Ferventprayer watched quietly as the ceremony was announced, her heart beating quickly in her chest. Her father had already told her that she was to participate this year, and.... Her eyes drifted over to where Bravepaw also stood watching Bloodystar. Her father had made it clear who he wanted her to be with, but she couldn't. She couldn't do that to Bravepaw, to Tenebrousrequiem, to herself. 

She tried not to look at Tenebrousrequiem, so that Bloodystar wouldn't realize anything was amiss. Yes she would run this year as her father wanted, but It wouldn't be Bravepaw who caught her, and once it was done even her father couldn't argue about her choice. They would officially be mates in the view of the clan and the Sun God. It felt wrong to against her father's wishes, but Tenebrousrequiem was right. It was time for her to make it clear what she wanted. Bloodystar loved her, and he would just have to understand. However just in case her father tried to stop it, she stayed away from Tenebrousrequiem until the event would begin, until it was to late for Bloodystar to change the course of events to come.

Walking over to the paints, she dabbed a pretty lavender onto her own nose to go along with the rest of her body paint
-Jetclaw  Honeystorm


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Unseenlights was nearly fuming after Bloodystar's announcement "Duskslayer, he has really lost it this time" her tail lashed from one side to the area already scenting the air for the familiar smell of her children. She had been ok with them running if the they wished to do so, but last year if someone that you didn't like you could simply tell them no. She herself had run, only to be very disappointed when Duskslayer hadn't. The mate choosing ceremony had been something fun and cute for cats to show off to one another, not some contest where if you got caught you had to accept the results regardless of how you felt about them. This was turning an important life decision into more of a contest of strength and speed "We can't let our children run in this. They deserve to be happy and have their choice in mate not be forced into something with someone they don't care about. We need to find them" 
 - Faith - 


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Darkpaw stood close to his sister Soaringpaw, her silent guardian . He hadn't really intended on participating in this event, but the ceremony springs would freeze over before he allowed someone that Soaringpaw didn't approve of to get to close to her. So if she decided to run, than so would he in order to protect her from unwanted suiters. Besides none of other apprentices had proved themselves worthy of her affections. He tilted his head in silent question to her. Would she run? Jadie

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Carrottop purred nuzzling up against Dappledbreeze "This sounds like fun" He and Dappledbreeze were mates, but participating in this ceremony would make it more official and set them on a path towards marriage. He wasn't sure if she was ready for that big of a step though, so he didn't want to pressure her into anything. There wasn't really any reason to do so other than to have a little bit of fun and to become engaged to become married "but I will leave the decision in your paws. I am already happy with how our relationship is now, so don't feel like this is something you have to do" cookie

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Alios slipped through the crowd quietly watching. Honestly the whole thing seemed rather silly, a game that a kit or apprentice might come up with. Choosing a mate wasn't a game, it was a decision with long last effects that would reverberate through ones life for a long time. Yet despite her reservations and the sheer silliness of it all, she caught Silverdragon's eye giving him a slight smile as she dabbed a light blue onto her nose without breaking eye contact. It was time to see what he had learned, as she broke to join the other she-cats at the starting line. Nova

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Silverfringe tugged on Sorrowfularia color, keeping them close to her side so they wouldn't get any funny ideas. After the collar she had gotten him originally had been given away she had went out and found another one though it wasn't as elegant as what she had wanted. This one was brightly color tie dye with a bow tie on it, but it would have to do for now. After his constant running away she wasn't about to let them any where near this ceremony without some assurance that they wouldn't be going any where. Sorrowfularia was hers and hers alone.The leash connected to his collar was carefully tied to herself "Don't even think about it" she warned Honeystorm

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Havenpaw looked at the colors spread out at the bottom of the hill. Most of the girls were going for pinks and purples...GROSS.... No she wanted something more bold and defining. But what color to choose? Finally she settled on a bright Blue like her eyes, it was a bold choice for a bold she-cat who could really care less about what others though about her. To be honest she didn't even really care about choosing a mate but her mother had insisted that she run in the hopes that one of the Clan's toms would be able to tame her wild daughter a little bit. Really Havenpaw just thought that his would be a bit of fun to show off just how much better she was than the toms that padded after her. After all she was stunningly beautiful when she wasn't covered in mud and grime from her training. After a few moments she spotted her brother Harmoniouspaw doing his best to stay out of the ceremony. She grinned mischeviously, dipping her paw into the bright red paint and sneaking up. By the time he realized what was happening it would be to late, as her paw flashed outwards dapping it onto his nose "You better run to, or when its over there will be more than just red paint on your pelt" Nova  meow

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Mangoliablush shyly dabbed on some pink paint onto her nose. She had a certain tom in mind, but had been to afraid to express how she felt about him thus far. Every time they got close, she would blush and start stuttering despite her normally eloquent tongue. So it was now or never, this was the only way she was going to get to tell him, without actually having to use her words. She could show him how she felt Nova

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Vintagepaw had made sure that she looked her best today, her pelt was well groomed and painted to perfection. He designs blending flawlessly from one to the next in perfect harmony. She had her eye looking out for a certain male apprentice in the crowd. If Pebblepaw wanted to make things official he was going to have to work for it, and she truely hoped he would. If he could prove himself today than kits were in the cards for them in the near future. cookie

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Ferventprayer joined the other she-cats, feeling like there was a cold stone in her stomach weighing her down. She had never went against her father's wishes before, and the thought of doing it now had her emotions reeling. She could almost feel Bloodystar's gaze on her, even though she was pretty sure he had more important things to worry about than what she was doing in this particular moment. When Resilientbloom joined her, she smiled slightly despite the look of utter terror on her sisters face "I'm sure it will be fine" she placed her paw onto her sisters gently

