers wore a smug expression, the emotion briefly flitting across Cherrypool's alabaster face, bloody oculars settling on her brother's. As long as everything goes smoothly, this means my apprentice will have become a warrior before his. That alone could be considered a victory, and Cherrypool intended to revel in that feeling of triumph, giving herself a break from the usual overwhelming sense of stress and lack of confidence.

I FEAR WHO I AM BECOMING. I HAVE TO GIVE IN.

[Deleted]

REDSTAR

Leader of LightningClan

Redstar smiled as the situation was resolved before her eyes and Cherrypool sat down and began to frantically help Goldenpaw groom his pelt. The red-yellow tabby smiled warmly, waiting patiently, tail flicking from side to side, for the apprentice to step forward.
When the golden and white tom finally did so, Redstar, feeling a little uncomfortable conducting the ceremony from the very top of the hill, scrambled down so that she was standing next to Goldenpaw, not wanting to look superior or intimidating to the to-be warrior. After all, to Redstar, all her clanmates were equal, including herself; she was just the same as the youngest kit, just because she was clan leader didn’t mean she was any better than her fellow LightningClanners.
“I’m sorry Redstar…”…“I think she’s more afraid than I am that something will go wrong.”
The LightningClanner smiled warmly, “Don’t worry about it,” she meowed softly under her breath, honey amber eyes warm and meeting Goldenpaw’s before starting the ceremony.
"I, Redstar, leader of LightningClan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Goldenpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
It was then gazing down at the golden and white apprentice, soon to be warrior, that Redstar wondered if any apprentice said ‘no’ to her last question. She frowned, she couldn’t think why anyone wouldn’t want to be a warrior, but there was bound to be one, somewhere along the long line of warriors, who had declined the promise.
Redstar chuckled at the thought of Goldenpaw doing such a thing. There were cats who would do a thing like that and there were cats who would never and Goldenpaw certainly belonged in the second category.

ooc- Sorry, my muse kind of died half way through this! Sorry!