[Fawn]

Lionstar

The crown is getting heavy
But they've written my name in the stars

He took the fiery reds and purples of the dawning light as StarClan's approval. It was early, almost too early by some cats' standards, and he couldn't deny that his body protested the movement with a few creaks and groans. But on a day like today, there was much to be done.

Scars from that terrible night were healing, and they had finally broken free of the bitter cold of leafbare. The nursery was near full to bursting, with Duskrose's kits born a few days before and both Amberwing and Moonfeather heavy into their own pregnancies. The Clan deserved, now more than ever before, some good news.

"Let all cats of TreeClan gather before the Ancient Stump!" His voice rang strong and proud over the swiftly arriving cats. Many had to shake the sleep from their eyes and the moss from their pelts, but an energy began to buzz through the air. "The time has come to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of Glacierpaw, Robinpaw, and the members chosen to guide them. Glacierpaw, Robinpaw, step forward."

It was easy to find the gangly silver-marked tom, his long limbs and wiry body so different from many of his peers. Lionstar's gaze followed the smaller ginger, black and white marked she-cat as she broke away from her own mentor, Finchcloud; it was only when they were both standing before him that he offered a smile.

Newleaf ceremonies always brought warmth back into his heart. "I, Lionstar, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. Each has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in his and her turn. Glacierpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" You've taught him well, Pumafang.

No longer did he see a skinny, gawky kitten still getting used to its own limbs. Now standing before Lionstar was a full grown warrior, level-headed and swift. Loyal. He answered just as Lionstar expected him to, and Lionstar gave a single solemn nod of acknowledgement.

The question was repeated for Robinpaw as well. "Robinpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

The she-cat had grown into a responsible, respectable warrior. She had risen through the tragedy of a lost sibling, and he commended her for it. It had made her conscious of the value of life, and of time.

Lionstar's jaw raised in approval, and his chest swelled, mane billowing, as he found the right words.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Glacierpaw, from this moment you will be known as Glacierspring. StarClan honors your swiftness and your loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of TreeClan. Robinpaw, from this moment you will be known as Robinflight. StarClan honors your compassion and your loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of TreeClan. May you both be the first to usher in a time of prosperity and growth this Newleaf."

He heard the deep rumble of his deputy's voice first and foremost as the Clan began to chant. He did not step from the Ancient Stump to rest his muzzle upon their heads - there was still another round of ceremonies to hold. Instead, he gave them the full wattage of his smile, his expression openly proud in this moment.

After letting the chorus continue for a few more heartbeats, Lionstar's tail swayed from left to right, sweeping their attention back to him.
"With less apprentices now, I think it's only fair that we add two more. Acornkit, Sagekit, please step forward."

He saw his pale furred cousin take a steeling breath and press his muzzle to Acornkit's and Sagekit's flanks as they broke away from their parents. Sprucefur looked almost tense with pride (and a touch of worry), and Lionstar almost chuckled at the nostalgia.

He looked first to little Acornkit, a purr in the undertones of his words. "From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Acornpaw. Your mentor will be Minktoes. Minktoes, you have proven yourself a skilled climber and a valuable warrior of TreeClan. I trust you will pass down all you know on to Acornpaw. Sagekit, from this day on, until you receive your new name," he felt a pulse of excitement in his chest as a long-standing concern of his was finally being alieved. "You will be known as Sagepaw."

Catching sight of a thick-furred shape padding out of the medicine cat's den, Lionstar bowed his head, conceding the floor to the Clan's senior medicine cat.

Though hardly looking enthused about it, Falconstorm spoke the words clearly and loudly.
"Cats of TreeClan, it's time I took an apprentice. I have chosen a cat who has shown potential as a medicine cat. Your next medicine cat will be Sagepaw."

Lionstar suppressed a purr, enjoying the sounds of delight and surprise that rippled through the crowd of cats. At last, at long last, Falconstorm had found a successor.

"Sagepaw," Lionstar fixed his sights on the she-cat. "Do you accept the post of apprentice to Falconstorm?"

The she-kit answered, and Falconstorm spoke once more.

"Then at the half-moon, you must travel to the Moon Tree to be accepted by StarClan before the other medicine cats."

"The good wishes of all TreeClan will go with you." Lionstar stepped down from the Ancient Stump, a fresh Newleaf breeze whispering through his fur as he basked in this moment of progress.

