(( curtain call ;; FAREWELL MY DEAREST

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

stormstar.

[/font][/right][/color]

So this was it. Stormstar was dying, diminishing, metaphorically morphing into a pile of dust. He felt it. It was coming soon. Every day he felt weaker, more exhausted. Breathing itself was an effort. The leader rolled his shoulders, struggling to leap upon the Bird's Wing. The first time, he didn't make it all the way up and instead hit the edge and being winded. He fell pitifully to the ground, hacking and coughing and gasping for air. He lay in a crumpled heap, thinking about what was to come. The tom pushed himself to his paws once more and attempted to ascend again, this time hitting the edge again but without being winded, scrabbling with his claws to the top. He was certainly afraid of dying, but he was sure as hell tired of living.

The stormy gray tom began to rethink his emotions, looking over his camp, his home. This would be the last time he stood here upon the Bird's Wing, gazing over his beloved Clanmates. Never again would he watch the joy upon a newly named apprentice's face as he assigned them a mentor. Never would he watch an apprentice beam with pride as they were called to receive their warrior name. Never again would he fell that joy. And so, along with that, his voice was almost choked as he called for the last time: "May all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Bird's Wing for a Clan meeting!

OOC: Please, post with cats open for being mentors. ^^

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Spice..xx]

_{[ooc]Sorry Shardeh I can't post now, but when Stormstar dies do you want Skyflight to come down and meet him?}

[cheshy says grace]

cherrystem

[/font][/color][/center]

We're too strong to compromise.
Don't be ashamed of your faith.

[/size][/center][/i]

The young warrioress crawled out of the warrior's den on her stomach, still waking up. She looked up at the sickly Stormstar through half-open eyelids and yawned. The calico she-cat covered her face with her paws, trying her est to wake herself up. What she needed was some cold water.

She dragged herself over near the middle of the clearing to listen to what the elder tom had to say. But instead she lay on her side and fell back asleep. A sleeping warrior was what Stormstar was granted to see in his dying time.

[/blockquote]

barleyfeather

[/color][/center][/font]

Her dishonesty has scarred hands.

[/i][/color][/center]

The feathery she-cat padded over to Bird's Wing, away from her resting place underneath a leafless tree. She had just finished her breakfast - which had been a very scrawny vole - when Stormstar had stumbled up to Bird's Wing. He looked awfully sickly and skinnier than most cat's should. Especially since he was a leader.

Snow blanketed CloudClan's camp and territory - the result of the recent blizzard. It reached up to her elbows as she moved her way to sit with the other cats of the clan. CloudClan's population had dwindled slightly because of all the sickness that had spread around because of the below freezing temperatures and rarity of a decent piece of food. Not many cats had been fed because all of the fresh-kill had been immediately moving it's way to the nursery or elder's den. Barleyfeather considered herself lucky for have finding the small vole while she had been out on an early patrol. The seal-point scanned the clearing for the familiar face of Indigohawk.

[/blockquote]

[Dansen[Mouse]]

Mountainwind

[/right]

The brownish/gray warrior had been sleeping inside of the warrior den when Stormstar called for the Clan. He took a moment to stretch before exciting the den, his stomach growling for food that was unavailable at the moment. The storm killed off most of the prey, and what survived is deep down in the ground asleep. Only the hungry ones are brave enough to venture out into the cold in search of food. Mountainwind fluffed out his fur for the much needed warmth before finding a place to sit for the meeting. His eyes looked around for his mate, Stripedfeather.

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

OOC;; Yes, please, Spice. :3

[/blockquote]

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

fadedmemory

The she-cat slowly made her way from the warrior's den, the shock on her face breaking through the mask she fought so hard to have. The kits were safe, but Stormstar was dying. The deputy's head snapped up as she watched her leader hang from the Bird's Wing. Fadedmemory rushed over to him, nudging him up. "You should be resting, Stormstar" She murmured before stepping back, listening to his weak call. She let out a small sigh as her gaze flicked towards the nursery. A slight smile coming across her face as she thought of the kits. Her attention returned to the cats as they filed into the clearing.

ancientmagic

The male's multi-colored pelt prickled slightly as he heard the leader's faint call and started out of the warrior's den. The tom shook out his pelt before sitting down beside Mountianwind. "Is it just me, or does Stormstar look...Ill?" Ancientmagic questioned, looking towards the other male as he fluffed out his black, orange and white pelt against the cold.