"Look" she looked over to where Duskslayer and Unseenlights seemed to be gathering their kits up to leave "I don't think they are even going to run, and even if they did I don't think Darkpaw is going to cause you any trouble" she let her fur brush against her sisters "Just go straight back to camp, and don't wait on me" Jetclaw


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Unseenlights followed after her mate, staying close as he helped guide her through the crowd, both of them being on the same page that this wasn't going to happen "Agreed, once we are out of here we can make a day of it" she purred, her long fur brushing against Duskslayer so that she wouldn't loose him in the crowd of cats at the ceremony springs. Crowds always made it more difficult for her to navigate, the confusing mix of vibrations, scents, and sounds "and I would love to meet anyone you have your eye on"

Darkpaw nudged Soaringpaw, tilting his head to one side "Leave?"
Jadie Honeystorm Faith

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If Silverdragon thought that he was going to be able to participate without his brother giving him a hard time, he was sorely mistaken as the large black furred tom nudged his shoulder harder than he had originally intended laughing loudly "Oh brother, its seems like I will finally get to meet this mysterious girl of yours" he wasn't being subtle at all, nearly announcing to everyone that his straightlaced prude of a brother was finally going after a girl "Its about time, and I can only imagine who it might be" his golden eyes scanning the assembling she-cats as if trying to pick her out of the crowd "Sure ya don't want to tell me whom it is? Otherwise I may just end up with her after all" he winked  Nova

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Havenpaw had a big grin on her face, despite her brother's misgivings "Oh I look forward to it. But you know mom would end up lecturing all of us if you don't run" she danced out of his reach just in case he decided to take a good swipe at her "I'm running, Handsomepaw is running, so you have to. Its only fair" she declared not really caring who over heard her "I don't see the big deal, after all, all you have to do is protect your nose and you are golden" She was giggling sounding a little more girly and giddy  "Now don't give me that look, you will thank me later when you can sleep in peace without mom giving you a lecture. Just don't loose" she winked tilting her head to the side "Ok?" Nova

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Magnoliablush felt her cheeks grow hot at his touch as suddenly her crush was standing there before her. She shuffled her paws "I...djhk. jkehlkj" she tried to reply but her words came out as a jumbled mess of letters and sounds that were nearly impossible to understand as she got flustered "YES!" She nearly shrieked, embarrassed as she ducked down, and then darted off towards the other she-cats Nova

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Crownedstag burst into laughter at his now red faced brother "now everyone can see you blushing as clearly as I can" but despite himself he reach up to wipe away some of the dripping paint away from his brothers face. It helped some, but there was no cleaning away the majority of it "I hope whoever this she-cat is that she likes red"

Alios had faded in with the other she-cat but she couldn't hide the amused smirk on her face from seeing the events unfolding at the paint Nova


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Havenpaw giggled "now don't be that way Harmoniouspaw. Of course I am taking this seriously. What other time do I get literal permission to beat up the boys  who think they are all so great and better than she-cats? I fully intend on teaching them a lesson that they won't soon forget" her claws dug into the soft ground with a purr "Who knows when I will get this chance again. A lot of these toms need some sense beat into them"Nova  


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Tangledpaw had picked a bright orange paint for his nose, that complimented his curly pelt. He had his eyes a certain she-cat apprentice, and hoped that he would be able to prove to her that he was serious about their relationship after their... interesting... first date. @samiam

Silverdragon lamented a bit as he shook the red paint from his paws. His brother was right; he was definitely as red as the paint he now had all over his nose. He just hoped that Alios hadn’t seen it. Silverdragon would never live it down. “Yes well...” He said, quickly learning his throat. “Probably should have chosen a different color. Red was never really my color.” He grumbled racer

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“Please do try to leave them in one piece.” Harmoniouspaw lamented. “You know how mother gets when you beat up the other toms... and do be careful, they could be bigger than you. If you really don’t want them pinning you down, kick them by their hind legs. You’d be surprised how much that hurts. And if you really need to give them a good bap, try to keep your claws sheathed... unless they really deserve it. Other than that, just scream. I’m sure Handsomepaw or myself will be able to come and help you.” racer

Havenpaw rolled her eyes "Like I would need your help" she shouldered him roughly while beginning to head towards the other she-cats "If theY defeated me you and Handsomepaw wouldn't stand a chance. We all know that I am the best fighter? she had a big grin on her face half debating on turning around and pinning him just to make a point, but only hesitating because of the implications that it would make "Don't worry if some mean scary she-cat tries to get you scream, and I will come to your rescue... Oh and keep an eyes on Handsomepaw or me. He'lll probably try and make a run for it, but if he does Cherrypaw will have his hide" she giggled, before running off to join the others Nova  Honeystorm


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Silverfringe shrugged "Then you should have gotten it back from Perfectstorm and we wouldn't be in this predicament" her eyes were watching their kits as they got ready to run "They grow up so fast" she purred, keeping a tight grip on his leash "I think its about time we consider another litter" Honeystorm

Bleedingheart looked around at all the other cats with paint on their noses. Her own paint matched her eyes and stood out well on her white nose. It seemed like many apprentices were running this year and she hoped none of them would go after her. She didn’t mind them running, but she did not want to end up with a cat that much younger than her. She did have kits after all. So it was nice to see some of the other warriors joining in as well. Part of her wasn’t sure though if she wanted a mate just yet, at least if she just out ran them and ended up in camp she would be fine.