[Hellion]

Firestar had allowed her duties to slip but for a good reason. While there was a ceremony naming two new apprentices, Batpaw and Ravenpaw, there hadn't been a formal ceremony to assign them mentors. It was primarily done in order to let Firestar decide which cats would be better suited to train the future warriors of LightingClan. The losses they had all suffered in the clutches of Leafbare had resulted in fewer kits making Firestar a careful leader. She wanted the Clan's apprentices to train under capable warriors who would aid in cultivating the next generation.

Every choice she made as leader was to ensure the survival of her Clan and the conquest they had planned. StoneClan would lose their lovely sunstones and LightingClan would enjoy the warmth they provided and food source in the cooler moons. Climbing up to the top of the small hill within their camp, Firestar looked over the camp and found that the camp activity was winding down. Cats were curled together or sharing a meal even the claw of the moon shone down on them. Stars dazzled in the sky added to Firestar's idea that what she was planning was allowed by StarClan.

"Let cats old enough to catch their own prey gather before Hill Tip" Her words rang out clearly as her short tail flicked back and forth. Eyes perked up toward her as those who lingered on the camp edge rose up and moved in closer. The white pelt of Brigtpool emerged from the warrior's den. Firestar's own mate Russetfall had just re-entered the camp having taken a small group of warriors on a patrol.

The she-cat leader of LightingClan waited for cats to gather before glancing a last time toward the sky. "I have neglected my duties as leader in favor of cultivating our plans to take the Sun Stones. However, I will neglect them no longer." She found the shape of Batpaw among the crowd her amber eyes watching the young apprentice.

"Batpaw, no longer will you be without a mentor. Brigtpool will be taking over your training. Brightpool, you have shown great dedication in ensuring the health of LightingClan. I trust that you will be able to share those skill and sense of duty with Batpaw." She gave each of them a solid nod before allowing them the time to meet each other. Brightpool was nervous but felt honoured that Firestar had chosen her and met her apprentice with a brave face.

Her attention moved to Ravenpaw and spotted Gustclaw within the crowd. "Likewise, Ravenpaw will no longer be with a mentor. Gustclaw will be taking your training. Gustclaw has overcome some challenges and proved himself to be a noble warrior of LightingClan. I trust that you will be a good mentor to Ravenpaw, teach him well," Firestar again let the two cat meet before flicking her tail to signal the meeting was over.

Phoenix @marshymutt @jabberwocky

[Deleted]

Batpaw

Upon hearing the call to gather before the Hill Top, the dark-furred apprentice was filled with curiosity. 'What could Firestar want to announce to us?' She wondered as her legs began to obediently carry her body over to the already forming crowd of cats, managing to situate herself fairly close to the front of the crowd so she would be able to hear more clearly. The apprentice listened intently as their leader spoke, her heart skipping a beat at the mention of neglected duties. Could it be? Was it finally time? She was practically straining her ears now as she listened with baited breath, wanting to ensure she could hear Firestar and make sure that she wasn't dreaming. Batpaw simply couldn't contain the joy within her as she listened to Firestar assign a mentor to her, finally she would have the opportunity to train to be able to serve her clan like a true Lightningclan cat! Without a moment's hesitation, she quickly bounded toward Brightpool,bumping into some of her clanmates on the way there and muttering a series of apologies to them before finally coming to a stop right in front of her and touching noses with her as was tradition.

Words;; 199 Tags;; Hellion Template by Kuroya of THQ & GS. Notes;;

[Deleted]

Ravenpaw had to admit he was curious about why Firestar was currently commandeering the Clan from over top of the Hill Tip. Swiping his tongue around his jaw, Ravenpaw got up and stretched his long legs from where he had been sitting for most of the day. Was it time that Firestar made his apprentice-ship a formality? Ravenpaw forced his expression into that of incuriosity, though interest was burning deep within.

Yeah, Firestar had been neglecting his duties lately, get on with it! Ravenpaw held his tongue as rather interesting, if not rude comments surged through his mind. Once the she-cat said Batpaw's name, Ravenpaw's own bright green gaze widened in surprise. YESSS! He crowed inwardly as she proceeded to formally give Batpaw her mentor in the form of Brightpool.

