Apprentice ceremony

An apprentice ceremony is performed when a kit becomes an apprentice.

Process
When a kit is six moons old, he or she is ready to become an apprentice. Until this time, their name ends with the '-kit' suffix. When a kit becomes an apprentice, their name ends with '-paw', showing the path their paws are on.

Apprentice Ceremony
The Clan Leader calls a Clan Meeting to appoint a new apprentice and assign a mentor to him/her. The following words are used, by tradition:


 * Leader: (Kit), you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as (new name, ending with 'paw'). I ask StarClan to watch over you and guide you until you find in your paws the strength and courage of a warrior.

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 Fierce and Brave. 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.

Medicine Cat Apprentice Ceremony
The Leader calls a Clan Meeting, after the Clan's medicine cat announced that he or she wished to mentor an apprentice. The following words are used, by tradition:
 * 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 (virtue) and (virtue). Your next medicine cat will be (medicine cat apprentice).
 * Leader: (medicine cat 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 Moonstone 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 Moonstone
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?
 * Apprentie: 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 her Clan in accordance with your will.

The medicine cat and the apprentice lay down and have a dream from StarClan.