I've been building up all these kingdoms for so long
It's good to be king

111 Moons || TreeClan || 941 Words || Tags

KARAZHAL (Glacier, Sage)
BlooRey DVD (Acorn, Feather)
Ghost the Undead Goddess (Minktoes)
@jet (Pumafang)
Justice (Falconstorm)
♛ 𝔽𝕒𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 (Robin)

Newleaf 20 The morning dawns with fiery red and purple clouds, and while the day is pleasant, the night gives way to unseasonably cool temperatures.

[KARAZHAL]

sagekit + glacierpaw

"Oh, oh, oh! It's time, mama! Hear it?" Sagekit called excitedly, bouncing enthusiastically at the edge of the big log. She bumped against her mother's side on accident and recoiled, pressing against Sprucefur afterward. "I'm gonna be an apprentice, papa!" The little blue Somali craned her neck up. Her long whiskers wriggled with a mix of nerves and anticipation. As all the clan gathered at the sound of Lionstar's husky yowl, Sagekit began to settle down and groom herself to chase away her nervousness. She did not fear going into the apprentice's den whatsoever. She was so excited that it was hard to sit still, but licking her gray and sorrel pelt helped take the edge off.

She wiggled forward so that she was on the very edge of the log's rim, laying next to Acornkit with their parents sitting proudly behind them. Sagekit's golden eyes roamed all around camp, but she was too small to see much except the backs and legs of taller cats around her. To her left, she heard soft footsteps. Sagekit turned slowly and her jaw dropped at the height of the beautiful silvery tom right beside her. He walked like a deer, each long leg sweeping forward gracefully, his long bushy silver and white tail floating above the ground. It was as if fog had taken the shape of a cat and walked among them.

She heard Lionstar call out for the apprentices Glacierpaw and Robinpaw. Sagekit, her mouth still open in awe, watched wide-eyed as the cloud cat glided up to the front. Their clanmates parted to let him pass and kept the space open, which allowed Sagekit to see much better than before. She watched that really tall cat sit down gracefully before the Ancient Stump, looking mountainous compared to the calico she-cat beside him, despite being younger than she. Glacierpaw turned his weird wedge-like face toward Robinpaw and bowed deeply to her. It had been the calico she-cat who'd helped him get comfortable in the apprentice's den when he'd been fresh out of the nursery.

Lionstar boomed a lot of fancy-smancy talk that sounded sooooo cool. Wow, the two of them are becoming warriors! I hope Acornkit and I look that awesome when our names are called! Sagekit thought. After the end of Lionstar's speech, the silver ticked tabby lifted his head high and replied for all of TreeClan to hear: "Without question, I do." He might have looked like a LightningClan cat, but he was loyal to TreeClan and hoped no warrior would ever doubt his commitment as a warrior.

As their leader announced the lovely names of the duo--Glacierspring and Robinflight--a great cry resounded from the Clanmates around them and Sagekit could not hide her startlement. The Somali's squirrel-like tail fluffed up, and the sleek fur along her spine spiked out. "Whoa...," she whispered, pressing against Acornkit like she always did. Her fur seemed to calm down on its own accord after feeling her sister's reassuring presence.

"Wait! Lionstar called us!" she squeaked, her voice cracking. It was time! It was happening! She felt Sprucefur touch their flanks, but her feet was already moving, lurching forward, and she didn't dare turn back. After all, her parents would always be there for her; she didn't have to look back for reassurance on that. Sagekit's gold eyes gleamed like dawn breaking through the trees. She beamed up at Lionstar expectantly. As Acornkit's name was called first, she looked over at her sister, watching her reaction and excitedly pressed her head against hers as her name was formally changed from Acornkit to Acornpaw. "Yessss!" Sagekit bounced on her paws, giving Acornpaw an encouraging lick on the cheek.

Then, Lionstar turned to her. Sagekit gulped, her breathrate increasing, her heart pounding inside her little chest. "You will be known as Sagepaw." Her eyes squeezed shut and her smile rivalled Lionstar's own. She jumped to all paws, eagerly awaiting the name of her mentor. However, when Lionstar did not continue, her smile faltered and she looked confused. "Huh?" Murmured gasps rippled throughout the whole clan as Falconstorm took the stage. "Huh?" Sagepaw repeated, turning to her sister for help, whispering, "A-Acornpaw, don't I get one too?" But Falconstorm began to speak.

"Cats of TreeClan, it's time I took an apprentice. I have chosen a cat who has shown potential as a medicine cat. Your next medicine cat will be Sagepaw."

