RiverClan Skyridge

[Fawn]

Wishy-washy judgment didn't help his nerves, but he tried to keep it together at least to maintain the appearance of staying cool under pressure. It probably wasn't working, he didn't have nearly the charisma that Lionstar did in front of his clanmates. "Oh stars, oh stars, oh stars," he anxiously murmured the mantra while Lionstar went into the ritual. He was feeling light-headed.

Oh, right. Actually remembering to breathe would help with that.

When there was a pause in his speech, Fawnpaw quickly realized it was his turn. And as much as he was unsure about deserving the rank now, he could minimally promise, "I do." After it was out, he exhaled a sigh of relief because he managed to make it through without sputtering or flubbing the words.

@BILL.

[BEAR.]

Yes. Lionstar knew he wouldn't be able to say no.

"Then by the powers of the Star Cats, I give you your warrior name. Fawnpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Fawnsqueak. The Star Cats honor your.. where do I even begin? Your independence, your loyalty, your compassion for others. You're morally oriented for some things but it's so.. befitting of you. The stars themselves align in your presence, for they themselves know how deserving of this position. There is no other cat I've met that's been as clever, or intelligent, or kind, or .. just patient. You're the most patient cat I know, you're more patient than that... Gaystep brother of yours, and being your friend has been an outright honor. Two virtues doesn't cover how absolutely brilliant you are. You are the moon and the stars combined to make a stunning night sky, and RiverClan honors you as our newest warrior.

".. And," Lionstar raised his voice even more, if that was even possible. Now was his chance. His chance to keep Fawnsqueak from leaving him forever, his chance to make it so he wouldn't be alone again. "Now that you're a warrior, Fawnsqueak, I would like to ask for your paw in mateship. You're my world, and I.. don't think I can be without you." There it was. Laid out, for all to see. Did Lionstar love Fawnsqueak? Not really.. he was his best friend, and he loved him like one. But this was more of a convenience, an assurance Fawnsqueak wouldn't leave him like so many others.

@Dipper

[Fawn]

This was... good. Things were going good.

Until, well, it suddenly wasn't. Fawnsqueak side-eyed Lionstar in nervous confusion when he began to ramble into something far more intimate than what the ritual called for. "Lionstorm," Fawnsqueak said through clenched teeth, panic making him forget the name change. But oh no, it wasn't stopping. "No, no-- stop--" It was an entirely new level of awkward to be trying to express concern in the direction this was heading while maintaining a smile for appearance's sake. Nudging him, he said leadingly, "Okay.. I think that's enough." It was a not-so-subtle hint to quit this instant because this was completely derailing into flustered embarrassment for Fawnsqueak. Louder and trying to play along with this for the Clan, he awkwardly replied, "Uh... thanks, I think?" He didn't like it.

FINALLY, finally they were moving along! His relief was short-lived however, as the situation got a thousand times worse. A million times worse, even, in the span of a few seconds.

Fawnsqueak blinked, dumbfounded. He didn't know how to begin to process that. Shock rendered him speechless until he could squeak out an incoherent string of vowels that was nowhere close to words, still utterly flabbergasted by this wild turn of events. Mates? He wanted to be mates? And he thought this was an appropriate time?! Fawnsqueak's thoughts were a hurricane of overwhelmed apprehension, and he was frozen in place while not only Lionstar, but the Clan awaited his answer. Ohstarsohstarsohstars--

"I..uh, I--" he sputtered, choked. Ears tilting backward, heat flushed over his whole pelt and he was convinced he would die of embarrassment before this was over. He started to back up on wobbly paws, unsteady. "Lionstorm, I.." There was that same breathless, wavering tone. He couldn't do this. He couldn't. He had to. There was no choice. "I c-can't-- um, shouldn't." Oof, that was a miserable failure of a rejection. Not what he'd had in mind, but it was all he could manage.

Fawnsqueak could feel his body trembling as he spun around and essentially stumbled off the streamstone, tunnel vision blocking his view from clanmates he didn't want to see as he disappeared into the den below.

@BILL.

[BEAR.]

... No?

Did.. did Fawnsqueak just reject him? Him, of all cats? Lionstar?

No, no. This wasn't real. Fawnsqueak leaving wasn't real. He wasn't alone..

But he was..

Gaze hardening, Lionstar swallowed the lump in his throat as his steely eyes shifted to the Clan. Any patience he had was gone. His good mood was dead. It died when Fawnsqueak took his hope, his trust-- and stomped on it for all to see. He needed to figure out a way to get Fawnsqueak to say yes, to be his and only his and never leave like he just left. Lionstar had never felt more alone in his life and he hated it.

"Now that.. that's done," he resumed, voice growing monotone. "It has come to my attention a few young cats are old enough to become apprentices. Beetlekit [ @xeno] and Bearkit [ @Venus], step forward."

[Doom]

@BILL. @xeno

Bearkit...wasnt too sure what just happened there, but his mind didn't give him much time to think about it after the calling of his name. This is it!!! The large kitten stepped forward, his chest puffed out and fluffy tail fanning excitedly behind him. He flashed a quick smile at Beetlekit before returning his gaze to Lionstar.