[idk my bff brindle]

gannetkit

[/font][/size][/right]Darting out of the nursery, Gannetkit pushed his way through the heavy snow to sit by Barleyfeather. He paid no attention to the peasent beside him. Instead, his eyes were trained on Stormstar. The teetering leader was worrying Gannetkit. He was supposed to become an apprentice today. If Stormstar died, it wouldn't be fair. The tom pouted slightly and fluffed up his short fur. Out of the corners of his eyes, Gannetkit looked for Rhymekit and Pixiekit. Would they be apprenticed? Gannetkit had already been disappointed once. He hoped Stormstar wouldn't disappoint him again. But the tom did look sick and frail. Gannetkit began to absentmindedly wonder what was wrong, but nothing could deter him from his excitement.

ooc|| Rimuwood can mentor (: He's out in the territory now, though, so I'm not posting with him ^__^

wait, scratch that =/ he's going to brightclan to be with his kits, but he'll be back

[/blockquote]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

swampfox

_{The Russian Blue stared out wordlessly, watching the elderly leader struggle to reach the top of the Bird's Wing. His eyes wandered away from Stormstar, glancing over at Fadedmemory. He smiled encouragingly at her, understanding that it had to be rough to watch her predecessor crumble right before her eyes. Swampfox looked away from her and smiled as his massive self was carried absently over to where Gannetkit and some of the other kits were. "Ready to be an apprentice today?" the large blue-gray tom asked kindly, looking down at the white-muzzled tom. He had fought with the tom's father and he hoped that Gannetkit would be as strong as Oleandergaze had been. His heart sank when he thought about Barrenclaw's death as well. His compatriots, his fellow warriors, were dying. By StarClan, where is Warheart? He frowned as he thought.}

__________L O O N K I T[/u][/color]
[settle the score with honor and blood]

<sup>The prim black and white she-cat smiled softly when she heard Stormstar call out the traditional cry. She headed out and sat down by Gannetkit, half paying attention when the warrior Swampfox asked her brother if he was ready to be an apprentice.

She looked over her shoulder, trying to find Cootkit and the rest of Haloheart's litter, as well as Tansyfrost's litter. Despite being younger than her foster brother and sisters, she hoped that Stormstar would see her potential and raise her to be an apprentice. If not, she wouldn't mind being there with the younger kittens. She was sure Gannetkit would make some comment about it, but it wasn't like she cared about what he said to her anyway.</sup>

[all out JINX ♥]

. Emeraldpaw .
. I wanna be inside your heaven, take me to the place you cry from .

The dark tabby fur of a slender apprentice. Her body had become even more thin as the blizzard had progressed, her bright emerald eyes a little hazy as she stared at the herbs in front of her. There was no sickness that intruded her system, just the loss of her mentor and father. Sighing heavily the CloudClan medicine cat started to pluck out the frail cat mint that she had found the other day, hardly alive it was. Hearing a faint thud grabbed her attention, the thin tabby she-cat leaped out of her den and into the clearing to find Stormstar dangling from the Bird's Wing. The pretty medicine cat apprentice was about to help the leader when she saw Fadedmemory, the deputy, come to the rescue. There was no doubt that the leader was finally come to his last breath, Emeraldpaw took a seat in the high snow at Stormstar's feeble cry. Her wise green eyes looking upon her leader in sympathy as she listened intently to what he had to say.

[SHADE. :D]

rhymekit

Rhymekit stayed curled in the back of the nursery, hidding by a puff of green moss, even when she heard the leader's call. She knew it was time for her apprentice ceremony. But she didn't want it. And that was saying something. Rhymekit, who had been looking forward to her apprentice ceremony since she had learnt to talk, didn't want it. For a simple reason. Her father wasn't going to be there to see it. Because he was dead. Yup. She'd picked it up eventually, from her mother's sorrow and her siblings' remorse. He was gone! She'd tried nuzzling up to Otterspirit for comfort but her mother just cried. Rhymekit sniffled, pushing her nose into her paws. She was determined not to move. She could hear the other six-moon-olds' excited voices. She tried to block them out. La la la la la, la la la la, I can't hear youuuuuu....

mayakit && cootkit

A beautiful kitten followed the others out of the nursery. The chocolate tabby fur on her body shone, and the white of her paws put the snow to shame. And Mayakit knew it. She tossed her pretty little head as she walked, flashing her dark sapphire eyes at Gannetkit and Loonkit as she passed them. She barged rudely through Tansyfrost's litter, then Haloheart's litter, and then the five little kits that belonged to Swampfox. "Get out of my way, small-fry," she drawled arrogantly. Flicking up her white-tipped tail, she sat at the very front of the group of kits, her posture princess-esque.

