Jones called Leonard and Nicoma to her hut. "Leonard Plant," she said. "Over the past year you have trained your apprentice to the best of your abilities."

"Yes," Leonard answered, forcing back a smile. He needed to keep this as formal as he possibly could.

"Nicoma Stone, over the past year you have learned from your mentor at the best of your abilities," she stated, facing her with a sliver of a smile.

"Yes," NIcoma said as Leonard had. She was curious, she had an idea of what was going on but she didn't want to get too excited about anything just incase.

"Very well then," Jones said. "I believe you should step up your preformance, Stone, though I am not critisizing the way you learned, and become a second-stage apprentice. Out of the three paths we offer, which would you like to choose? A artisian, as your mentor; a healer; or a warrior, as with Picoli?"

"A warrior." Nicoma said without hesitation. She knew that that was where she belonged, though being an artisian looked fun.

Jones grinned. "As you travel along the path of a warrior, I appoint Tanya Picoli as your mentor to guide your way through for your first year. We thank Leonard Plant for bringing you to a shallower area for your first year in the Tribes, but it is Picoli's job to bring you to the shallows. Nicoma Stone, only you can decide whether your fate rests lost in the waters, or if your feet will plant firmly on the ground.

"Welcome to the Fire Tribe, Nicoma Stone. We are glad you have chosen the path of a warrior. A warrior who will protect her Tribe from danger in the future." Jones took a step forward and rested her hand on the second-stage apprentice's shoulder. "Well done."

Leonard couldn't help himself but clap. He then rushed out of the hut to fetch Nicoma's new mentor.

"Tanya, Tanya!" he cried. "Jones needs you in her hut."

Picoli's eyes widened for a minute, taking in Leonard's joyous face. "What happened?" she asked curiously.

"Just go and find out for yourself," was his reply.

Picoli wove down the short path and arrived in the hut. "Plant said you needed me?" she asked the leader.

"Yes," Jones answered. "I have given you the honor of helping Nicoma through her first year as a warrior. Will you accept?"

Picoli let out a breath and loosened up. "Of course," she said, "as long as you will have me as your mentor." She looked to Stone with soft eyes.

"Of course I will have you as my mentor." Nicoma said. This was the happiest day of her life. She was going to train to be a warrior!

"When will we start?"

Jones shook her head, trying to keep a smile from her face. "You may start when your mentor says you may start," she answered. "You are dismissed."

Picoli dipped her head respectfully to her Tribe leader and stepped outside the door. To answer her new apprentice's question, she said, "We'll start when the Tribe hustles across the camp to do their jobs. I'll see you then."

"Okay." Nicoma said. She took that as a cue that she could leave and walked to her hut. She tried to contain her feelings until she got inside her hut, as soon as she was alone she jumped up and down with a huge grin on her face. This was the greatest! She was now a second stage apprentice.

"I can't believe this. I made it!" She told herself happily.

[[OOC: We'll skip to the Gathering now, I guess. No need to stretch out her training. I know probably just about as much as you about fighting. I would never be able to teach it online in a story!]]