Open Backwritten Meeting I WISH I TOOK MORE PHOTOS ☼ [ 12/25 ceremony meeting ]

[GOLDENROAR]

Goldenroar's paws move with a kind of regret that's easy enough to read off of his body. His shoulders are hunched, his eyes narrowed with an exhaustion that doesn't just disappear off of someone's chest. It's one that's finding its way deep into his psyche, and perhaps, only growing worse.

But that isn't the point- no, he owes the cats that are settled in camp some kind of movement. To know that they are recognized, that they can grow further, even without her. He swallows the thought as he takes the perch in camp, his ears perking up and aqua eyes staring down. You have this. You know what you're doing. Just like patrols.

The conversation he had with Dimmingsun is fresh in his mind. He knows he must make tjhis right. Goldenroar picks his head up. "WINDCLAN! All those to run on the moor, gather." He calls, true to his given name in his volume. "I do not yet bear the title of Starclan's chosen, but I will. I'm departing after this meeting, and I feel these need to be cared for first." He clears his throat.

"We have a number of ceremonies to take care of." His head turns, searching for the apprentices. The newest face amongst the crowd. "Jaypaw, Peonypaw, Dandelionpaw." He calls. "Step forward."

"Each of your efforts over the last few moons has shaped you. Your mentor's paws molded you into a finer cat with each step and guiding moment. I'm confident you'll do all of us- do Windclan- proud. Leafbare is cruel, though. We need all the help we can get." A heartbeat, then, "Jaypaw. Your loyalty and dedication has not gone unnoticed. Your mentor, Sunnyspring, has given you her best, that I am sure of. I name you Jaymoon. I hope you carry it well." He drops down off of his perch, nose brushing against the new warrior's. A smile finds his face as he moves to the next. What a start. I can't believe Dustystar came up with these names all on her own.

"Peonypaw." This is going to hurt, please, please. He inhales quietly, speaks her name for what feels like the first time in moons. "Your mentor, Dustystar, has shaped you into a fine apprentice. I see her in you- all of her strengths. She trained you well." Fuck, this hurts. "Your resilience and enterprise come from her heart." He inhales a breath, and waits a minute until the pain eases. "For that, I name you Peonybreeze." He lowers down and presses his nose to the new warrior's, and whispers in the air between them- "I know she's extremely proud of you, Peonybreeze." He's turning and stepping away to something easier for him. Selfish, selfish.

"Dandelionpaw." He calls, voice almost light-hearted and teasing. A way that he would chide his own apprentice in moons before. "It's time, yes?" He comes to stand in front of the apprentice that's shadowed his nearly every step in the past few moons. "Dandelionpaw. I dare say that you learned some of my best qualities, ones that I can actually tell you that you carry." A pause. "Kindness, and confidence, are the things that I see blossoming in you, and for that?" He leans closer. "You shall be named Dandeliondrift. I am proud of you, and Windclan is too." He bumps his nose with Dandelionpaw, gives a tired smile, and moves to a once-familiar face in the crowd.

A name he hadn't called yet, but he does now all the same. "Lucky." He beckons. "It's time you truly join Windclan's warrior ranks, yeah?" This is easier, he reflects. "You are charismatic and ambitious, and for that, I name you Luckystrike. Welcome to the ranks." He is lightly teasing, of course, but genuine regardless of the way he names her. His nose bumps the other, and he's climbing back onto his rock again.

"Lotuskit, Rubblekit, Dreamkit, and Branchkit, step forward." He calls. "It's time for you to replace the apprentices that just graduated, and I have just the mentors picked out for each of you. With the responsibility I carry, I name you Lotuspaw, Rubblepaw, Dreampaw, and Branchpaw." He says. Aqua eyes shift towards Lotuskit first. "Lotuspaw. Your mentor will be Nutmegpurr." He turns his head. "Nutmegpurr, I know your loyalty to Windclan, alongside your observant nature will do well to mold Lotuspaw." He continues.