The undersized, sandy tabby kit that was Cootkit was placed among his siblings. His mother had wandered off to talk to Brokenskull. He could see through the thickening crowd. Cootkit was smiling today - nothing had ticked him off. But trouble was heading his way. Mayakit. The prickly little tom was buffeted violently by the flashy female kitten, staggering into Myrtlekit who promptly squashed Tinykit. Cootkit struggled to his paws through the forest of legs. His temper flared dangerously. "You idiot piece of stinking foxdung!" he screeched, using a term he had heard Tawnysky use before. He glared furiously at her retreating back, hating everything about her.

jasminekit && timekit

Jasminekit gave a small squeak as Mayakit ploughed through her litter, which was close to Swampfox's five kits. But she was barely touched - it was mainly Grasskit and Taigakit who were barreled into by the arrogant kit. Jasminekit sniffed angrily, muttering under her breath, but said nothing out loud, unlike the hotheaded Cootkit. The fluffy ginger kitten turned her wide blue gaze onto her sister Heatherkit, and Timekit, Brightkit and Cinderkit, the three girls of Swampfox's litter. "I hate her," she mewed, though she made sure to keep her voice low so Mayakit wouldn't hear. Timekit's long ebony tail flicked up in anger. "I'll show her one day, stupid show-off," she hissed furiously, her hot temper rearing. She beat it back down. No, don't be silly and make a fool of yourself in front of everyone, Timekit... She inhaled deeply in an effort to calm herself.

// Ribbontail can mentor, I think. xD The kits never listen to the announcement. They're not old enough to catch their own prey. xDD

[(aurora) of the problematique]

__________L O O N K I T[/u][/color]
[settle the score with honor and blood]

^{Seeing the virulent expression on Cootkit's face made Loonkit's heart darken. The older white and black she-cat stood up and glided over to Mayakit, narrowing her eyes and hissing frighteningly. "You better watch your step around here, Mayakit, or you won't have that pretty fur for long," Loonkit said in a deathly-quiet voice. She towered over the younger femme and was just as pretty, if not terribly darkly so. The guardian type did not care if she gained an enemy this day; she would no longer tolerate Cootkit's sadness.}

taigakit

_{The drab-gray kitten scowled irritably as Mayakit passed, only to earn her a stalking-after by Loonkit. Taigakit's hair stood on end nervously, and he quickly looked away, quickly learning not to be on Loonkit's bad side next time he made a scornful comment. However, he did and it was against Mayakit in concurrence with Timekit. "Who the hell does she think she is? StarClan itself?" he demanded before saying smugly. "I'd smoke her out like a badger." He smirked over at his sister. "Kinda like I do you, Jasminekit."}

[Dansen[Mouse]]

Mountainwind

[/right]

The warrior stopped looking around when Fadedmemory settled down next to him and spoke about the leader. For a moment Mountainwind hadn't even noticed, but now that Fadedmemory mentioned it Stormstar did look sick, his pelt was dull and he looked ready to collapse at any moment.

"He does look ill." He replied to the warrior worriedly.

Ooc:// Smelly post xP

[Spice..xx]

<sub>[ooc]Okie dokie Shardeee ^^
I have PMed Shade about something to do with this, but for now I would like Dewstep to remain a queen ^^, so she can't mentor.

[bic]Dewstep</sub>[/size][/font]

The little queen skittered nervously out of the nursery with her brood, eyes wide and fearful. She didn't want her babies to leave her. She wanted to them to stay kits forever, so she could always be with them in the nursery. But today was their apprenticeship ceremony. She was losing them. Dewstep whimpered quietly at the thought, silencing herself quickly though as she came to the kits. She was still staying in the nursery as a queen, thank goodness. She would be like a nanny to the other litters, although she wasn't sure how Tawnysky would react with her. Her grey eyes looked around at her kittens and a small smile appeared on her features as she saw their excited faces.

Carnationkit[/size][/font]

She skipped daintily out of the nursery beside her mother, trying to ignore the she-cats nervous demenour. Carnationkit sat down next to Loonkit, flashing a quick smile at the she-cat, who she thought of as much of a sister to her as Septemberkit and Jadekit were. The brown and white femme jumped slightly as she heard Cootkit screeching, smirking as she realised who he was speaking to. Though she disliked Mayakit, Carnationkit was pleased that there would be someone to maintain her princess status in the nursery. She watched as Loonkit threatened Mayakit angrily, before turning her eyes first to her mother and then to Stormstar.

