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Post by absurdjinx on Apr 26, 2024 10:10:11 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/mFB4YCp/mushroom~jpg | mushroomstar, "and the world's gonna know your name
cause you burn with the brightest flame" |
Today would be a happy day for RidgeClan. Not only had new-leaf finally arrived after such a long leaf-bare, but to mark the turn of the seasons, Mushroomstar also had an announcement to make. He slipped out of his den, pausing to appreciate the sun’s warmth shining down onto his back and the gentle breeze dancing across the fur along his spine. He scanned the clearing, a fond smile finding its way to his face as his gaze flitted between his clanmates while they went about their day. It had been a rough leaf-bare, but every time he stepped out of his den and found a lack of snow and ice, he was filled with hope. With a flick of his tail-tip, Mushroomstar whirled around and launched himself on top of the rock formation that made up his den. With his head held high, he called out, “ Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a clan meeting!” He waited a moment for everyone to find spots at the foot of the cluster of rocks he stood atop of and only once his clanmates had settled down did he continue, “ This past leaf-bare was not an easy one for us, but RidgeClan remains strong and is more united than ever.” With The Kingdom cats leaving the clans behind, all of RidgeClan’s weak links have been weeded out - or so Mushroomstar hoped. Some part of him still feared more of his clanmates would betray RidgeClan, but he chose not to let those concerns control him any longer. “ Today, RidgeClan is about to become even stronger. Berrykit,” he started, beckoning the dark-furred she-kit forward. He fixed her with a stern look, silently warning her to behave. He didn’t want to have to punish her on her first day as an apprentice. “ You have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Berrypaw. Your mentor will be Juniperbelly. I trust she will pass down all she knows to you.” Mushroomstar’s gaze found Juniperbelly in the crowd and he gestured for her to move forward, too. “ Juniperbelly, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have shown yourself to be curious and ambitious, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Berrypaw.” Maybe it wasn’t a good decision, assigning Berrypaw to Juniperbelly, but Mushroomstar had spoken with the new mentor earlier to let her know his expectations. He was giving her a chance, but he’d also keep a close eye on the pair - just in case. After Juniperbelly and Berrypaw had touched noses and stepped back, Mushroomstar searched for Thymepaw in the throng. Once he located the young tom, he said, “ Thymepaw, step forward.” He then leapt down and met Thymepaw at the base of the rock formation. “ I, Mushroomstar, leader of RidgeClan, call upon my 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.” Mushroomstar looked at Thymepaw, his blue eyes shining proudly. There was something special about naming new warriors in particular. “ Thymepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?” |
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Post by shy on May 7, 2024 9:58:52 GMT -6
#s://i~pinimg~com/564x/7b/e5/61/7be5619e38043bd66fb5fc0feea30ad9~jpg berrykitpaw, It. Was. Time. Berrykit's parents furiously groomed her fluffy coat, willing it to stay down through force of will. She squirmed and struggled and wiggled and waggled to no avail, they would not let her go up in front of the clan looking like a mess. As they worked, her arch nemesis droned on and on about hardship and boring stuff. Mushroomstar had threatened to delay her ceremony, but here she was getting named on time. Finally she'd get to leave the camp and explore! Their parents finally let them go as Mushroomstar beckoned them over. They pranced over, head and tail held high. The leader's firm gaze was lost on the kit. As were his words, just garbled nonsense going in one ear and out the other. Only a few words stuck, Berrypaw, Juniperbelly, apprentice. Finally! The new apprentice practically slammed her nose into her mentor's face. Berrypaw smiled happily, searching for her family's faces in the crowd. And then Mushroomstar moved on. She scowled and turned towards him just long enough to stick her tongue out at him for a brief second before bounding off into the crowd.
thymepaw, Thymepaw watched Berrypaw's apprentice ceremony, barely able to hear the leader's words through the pounding of his own heart. Was he really ready for this? To be a full fledged warrior? Even after Foxflight got injured and Morninglight had to take on his training? Some part of him wondered if his ceremony was simply to free up room in the rather crowded apprentice den. His stomach churned, and the tom was glad he hadn't eaten earlier. As Berrypaw's ceremony drew to a close Thymepaw took in deep but rasping breaths. The attempt to calm himself did little to ease his frazzled nerves. Oh Starclan was he really ready? When Mushroomstar called on him, Thymepaw instinctively obeyed. His shaky paws lead him to the leader, who was waiting at the base of the rocks. " I promise." Thymepaw spoke, hoping his voice sounded more convicting and noble than he felt. |
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Post by absurdjinx on May 16, 2024 6:49:39 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/mFB4YCp/mushroom~jpg | mushroomstar, "and the world's gonna know your name
cause you burn with the brightest flame" |
Mushroomstar wasn’t oblivious to Berrypaw’s brief disrespectful gesture, but he elected to ignore it. Besides, sticking her tongue out at him wasn’t the worst thing she’d ever done, so he’d let this one slide. It was her special day, too, and to ruin it over something so small didn’t seem right. When he moved onto Thymepaw’s ceremony, he gave away no indication that he’d even seen Berrypaw stick her tongue out at him, allowing her to slip away into the crowd. Hopefully between her friendship with Avenspaw and her apprenticeship with Juniperbelly, Berrypaw would learn a thing or two about respect - especially when it came to one’s leader. Mushroomstar didn’t have very high hopes that she would, but he could dream. “ I promise,” Thymepaw said. Mushroomstar remembered when he’d been named a warrior and despite his excitement over finally completing his training, his voice had trembled with anxiety when he’d answered his leader. He still occasionally thought back on that day and it never failed to bring a smile to his face. Becoming a warrior was a major point in every clan cat’s life, memorable and fond, even for those who’d been racked with anxiety over it. Mushroomstar hoped he’d help make Thymepaw’s ceremony just that - memorable and fond. He started by sending Thymepaw a small, warm smile in an attempt to soothe whatever nervousness might be plaguing the apprentice. “ Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Thymepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Thymegaze. StarClan honors your acuity, maturity, and compassion, and we welcome you as a full warrior of RidgeClan.” Mushroomstar promptly pressed his nose to the young tom’s forehead and then stepped back, grinning proudly as the crowd chanted Thymegaze’s new name. Before the new warrior could join his clanmates, Mushroomstar added kindly, quieter so only the other tom could hear, “ You did it. Congratulations, Thymegaze.” With that, he nodded his head in the direction of the chattering, waiting audience, silently encouraging Thymegaze to go and accept his clanmates’ praise. |
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storms make trees take deeper roots
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Post by cosmic on May 21, 2024 15:11:40 GMT -6
#s://live~staticflickr~com/2504/3974396799_cc5af4664d_z~jpg Funny enough, Juniperbelly probably had as much anxiety and excitement as much as Berrykit and Thymepaw. Not long before the ceremony, Mushroomstar had pulled her aside to talk. At first, her heart was beating out of her chest, worried that maybe Cloudwhisker had accidentally mentioned how they went deep into the mountains to hunt. However, it became clear quickly that it was finally... FINALLY time for her to get an apprentice.
Mushroomstar had clearly given her direct instructions about being a mentor, especially of a cat of her... lack of skills. But, maybe finally she could be trusted. Maybe she had finally proven herself now that she was becoming closer with Cloudwhisker and having successful hunts.
Juniperbelly's fur was spotless, as if she had been cleaned by her mother for her apprentice ceremony, while she listened intently to the leader's words. Then, the moment of truth... Berrypaw! It was an honor to be the mentor of the deputy's younger sibling, but she knew that she was going to have to work hard to make sure that she was on top of the training. Berrypaw came barreling toward her for the mentor-apprentice nose touch, which she couldn't help but laugh as the apprentice blew a raspberry toward the leader. Oh, she would be a handful.
But anything to prove myself... |
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