"Rubblepaw, I will mentor you. Do well to keep up, okay?" He smiles, then moves on. "Dreampaw, your mentor will be Honeyflower. Honeyflower, I'm sure that your skills with lead Dreampaw down the right path. You will be given a paw while you're still in the nursery, however, don't sweat." A breath. "Branchpaw, your mentor will be Swiftwatcher." He looks to the tunneler. "You're resilient and kind, Swiftwatcher. I have faith in your mentorship." He nods, then looks towards the rest of the crowd. "Ah- right. Hootpaw, I'm reassigning your mentor to be Silentstep." He says. He doesn't speak specific words to the tunneler, instead giving a knowing- yet kind- look and nod in their direction.

"Wheatwhistle." He begins, voice tentative. He presses forward regardless. "You've expressed your wishes to give up the rank of warrior and to join the elders, a decision of which I respect." He stops in front of the older soul. "Windclan recognizes your patience and steadfast loyalty, and honors you and the service given. I hope you have many moons of rest." He says, dipping his head to Wheatwhistle.

He turns, moving back upon his perch. Goldenroar's eyes turn toward the crowd. They're expectant. Hard-eyed, for some, disapproving others. Some are celebrating, happy for their kin. He swallows lightly. "I'll be heading out for Highstones tonight. While I'm gone, Merrystalk has the camp." He says. Goldenroar swallows, and exhales softly. "That is all."

_______________________ I KEEP RUNNIN' BUT ☼ I'M STANDING STILL _______________________

• "speech"
  // CONGRATS TO ALL!!! Once again I extend my apologies for how late this meeting is. I remind you it's staged a day or two after their return from Skyclan!!
  
  @JAYPAW -> Jaymoon /
  @PEONYPAW -> Peonybreeze / @Dandelionpaw -> Dandeliondrift / @lucky -> Luckystrike
  
  @lotuskit -> @nutmegpurr / @Rubblekit -> @GOLDENROAR / @Dreamkit -> @Honeyflower / @Branchkit -> @Swiftwatcher / @Hootpaw -> @Silentstep reassignment
  
  @wheatwhistle
  

• 

• GOLDENROAR he/him, windclan deputy, fourty four moons.
  ☆ a lh golden red marbled tabby with low white and glimmering aqua eyes. often seen with a smirk, confidence oozing from him in heaps, but always the ever-helpful guy.
  ☆ mentored by no one / mentoring dandelionpaw
  ☆ older brother to merrystalk and sunnyspring
  ☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ☆ penned by laevatein ↛ laevatein_arx8 on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  
  ☆ mini by tasmagoric, ref image by laevatein (yours truly!)

 

[Rubblekit]

The recent events within the clan had touched Rubblekit, the loud voices of her clanmates arguing - because they were not discussing, they were arguing, yelling at each other in rage and fury - causing her to worry about the next meeting that would happen. It had her worried about impending doom that would surely come for there were so many within the clan that were assuring it due to the actions of those that had gone out on their patrol.

Still, she tried to be happy, tried to be excited, for she had been warned that whenever the next meeting were to happen that she would become an apprentice. She would finally be able to see the territory once again, training under a warrior of WindClan, training to become something bigger than herself and to help give back to the clan - to the cats - that had taken her in when she was at her lowest in life. She knew not what was in store for her, knew nothing of what the meetings really were like, having listened in on a couple but with no real reason to join them before. Though it wasn't bubbling up as quickly as she had thought it would at this time, the excitement that slowly rose within her deemed it difficult to wait.

First there were warrior ceremonies, cats that she had seen training with others finally receiving their warrior names and being given something other than a 'paw at the end of their name. She knew that there would be some warriors mentioned - chatter around the camp before the incident dictated that it would be so - but she had not expected so many, and six cats given their full names felt like twenty, time felt like it slowed down due to the impatience that bubbled within her. Despite this she cheered with the rest of the clanmates, small voice lifted by the bit of energy she had been gaining through the meeting, knowing that with each word Goldenroar spoke she came one step closer to apprentice.