Bramblekit[/size][/font]

The slender kitten followed her sister out of the nursery, rolling her eyes as she saw her push through the crowd of kits. She went to tell her sister off, but Loonkit beat her to it. Bramblekit was torn with the desire to protect the other kits from Mayakit and to protect Mayakit from Loonkit but ignored both, instead heading over to sit with the younger kits. "I'm sorry about my sister" she said, not wanting to be on bad terms with anyone. Her gaze quickly turned to search for Bearkit, wondering where her twin was.

[/sub]

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

ravenkit

The black male opened his eyes slowly as he felt the kits around him stirring. Groaning, the slightly larger kit opened his midnight-blue eyes and stood. With a feeling in the pit of his stomach he couldn't place, Ravenkit came to sit beside his sister. A low growl came through his mouth as Cootkit and Mayakit barreled through them. His tail lashed back and forth before he rested it upon Timekit's shoulder. "Watch yourself Timekit, Dad said another temper tantrum and he's have your pelt" He mewed soothingly to his twin sister before turning his eyes to Jasminekit. He gave her a sheepish smile before his eyes flashed towards the leader, and below him, the deputy. He cocked his head, turning to look back at Brightkit who had an odd resemblance to Fadedmemory. With a shrug, the black tom shook his pelt out and watched the meeting.

jadekit

The brown tabby she-kit shook out her head as she looked around the nursery. She was a bit relived to finally leave the den. Too many kits around for her taste. Shaking her head, Jadekit slipped out of the nursery and into the camp clearing. She sucked in her breath as she looked up and saw her leader. He looked so fragile..so sick. Cocking her head, Jadekit padded forwards, coming to a stop beside Swampfox, on the opposite side of Gannetkit. "Hello Swampfox." She meowed to the older warrior.

[FIREH!!]

Stripedfeather&Midnightsky[/font][/size]

<sub>ooc;; Does Middie know those are his kits, Raven? And when Ravenkit says 'Dad', who does he mean?

Midnightsky stepped out of the den and noticed Fadedmemory right away. He veered towards her and settled down on the other side of her, dipping his head to Mountainwind. "Hey," He meowed softly to Faddmemory, licking her ears. "How are you?" He asked her. When he looked up, however, his ears pricked with concern. Stormstar didn't look well. "I hope he'll be alright." He murmured, seeing how fragile the tom was.

Following her brother out of the den, Stripedfeather padded right over to Mountainwind and settled down beside him. She pressed her pelt against his and grinned. "Chilly morning, isn't it?" She asked, still smiling. But the grin slid off her face as fast as snow slid off her pelt, when she noticed Stormstar. "He's not well, is he?" She asked, glancing at Mountainwind.

ooc;; Crappy posts, sorry.

Umm, I think Stripey, Cloaked, and Middie are able to be mentors. And Frosty, too.</sub>

[lonelylove :D]

pixiekit.

The she-kit held her head high as she padded out of the nursery. There was a pained look in her eyes, as her father had only just died. She had wished Barrenclaw could have watched her become an apprentice, bu Starclan must have deemed for it not to be so.

At least she was finally moving up in the world. The she-kit stopped beside Gannetkit, unsure as whether to snap at him or say hello. She lowered her head and looked around for Rhymekit. Dewstep had asked her to watch her, since she seemed to be seriously devastated at their loss. "Good Starclan, where is she?," Pixiekit grumbled to no one. They were becoming apprentices today. Why wouldn't she come out?

outofcharacter Both Warheart and Treebranch are open for mentors :3 Problem is, I have to finish their bios and I'm going away this weekend -dies- I'll try to finish ASAP :3

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

stormstar.

[/font][/right][/color]

Stormstar blinked, struggling to organize his thoughts. Okay, Midnightlove's litter needed to be warriors...and the other one. Now, who was that again? Hailpaw? No...Hintpaw? No...what kind of name was that anyway? Ugh. It was...Halfpaw! Yes, yes, Halfpaw. "Now can-" a pause for some hoarse wheezes, "can-" another hacking fit, "Oof. Okay, now can Skunkpaw, Shadowpaw, and Halfpaw please come forward?" Another fit of coughing interrupted him as the apprentices made their way to the front.

"Oh, StarClan. Where was I? Oh, right...

"I, Stormstar, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warriors in their turn. Now, all of you,do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

Whether they said "I do" or not Stormstar couldn't be sure of. Aging was hurting his hearing ability.

