Ceremonies and Mysterious Joiner

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the thickbranch for a clan meeting!" Swiftstar said.

"There are many ceremonies to preform!" she announced. "Sleekpaw, Bramblepaw, Frostpaw, Branchpaw, Moonpaw, Gingerpaw, and Cloudpaw step forward!"

"I, Swiftstar, leader of Briarclan call apon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices! They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I condem them as warriors in their turn.

"Sleekpaw, Bramblepaw, Frostpaw, Branchpaw, Moonpaw, Gingerpaw, and Cloudpaw. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and protect and defend this clan, even if it cost your life?" her voice rang out clearly.

"I do." the apprentices say in unison.

"Then by the powers of starclan I give you your warrior names!"

"Sleekpaw, you shall be known as Sleekpelt."

"Bramblepaw, you shall be known as Brambleflame!"

"Frostpaw, you shall be know as Frostheat!"

"Moonpaw, you shall be known as Moongaze!"

"Gingerpaw, you shall be known as Gingerstripe."

"Cloudpaw you shall be known as Cloudpelt."

"Sleekpelt! Brambleflame! Frostheat! Moongaze! Gingerstripe! Cloudpelt!" the clan cheered the warriors new names.

"Also, it is time for four kits to become apprentices! Cinderkit, Lightkit, Bladekit, and Turnkit step forward!

"From this moment on, untill you receive your warrior names, you shall be known as Cinderpaw, Lightpaw, Bladepaw, and Turnpaw!"

"Cinderpaw! Lightpaw! Bladepaw! Turnpaw!" The clan irrupted into cheers again. After a few heart-beats the cheers turned to murmurs of Confusion, and the cats parted and a new cat stepped through, a Brown tabby tom with blazing amber eyes. His pelt was criss-crossed with scars of battle, yet he smelled of leaves and trees.

"Who are you?" Swiftstar said to the cat. "My name is Copper." he said. "And I wish to join your clan." he said. Swiftstar narrowed her eyes for a second, but then they grew softer. Maybe this cat and Floe will bring up the reputation for outsiders... maybe.

"Well then you may." she said after a moment's hesitation. Some of the cats muttered dissaprovingly, probably thinking of Frozenheart. Others looked at him with shining eyes.

"I, Swiftstar, leader of Briarclan look apon this cat. He has wished to become a loyal member of Briarclan, and so he shall be."

"Copper, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and protect and defend this clan, even if it costs your life?" she asked, and Briarberry whispered in his ear,

"I do." he said.

"Then by the powers of starclan I give you your warrior name. Copper, you shall be known as Copperflare."

"Copperflare! Copperflare! Copperflare!" the cats cheered half-heartedly.

>Swiftstar<