Finally the kittens were called, and taking a step forward with the others she puffed out her chest, showing off the pride that she felt to be able to do this. Fur usually scattered in different directions proudly groomed down to make her look presentable, and she stared up at the deputy-turned-leader with mismatched eyes, wide as she held baited breath to hear who she would get for a mentor. Lotuskit got Nutmegpurr, and suddenly it was her name being called, and she got none other than Goldy himself. The mix of shock and excitement quickly plastered itself on her face - not only would she be trained by her pseudo-father but by the leader himself, how could she not be excited - as the rest of the names mentioned went in one ear and out the other. From that moment on the meeting felt like it was in double time, and just as soon as it had started it was over. No longer was she a kitten stuck within the confines of camp for her own safety but now she was a 'paw, an apprentice, and she vowed to do the best she could so as not to mess up the opportunity she'd been given.

​

RUBBLEKIT she/her, WindClan 6 moons old.
innocence and obliviousness
mentored by none // mentoring none
NPC x NPC / sibling to Peonykit
peaceful powerplay permitted
"speech" // "thoughts"
penned by tikki ↛ rabbitcake on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

[Jaymoon]

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ Jaymoon ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☽⋆⁺₊⋆-

Jaypaw sits down in the camp's clearing for the gathering - not led by Dustystar, for the very first time. Goldenroar's presense isn't unwelcome, but it's a bitter reminder of what they've lost. Who they've lost. The apprentice wonders if it will ever feel different, if Dustystar's ghost will ever stop looming over Goldenroar's form and if he, and others, will be able to see Goldenroar for who he is instead of who used to be in his place. The deputy - leader? - deserves at least that.

Jaypaw doesn't get to sit and listen for a long time, for his own name gets called and, with a startle, Jaypaw realises he has completely forgotten he's to be named a warrior. Amidst everything going on - the flood, the arguing, Merrystalk, the memories, SkyClan... - the thoughts of his own ceremony had completely slipped his mind.

He stands up, not letting his own doubts show, charming and elegant as ever - he rarely lets others see his own worries, Merrystalk and Sunnyspring, Meadowpaw and Dimmingsun... they have seen him at his lowest, without a facade. But the rest of the clan knows him as the Jaypaw he used to be - carefree, confident, flirty. He might still be these things, on the surface, but the wall has been shattered and deep inside, Jaypaw knows himself to be damaged and broken.

With one last look towards his mentor, Jaypaw steps forward. Goldenroar's words wash over him, filling him with warmth and pride, despite everything. "Jaymoon." he breathes out his new name in wonder. Of course I'm Jaymoon. I've always been the moon.

From the moment he was born, his nickname was the moon while Bluebird's been the sun. Even Sunnyspring had called him her Little Moon and yet it had never occured to him that it could be a part of him. And now, Jaymoon stands in front of WindClan, born anew - all by himself, with an empty space next to him where another should be, but proud still. He doesn't let the tears fall from his eyes, though they plead to be released.

Maybe later, he tells himself. Not now. Now I get to enjoy this.

 

[Swiftwatcher]

'Cause you are loved, you are loved more than you know
I hereby pledge all of my days to prove it so
Though your heart is far too young to realize
The unimaginable light you hold inside

.

Swiftwatcher stood quietly among his clanmates, his paws feeling heavier than usual as he looked up at Goldenroar. It felt strange to see another cat standing where Dustystar once had. She had been so young, so determined, and she had cared deeply for WindClan. Thinking of her now made his chest ache. Her life had ended too soon, and in a way that felt unfair, and he grieved her with the rest of the clan. Even in his sadness, he listened closely as Goldenroar spoke. Names were being called, new apprentices were being made, life moving forward even when hearts were hurting. When he heard his own name paired with Branchkit's, something warm and steady pushed through the sorrow.

Branchpaw.

He stepped toward the newly named apprentice, lifting his head and offering her a gentle smile. Their noses touched, and his voice was soft but sure when he spoke. " I will teach you all that I know, Branchpaw. You will not face this path alone. " It should have been a day of celebration, full of cheers and light hearts, and he still felt a flicker of pride for the young cats receiving their names. But Dustystar's absence lingered like a cold wind across the moor. Joy and grief sat side by side.