"By the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names.

"Skunkpaw, from this moment you will be known as Skunkstripe. StarClan honors your bravery and enthusiasm, and we welcome you as a full warrior of CloudClan.

"Shadowpaw, from this moment you will be known as Shadowhawk. StarClan honors your intuitive and courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of CloudClan.

"Halfpaw, from this moment you will be known as Halfgaze. StarClan honors you for pressing hard to be a warrior, despite your disabilities, and we welcome you as a full warrior of CloudClan."

The sickly tom descended clumsily from the Bird's Wing, resting his muzzle on each new warrior's head. Then he scrabbled back up and waited for he chanting to cease.

OOC;; Okay, so this is what I have for open mentors.
Swampfox
Stripedfeather
Midnightsky
Cloakedclaw
Ancientmagic
Dapplecharm
Frostfoot
Spottednova
Warheart
Treebranch
Cherrystem
Barleyfeather

A few of those I pulled from the AC and old ceremonies I had to file through for other reasons.I need to know as many as possible so I don't have to give Fireh four apprentices. oo;[/blockquote]

[x.Jolly.x]

ooc;; Palegust is open.

[/blockquote]

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

[/sup][/ul]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{ooc;// I think Ravenkit means 'Swampfox' as dad...since they think Swampfox is their father.}

[SHADE. :D]

mayakit

The slight kitten smirked as the reactions erupted around her. Cootkit's screech made her laugh out loud. It was more fun winding up the one's who gave out such a hilarious reaction. The dark brown tabby kitten blinked her wide sapphire eyes at Loonkit innocently. "I don't know what you're talking about, Loonkit," she mewed in a soft voice. She narrowed her eyes at the other kit to show she wasn't the slightest bit frightened by her little show of authority. Mayakit looked away from where she was holding Loonkit's gaze steadily when Taigakit spoke up. She laughed, the sound too high-pitched and giggly for a kit with such a messed up social life. "I'd like to see you try, big guy," she snorted scornfully, eying his paws and face with clear disdain. Mayakit narrowed her eyes angrily at Bramblekit - her sister spoke often enough about how annoying the younger kits were when she was showing off to Bearkit. Two-faced little... Mayakit heard Stormstar's voice and stepped away from Loonkit carefully, to watch the ceremony. She rolled her eyes at the sight of Halfgaze. Why make such an ugly, pathetic cat a warrior?

cootkit

The little tan tabby spat angrily, his fur sticking up as though he had been electricuted, when Mayakit laughed at him. He unsheathed his pin-sized claws and prepared to launch himself at the infuriating tabby, but then Loonkit was there. Cootkit was able to calm himself down a little in the time it took Loonkit to speak to Mayakit. By the time he approached them, Mayakit had flounced off. He frowned at the black and white she-cat left behind. "I can stick up for myself, y'know," he complained, but there was no real strength in his slightly reedy voice. The tom paused to wipe his nose with a paw, then glanced up at the older kit, his pondweed-green eyes embarrased. "But... Thanks." He knew that somebody had to stand up to stupid butterfly-brain Mayakit. He hoped next time it would be him, so he could tear off some of that overly-shiny fur.

jasminekit && timekit

Timekit flicked up her tail in agreement to Taigakit's comment, but she sighed when the dull grey tom scorned his sister. Was such spite really needed? The little black kitten pressed herself against her twin brother as he spoke. "I know, I know," she mewed in a low voice. "I've got it under control. I promise." She turned her large light blue eyes onto the ceremony, interest sparking within them. Jasminekit frowned at Taigakit's words, her big, darker blue eyes wide. She spluttered for a moment, as though searching for an insult. "Sh... Shut up, Taigakit," she mewed feebly in the end, shooting him a look that was more sulky than warning, before turning her own gaze onto the ceremony.

indigohawk

A large, muscular blue-grey cat stood near the centre of the group. He towered over most of the cats around him. Indigohawk's sapphire eyes gleamed with amusement at the kits' quarrels. His eyes raked Coconutkit, Myrtlekit, Tinykit and Cootkit, his nephews and nieces. He hoped Haloheart was keeping an eye on them, especially little Tinykit, who looked so frail that the slightest breeze probably would have knocked him flat. Indigohawk's tail flew up in pride as Skunkpaw, his apprentice, was named a warrior. "Skunkstripe! Shadowhawk! Halfgaze! Skunkstripe!" The big warrior headed to his former apprentice and grinned widely at him. "Well done," he mewed, almost forgetting to not call the younger tom 'little guy', or 'dude', as he would have when he was an apprentice. The handsome warrior wheeled around, and seeing his apprenticeship friend Barleyfeather, trotted to her. "Hey Barlers!" he greeted her cheerfully.