Her eyes bulged out of her head. If it weren't for the welcoming, proud faces turning to look down at her, nodding their encouragements, Sagepaw wasn't sure she could've found the words to respond. However, seeing the support of her beloved clan, her eyes brimmed with tears of gratitude. "Y-yes! I want to be your apprentice!" she practically yelled. She smiled at Falconstorm, but the expression faltered slightly. The medicine cat looked strict, possessing none of the kind, delighted features that her other clanmates had greeted her with. However, she knew that the position was a serious one. A medicine cat helped the leader and saved the lives of everyone in the clan.

No more fun and games, Sagepaw. You're going to learn everything you can and be the best medicine cat in TreeClan history, she told herself. The firm nod she gave Falconstorm was as much for herself as it was for him. The half moon, huh? Sagepaw looked up at the sky but couldn't see the moon amongst the outstretching canopy of trees. She'd never traveled to the Moon Tree before, but she would do whatever it took to prove to StarClan she was the right choice. First she had to figure out a spot to look for the moon so she knew when it was her time to go.

sagepaw + glacierspring

[Phoenix]

The relentless passage of time was a wonderful, horrible thing. Utterly uncompromising, it dragged him along whether he wanted to go or not, and such ruthlessness was both a blessing and a curse. Especially on days like these.

As the sky began to dawn fiery red against the darkness of another sleepless night, he knew with a coiling dread that the relative tranquility he had come to cherish would soon end. Green eyes remained fixed on the fading stars, refusing to move from his position – carefully chosen for its best view of the sky – to greet the early risers as they left for patrol. But once begun, the activity of camp only spread as cats began move around, greeting each other, checking in after a peaceful sleep. Gorsetail closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying in vain to imagine the brush of dark fur against his own. With the desperation of a father watching helplessly as his kit was torn from his grasp, he cursed them all. A few more minutes was all he wanted. Just a few. Was that so much to ask for?

When they sky was dark and the camp was silent and he turned his gaze upward, it was so easy to feel Nightsky sitting at his side. When it was just him, it took so little effort to believe that the younger tom was back beside him, and that the silence was the companionable silence of friends rather than the empty silence of solitude. After all, they had always sat quietly together, the two of them, heads turned skyward to admire the view. Watching the stars had always been the younger tom’s favorite activity, but as Gorsetail regularly joined him over the seasons, it had become theirs – a peaceful pastime that he came to love, just as much as he did the quiet tom who was so much more like his mother despite wearing his father’s pelt. When he had become deputy and exhaustion became a constant companion, his nights had passed in the blink of an eye, but he had always intended to make time to rejoin Nightsky. Then he had been forced to retire and then NightClan had attacked and then…

Swallowing around the knot in his throat, Gorsetail opened his eyes. And then he had started making time to watch the stars, as if it wasn’t too late. As if it would make up for lost time.

Lionstar’s voice rang out over the gathering crowd as the new day began in earnest, and the clear skies and anticipatory energy of camp promised a good one. All of a sudden, he could feel the exhaustion beginning to creep up on him, insidiously sinking long claws into his fur. His heart felt heavy. His mind felt slow. Now that the day had begun, he wanted to do little more than curl up in his nest and chase after the sleep he had spent all night shoving aside. Somewhat numb, the elder watched from his place on the fringe of the group as Glacierpaw and Robinpaw earned their warrior names. He only knew them as well as the next cat, but they both looked the part as the clan chanted their new names: Glacierspring and Robinflight. Forcing a smile on his face, he tried to feel happy for them, but memories of two of his own apprentices, Pinkcloud and Nightsky, earning their warrior names were weighing him down. At least mother and son were together in StarClan now.

Green eyes picked Sprucefur and Feathercloud out of the crowd as Acornkit and Sagekit were called forward. The picture of proud parents, they sat close together with their long fur brushing and faces alight with excitement and joy. Why couldn’t he be like them, overwhelmed with pride instead of having to fight the numbness to shape his features into the appropriate expression? His gaze landed on Acornpaw and then Sagepaw as each kit became an apprentice, and the smile became a little easier. They were so eager and so ready to grow – and he treasured their innocence as much as he wanted to protect it, wanted to keep them in the nursery where they could be safe from the pain of the world forever. As Falconstorm stepped forward to take the latter under his wing, his heart jolted and he thought of another pair of sisters, one trained as a warrior and the other as a medicine cat, who he had also held so close to his heart.