[Jesse]

Beetlekit had been both snickering relentlessly at the silly names and scrunching up her nose in disgust at the ooshy-mushy lovey-dovey, as she called it. Yuck. Would they just start their ceremony already? It felt like it’d already been hours. Beetlekit was practically falling asleep when Lionstar finally called their names. Took them long enough. She rushed in front of Bear, shooting him a contemptful glare. Don’t ruin this for me. Beetlekit turned her head up to Lionstar and made herself look as impressive and big as she possibly could. Give me a great mentor.
@BILL. @Venus

[Aroogi]

Originally Posted by BILL.

With a good portion of cats gathered, Lionstar began. "Today marks an important even in RiverClan's history: ceremonies! We have a lot of young cats ready to become apprentices, and even more in need of mentors. But.. before I jump into those, we have a few things we need to address.

"Most importantly, the border. One of our patrols was found to have started a fight with ShadowClan today. Allegedly, ShadowClan had hurled some insults our way-- but we are RiverClan. We stand as the strongest Clan in the forest and the words of these rogues will not change that. Under no circumstance are we to stoop to their level if they have not stepped a paw over our border. That is the only time fighting without direct permission from me is allowed, and I will hear no objections on that matter.

"Because of this event and the attitude I received from our patrol 'leader', I have decided to enact punishment. For the cats on the patrol-- Springtail [ @sunflowerseed], Eveningpaw [ @Starstruck], and Rosenose-- none of you will be punished. Only two of you raised a paw, and one was to support your idiotic Clan-mate that started the fight. But Vixensong [ @Nebby]," he spoke her name with a sneer, muzzle twisted with disgust. "You are hereby stripped of your warrior rank and name! From this moment forth, you will be demoted to an apprentice under the name Skunkpaw until you have proven you are mature enough to take up the mantle of a warrior. Frostflight [ @Dust], you successfully concluded the patrol in her stead, so I am entrusting her training on good behavior to you. Before she qualifies to become a warrior again, she will need to participate in several patrols using behavior you deem acceptable. If she steps out of line in any way, all her progress will reset to square one. We will not tolerate this poor behavior. I know that entitled piece of crowfood isn't here yet," these words were to Frostflight, "and I frankly don't care. When you see her, make sure Skunkpaw knows of her new position within the Clan. She has apprentice privileges from this point forward and should not be outside of camp without a warrior."

This was just the beginning, as Lionstar's gaze lifted to scan the crowd. "But that's not all. A few nights ago, two apprentices were caught near the border without a warrior by a ShadowClan cat and escorted to our camp. This is unacceptable. While they have been punished with duties, I do not trust their mentors have been keeping an eye on them. That is why I am changing their mentors.

"Angelwing [ @Fuzzyfeline], you have failed to reign in Gaypaw and from now on will no longer be his mentor. Instead, I am granting you Pigpaw [ @CasperCreates] in his place. She seems meeker than her pesky brother, and should be less of a challenge for a cat of your abilities. A surprise, given she seems to have driven her old mentor, what was his name, Rainface off...

"His name matters not. I haven't seen that neglectful furball in moons. Gaypaw [ @Venus], in Angelwing's stead you will be mentored by Buckfrost. Buckfrost, you have proven yourself to be resourceful and stern, and I trust you will keep this oversized ball of hair in line."

Lionstar wasn't nearly done, but he paused to give the Clan a chance to process these changes.

Vixensong - now Skunkpaw, but refusing to use her new name, hissed up at Lionstar. "I will not use that disgrace of a name!" She spat angrily. "And I am not becoming an apprentice under the watchful eye of that rat-tailed idiot!" She glared at Lion and Frost, puffing out her fur. "I'll just leave! If that's better!" Fury radiated from Vixensong. And hell no was she using the name Skunkpaw! That was a disgrace!

[sunflowerseed]

the excited she-cat jumped at the thought of a ceremoney. "Oooh! I havent had one of those si ce I became a warriiorr!"She purred and raced to stand with all the other cats.

her voice stopped at the small... problem that had bafflef the watchung cats. "O-Oh myy.." she said very quietly. This usally happy she-cat pulled her ears back. She couldn't imagine rejecting such a request, and by the lead tom himself. Springtail looked back to the ceremonies.

Then she was shocked. "Skunkpaw!?" she thought. "Thats an aweful punishment!" She mutttered to herself

(Forgot to quote so @BILL.

[Vessel]

@BILL.

Eveningpaw bumbled into the clan meeting, her fur heating up as she realized that she was late once again. Worth it. She had been able to clear her head by going back to the border with Shadowclan after some time racing through the forest. She had marked the border, seeing as her patrol didn't. She took a seat at the back of the group as she always did, wrenching herself out of her thoughts. Eveninpaw always sat in the back. He paw scuffled the ground nervously as she looked around the clearing, trying to peice together what had been said already.

[ponyapan]

@evergreen

Silverpaw had just been sitting in the clearing and waiting for sunhigh when chaos had ensued. She furiously unsheathed her claws into the ground when she heard about the failed patrol and rebellious apprentices. Serves them right! she thought. How can they do this? Do they take their clan as a joke? "Is every cat around here totally useless?" she hissed under her breath. Then, she thought about Twigpaw, who she was waiting for. Her bristling fur settled a bit. "Well, maybe not every cat."