// Indy can mentor again if you want. :]

[cheshy says grace]

[[cherrystem && barley are open for apprentices... I think... that's why I posted with them rofl XDDD]]

[/blockquote]

barleyfeather

[/font][/color][/center]

Her dishonesty has scarred hands.

[/i][/color][/center]

The she-cat chanted along with the clan, "Halfgaze! Shadowhawk! Skunkstripe!"

[/color] She turned to Indigohawk as he approached her, "Howdy there, Indigohawk,"[/color] she mewed, cuffing him over the ear playfully. She turned her attention back to Stormstar, "It's obvious the tom's gonna die. I mean, look at him! He's as frail as a mouse's skeleton."[/color] She sighed, "I don't know what this clan is going to do without Stormstar. He's been leader for so long."[/color] Barleyfeather looked at her friend with her sad, blue eyes.[/size][/blockquote]

otterspirit

[/color][/font][/center]

Emeralds hold no hope.

[/center][/i][/color]

The queen still sat and cried softly. She heard Stormstar's weak call, ordering another meeting. A ceremony. Her kits were to be apprenticed along with Dewstep's litter. She thought of anymore litters, were Tawnysky's being apprenticed too? She couldn't remember anymore. Her kits were going to be apprenticed and their father wasn't alive. He was dead, cold as ice. She felt Rhymekit next to her and she could hear Pixiekit loud and clear. he gray she-cat wiped her eyes and tried her best to suck it up. "Rhymekit... Why don't you go... And stay by... Your sister y-you're gonna... become an apprentice,"

[/color] she sniffled, trying to scuttle Rhymekit out of the nursery.

"I'll... come with you..."[/color] she mewed somberly, heading out of the milk-scented den. She squinted in the frosty sunlight, it had been awhile since she came out of the nursery. She saw her fellow clanmates and smiled a tiny bit before looking up at Stormstar. He looked so sickly through her redden eyes, her leader was going to die soon too.[/size][/blockquote]

mirrorkit

[/font][/color][/center]

Well it must be difficult being so gorgeous.

[/color][/center][/i]

She stayed behind with Rhymekit, she wasn't going to become an apprentice if her father wasn't there to hear it. Her eyes had been cried out overnight and she didn't have any salty tears left. She was just quiet, eerie almost. Her life was too sad now for her to go out and receive the name Mirrorpaw and a mentor. She saw her mother get up and leave the nursery.

Mirrorkit still wouldn't leave. She looked over at Rhymekit as she shoved her nose into her paws, trying to block out the other litter's ecstatic voices. Why did Barrenclaw have to go and die like that?

[/blockquote]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

__________L O O N K I T[/u][/color]
[settle the score with honor and blood]

^{Her claws unsheathed as she glared at the prissy little Mayakit, the poisonous glint in her eyes acidic enough to melt her foster cousin. She really, really wanted to hit her, to make her squeal, to make her sob and run to her mommy so that Loonkit could prove to her that she'd inflict ten times punishment than that if Mayakit ever dared talk like that to any of her nurserymates. "Yeah, walk away, Mayakit. Don't ever wanna back up your haughty words, you stupid--" Cootkit was suddenly by her side, and instantly, the wraith-like Loonkit vanished. The black and white kitten blinked and looked down at him kindly. "I...ah...you're welcome," she said softly, the flinty tone now gone. Her mysterious hazel eyes twinkled.}

taigakit

_{Taigakit laughed haughtily and shook his head at his sister. "Right, Jasminekit," he scoffed, shrugging his shoulders as he half-listened to the ceremony. He quickly found himself bored. After a wrinkled-up expression toward Mayakit, the drab-gray tom turned and headed off to the nursery again, wanting some sleep.}

swampfox

_{He blinked and looked back, waving his tail over at Jadekit. "Greetings, little lady," the Russian Blue said, dipping his head to her. His ears perked when he heard his 'son' Ravenkit speak so he got up and headed over there just in time to see Mayakit barrel her way through like a witch on a broom. The tom sighed and shook his head as he sat behind Timekit and Ravenkit. The dark-gray giant smiled encouragingly at Timekit, silently thanking her for not having Mayakit's hide.}

[Wolf]

Halfgaze

The time has come for me to show who I am...

