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Applepaw waited for her leader, tail flipping excitedly.
She'd earned her name! Finally! The new scars and poultices down her back proved it, once and for all. She was ready for her name, and not even that rat Sagefoot could say anything, thank the moon.
She shook her head roughly to disperse the thought of that piece of bile. Ugh. She tried for a quick groom, wincing a little at the tug of her injuries. Snowstar sure was taking his time. He'd always walked to his own tempo, honestly.. She wondered what her name would be; maybe something cool, like claw, or even fang?
She caught her Dad's eye from across the camp; she stuck her tongue out at him, no matter that she was going to be warrior. He deserved it, probably. He smiled back, eyes gleaming in the low light of the fading evening. He looked so happy she had to look away; the depth of emotion she saw even in that quick glance had her heart clenching.
Crowcloud rarely went even a morning without telling Applepaw he was proud, that he loved her.
As his only kit, she understood, of course. She would make him proud as long as she lived, she vowed, fighting a tuft of her tangled fur.
"Everyone, it is time for a Naming! Gather around, gather around," Snowstar called out, sing-song voice as airy as ever. Applepaw jolted, sitting up straight. It was time!
Her leader's plumey white tail waved in the air like an exceptionally fluffy cloud, she noted. Not for the first time, as her clanmates gathered around her, she wondered just how long it took him to groom all that fur clean; her own pelt hid dirt and blood well enough that she barely noticed until Thymepaw pointed it out.
But maybe that would change, with more denmates to notice. Her heart thumped with excitement.
"A cute little birdie told me someone proved themselves today, is that right?" Snowstar began with a wide, dreamy smile. His one brown paw lifted elegantly to point directly at Applepaw. "You, I do believe."
"Yessir!" She nodded respectfully.
Snowstar laughed delicately. "Come here then, little warrior, and let us begin."
Applepaw stood easily, knowing her pelt was as clean as it was currently going to get. She felt no shame in her state; all warriors earned their scars, as it were. She made for the center of camp confidently, tail high.
"That's my kit!" Her father exclaimed, sounding choked. Applepaw held back a fond snort.
"We know, Crowcloud."
"I'm so proud of her!"
"We know, Crowcloud."
Applepaw smiled to herself as she sat directly in front of her bemused leader.
"Really, what are we to do with him," Snowstar murmured to her, smiling as well.
"Stars know," she replied warmly with a shake of her head. She allowed herself one last glance at her Dad before focusing on her leader, falling back into the seriousness that had earned her her place.
"So!" Snowstar began once more, gathering everyone's attention easily. "This cat has proven herself to us, her clan, and the stars today! She has learned for us, hunted for us, fought for us, and now she will truly live for us! I call upon our ancestors to acknowledge this cat, for she has earned her right to be a Warrior!"
The clan cheered for her, Crowcloud loudest of them all, and it felt so, so good, so right. She had been looking forward to this day for moons, it felt like, and now?
Now it was real, just in paws' reach.
Snowstar's voice turned as solemn as he could probably make it. "Do you promise to live for us, and protect us for as long as you are able?"
"I do," Applepaw mewed. She would.
Until her dying breath.
"Then by the power the stars granted me, you are now a Warrior! We honor your courage, your determination, and your boldness. Your new name shall be Appledapple!"
What.
"What? No," she blurted out, interrupting whatever Snowstar said next.
The clan fell silent. Snowstar blinked at her with his maw still open, truly dumbfounded.
"Absolutely not." Appleda- Applepaw stood, the fur on her spine rising. "Are you messing with me?"
"What?" Snowstar tilted his head, confusion evident. He looked too innocent, Applepaw wanted to flay his nose open. A growl built in her chest.
"Are you." She stepped forward. "Messing." Another pawstep. "With me." And another, until they were nose to nose. She could look him right in the eyes.
Snowstar backed up a hair, seeming unconsciously. "No, stars! I wouldn't, I-"
"Then explain!" She burst out, trying not to snarl. "Dapple! Are you serious!"
"Your fur!" He mewed helplessly. His eyes darted to and fro, trying to find someone to help him, no doubt. "It's, well, dappled!"
"Then pick leaf or shade, mousebrain!" She yowled. Her tail lashed wildly. "What kind of leader picks something that rhymes?!"
"She's got you there, Snow," Yewfeather mewed, laughter in his warm voice. The medicine cat had padded up to her shoulder while she wasn't paying attention; she had to look down, now, and wasn't that odd? When did she get taller than him?
The fight left her body at that thought. She was grown, and this, this temper tantrum of all things was not a good showing. She refused to feel shame, but she did stop cornering her leader. She backed off, taking a deep breath to settle herself, to flatten her fur. The clan murmured in the background.
Applepaw sighed.
"I'm very sorry for my outburst, Snowstar. I'd understand if you'd like to delay the ceremony and punish me," she mewed, bowing her head low. She actually even felt a little bad for yowling in his face.
But not for objecting. What a stupid name.
"It's quite alright," Snowstar laughed, self-consciousness in the way his tail drew close, the way his ears bent back a little. "I should have thought more about it. I'm sorry, Appled- Applepaw."
Yewfeather abandoned her side to press into Snowstar's. His sharp yellow eyes bore into her pelt.
Well now she really felt bad. Stars above.
"I'm so sorry, Snowstar," she bowed lower, nose almost touching the ground, "I'll make it up to you, I swear. I'll hunt for you for a moon. I'll- I'll go on every patrol and I'll help you wash your pelt!"
"Please don't do that, you'll get sand in your nose," Snowstar mewed worriedly. His white paw came into her vision, then soft against her cheek as he raised her head. Yewfeather behind him gave her a friendly blink. "I understand, Applepaw. It was my mistake, after all. What's a bit of arguing between warriors, hm?"
Great, now he was comforting her. The ground may as well swallow her up now, please.
"I'd like to offer you a better name, if you'll forgive me?" His big green eyes beseeched her.
Well. If he insisted.
"Yes, please." She sat up fully once more, gaze firmly on him. He cleared his throat.
"Then, from this day forward, you shall be known as Appleshadow! Please serve us well, and remember to take vigil later, alright?"
At her nod, he clan, watching their conversation with avid interest, roared to life in joy. Cheers of her name, and Snowstar's to her amusement, rung out into the forest and nearly had her ears ringing.
Much, much better. She fought not to preen; after her outburst, it'd be unseemly. She could wait to do it afterward.
"Thank you, Snowstar. I'll work hard," Appleshadow mewed to him, more or less privately under the noise.
"I know you will," Snowstar smiled. He kindly touched his pink nose to her forehead. "I look forward to it."