[Starfall]

It never got easier. He'd hauled himself up this rock more than he could count, he'd hauled himself up the Fourstones, as a leader, two times total now. Yet this climb was the hardest of all. Claws scraped against the stone as he slowly made his way to the top. It felt heavier this time, felt as though something was pulling on his fur, trying to get him to stop, make him fall. A long exhale squeezed past his lips, which was followed by a sharp inhale as he hauled himself up and over the last little bit of the Streamstone, now promptly standing on the smooth surface of the top. It felt like he was being crushed, as though the rock beneath him would break beneath the amount of pressure that pressed itself up against his shoulders, his back. Each step took all his strength, even then, the tips of his paws dragged against the dewy stone. Eventually he made it near the edge, just close enough so the clan can see him. His breath was shaky, uneven, as if he had just sprinted to clearing and up the Streamstone. As he opened his mouth to begin the announcements, that pressure became 2x heavier, which caused a hiss to escape from his throat. The voices also got louder, the wails, screams, hisses, all of it made him feel as though his head was going to split.

"All cats old enough to catch their own fish meet below the Streamstone for a clan meeting!" he called, voice hoarse, as though he had been screaming at the top of his lungs for hours.

The burly tom took a second to catch his breath, his paws shifted so that it was easier to stand up straight. His legs ached, though he hadn't done anything except attend a dawn patrol today. He grit his teeth and lifted his head slightly "We have some kits who have reached the age of 6 moons and are to be apprenticed." he tried to make the words sound smoother, roll of the tongue better rather than feel like sandpaper on his throat. It only worked a little bit. Each word held some gruffness, yet they were smoother than his announcement about the ceremonies. "Cedarkit, Sootkit, Silverkit and Pebblekit, please step forward." [ @Suspiciousmindz @ponyapan ] he watched as the four kits waddled toward the front of the crowd, just below the moss covered boulder. Lapis hues locked onto the middle one for a good few seconds, worry washing over him. Of course he couldn't explain it. Was it the fact that he was preparing four innocent kits for a war that he threw his clan into based on his own brash behavior? "You four have reached the age of 6 moons, it is time for you to be apprenticed and assigned a mentor." he stated. "Cedarkit, from this moment on, until you are given your warrior name, you will be known as Cedarpaw, you mentor will be Firehawk. [ @doug. ] I'm sure he will pass down all he knows unto you." he took a quick inhale of breath that continued on, wasting no time. He wanted to get off this rock, with each passing second it felt as though his head was closer to splitting and his bones closer to breaking. Sootkit, from this moment on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Sootpaw. Your mentor will be Robinwood [ @No One's Beeswax ] I'm sure they will pass down all they know unto you." It was getting harder to breathe. "Silverkit, you have reached the age of 6 moons and have become of apprentice age. From this moment on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Silverpaw. Your mentor shall be Suneyes. They will pass down all they know unto you." his head was spinning, the voices were getting warped, his legs were visibly shaking now. He was on the last amount of strength he had. The black tom's breathing had become even more erratic, ears pinned to the sides of his skull. Why? "Lastly, Pebblekit. From this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Pebblepaw. Your mentor will be Cloverheart. They will teach you all they know. " the last sentence was rushed out, as if he was out of air, voice hoarse.

Fallenstar sat himself down abruptly, eyes half idled, brows knit together. He needed to breathe, take a second, but, at the same time he wanted to get this over with so he could get off this forsaken rock. "Next. We have apprentices who have proven that they are ready to become warriors." inhale, exhale. Repeat. "Swallowpaw, Lilacpaw, and Splatterpaw, please step toward the Streamstone." 'Focus on this, focus on this. Focus on the task at paw.' "Swallowpaw [ @AquaSlice ], do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your clan, even if it costs you your life?"

"I do."

Than by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Swallowpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Swallowtail. Starclan honors your loyalty and bravery."

"Next. Lilacpaw. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your clan, even if it costs you your life?"

"I do."

Than by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Lilacpaw, from this moment forwards, you will be known as Lilacbreeze for your hunting skills and courage."

"And last, but not least, Splatterpaw [ @RedHead ] . Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your clan even if it costs you your life?"

"I do."

"Than by the Powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Splatterpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Splatterberry, Starclan honors your kindness and bravery."

He spat it all out as fast as he could, tried to get the words out of his throat and off his tongue. He was surprised he was spitting out the correct words. He had repeated words during the apprentice ceremony that needn't be repeated, but so far, that was his only mess up.

He took a second to even out his breathing the best he could. He felt hot, as if he was dipped in a fire. "Which brings us to our next ceremony. Duskclaw, please step forward." he stated. He had only done an elder ceremony once so far, it was still a vivid memory that was becoming warped due to the voices in his head.

"Duskclaw, is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go join the elders?"

"It is."

"Riverclan honors you and all the service you have given to us. May Starclan give you many moons of rest." His ears twitched as his clanmates called out the toms name, and lapis hues watched as the new elder padded off to the elders den. There was always an odd feeling that swirled in his gut whenever he observed an elders ceremony. Something off. It was even more evident now that he was the one conducting it.

"Next, we have a newcomer wishing to join the Ranks of Riverclan. She has proven her loyalty and her willingness to fight by our side. Willow, please take a step forward." this ceremony was one he had definitely memorized. It seemed as though there were more and more kittypets and loners wishing to join Riverclan now a days. "Willow, you have proven to me that you will be loyal to Riverclan and do anything in your power to help. From this moment on, you will be known as Willowshine."

"We also have a returning member who wishes to restart. Starling, please step toward the Streamstone."

"You have stated that you would like to rejoin Riverclan under a new name. You have proven to me that you are sincere and truly wish to help Riverclan strive. Starling, from this moment on, you will be known as Starlake. Welcome home."

This next ceremony made the toms blood boil. He had only needed to conduct this ceremony once before, near the very beginning of his leadership. Bad memories resurfaced, which made the voices gurgle with joy. Maybe it was because at that time, he wasn't as broken as he was now. That's what he wanted to believe anyways.

"Hawktalon, you are to give up your warrior title and leave Riverclan. Due to feeding a kit deathberries. You are exiled from Riverclan as well as Riverclans territories, we will escort you out by force if needed, but I believe you can find the exit yourself." this time, he made it evident in his voice that that was a threat to his life. He didn't need a repeat of what happened last time he exiled a warrior. The leader slid his claws out just in case and kept a close eye on the tom as he opened his maw "This concludes the clan meeting, dismissed."