The balding white tom looked up as his name was called, his one large brown eye wide with surprise. He hadn't really expected to be made a warrior, but it seemed his hard work had paid off! He got shakily to his paws, excitement burning within him, and made his way towards the birds wing, and pride flared in his chest as the leader touched his head. He was a warrior! He made his way back through the crowd of cats to sit down again.

[Spice..xx]

_Dewstep[/size][/font]

She peeked hesitantly back inside the nursery, her gaze softening as she saw Otterspirit trying to persuade her children to come out. She passed the other queen as she entered, touching her tail lightly to Otterspirit's flank before crouching down in front of Rhymekit and Mirrorkit. "It's time for you to become apprentices girls. I know you miss your daddy but he would have wanted you to become big, strong apprentices. And remember, my kits have to do this without their daddy too. So you all have to make them proud, both Barrenclaw and Oleandergaze. Will you come out with me?" she whispered to both the kits, licking them both between the ears. She felt like an aunt to these kits, she really did. Dewstep just wished she could make it all better for them.

[/sub]

[fernie. (:]

dapplecharm.[/font]

The pretty tortoiseshell she-cat came prancing into camp, head held high, as she skipped around the side of the clearing to deposit two plump mice onto the fresh-kill pile. Then she bounded over to Dewstep, a stricken look on her face. "Oh, gosh, I'm late! I can't believe I've missed about half the ceremony!" she said, her eyes clouded with disappointment. "What did I miss, Dewstep?" she stage-whispered, eyeing Stormstar up on his perch atop the Bird's Wing. She knew that Dewstep's litter were to be apprenticed today, and hoped that she hadn't missed that part of the ceremony, at least.

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[[xoxo] shard. :)]

// Nuu, I definitely have enough mentors now, Shade. But thanks for offering. ^^
I think I worded that wrong in my first post. I meant, like, post in ooc that your cats were available. xD

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[KURI. (happy birfday to me :D)]

kitewhistle.

The black-muzzled tom breathed in gratefully as he entered the main area of camp. The air was clear again, and so little snow was falling that he could actually maneuver around camp without difficulty. But his expression turned troubled as he eyed Stormstar, standing atop the Bird's Wing -- and looking like he could fall off at any time. "Ya don' look so good, sir," he called a little too loudly. The tom snapped his mouth shut but continued to sit down as if he had said nothing. No use in getting embarassed now, he decided.

He watched the three apprentices become warriors, his body tensing each time Stormstar coughed or wheezed, as if he was expected to dart over and catch the leader should he crumple. "Skunkstripe! Shad'whawk! Halfgaze!" he called, wondering if he might get an apprentice today.

[/blockquote]

spadekit.

She'd lied.

Otterspirit had said that everything would be fine. And, of course, because she was his mother he'd inherantly beleived her. But everything was not fine. She'd gone and lied.

And, unlike his sisters, he wanted nothing but out of the nursery. He was sad and shaken by his father's death, of course, but he had to look at things logically: Barrenclaw didn't die to see his kits wither away into nothing. For his dad's sake. And... he really wanted to become an apprentice. And Septemberkit's ceremony had been delayed, so he'd be with her.

He moved past his sisters, turning to lick each one of them lightly on the ear. "Come on, you two... we have to go..." His mew was harder now, more pained, more experienced. And somehow, he seemed more real. No longer an innocent kit with nowhere to go and nothing to hide from. He was suddenly aware that he had to make each day count, like his father's death had been a splash of cold water to the face.

The not-so-much-of-a-kit turned and paused to press his side to his mother's flank, even though he was just as angry at her as he was sad for the family's loss. But right now, Otterspirit's reddened eyes and tangled, ungroomed coat outweighed what he felt. It was only natural that he wanted his mother to be happy, even if she did lie to her own kits...

