#paleice

            Faiththorn had been distant as of late. Can’t say I blame her. I think they wanted to leave clan life completely behind at first. They seem to be warming up to having clanmates again, but it’s certainly not easy. They broke her faith in the clans with that decree. But this doesn’t have to be like that. We can be what a clan is meant to be… a place where cats care for and teach each other. Believing in Starclan, but not taking one cat’s interpretation of what a message means as the only truth.

            Yeah… that sounds good.

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            “Uncle Aspen! Wake up!”

            Aspenecho was jolted from sleep, feeling tiny paws push his side, urging him to get up. Eyes bleary from a deep slumber, he glanced over and saw Redkit. “What is it?” He groaned.

            “The gathering is starting! Come on!”

            Oh yeah, Flax wanted to do gatherings… although it’s just a special clan meeting, no meeting other groups. Still, he brought himself to his paws and peered out from behind the tree.

The full moon was low in the sky. The night is still young. He was going to be the last out in the clearing, as Redkit had already bounded ahead of him, joining the rest of their clanmates.

Flaxstar’s frame was rimmed by moonlight. His features couldn’t be made out at this distance, but his shoulders were relaxed, tail by his side and lazily draped over the log he sat on. His ears were perked forward.

He gave his chest a few quick laps, remembering that he had to sit in front of everyone. He looked for Faiththorn and saw her sitting on the edge of the group. Her back was to him, but he could notice that she was occasionally turning her head to look at their clanmates. Her fur was a little unkempt, proving that he was not the only one who didn’t prepare for this meeting.

As he began to make his journey across the clearing, Redkit squeezed himself inbetween Bella and Harepaw despite having plenty of space to go around. Harepaw’s ears swiveled back, and the moonlight caught a glint of teeth before Bella batted at their shoulder. Harepaw paused, going back to their initial position, only a forcibly flicking tail indicating anything was wrong.

He instead trotted around the group, nodding briefly at Milo before sitting at the base of the log. Despite Flax having the height advantage on being on top of the log, he was still only slightly taller than him. So, it made it easy to whisper, “Any plans as to what you’re going to announce?”

“Well, we’re always doing our own things, so this is a chance for everyone to be together and chat! But also, to vote for a clan name, and because Milo and Bella want to announce their warrior names.”

“Warrior names?”

“You remember warrior names, right?”

“Of course I do!”

“Hey! I’m just messing with you. Well, they’ve both picked new names. Milo is going to come up itself and reveal it. And Bella is going to have a more official warrior ceremony, since she’s 12 moons now.”

His eyes widened, “12 moons?! I thought she was a young apprentice!”

“Either you’re mistaking Harepaw and Bella, or you’re overestimating how big domestic cats get.” There was a brief pause before he asked, “12 moons is when a cat becomes a warrior, right?”

Aspenecho nodded, “I’ve seen cats graduate as late as 24 moons, which is when we’re fully grown. Menders graduate around 18 moons. But yes, 12 is the usual age.”

“Alright. Thanks. I remember how the words go. So I’m going to start.” Aspenecho looked over at the crowd, adjusting his posture and sitting up taller. Flax cleared his throat and yowled.

He could see Redkit paw at Bella, urging her to be quiet. Cats finished their sentences before turning their gazes over to the two. Flax slowly blinked, before beginning.

“Hello everyone! Thank you all for coming. Every full moon, I hope that we can meet here to announce promoted cats, and to all spend an evening all together, as a group. But first, we have a few things to go through.”

            “First things first, I’d like to do an official vote for what we’re going to call our clan. About half a moon ago, I, Aspenecho, Faiththorn, and Harepaw came up with the name Dawningclan. But Milo, Bella, and Redkit, we want to hear your input too, along with if Hare, Faith, or Aspen changed their minds.”

            Redkit meowed, “But aren’t clan names from the first leader of the clan? So wouldn’t we be Flaxclan no matter what?”

            “We could—but I don’t think I would want a group named after me. Plus, we don’t need to follow old tradition if we want to. We like the name Dawningclan because this is the ‘dawning’ of a new era for the clans.”

            Redkit tilted his head and scowled, “But what are the other clans going to think?”

            “I wouldn’t worry about that.” Faiththorn cooed before turning back to Flax and Aspen, “I like the name Dawningclan.” Bella, who was nearby, nodded. Milo meowed, “I like it!”

            Palepaw muttered, “My mind hasn’t changed,” and he replied, “Neither has mine.” Turning to Flax, “I think it’s unanimous.”

            Flax purred, slow blinking, “Wonderful! It’s settled then! We are Dawningclan!”

            Briefly pausing, Flax motioned Milo over, “But that’s only one of the things we’re doing tonight. Milo would like to make an announcement to you all. Go ahead.”

            Milo stood in front of both Aspenecho and Flax, and began to chatter, “Well, I didn’t want to make it a big thing, but I’m changing my name to a warrior name. You guys can call me Lichenstreak! I chose it because my fur is sort of the color of lichen, and I’m a tabby, which means my fur is in streaks. Plus, it sounds cool!”

            “I don’t mind you all still calling me Milo, but that’s sort of an official name if you prefer calling me that. Call me one, call me the other, call me both, for me, a name is just a noise you use to get my attention… and both will work just fine.”

            “I didn’t mean to ramble this long, so I’m going to sit back down. Thanks everyone!” As he went to sit back down, Redkit began chanting, “Lichenstreak, Lichenstreak, Lichenstreak!” Soon, Bella, Faith, and Harepaw all joined in.

            After things died down a bit, Bella expectantly walked to the front. Flax gave another yowl to silence Harepaw and Redkit.

            “We have one other cat changing their name tonight. You wanted this to be official, correct?”

            Bella nodded. “I want to only go by this name.”

            Flax smiled, “Alright! In that case, I, Flax, leader of Dawningclan, call upon—Aspen and Faiththorn’s warrior ancestors—” Faith, Lichenstreak, Bella, Harepaw, and Redkit all laughed at that. “—to look down on this apprentice. She understands the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn.”

            “Bella, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?”

            She nodded, and meowed, “I do.”

            “Then, I give you your warrior name. Bella, from this moment on you will be known as Paleice. We honor your initiative, curiosity, and skill at hunting. We welcome you as a full warrior of Dawningclan.”

            This time, the cheers were louder and more enthusiastic. Paleice grinned, looking around and eventually settling on Harepaw, who walked over and affectionately bumped their head against hers.

            Aspenecho felt a purr erupt in his throat. This really was beginning to feel like a clan.