A warrior ceremony is a ceremony in which an apprentice finally gets their warrior name and becomes a full fledged warrior of their Clan.
Process
An apprenticeship usually lasts six moons or more. Once the mentor is satisfied with the apprentice's progress and skills, he or she recommends them to the leader of the Clan. Then, the apprentice must pass an assessment, when their abilities as a warrior are checked.[1] In cases when the apprentice has just made an important contribution to the Clan, the leader may decide that there is no need for an assessment (i.e. Firepaw after saving the kits,[2] Brackenpaw after fighting courageously in a battle[3] or Thistlepaw after fighting a dog[4]).
If the Clan Leader is satisfied, he or she calls a Clan Meeting and calls the apprentice.[5] The following words are used,[6] by tradition:
- Leader: I, (Leader), leader of (Clan), call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. (He/she) has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend (him/her) to you as a warrior in (his/her) turn.
- Leader: (Apprentice), do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?
- Apprentice: I do.
- Leader: Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. (Apprentice), from this moment you will be known as (new warrior name). StarClan honors your (virtues), and we welcome you as a full warrior of (Clan).
The leader rests his or her muzzle on the apprentice's head, and he or she licks the leader's shoulder.[7] The rest of the Clan then greets the new warrior by calling him or her by their new name.[8] The warrior will sit a silent vigil guarding the camp that night,[9] except if that is not possible (such as Squirrelflight's ceremony, when the Clan did not have a camp, and the task of exploring the lake was assigned).[10]
Virtues
During the apprentice's warrior ceremony, two major virtues of the apprentice are listed; the first is usually (but not always) courage. Some examples of virtues (and the warriors they described):
- Bravery - Berrynose,[7] Bluestar,[11] Cherrytail[12] Cinderheart,[13] Dustpelt,[14] Firestar,[15] Graypool,[16] Graystripe,[15] and Thistleclaw[4]
- Courage - Brambleclaw,[17] Briarlight,[18] Cloudtail,[19] Ivypool,[20] Lionblaze,[13] Poppyfrost,[21] Raggedstar,[22] Rockshade,[23] Sandstorm,[24] Sharpclaw[25], Snookthorn,[26] Sorreltail,[27] Sparrowpelt,[28] Spiderleg,[29] Squirrelflight,[8] Stick,[30] Willowbreeze,[16]Yellowfang,[31] Brokenstar [32]
- Cleverness - Willowbreeze[33]
- Determination – Brackenfur,[34] Cinderheart,[13] Graypool,[16] and Squirrelflight[8]
- Energy - Bouncefire[23]
- Enterprise - Dovewing[35]
- Enthusiasm – Berrynose,[34] Cherrytail,[12] Spiderleg,[29] and Tinycloud[36]
- Fighting Skill - Thistleclaw,[4] Brokenstar[32]
- Forethought – Brackenfur[34]
- Honesty – Dustpelt[14]
- Independence – Cloudtail[19]
- Initiative - Poppyfrost[37]
- Intelligence – Dovewing,[35] Honeyfern,[37] Leafstar,[38] Snookthorn,[26] Thornclaw,[39] Tinycloud,[36] and Yellowfang[31]
- Kindness - Honeyfern[37]
- Loyalty – Bouncefire,[23] Brambleclaw,[17] Hollyleaf,[13] Ivypool,[35] Leafstar,[38] Thistleclaw,[39] and Whitestorm[40]
- Patience – Sorreltail[41]
- Skill – Stick[30]
- Skill in Battle – Lionblaze[13] and Raggedstar[22]
- Speed - Willowbreeze[16]
- Spirit – Sandstorm[24] and Briarlight[18]
- Strength – Bluestar,[11] Firestar,[15] Graystripe,[15] Rockshade,[23] Sharpclaw,[25] and Sparrowpelt[28]
- Thoughtfulness - Hollyleaf[13]
- Warmth - Graypool[16]
- Wisdom - Whitestorm[40]
Dying Apprentice Ceremony
When an apprentice is on the verge of death and has proven him/herself to be worthy of a warrior name, there is a special ceremony used so that the apprentice may take a warrior name to StarClan.[42]
- Leader: I ask my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. (He/She) has learned the warrior code and given up (his/her) life in the service of (his/her) Clan. Let StarClan receive (him/her) as a warrior. (He/She) will be known as (new name).
See Also
References and Citations
- ↑ Revealed in Outcast, page 15
- ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 269
- ↑ Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 213
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 286
- ↑ Revealed in Outcast, page 19
- ↑ Revealed in Outcast, pages 19-20
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Revealed in Outcast, page 20
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Revealed in Starlight, page 27
- ↑ Revealed in Eclipse, page 79
- ↑ Revealed in Starlight, page 30
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 215
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 503
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Revealed in Eclipse, page 318
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 280
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Revealed in Into the Wild, page 270
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, page 282
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 20
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Revealed in Fading Echoes, page 176
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 209
- ↑ Revealed in Sign of the Moon, page 33
- ↑ Revealed in Eclipse, page 290
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 80
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 Revealed in SkyClan's Destiny, page 21
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 279
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 333
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Revealed in SkyClan's Destiny, page 369
- ↑ Revealed in Midnight, page 21
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 504
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 Revealed in Starlight, page 219
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Revealed in SkyClan's Destiny, page 214
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 122
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 383
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 282
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 214
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 Revealed in Sign of the Moon, page 34
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 Revealed in SkyClan's Destiny, page 22
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 Revealed in Eclipse, page 90
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 334
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 105
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 402
- ↑ Revealed in Moonrise, page 21
- ↑ Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 223
| Hierarchy and positions in the Warriors world | |
|---|---|
| Clan hierarchy | Kits • Apprentices • Warriors • Deputies • Leaders • Queens • Elders • Medicine cats • Mediators |
| Ceremonies | Vigil • Apprentice • Warrior • Deputy • Leader • Elder • Medicine cat • Name changing |
| Tribe hierarchy | To-bes • Cave-guards • Prey hunters • Kit mothers • Healer/Stoneteller |
| Miscellaneous | General Clan information • General Tribe information • Cat names |
| Other groups | Loners • Rogues • Kittypets |