[Silver]

"There’s a lot of things you need
to get across this universe.
You know the thing
you need most of all?"

The time had come, the clan had been gathered and NightClan was ready to welcome two more Warriors into their ranks. Foxstar took a deep breath and stepped forward, beginning the ceremony performed by many before her. "I, Foxstar, leader of NightClan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn. Scrap-paw, Snakepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

She waited until both of them had given their response before moving forward with the ceremony. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you both your warrior name. Snakepaw from this moment you will be known as Snakestep. StarClan honors your loyalty and curiousity, and we welcome you as a full warrior of NightClan." She pressed her nose lightly to the new Warrior's head before taking a step back and moving next to the second cat to become a Warrior.

"Scrap-paw, you came to me with a very important request and today I'm going to honor that. Scrap-paw from this moment you will be known as Nettleheart. StarClan honors your devotion to others and your courage in continuing to always move forward, and we welcome you as a full warrior of NightClan." Again she pressed her nose against the new Warrior's head before stepping back to regard them. She looked to both the former loners and gave her own words of praise. "Though you both came to us as loners, you have both proven beyond any doubt to be great assets to this clan and I am honored to welcome the both of you as Warriors."

She went silent as the clan took up the chant of the two new Warriors and knew that NightClan was never going to be the same with these two as Warriors. She felt it may be a good change, and she also knew her Deputy must be so proud. It was a good day.

"You need a hand to hold."

Tags |  Fawn @zen

[Fawn]

I like the games we play when you're inside my veins

Scrap-paw knew from the moment Foxstar had stood upon the boulder ledge that her life was about to change. Prickling unease crept up through her paw pads and straight into her chest. What if Foxstar didn't give a rat's tail about her request? What if she was going to be Scrapclaw or Scrapfur for the rest of her life? The urge to rant about that injustice put a fire in her belly, but the disappointment she could picture on Briarthroat's face if she threw a tantrum was more than enough to snuff it.

Stop freaking out. You're a warrior now. Snakepaw's a warrior now. Scratch can't take that away from us!

The she-cat that had nursed them was long gone. Scrap-paw drew herself up alongside her brother, casting down these leering thoughts to the family that had abandoned them. It was time to focus on the family that embraced them, despite the odds.

This was for her and Snakepaw, but it was for Briarthroat and Honeywhisker too.

Every new warrior was a boon for NightClan.

"Scrap-paw, you came to me with a very important request and today I'm going to honor that. Scrap-paw from this moment you will be known as Nettleheart. StarClan honors your devotion to others and your courage in continuing to always move forward, and we welcome you as a full warrior of NightClan."

Nettleheart! That's more like it. Her eyes glowed with approval, posture straightening as though to better bear the weight of this new title and namesake. Without looking at Foxstar to see if the ceremony was finished or not, Nettleheart sought out Briarthroat's gaze in the crowd. Where was he? There were too many cats blocking her view, and it took a sharp internal reminder that she couldn't hiss at her Clanmates just for being in the way. Her and Snakestep's new names became a Clanwide chant. Nettleheart's tail curved and twisted with delight, purring proudly and letting the attention seep in through her fur.

Warriorhood felt good.

Gaze swiveling, Nettleheart gave her brother's shoulder a nudge so he could see the pride there in her expression, and know that it was for him. "Good job, furball." She praised, voice warm. "Snakestep is a cool name." Again, Nettleheart looked for Briarthroat, but a hefty brown tabby tom was standing in the way of the Clan's deputy - oblivious to Briarthroat's efforts to slip past.

While the moon's still up, Briarthroat! Nettleheart scolded him affectionately. She'd have to tease him later about being too nice to their Clanmates.

Finally acknowledging that she might have missed a step, Nettleheart turned back to Foxstar, and made as respectful a bow as the loner-born cat could manage. It might not seem like much to others, but to the cats that knew her - to the cat that had raised her, yielding to authority and giving respect where it was due had never been Nettleheart's strongsuit.

But tonight, things were different.

No a little good don't stop the devil

15 Moons | Warrior | NightClan

Nettleheart

williams @zen (Oakblaze mention! xD) Silver 503 Words

[williams]

As soon as Foxstar leapt onto the stone, Briarthroat knew exactly what was happening. He sat in his designated spot as deputy, and the entire clan could see that he was fit to burst with pride. He sat tall, chest puffed out and eyes shining with tears that would never fall. Before him stood the two loner-born cats, his adopted children, their pelts sleek and well-fed and strong from the work Nightclan requested of them. He listened intently as Foxstar spoke, nodding gratefully at her praise of Snakestep, then shock lit up his face.

Scrap-paw, you came to me with a very important request and today I'm going to honor that. Scrap-paw from this moment you will be known as Nettleheart. StarClan honors your devotion to others and your courage in continuing to always move forward, and we welcome you as a full warrior of NightClan."

His eyes were wide, staring up at Foxstar, before they scrunched up with joy that overflowed. His thoughts couldn't even sort themselves out while the clan celebrated the two new warriors. She is truly a clan cat now, her mother has lost this battle. The tom stood as cats swarmed in to coongratulate the new warriors, struggling to contain his happiness.

"Congrats you two! Keep fighting strong!" He heard Thornscar say, giving a headbutt to Snakestep's shoulder before she moved on. He stepped nearly around her, eyes scanning the crowd for Nettleheart. As a warrior strode by, she came into view, her calico fur shining in the light. Briarthroat felt the purr fill his chest, making a few cats chuckle at the sheer volume it was. "I'm so proud of you." He said once he reached her, words muffled through his purrs as he touched his nose to her head. "So proud of both of you."

--
dad SAP
Fawn Silver