Warrior ceremony

A warrior ceremony is performed 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 a mentor is satisfied with their apprentice's progress and skills, they recommend them to the leader of the Clan. Then, the apprentice must pass an assessment, in which their abilities as a warrior are checked. 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 (e.g. Firepaw after saving the kits, Brackenpaw after warning the Clan for a battle, Brokenpaw after he fights bravely in battle, or Thistlepaw after fighting a dog).
If the Clan leader is satisfied, they call a Clan meeting and call the apprentice forward. The following words are used, by tradition:
:Leader: I, (Leader), leader of (Name)Clan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their 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 on 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 their muzzle on the apprentice's head, and the former apprentice licks the leader's shoulder. The rest of the Clan then greets the new warrior by calling them by their new name. The warrior will sit a silent vigil guarding the camp that night, unless 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) or if the cat is injured (such as Cloudmist's ceremony).
Occasionally, these extra lines are added at the beginning:
Leader: (Mentor), has your apprentice, (apprentice), learned the skills of a warrior? Do they understand the importance of the warrior code?
Mentor: They have.
This is only used in some cases, though not under specific circumstances. Usually, it depends on what the leader feels like saying, or how the leader has been taught the ceremony goes (such as Leafstar using this procedure after learning it from Firestar).
===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, Bluestar, Cherrytail, Cinderheart, Dustpelt, Feathertail, Firestar, Graypool, Graystripe, Hawkwing, Lilyheart, Thistleclaw, and Violetshine
*Courage - Blossomheart, Brambleclaw, Briarlight, Brokenstar, Cloudmist, Cloudtail, Hawkwing, Ivypool, Lionblaze, Oakheart, Onestar, Parsleyseed, Pinestar, Poppyfrost, Raggedstar, Rockshade, Sandstorm, Sharpclaw, Snookthorn, Sorreltail, Sparrowpelt, Spiderleg, Squirrelflight, Stick, Willowbreeze, Wolfstep, and Yellowfang
*Cleverness - Willowbreeze
*Commitment - Foxheart
*Compassion - Feathertail
*Dedication - Lilyheart
*Determination – Leopardfur, Brackenfur, Bristlefrost, Cinderheart, Graypool, Pebbleshine, and Squirrelflight
*Energy - Bouncefire, Foxheart, Twigbranch
*Enterprise - Dovewing
*Enthusiasm – Berrynose, Cherrytail, Spiderleg, and Tinycloud
*Fighting skill - Blossomheart, Brokenstar, and Thistleclaw
*Forethought – Brackenfur
*Honesty – Dustpelt
*Independence – Leopardfur, Cloudtail
*Initiative - Poppyfrost
*Intelligence – Dovewing, Honeyfern, Leafstar, Snookthorn, Onestar, Pebbleshine, Thornclaw, Tinycloud, and Yellowfang
*Kindness - Honeyfern
*Loyalty – Leopardfur,, Bouncefire, Brambleclaw, Hollyleaf, Ivypool, Leafstar, Parsleyseed, Stormfur, Thornclaw, Violetshine, Whitestorm, and Wolfstep
*Patience – Sorreltail
*Resilience- Cloudmist and Rootspring
*Skill – Bristlefrost and Stick
*Skill in battle – Lionblaze Raggedstar, and Shrewclaw
*Skill in hunting - Shrewclaw
*Speed - Willowbreeze
*Spirit – Sandstorm, Briarlight, and Violetshine
*Strategy – Oakheart and Pinestar
*Strength – Bluestar, Firestar, Graystripe, Rockshade, Rootspring, Sharpclaw, Sparrowpelt, and Stormfur
*The way they have carefully thought out where they belong – Twigbranch
*Thoughtfulness - Hollyleaf
*Warmth - Graypool
*Wisdom - Whitestorm
==Dying Apprentice Ceremony==
When an apprentice is on the verge of death and has proven themself to be worthy of a warrior name, there is a special ceremony used so that the apprentice may take a warrior name to StarClan.
:Leader: I ask my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. [They] have learned the warrior code and given up [their] life in the service of [their] Clan. Let StarClan receive [them] as a warrior. [They] will be known as (new name). Let StarClan receive [them] by the name of (new name).
The leader then touches their nose to the new warrior's head.
==Gallery==
Warrior ceremony.SE-3.png|Nettlepaw, Creekpaw, Plumpaw, and Rabbitpaw's warrior ceremonies
Warrior ceremony.SE-7.png|Stormcloud's warrior ceremony
Warrior ceremony.ASIR.png|Feathertail's warrior ceremony
Warrior ceremony.ASIR-1.png|Stormfur's warrior ceremony
Warrior ceremony.ATIT.png|Brambleclaw's warrior ceremony
==See also==
*Apprentice
*Elder
*Warrior
*Mentor
*Ceremonies
==Notes and references==
de:Kriegerzeremoniees:Ceremonia de guerrerofi:Soturin seremoniafr:Cérémonies de baptêmenl:Krijger ceremoniepl:Ceremonia wojownikaru:Посвящение в воителиpt-br:Cerimônia de Guerreiro
Category:Ceremonies