moonpool trek {for tigerlily}

[wildstar.]

The sun died and fell into the lake, turning the usually blue waters blood red. A classically striped tabby tom stood at the crest of the slope, overlooking the calm lake with a sigh in his heart. His eyes with clouded with worry. Any heartbeat now he would leave with one of his warriors to go to the Moonpool to receive his nine lives from StarClan. Fear shook his body, masking over his worry. What if StarClan didn't except him? After all, hardly any of the Clan enjoyed the idea of him becoming leader. Maybe they had some other cat in mind to lead ThunderClan. The idea of another cat in charge excited him. He wasn't looking forward to being the leader. He'd be in charge of so many cats... He frowned. I hope Thornstar chose well. I don't think I'll be a good leader, but for the sake of my Clan, I'll have to be one. StarClan depends on me now. I can't let them down, Wildpath thought. But the idea of being a leader still stunned him. He was like a deer in the eyes of a monster - stone still. Why had the leader before him chosen him to succeed him? It was still a mystery to the striped-tom. Shaking his head, he looked up at the chilly sky. The stars shown brilliantly. The sun was below the horizon now, and most of the sky was dark blue. But the lake was still blood red. He ignored the lake, and stared at the stars a bit longer. StarClan was looking after him, after all. It restored his confidence, powering him to go to the Moonpool. Bravely, with a quick shake of his whiskers, he jumped to his paws. He was ready to receive his nine lives and name from StarClan.

He turned around, and looked away into the forest where the Moonpool was. "You ready to go?" Wildpath asked the warrior that was accompanying him to the Moonpool. He was only taking one cat because he couldn't spare any more. The cat that he had chosen was a she-cat named Tigerlily. She was a fine, nice warrior. She was younger than Wildpath, but he trusted her. That was why she was coming with him. "I'm ready to go, Tigerlily." Turning away from the fire-orange she-cat, he padded toward the Moonpool. Since they were just by the lake in front of the camp, there was still a long walk to go. He imagined how awkward it would be, trotting side-by-side with a she-cat. It was a weird picture. Wildpath, with a lady? Him? He was no smooth-talker to the gals, but now that he was leader, he thought it may be easier. She-cats always had a thing for leaders, right? They just wanted their paws on a leader...? Wildpath had no idea, for he knew nothing of them. Girls were so weird! His kitten-like thoughts were boosting his cheerfulness, making a purr escape from his chest. He paused and looked back at Tigerlily. "Okay, if we're both all set, then let's get started." With a wink of his yellow eyes and a swish of his fluffy, black-striped tail, Wildpath was off.


OOC: Very sorry for the shortness. :c I have no muse to start a thread right now.

[tigerlilly]

The lake was beautiful. It was something that she had noticed as an apprentice, when her mentor had taken her up this way and told her to look out and tell him what she saw. The sun had been setting that day, just as it was now, transforming the clear waters into a deep red color. Then, it had only been she and her elderly mentor, discussing how beautiful the falling sun made the forest look. And then they had walked back in silence to camp, where she was made a warrior the next day. She discovered later on, after he had passed away, the reason for bringing her here that day. This had been Badgerstripe's favorite spot. It had been where his mentor had brought him, and where he had brought his mate before they found out she was pregnant. It was special to him, full of love and peace. Tigerlilly had been his last and most formidable apprentice in his opinion, and he had wanted to share the way the sun set just right and how the water quietly lapped at the bank with her. It was where she disappeared to when in need of a good talk with herself, when she needed to get some air and be away from her clans for a while. So it was a little.. odd, for lack of a better word, to see someone sharing some kind of moment with her spot.

The slight chill in the air made the ginger fur along her shoulders bristle as she watched Wildpath from a few yards back, half in and half out of the shadows. Glancing up at the sky, she watched as the stars twinkled back at her. The spirits of former clan cats, all watching down on Thunderclan's deputy for this very important night. StarClan, please grant us with safe travel. She blinked her yellow eyes, returning her gaze to the back of the deputy's head. Her paws itched, as she was ready to be on the move. She was excited for the trip, as she'd never been anywhere close to the moon pool before. Honestly, she didn't even know why Wildpath had chosen her to go with him. Sure, she was loyal to Thunderclan, and she had congratulated him when he had been chosen as Thornstar's deputy when the rest of the clan seemed to be.. disappointed? Her tail twitched, and she stifled a cough as the tom finally rose to his paws. Was he ready to go now? The moon pool was not exactly around the corner, and she wanted to get on the move before midnight. It would be harder to travel in the dark.

