CEREMONIES

by Specklestar Sun Feb 23, 2014 7:52 am

Kit-->Apprentice
>> Leader: (Kit), you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your Warrior name, you will be known as (new name, ending with "paw"). Your Mentor will be (name of Warrior). I hope (name of Warrior) will pass down all he/she knows on to you.

The leader calls up the Warrior he/she has chosen as a mentor.

>> Leader: (Warrior), you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from (former Mentor), and you have shown yourself to be (quality) and (quality). You will be the mentor of (Apprentice), and I expect you to pass on all you know to (Apprentice).

The mentor touches noses with the apprentice,and the Clan greets the new Apprentice by calling out his/her name. After this, the Apprentice will usually go greet their family, or go see to their mentor.

Medicine Cat Apprentice
>> Medicine Cat: Cats of (Clan), as you know, I will not be around forever. So it's time I took an Apprentice. I have chosen a cat who has shown (virtues). Your next Medicine Cat will be (Apprentice).
>> Leader: (Apprentice), do you accept the post of apprentice to (Medicine Cat)?
>> Apprentice: I do.
>> Medicine Cat: Then at the half-moon, you must travel to the Moonsprite to be accepted by StarClan before the other medicine cats.
>> Leader: The good wishes of all (Clan) will go with you.

The mentor touches noses with the apprentice, and the Clan greets the new apprentice.

At the next half moon, the medicine cat goes with the apprentice to the Clans' sacred place to present him or her to the Warrior ancestors, where the Apprentice confirms his or her wish to be a Medicine Cat. The following words are used, by tradition.

>> Medicine Cat: (Apprentice), is it your wish to enter the mysteries of StarClan as a Medicine Cat?
>> Apprentice: It is.
>> Medicine Cat: Then come forward.
>> Medicine Cat: Warriors of StarClan, I present you with this Apprentice. (He/she) has chosen the path of a Medicine Cat. Grant (him/her) your wisdom and insight so that (he/she) may understand your ways and heal (his/her) Clan in accordance with your will.

The medicine cat apprentice looks to the Moonsprite. Then the Medicine Cat and the Apprentice lay down and have a dream from StarClan.

Medicine Cat Apprentice --> Medicine Cat
>> Medicine Cat: I, (name), Medicine Cat of ___Clan, call upon my Warrior ancestors to look down on this Apprentice. (He/she) has trained hard to understand the ways of a Medicine Cat, and with your help (he/she) will serve (his/her) Clan for many moons.
>> Medicine Cat: ___paw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a Medicine Cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?
>> Apprentice: I do.
>> Medicine Cat: Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a Medicine Cat. ___paw, from this moment you will be known as (new name). StarClan honors your (virtues), and we welcome you as a full Medicine Cat of (Clan).

The medicine cat rests his or her muzzle on the apprentice's head, and he or she licks the mentor's shoulder. The other medicine cats greet him or her by their new name.

Apprentice --> Warrior
>> 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. The rest of the Clan then greets the new warrior by calling him or her by their new name. The Warrior will sit a silent vigil guarding the camp that night, except if that is not possible.

Warrior --> Deputy
>> Leader: I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our Warrior ancestors (or former Deputy name) may hear and approve of my choice. The new Deputy of (Clan) is (Warrior's name).

Deputy --> Leader
>> Life-Giver: (Touches nose to the top of the new Leader's head) With this life I give you (gift). Use it well (to, in, as, for, etc.) (use of gift).
>> x9 with other significant cats in new Leader's life.

When all of the lives have been given, the previous Leader says these words:

>> Previous Leader: I hail you by your new name, _____star. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a Leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of ____Clan. Defend it well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the Warrior Code; live each life with pride and dignity.

Just as the forest-cats would call a warrior by their new name, the StarClan cats acclaim the new leader. After the ceremony, the new Leader is not allowed to tell any cat what happened during the ceremony.

Getting nine lives does not necessarily mean that a Leader will live longer, but they can survive certain accidents or injuries that would claim the life of a cat. However, they cannot survive if they have major injuries such as the injuries Scourge gave Tigerstar. If a Leader does not lose a life, they will die of old age nine times.

If a Leader no longer wishes to be the Leader, they must go to the Moonsprite to revoke all but one life, so their Deputy may have their full nine lives.

Renaming
>> Leader: Spirits of StarClan, you know every cat by name. I ask you now to take away the name from the cat you see before you, for it no longer stands for what he/she is. By my authority as Clan Leader, and with the approval of our Warrior ancestors, I give this cat a new name. From this moment on he/she will be known as (new name), for (description of the reason).

Warrior --> Elder
>> Leader: (Warrior), is it your wish to give up the name of a Warrior and go to join the Elders?
>> Warrior: It is.
>> Leader: Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest.

The Clan will call out the retired Warrior's name and then he or she will go to the Elder's den.