Then Firestar said his name, and Ravenpaw shivered slightly as both a feeling of reverence and eagerness filled him. Now he'd be able to prove himself! As she said the name 'Gustclaw' the dark-furred apprentice's sharp green gaze picked the warrior out of the crowd of cats. He knew what the other warrior looked like from watching the warriors on the edges of camp.

Admittedly, he had been interested in the older tomcat. ..Platonically. Striding up to the tomcat, Ravenpaw couldn't hide the glittering enthusiasm in his eyes as he touched his mentor's nose.

[Phoenix]

WE'RE ALL OK UNTIL THE DAY WE'RE NOT

A silver ear flicked at the summons, and the young tabby warrior turned, directing his steps toward the Hill Top and the calico she-cat perched upon it. It had been a while since Firestar had last called the clan together for a meeting, and Gustclaw wondered if their leader wanted to address the whispers that had been traveling around camp. By now, the fact that they – Firestar and her deputy and her senior warriors, no doubt – were forming tentative plans to retake Sun Stones from StoneClan was more common knowledge than rumor, though the details of said attack had yet to be confirmed by any actually involved in the decision making. Still, words spread like wild fire from the nursery to the apprentice’s den to the warrior’s den, and he thought that one day Firestar would have to confirm or deny them in order to prevent the camp from being consumed by the flames of misinformation.

But when she mentioned Batpaw, a young black she-cat whom he had only seen from afar, Gustclaw realized that this was not that announcement. Shoulder pressed steadily against his brother’s, the warrior realized that the leader merely intended to formally assign mentors to some of Lightningclan’s younger apprentices. Upon the naming of her new mentor, Batpaw leapt forward with the energy and true happiness he remembered bubbling up inside him on the day of his ceremony so many moons ago. Much had happened since then. It had been a long time since he had felt that genuine, innocent, excitement toward anything; there hadn’t been much to smile about recently.

The mention of Ravenpaw drew his green gaze toward another black cat. He hardly knew any of the apprentices nowadays, and such a reminder that time relentlessly moved forward, whether he wanted it to or not, was a little disconcerting. Well, this tom would finally be able to begin his training, and having heard many apprentice ceremonies in his time – once you heard one, you heard them all, and none of them were as exciting as his own – Gustclaw began to turn his thoughts toward his own duties. For all intents and purposes, night had already fallen, but perhaps tomorrow he and Mudpelt could go check on the TreeClan border. With Pinkpaw – Pinkcloud – gone, there wasn’t much for his brother there anymore, but Gustclaw thought maybe he wouldn’t mind saying hi to Bluejay if she was around. Certainly, not having an apprentice of his own to train made it a lot easier to be there for his brown-furred sibling, and he found himself once again feeling grateful that he had not yet been chosen to mentor—

The sound of his name jolted the silver and black tom from his musings and looking at Firestar with something like shock, unable to help the feeling of betrayal – you shouldn’t feel that; you never made a deal with her that you wouldn’t be assigned an apprentice – that sliced through him. He couldn’t teach someone else. He felt like he was barely managing to hold himself and Mudpelt together – surely they could see that. He looked over at Ravenpaw again, watching the sleek black feline approach, and realized that he had to move too. Rising to his paws, he unglued himself from Mudpelt’s side, casting a backward glance at his brother to make sure he was fine, before letting a few long strides carry him toward his new apprentice. Feeling somewhat overwhelmed – How was he supposed to keep an eye on his brother now? What would possibly make Firestar think this was a good idea? Why had she thought he would be the right cat for a responsibility as important as training an apprentice? – Gustclaw lowered his head and managed to offer Ravenpaw a quick smile. The poor tom did not deserve any hesitation on his part, and he did not deserve to be the one to pay for his mentor’s insecurities.

As they touched noses, the warrior tried to convince himself that he could do this. He was a strong cat. He had managed to balance everything thus far – he could manage to balance this, too. Mudpelt would not be forgotten in favor of Ravenpaw, and Ravenpaw would not be left behind so he could look after his brother. He could do this; he could train someone. If he said it enough times, maybe he would even start believing it himself.

Gustclaw | LightningClan | Warrior | Audience of One - Rise Against

THE SURFACE SHINES WHILE THE INSIDE ROTS