ceremonies.

[LOST]

ceremonies

moving up in the world

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Leader:
Clan leaders are the heart of the clan; their personality affects how the clan operates and how their warriors treat one another and the world around them. It is up to the clan leaders to set a good example and guide their clan mates along the path of the warrior code. They are responsible for calling clan meetings, appointing warriors, mentors, and apprentices, and deciding the policy and strategy with the help of their deputy and any cats they choose to consult with for help (usually medicine cats, elders, or senior warriors.)

When a cat becomes clan leader, he or she must travel to the Moonstone and share tongues with the warrior ancestors of Starclan. The clan's medicine cat accompanies them on the journey but leaves them alone for the ceremony, in which the leader is granted eight extra lives and a new name with "star" at the end.

This process can be surprising and painful, but it is important for leaders to be able to fight fiercely for their clan and live long enough to pass along their wisdom and prepare a new leader. During the ceremony, each life is given to the new leader by a cat whose life was significant to the new leader in some way.

When a leader loses a life, he or she blacks out for a short period of time, during which that cat visits Starclan and speaks with its warrior ancestors. On returning to consciousness, the leader must still recover from the injury or illness that felled him or her. Medicine cats can usually tell how many lives a leader has left, although the number is kept secret from rival clans.

Deputies:
Leader: "I say these words before the body of [previous deputy], so that his spirit may hear and approve my choice. [New Deputy] will be the new deputy of [Clan]."

Apprentices:
Leader: "By name apprentices, we show that [Clan] will survive and remain strong. [Kit Name], from now on you will be known as [Apprentice Name]. [Warrior Name], you are ready for an apprentice. You will mentor [New apprentice]. [Mentor's name], you have shown yourself to be a warrior of [Virtue #1] and [Virtue #2]. I'm sure you will pass on all you know to this apprentice." New apprentice and mentor touch noses.

New Mentor Naming:
Leader: "I call upon my warrior ancestors to give this apprentice a new mentor. [Apprentice name], you have lost your first mentor, so your new mentor will be [New mentor's name]"
Mentor and apprentice touch noses.

Warriors:
Leader: "[Mentors name], are you satisfied that this apprentice is ready to become a warrior?"

Mentor: "Yes, she/he is ready"

Leader: "I [Leader name], leader of [Clan name] call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon 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. [Apprentice name], do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend this 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 name], from now on, you will be known as[ Warrior name]. [Clan name] welcomes you as a full warrior."
Leader rests his or her muzzle atop the new warriors head, the warrior licks his/her should in respect.

Elders:
Leader: "[Warrior name], is it your wish to give up the name of warrior and go to join the elders?"

New elder: "It is"

Leader: "Your clan honors you and all the service you have given us. I call upon Starclan to give you many seasons of rest."

New Name:
Leader: "I call upon my warrior ancestors to take away the name of this cat. For it now longer stands for who she/he is. [Cat name], from now on, you shall be known as [New name].

Medicine Cat Apprentice:
Medicine Cat: "[Apprentice name], is it your wish to enter into the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?"

Medicine Cat Apprentice: "It is."

Medicine Cat: "Then come forward"

Apprentice obliges.

Medicine Cat: "Warriors of StarClan, I present to you this apprentice. She/he has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant her/him your wisdom and insight so that she/he may understand your ways and heal her/his Clan in accordance with your will. Now lay down next to the stone."

Medicine Cat:
Medicine Cat: "I, [Med. cat], medicine cat of [Clan name], call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She/he has trained hard to understand the way of a medicine cat, and with your help, she/he will serve his/her Clan for many moons. [Apprentice name], do you promise to uphold the way 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?"

Medicine Cat Apprentice: "I do."

Medicine Cat: "Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your true name as a medicine cat. [Apprentice name], from this moment you shall be known as [New med. cat name].