- Jun 7, 2022
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When Blazestar emerges from his den on this frosty evening, his eyes are luminous as moons. The blizzard has exhausted its wrath, and so has WindClan -- his own still-weeping, staunchly-packed stomach can attest to that, Dawnglare's ravaged medicine den. SkyClan has come out on top, though -- their Clan has suffered no casualties, and the WindClan thieves managed to snatch very little catmint in the chaos.
And they'd risked their warriors' lives over it...
Blazestar sets his jaw against any temptation he might have to let his heart bleed. Sootstar knew what she could be sacrificing in an attempt to force him into action. To force him to heal warriors who had threatened his Clanmates.
He is out of breath and shaking on the Highbranch, but he looks more like a cat and less like a creature approaching death on this evening.
"SkyClan!" He yowls. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under the Highbranch for a Clan meeting!"
He waits, seeing the wounds, freshly packed and treated. Dawnglare has done his best with what he has, it seems. Blazestar himself had felt guilty taking herbs from the medicine cat's stock, but the wound, though no longer gaping, is slow to heal and pains him with every movement. He remembers the fox's damage to his throat -- somehow this is worse, and he wonders if it's because of the frigid chill in the air.
"There's much to discuss tonight, but first, I have cats to honor. All of you, whether you were on the border or defending our home from WindClan, deserve praise." His voice is heavy, heartfelt words pouring lushly. "I could not ask for braver warriors, apprentices, queens and elders." He shakes his head. "And every one of you taught WindClan that kittypets are not to be walked all over."
He flicks his gaze to two young ginger and white toms. One with bright green eyes and swift paws. "Greenpaw, you ran to RiverClan for help. It was quick thinking, and smart. You are too young yet to have your warrior ceremony, but SkyClan honors you for your forethought." He lifts his tail and raises his voice in a chant: "Greenpaw! Greenpaw!"
Once the cheering for the young apprentice dies down, Blazestar will direct his attention to another, older apprentice. His, once trained by Vermilionsun. "Cosmospaw, you showed great courage in the battle with WindClan at our border. It is time you receive your warrior name." A thrill lances through the Ragdoll -- his apprentice, a cat he's watched grow from an unsure young tom into a SkyClan warrior --
He closes his eyes and opens them as he speaks. "I, Blazestar, leader of SkyClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn."
He meets Cosmospaw's gaze. "Cosmospaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Blazestar will not his head at the tom's "I do," before continuing, power in his voice: "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Cosmospaw, from this moment on you will be known as Cosmosbloom. StarClan honors your courage and your loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan."
Loyalty, yes -- the loyalty Finchcatcher had not shown his Clan or his brother when he'd defected to ThunderClan. The loyalty Vermilionsun had not shown his Clan or his apprentice when he'd abandoned SkyClan.
Cosmosbloom deserves his rank, his name. Blazestar is the first to raise his voice in a cheer: "Cosmosbloom! Cosmosbloom!"
And they'd risked their warriors' lives over it...
Blazestar sets his jaw against any temptation he might have to let his heart bleed. Sootstar knew what she could be sacrificing in an attempt to force him into action. To force him to heal warriors who had threatened his Clanmates.
He is out of breath and shaking on the Highbranch, but he looks more like a cat and less like a creature approaching death on this evening.
"SkyClan!" He yowls. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under the Highbranch for a Clan meeting!"
He waits, seeing the wounds, freshly packed and treated. Dawnglare has done his best with what he has, it seems. Blazestar himself had felt guilty taking herbs from the medicine cat's stock, but the wound, though no longer gaping, is slow to heal and pains him with every movement. He remembers the fox's damage to his throat -- somehow this is worse, and he wonders if it's because of the frigid chill in the air.
"There's much to discuss tonight, but first, I have cats to honor. All of you, whether you were on the border or defending our home from WindClan, deserve praise." His voice is heavy, heartfelt words pouring lushly. "I could not ask for braver warriors, apprentices, queens and elders." He shakes his head. "And every one of you taught WindClan that kittypets are not to be walked all over."
He flicks his gaze to two young ginger and white toms. One with bright green eyes and swift paws. "Greenpaw, you ran to RiverClan for help. It was quick thinking, and smart. You are too young yet to have your warrior ceremony, but SkyClan honors you for your forethought." He lifts his tail and raises his voice in a chant: "Greenpaw! Greenpaw!"
Once the cheering for the young apprentice dies down, Blazestar will direct his attention to another, older apprentice. His, once trained by Vermilionsun. "Cosmospaw, you showed great courage in the battle with WindClan at our border. It is time you receive your warrior name." A thrill lances through the Ragdoll -- his apprentice, a cat he's watched grow from an unsure young tom into a SkyClan warrior --
He closes his eyes and opens them as he speaks. "I, Blazestar, leader of SkyClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn."
He meets Cosmospaw's gaze. "Cosmospaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Blazestar will not his head at the tom's "I do," before continuing, power in his voice: "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Cosmospaw, from this moment on you will be known as Cosmosbloom. StarClan honors your courage and your loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SkyClan."
Loyalty, yes -- the loyalty Finchcatcher had not shown his Clan or his brother when he'd defected to ThunderClan. The loyalty Vermilionsun had not shown his Clan or his apprentice when he'd abandoned SkyClan.
Cosmosbloom deserves his rank, his name. Blazestar is the first to raise his voice in a cheer: "Cosmosbloom! Cosmosbloom!"