[Ashley/Kestrel]

Originally Posted by Raywood

Dismissively, Bravestep swished his tail, the same anxious, almost maniacal grin plastered across his muzzle as he fought to appear casual, as if he wasn't destined to die by going to RiverClan. "Very sure, indeed!" he meowed with a nod. "I'm pleased to hear you approve of this, though I imagine you would have been ready either way.. Perhaps not as emotionally prepared, but -- oh! Good galoshes, that's a bit beside the point. Don't mind me, rambling again, heheh.." Bravestep trailed off, struggling to recall the ancient old ceremony that would solidify Kestrelpaw as a full medicine cat but didn't stress over it, instead he hoped StarClan would guide his tongue.

"I, ahem, Bravestep, medicine cat of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. ..He has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and-- and, with your help he will serve his Clan for many moons!" Emerald eyes glittered with pride as he seized a second to appreciate how far he had come in his training, and how he would use that knowledge to ensure ShadowClan's future. "Kestrelpaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan and to protect all cats equally, even," Bravestep paused slightly, gaze clouding with distant misery that he had no option but to swallow for the sake of continuing in a timely manner, "..even at the cost of your life?"

Now he was getting even more worried. Noticing the odd way Bravestep acted, Kestrelpaw's eyebrows furrowed worriedly. "Are you sure you're okay..? Are you sick..?" He frowned, feeling uneasy. When his mentor apologized for rambling, Kestrelpaw shook his head. "No need to apologize, Bravestep." He gave the tom a small smile, encouragement in his eyes. He was confused by the medicine cat's odd behavior, did he eat rotten prey? Once he began the ceremony, his eyebrows furrowed even more as he stuttered, breath hitching as he paused. Kestrelpaw dipped his head, butterflies in his stomach. "I do."