As the ceremony ended and he climbed to his paws to make his way over to congratulate the happy family, he hoped, desperately, that history wouldn’t repeat itself. If he and Sprucefur and Feathercloud had to bury Acornpaw and Sagepaw, he had no idea if they would be able to piece his broken heart back together.


Fawn BlooRey DVD KARAZHAL

Gorsetail

we shine until we fade
but dont stop burning

[♛ 𝔽𝕒𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟]

<sub>It was early. When Lionstar’s voice boomed across the clearing, rousing her from a restless, twitching sleep, she almost forgot the reason behind this particular meeting. Her green eyes blinked blearily as Glacierpaw roused nearby, his silvery form no longer the awkward gangling shape of a cat she had welcomed into the apprentice den all those moons ago. Her heart quickened as the reality of what was happening struck her like a charging bull. Robinpaw sat bolt upright in her nest and drew her tongue swiftly over her disheveled fur in an attempt to make herself look presentable. Joy and panic seized her as the knowledge she would be given her true name today woke her up much quicker than she had ever woken before.

A familiar rounded face poked into the den, the dawn light creating a halo around her mother’s black and orange face. “Come on, little chick.” She whispered softly. “You’re late, everyone is already gathered outside.” Little chick. Sunwind had not called Robinpaw that in a long time. With a gentle purr, the two felines pressed their muzzles together, Robinpaw’s heart aching. This new, exciting chapter in her life was slightly shadowed by the awareness that her brother, Ravenpaw, would never sit before his entire clan, chest puffed out with pride as his leader announced his warrior title. When Robinpaw withdrew, she could see by the heartache in Sunwind’s gaze that she was thinking the exact same thing. “I’m so proud of you.” She meowed, her voice catching mid-sentence. Robinpaw gave her a nod, her whiskers trembling, and smiled. “I’d better join the rest of the Clan before they got impatient.” Robinpaw murmured.

She emerged from the den, the camp beyond still cast in shadows as dawn unpeeled over their heads. Robinpaw wove between the crowd of cats until she came beside Glacierpaw and Asterpaw, one of whom was looking a little overwhelmed as he struggled to read Lionstar’s lips from further away than he was used to, despite not being all that far away from the stump. Robinpaw forced herself to remain calm and still as she sat down beside her fellow apprentices, fixing her bright green eyes on her leader as he spoke. She swallowed back her nerves, determined to look composed. Finchcloud drew up beside her, his muzzle split into an impressive grin. “You did well.” He meowed quietly to her, and Robinpaw felt the tension ease from her muscles. Why was she so worried? These were her clanmates- her family. She let out a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding. It would be fine.

Lionstar called for them to step forward. Glacierpaw gave her a mature nod, one she returned with a warm smile. She remembered how shy and tiny he had been when he’d joined the apprentices at first. He’d definitely grown into a warrior she would be proud to fight beside. She listened as Glacierpaw gave his promise, a vow to place the Clan above his own life. When his attention switched to her, she felt a thrill run through her pelt. This was one of the most important stages of her life, when she would finally be recognised by her clanmates as a warrior, a provider and a protector. “I do.” She answered without hesitation. Lionstar looked pleased as he drew himself up, looking as much like his namesake as it were possible for a cat to look. Robinflight. Her new name rolled around inside her head as her clanmates cheered around her. Above all the other voices, she could pick out the proud yowl of her mother the loudest. “Robinflight, Robinflight!” There was another voice she could pick out in the clamour, too. Was that…? Her eyes flitted behind her, trying to see Ducktail among the crowd, to see if he was one of the cats cheering the loudest for her new name. But she couldn’t pick him out.

Robinpaw- no, Robinflight, turned back towards Lionstar, aware that this ceremony wasn’t finished. Sagekit and Acornkit were so much bigger now. Robinflight couldn’t help but smile along with several other cats among the meeting as the two tottered forward, buzzing with excitement. Minktoes was named Acornpaw’s mentor, and Robinflight felt a purr rise up in her throat. She liked Minktoes, or at least liked her more than her fluffbrain of a brother, and she felt a little whimsical now that her apprentice moons were over. She’d been told by so many cats that she should treasure her days as an apprentice, that they would be the fondest memories of her life. When you were belly-deep in mousebile and chores, it was difficult to believe that. But now that she had finally lost that “paw” suffix she had carried so long, she felt a deep ache in her heart, and she knew she would miss those simpler days of being Finchcloud’s apprentice, no matter how happy her seasons as a warrior made her. She hoped Sagepaw, who had been named Falconcloud’s apprentice, and Acornpaw, would treasure their days as a ‘paw the way she wished she had. Lionstar was right. Losing Ravenpaw had taught Robinflight and her family the importance of living in every moment and appreciating what time they were given.