He turned his gaze back to Goldenroar as the new leader spoke of traveling to Highstones. Swiftwatcher's tail tip twitched, and his eyes softened with quiet support. He had entered this moment as Goldenroar. He would return as Goldenstar.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

72 MOONS

𖧧

WINDCLANNER

𖧧

SONG

𖧧

bio

 

[Weaselchirp Weaselchirp]

I'm a young soul in this very strange world
Hoping I could learn a bit 'bout what is true and fake
But why all this hate? Try to communicate
Finding trust and love is not always easy to make

.

Weaselchirp watched Goldenroar with wide, unblinking eyes, the faintest twitch in her large ears as name after name washed over the clearing. Apprentices no longer. Cats who had walked through storms and shadow and expectation until the air itself seemed to weigh differently on their shoulders. They had worked and worked, pushed forward when the wind howled against them. Now they stood as warriors. Grown. Named. Claimed by the clan and by themselves.

A strange warmth curled in her chest and she found herself almost grateful, in that quiet private way, that her own path had bent and twisted as it did. She had grown sideways like a stubborn root. She had learned slow, at her own rhythm, following tunnels instead of straight lines. Had life tugged her any other direction, she would not have become the cat she was now. She would not have learned the language of stone and earth. She would not have found the deep calm beneath the moor.

So she called their names, loud and proud, voice ringing like pebbles scattering down a slope. Jaymoon. Peonybreeze. Dandeliondrift. Strong names, wind-carried names. And Luckystrike too, luck stitched into the sound of it. Then came the next wave, the smaller paws stepping forward, eyes big with future. It tugged at something in her heart. Again her voice rose. " Lotuspaw, Rubblepaw, Dreampaw, Branchpaw! " The names fluttered from her tongue like leaves caught in a gust. Children stepping into an unpredictable path, into a world that had teeth and tenderness woven together. Would their claws ever drip red? Would the wind be kind? She did not know. She only knew she longed for the steady breath of her tunnels and fretted for the clan walking above them.

Hootpaw's name came, and with it the reassignment. Her gaze slipped toward Silentstep, and for a heartbeat her wide orange eyes softened. A slow blink. A warm, low purr in her chest. She hoped her friend would guide Hootpaw well, teach them how to listen not only to orders, but to the small voice inside themselves too. Then Wheatwhistle. Elder. Rest finally allowed to settle over tired bones. Seasons of work wrapped into one simple word. She bowed her head slightly, respect shimmering beneath the movement like heat above stone. It still felt strange to see Goldenroar in Dustystar's place. The world kept rearranging itself when no one was looking. Soon he would go to the stars, she thought. Speak to the glittering ancestors who said so little and yet somehow everything at once.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

72 MOONS

𖧧

WINDCLANNER

𖧧

SONG

𖧧

bio

 

[Branchpaw Branchpaw]

BRANCHPAW
HE/HIM
6 MOONS
WINDCLAN APPRENTICE
SPEECH | THOUGHTS | APHOTIC | PHYSICAL

PENNED BY PLOT_TWISTS

Branchpaw did not look to Goldenroar as he was named an apprentice. Nor did he glance with excitement to his sister, now Lotuspaw. It made his stomach ache, to hear Goldenroar speak the words Ma should have called out, and he knew if he watched the golden tom stand in her place, he wouldn't be able to stay in the group of gathered cats. He wouldn't be able to look Goldenroar in the face.

How horrid, that before all this, the young cat would have been honored to become Goldenroar's apprentice. How horrid that he'd once considered the deputy family. It seemed lifetimes away, even though the deputy had trained with him and Yewkit mere sunrises ago.

Swiftwatcher was speaking. Kind Swiftwatcher - another cat he considered family. A cat who had comforted him in the flood, assured him that his mother would be alright. He looked up to Swiftwatcher, eyes hollow.

"I'll do my best," he meowed evenly, touching his nose to the older tom before hanging his head.

​

OOC: