About Time (Required for Certain Members)

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It was well past the needed ceremonies for the cats in her clan. Swiftstar had noticed this and planned for this summer evening to be the much awaited night. Windclan was strong and she marveled at it. So much at happened over the last few moons and everything had gone by so fast. Now her eyes scanned the crowds and she was always seeing the Windclan of her childhood hopes.

With crickets and locusts making music throughout the moors, she got up from her sunning spot and smiled. It was time. Quietly, she made her way towards a rock in the camp and leapt the top with ease. Her muscles developed through years of running after rabbits had paid off. Swiftstar's bright eyes took in her clan as glee filled her.

"Let all cat's old enough to catch their own prey, including awaiting apprenticeship, join here," she called as her voice rang out across the moors.

[CROOKY]

Murkfur had just left a piece of prey at the prey pile when she heard the call from the leader and she leapt up to walk to the small crowd that was forming at the foot of her leader. She flicked her ears in curiosity. The clan only had few kits and there wasn't much more to report. She looked on to find out what it was.
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Patchedkit was so excited and tried to run out of the nursery when his mother pushed him back into the den. "I'm old enough to catch my prey moooom they just don't let me" He whined.

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"No way, you're not!" came Stonekit's laughing reply as he darted past the other kit, looking over his shoulder back at Patchedkit with amusement and energy blazing in his orange eyes. "If any cat is, it's me and Darkkit!"

It was true. Both of the young toms were more than ready to be apprentices. This or that or the other had caused delays within the Clan system, resulting in the putting off of their apprentice ceremonies. But all that was about to change.

The tortoiseshell tom skidded to a halt, not too far from the nursery, and spun back around to wait for the rest of his family to exit. But he couldn't stay still as he waited. The tom was practically vibrating, and kept scratching the earth with his claws. Apprentices! Apprentices! They were finally going to be apprentices! He for one was done with waiting around as a kit. He was just dying to be able to learn how to fight and hunt. He wanted to be a warrior right then and there!

"Momma! Darkkit! Come on, we gotta go!" he called back toward the nursery, swishing his tail with anticipation.

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Cedarclaw had just been itching for this day to at last come around.

The tortoiseshell she-cat had now been in the nursery for well over six moons, watching her kits grow into fine young cats. Every time she looked at them her chest still swelled with pride. They were grand kits. They would grow into strong warriors of WindClan. They would be the greatest warriors the Clan had ever seen. She was so sure of it, and couldn't wait for them to grow and succeed. And much like her energetic little tom who had rushed out ahead of her, the she-cat had also had enough of waiting around. She also wanted to be able to leave the nursery to move around the territory freely- to hunt, and go on patrols. She wanted to be able to sleep in the warriors den again. Cedarclaw loved her kits, of course, but this day was overdue, and she was ready to move on and resume her warrior life.

But things would be far from normal, still, compared to what it had once been. She had changed. Her whole life had changed. And the loss of both Sootclaw and Quietkit still rang within her chest. For a moment, her throat tightened with the thought that they booth should have been here- Quietkit to become an apprentice, and Sootclaw to stand here with her, watching their three kits go on to become warriors in training. But Cedarclaw managed to swallow the lump away. Today was a happy occasion. No doubt both her mate and kit were watching their kin proudly today from StarClan's hunting grounds.

So the warrior queen made her way out of the nursery with a deep breath in, as she looked up toward Swiftstar, up on her rock. She smiled with pride, now. ”Finally,” she mewed softly, with a hint of a purr buried there. The she-cat then looked down to her young tom just ahead of her. "Calm down, Stonekit. You're puffing up your fur!" A warm smile lit her orange-flecked face despite her words. ”You're finally here, but you still have to look nice.” The she-cat gave her kit a few quick licks over his head and flanks, smoothing down the stray hairs while earning a complaining protest from Stonekit, and then turned to look back over her shoulder toward the nursery. "Darkkit, come on out," she called. "Unless you'd like to stay in the nursery for another moon." This was it.

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Cinderpaw bounced out of the apprentice den after hearing the leader’s call. She was super happy, becoming a warrior. She had been waiting for this day for a while. She jumped up and down then continued to bounce to where the cats were gathering. She stopped and looked around; everyone looked expectant as the waited to see what the leader had to say. She dashed forward, her paw getting caught in some grass she tumbled forward and started rolling until coming to an abrupt halt. She sat up quickly then shook her pelt; fluffing it out she proudly sat down waiting for her leader to speak. Soon she heard kit’s as the came out of the nursery. She smiled knowing they too were excited. She couldn’t help but shiver in joy, as the day had finally come.
“I’ve earned my right as a warrior, and I’m not going to let this pass me by!”
She knew being a warrior meant guarding the camp for the whole night and she was ready. She spent a little extra time sleeping and was fully awake and ready for any challenge. She sat there staring where her leader Swiftstar stood; smiling to herself she nodded knowing no one would see her but she was admitting to herself she was ready.

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It was amazing how much power that one call had. The warriors, apprentices and ones to be entered quickly with proud family members. Windclan's togetherness was always awe inspiring to her. No matter the past, they were strong and resilant. Here today, she was going to make it even more so.

"This meeting has been called because it is very overdue. Kits are ready to become apprentices and apprentices, warriors. With Starclan looking on, I call forward Patchedkit, Stonekit, and Darkkit first to recieve their new status," Swiftfire meowed with glimmering eyes. These kits were ones she had watched grow from newborns to ones older than six moons. She couldn't believe how time flied. She already had the perfect mentors picked out for each, but as for their warrior names soon to be given after their training was finished...that was a different story. Each would have to stand out in some one to help her figure out what to name them. However, the warrior she was to name after the apprentices was already paired up with a suitable one.

The tabby waited for the kits to step forward with pride swelling within her at an unstoppable pace.

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At the cries of his mother and sibling, Darkkit raced out of the den all a frenzy. He had been waiting for this moment forever and now it was here! Finally, Stonekit, Patchedkit, and him would be able to recieve apprenticeship. His brother and him had waited ages for the event.

Their past had definitely been an eventful one. His mother had slashed their father open enough for blood to come out during a fight, scarring his dreams for months, then their sister and father died, all the while waiting for their apprentice ceremony that was long overdue. In fact, Darkkit's form was that of an apprentice for sure, but the warriors had failed to recognize this. They instead had determined him a kit because of there being no ceremony. Now though, he wouldn't have to be seen as a kit after Swiftstar said those few words.

Darkkit leaped towards his brother and then Patchedkit. "C'mon guys!," he squeaked happily. His fur was poofy as he made his way to the clearing and sat down barely containing his excitement. With a glance behind him, he looked at his mother lovingly before turning his attention back towards the leader who's voice soon echoed through the moors.

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Cinderpaw’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. Her mind was racking with thoughts about being a warrior and having her very own apprentice. Her claws dug deep in the soil as she waited for her leader to speak. One new warrior and three new apprentices would make this clan stronger. Windclan has always been strong but every new day led them to a new hope. Her ears twitched at the slightest sound her chest puffed out and a small grin playing across her face. She pawed the ground as the leader called forth the three new apprentices Darkkit, Stonekit, Patchedkit. She looked to her right and saw pride glimmering in most warriors eyes. Even her own eyes were shining. She looked forward at the small group of four as the leader continued to talk.

Soon it would be her turn and she would be the newest warrior. She swayed her tail back and forth thinking about the names she could have as a warrior. What traits the leader would name. With each new thought her eyes got brighter and brighter. She hoped to be a new mentor to one of these kits. But she knew fully well that most new warriors don’t get an apprentice. Either way she didn’t mind. Her own attitude towards this was beaming off her in waves. She was proud of her clan and herself. She wasn’t going to let anything get in her way.

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Silverheart kept her head down listening to the ceremony with dismay. More apprentices seemed like trouble to her. She flicked her tail back and forth her eyes scanning the group of cats. She noticed Cinderpaw with her eyes gleaming and tail swayed. She hissed in dismay to herself, as she turned back to the front. She sat in the back and small wind blowing through her pelt. Her eyes closing for a brief moment but opening soon after the kits dashed forward.

A small smile spread across her but disappeared as quickly as it had come. She knew they would just get in the way and mess up jobs, but she also knew they needed new warriors to stay strong and apprentices were the first step. Her tail flicking back and forth she sat quietly waiting for the ceremony to end.