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[SHADE. :D]

indigohawk

The big tom grinned at his friend. They had been together for so long - friends as apprentices - but he still couldn't help having the slightest crush on Barleyfeather. The older she-cat was very pretty. And it wasn't like she'd ever know, was it? The tom brought himself back to reality as she spoke. His expression changed, the corners of his mouth pulling down and his sapphire eyes darkening. "Yeah," he mewed sadly. He wasn't just thinking of Stormstar. He was thinking of his parents. Skytomb and Icelily were older than Stormstar, and just as frail. He was severely worried about losing them in these troubled times. Indigohawk looked up at the dwindling snow falling from the sky and cursed it. He then looked at Barleyfeather. Her worry softened his heart. He nudged her affectionately. "We'll be fine. We have Fadedmemory."

rhymekit && jasminekit

The grey and white tabby kitten stubbornly curled up tighter, pressing her nose into her side. "I dun wanna," she mumbled into her side. The small kit huddled closer to Mirrorkit, the only one of her siblings who had remained behind with her. Rhymekit ignored Dewstep, and Spadekit. She would not move. She didn't want to move. They couldn't make her. She wanted her Daddy at her ceremony, and she didn't want a ceremony at all if he couldn't be there. She knew she was being difficult and unreasonable, but she didn't actually care. She just wanted Barrenclaw back and her mother to go back to normal.

Jasminekit glared at Taigakit, but her eyes bore more sadness than anger. She didn't understand at all why her brother hated her so much, and picked on her so much. He never did it to Heatherkit, or Grasskit. With a sniffle, Jasminekit edged away from Taigakit, enough to ease her mind a bit but not enough for him to notice and start slicing mental chunks out of her again.

mayakit, cootkit && timekit

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Mayakit only giggled girlishly at Loonkit's words. Oh, she loved catching at other cats' tempers. It was so fun watching them trying to control it, and then exploding. Cootkit was one of the best for that. She positively hooted with laughter whenever he yelled at her. Mayakit smirked arrogantly at Loonkit over her shoulder, stuck out her tongue childishly, and then narrowed her pretty eyes to show she was not all talk. She then went back to watching the ceremony.

Cootkit returned Loonkit's smile nervously. He wasn't sure about the mysterious black and white kitten. Why was she always so nice to him? It had to be a trick. Some of the kits enjoyed that. Pretending to be his friend for a day just to see him kick off when he realised it was all a sham. Cootkit swallowed a painful lump in his throat, and quashed the question that had drifted onto his train of thought. Why am I so umpopular? He turned his pondweed eyes sadly back to the ceremony, dreaming of being like Loonkit. Everyone liked Loonkit. Well. Everyone that mattered.

Timekit smiled at Swampfox happily. She was incredibly proud to have followed her father's rules. The slight black kit trotted past the Bird's Wing to press her tiny body against her father's side. Her ice blue eyes glowed. She didn't really care about Mayakit. She didn't matter.

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[cheshy says grace]

barleyfeather

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Her dishonesty has scarred hands.

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The she-cat smiled oh-so-slightly at Indigohawk as he nudged her side. "Yeah, I guess so, but he's been leader for as long as I can remember,"

[/color] she mewed. "It'll be so weird without having Stormstar leading CloudClan anymore."[/color] She licked Indigohawk's cheek in thanks for his attempt in trying to cheer her up. He had always made her feel a bit of a fuzzy warmth inside her belly but she had never really noticed it until now. She looked up at the tom - even though she was older than him - and looked him in his sapphire blue eyes. Something sparked inside her mind and gears started twisting and turning. She had never really thought of Indigohawk before like this. She had always thought of the tom as one of her best friends, but she couldn't recall 'crushing on him.'

Barleyfeather shook her head - no, a relationship with Indigohawk? That would be crossing over the boundaries of odd. But the thought never really disappeared, instead it hid itself in the back of her mind - where she could unfold it later.[/size][/blockquote]

otterspirit

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Emeralds hold no hope

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The saddened queen smiled and mouthed a quiet 'thank-you' to Dewstep as she tried to ease Mirrorkit and Rhymekit out of the nursery. As the gray she-cat overlooked the meeting from beside the Nursery entrance she felt a small body push into her flank - which had grown wiry-furred along with therest of her pelt which had also suffered from missing out on it's usual daily baths. She knew Spadekit was mad at her. She could feel it coming off of the little tom. She had lied when she had said everything was going to be fine. She had fibbed through her clenched jaw. Otterspirit looked down at Spadekit and licked him between the ears and said with an attempted smile, "You get to... Become an apprentice t-today."

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mirrorkit

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Well it must be difficult being so gorgeous

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"Why should I become an apprentice if Daddy isn't here to... See i-it?"

[/color] she mewed between her fur. She felt a gentle lick between her ears and Dewstep's soft voice. "I kn-know they have to... Become a-apprentices too... But..."[/color] she hiccuped, shoving her face further into her gray fur. Then she heard her brother's voice too but she remained still with Rhymekit. She was definitely as stubborn as her father.[/size]

ooc. LOLWAT. I've a lot of muse tonight [/blockquote]