a new dawn approaches (skc apprentice ceremony)

Tawnygaze had been tediously working all morning on a single task; her paws busy and her mind numbed with single focus. Organization. Her den was a disgrace, an absolute travesty. What would Juniperjaw say if she saw such disarray in an area that was supposed to be tidy and clean? What would anyone say? She had been lax in the days leading up to the gathering, but now that she found herself with time on her paws there was no excuse for her to lounge about and leave this disastrous place sitting.

The fae had started with nests, first clearing out the musty nests kept ready near the front of the den for cats needing quick treatment. Some might have argued it to be an apprentice’s job, but she had gathered the moss herself in order to remake them, fluffing up the green piles into comfortable clouds of sap smelling bedding. Then she had remade her own nest, leaving Tigerpaw’s for her own distraction.

Bedding replaced, Tawnygaze cast about her den for her next task. ’Ah! The herb stores need organizing!’ And it was at this task that she had remained until the morning’s crispness began to rub away into the comforting glow of afternoon. The day threatened her with such few hours in its span, but the medicine cat had devoted herself to her sorting and arranging, and at last she emerged from her den – perhaps a bit bedraggled – victorious. The she-cat stifled a yawn as she cast her fiery gaze upward, considering the idea of finding her father or Pale-eye and sharing some fresh-kill with them. Perhaps her sister might even deign to spend a second in her company if there was a meal involved. Then again… Tawnygaze knew better than to get her hopes up in that particular avenue of fantasizing.

The gradient ginger tabby had just settled upon finding her sire or old mentor for a quick meal when a booming yowl echoed across the camp and surely through the skyward reaching forest beyond. Tawnygaze froze midstep, resisting the urge to cower at the sharp noise of Pinestar’s command. ”Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the Thorn Branch for a clan meeting!” The she-cat shook the stunned bristle from her pelt and quickly scanned the cats materializing beneath the Thorn Branch for a familiar face. Soon her gaze fell upon the kind hearted Deertail, looking as if he had just climbed out of his nest. She purred with delight – it had been far too long since she had shared a conversation with the sweet tom – and padded his way. Or at least she tried. With her hitching, hobble of a gait, it was difficult to get anywhere very fast and as she made her way to her friend – at least she considered him a friend – more than one cat cut off her path. A tom laid down in front of her, two young warriors strolled by to find a seat closer to the leader with casual grace; and she? She struggled along as always, ducking from the gaze of her clanmates and apologizing for being in no one’s way.

By the time Tawnygaze reached Deertail’s side, his company had already been claimed by a younger fae. ’He’d rather sit with her anyway… You’re… twisted…’ An ugly voice sneered in the back of her mind, each word dripping with self-loathing and inescapable nervousness. She tried to push away the self-conscious nagging, but it remained as petulant as ever even when she awkwardly lowered herself into what resembled a seated position, her bad leg sprawled in almost every direction with its many bends and crooks. ”Hello you two..” The medicine cat almost whispered the greeting, her voice shy and wavering with a wary unease. ”Mind if I sit with you?”

’You’re already sitting…’ The voice drawled with disdainful irritation.
’But I…’ ”I can move, though, if.. If you were talking about something private though.” The ginger saddled femme finished her thought aloud, shuffling her forepaws in timid frustration. She had been doing so well, why was it that she was clamming up now in front of these cats? Deertail was nothing but kind to anyone, and Pollenpaw was a delightful young warrior-to-be. Neither of them had a cruel bone in their body, yet here she was… Cowering as if they had bared their fangs at her.

’Really, you should grow up.’