She gave Glacierspring an acknowledging nod, wishing she could say his new name just to try it out on her tongue, but knowing that their vigil tonight would require total silence, she kept her words to herself. Robinflight turned to twine tails with her mother, who had pushed through the crowd to be beside her. Sunwind’s eyes were brimming with tears as she drew her tongue over Robinflight’s face. Any other cat would have been embarrassed by such a public display of affection from their mother, but not her. She had learned the importance of expressing affection, especially when at any moment, the valley could choose to claim a cat by whatever method it desired. Sunwind peeled away from her daughter to join a patrol, and Robinflight watched her go, tail tucked around her paws. The air felt as though it crackled with new possibilities, the soft Newleaf breeze stirring her whiskers.</sub>


Taxx Fawn KARAZHAL Phoenix BlooRey DVD Ghost the Undead Goddess  @calico Justice / 1,025

[Justice]

He hadn't wanted an apprentice. He hadn't wanted anything to do with a noisy, disruptive, obnoxious presence at his side asking a million and one questions without a lick of sense in their hollow little brains. But it had become an insistent nag among the clan, a medicine cat had a duty to pass along his or her knowledge to another in case something happened to them. Never mind that he was still fairly young and healthy. After the war, after fighting himself and even taking mild injury, he couldn't put it off any longer. Blast NightClan for showing Lionstar that his medicine cat would charge into battle if given the chance. Now he had no further choice.

Falconstorm imagined his expression was less than thrilled as he made his way out of his den and into the crowd of cats gathered together to welcome the new apprentices. He waited for Lionstar to say his piece then announced himself and his intentions. He cringed inwardly as he reluctantly welcomed Sagepaw as his apprentice. Her yelling didn't help matters any.

He didn't bother saying anything as she slowly seemed to grasp the situation she was now in and calmed down. If she started asking him questions about StarClan he was going to drown her in the river. That wasn't a topic he would ever delve into again, not after what they did to Bluejay.

[KARAZHAL]

sagepaw + glacierspring

Sagepaw wondered what this position would mean for her apprenticeship? She often glimpsed mentors training their apprentices for battle and hunting inside the big log, but those were warrior mentors. She had the medicine cat; she'd never once seen him fight. In fact, he always seemed to be in his stinky den or out beyond where the kitten could spy on him in her very limited network. She decided that she would learn whatever Acornpaw knew, for of course her sister was going to want to play and announce how her day went. Turning to Minktoes and Acornpaw, she smiled at them and nodded to her sister. "Let me know how your first day goes," she said. "See you!"

With the proclamation of the two apprentices' new names, all of TreeClan began to chant "Acornpaw! Sagepaw! Acornpaw! Sagepaw!" Proudly, Sagepaw trotted over to Falconstorm and plopped herself two mouselengths away from his right side. She smiled at him. "Can I still be in the apprentice's den or do I have to live in your den from now on?" she asked him once all of the chanting quieted down and she could hear herself think. Question number one. "What are we going to do first?" Question number two.

Nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine more made for a good challenge.

---

Glacierspring's silvery ruff expanded as his chest puffed out under the burden of his new name. This moment was a testament to all of his discipline and hard training, and he eagerly awaited his future in TreeClan. Glancing over at Robinflight, a small smile tentatively pulled his upper lip upward. Now that he'd been given his name, he knew what to do. After he'd passed his assessment, his mentor had explained how the ceremony would go and the vigil afterward. He must stay awake for the whole night and guard the camp. Staying quiet was the easy part.

The tall tom rose to all fours with his long fur swaying like willow branches. As Sunwind groomed the young warrior beside him, he watched with longing, wishing he had a mother to do the same. Mistylight had never groomed him, always making him do it himself while she groomed the sisters instead. He wondered what his birth mother was like; even though he'd been weaned by the time he'd been found by TreeClan, he could no longer recall her purring or fur color. He was suddenly reminded of that LightningClan warrior he'd met on the border, the one who'd been asking about his past. He hadn't given Silverburr much thought until now. Perhaps he could talk to Timberfrost or Pumafang and ask who had been on the patrol the day he'd been found.

As always, he decided to get right to work. The stoic tomcat indicated to Robinflight that he was going to the camp entrances to get comfortable and stand his vigil.

sagepaw + glacierspring