SkyClan Warrior Assessments

• Leafclaw apprentices undergo an exam of agility and speed: the Branching Exam. In order to pass, the apprentice must pass a series of tests while in the trees instructed by their mentor. It can range from chasing a squirrel to climbing challenges to a race with a fellow leafclaw.
  

• While in the trees, usually right after they complete the Branching Exam, leafclaw apprentices must deliberately frighten a bird into taking wing off of a branch. They must leap and catch the bird while in the air and then land safely in order to pass.
  

• Graduating leafclaw apprentices must spy on the head leafclaw from the canopy. In order to pass the Sky-Ambush Exam, they must drop down and tackle the senior warrior without alerting them to their presence.
  

• Reflective of the Brush Crawl they did to become apprentices, apprentices must hunt in the thickest undergrowth in SkyClan territory - the brambles of the Pine Grove. In order to pass, they must hunt down the small prey of their mentor's choice and remain unseen AND unheard in the foliage throughout the exam. There will be other fernclaws in the area, watching for signs of the hunt.
  

• A warrior is sent to hide in any one of the burrows in SkyClan territory. The fernclaw apprentice must track and discover the hideaway in the allotted window of time, or they do not pass.
  

• The fernclaw apprentice is taken to the Sandfern Arena to battle against the head fernclaw. They must pin them once, down on their back, in order to pass the exam. If they are pinned first, they do not pass.
  

☀ Unlike in canon, it is not only the leader who commends the new apprentice into warriorhood. The head leafclaw or fernclaw (depending on the apprentice) reports to the Clan the results of the apprentice's three exams, and then commends them to the leader as worthy or unworthy of becoming a warrior based on the results.

☀ The Clan leader is the one to speak the ceremonial words to graduate the apprentice into a warrior, personalizing the ceremony to cater to their individual qualities and skills.

☀ On rare occasions, a head warrior may decide that an apprentice is unfit to become a warrior. This could be because of an inappropriate or reckless attitude, or stigma (for example, if the kit is the result of a controversial couple). The leader can choose to honor this decision. The apprentice can overrule this by winning a duel in the Sandfern Arena against the head warrior.

☀ Both fernclaw and leafclaw apprentices must sit vigil for one night after becoming a warrior. They are not confined to camp, however, and may travel anywhere in the territory they desire to sit in silent reverence. Senior warriors, even the deputy or leader, may join the apprentice in silent vigil if compelled or particularly proud of their achievements!