She lifted her head as he spoke to her. 'You ready to go?' "Yes, I'm ready." Her voice was calm, but her eyes were bright with adventure as if she were an apprentice again. He turned away from her then, and she also rose to her paws and flicked her tail. It felt as if they had been sitting there for hours. Her legs were stiff, and she shook them out as if ridding them of bedding. She smiled at him as he looked back at her, trying to push her confidence into him. He would be a good leader. There was no reason for him to not be. Trotting quickly, she caught up with him. "So, Wildpath.." she purred easily, looking at him out of the corner of her yellow eye. Clearing her throat, she started again. "I want to thank you for bringing me along on this trip tonight." She didn't know if he wanted to talk about what the trip was actually for, so she had decided to play the conversation safe.

[wildstar.]

They'll accept me. I know they will. Thornstar had a prophecy of succession for my family, which would come after great deaths. Yes, my parents and sister are dead. But Oceankit and Bramblepath are still living. There have been deaths, but no succession, besides me becoming deputy. But a tiny flicker of doubt stretched across his mind as he thought about this. Maybe being a deputy is my success? What about leader? Perhaps I was only meant to be a deputy after all, instead of leading a Clan. For a heartbeat, he wondered whether or not he should turn back with Tigerlily. It wasn't too late to forget about the Clan and run off to be a loner. But he knew that wasn't the right chose. If StarClan had something for him, then he knew he must answer the call instead of being a coward. Why would StarClan want Thornstar to pick him as a deputy, but then not become the leader after him? It was in the warrior code that a deputy must succeed the leader before him or her, unless objected by another cat who thought the new leader couldn't do the job right. Even though most of the cats didn't want him to become the deputy, no cat had questioned him whenever Thornstar died whether he would be the leader or not. So that decided it. No longer would Wildpath question why Thornstar had chosen him. He probably saw the leader in the tabby cat, and chose him as his deputy. If a cat didn't like him, that was their lose. Wildpath though he was a great cat, even if others didn't. His thoughts cheered him up, making a purr escape his throat. He couldn't wait to return to ThunderClan as the new leader. It made his paws prick, eager to run instead of walk.

"So Wildpath... I'd want to thank you for bringing me along on this trip tonight," the fire-striped she-cat meowed. She was up to pace with him. He looked over at her, and nervousness itched his spine. He wasn't good with girls, which was something rare for toms. The ThunderClan cat looked away, blushing slightly. He hoped that she didn't notice that he had stared at her. "Of course. You're a good, loyal warrior, Tigerlily. You were one of the few cats that accepted me whenever I was made deputy." He ducked his head. He would have thanked her for what she had done, but it was in the past. He didn't want to dwell on it. So the two Clan cats trotted side-by-side, pelts blending into one. Black tabby mixed with orange tabby. For once in the past moons, Wildpath was at peace. He was with a kind cat who liked him, and he was ThunderClan's new leader. What could go wrong? StarClan would accept him - he was sure of that now. But Wildpath felt a cold, ominous wind blow over him. Something was about to happen. He didn't know what, but he could tell that it meant danger to the cats of all Clans. Whatever StarClan told him this night, would it effect Clan life? After all, whenever new leaders received their nine lives, it was usually followed by an omen or sign. They weren't always good. They predicted the future. Narrowing his yellow-green eyes, Wildpath chipped in, "Why don't we speed up? In truth, I'm eager to get to the Moonpool so we can get back to ThunderClan quicker." He didn't speak of his fears the the nice warrior, nor did he wait for an answer. Now that he was leader, he could do pretty much anything he wanted. Sure, he wasn't a medicine cat, and didn't want to sit in camp all day, sorting herbs. But what he did know was that he was a leader. ThunderClan's leader. Picking up the pace, Wildpath sped through trees, trees, trees, and more trees. There seemed like no end to trees, until, finally, they had reached the moors. Wildpath slowed down to a steady walk. Ahead, he could see the stream, with was just downstream of the Moonpool. "Come on!" he yowled loudly. "Let's go."

[Stormbelly]

Give me a break, I’m melting away, you’re so dangerous…

The moon glanced off the white and gray pelt of the she-warrior as she slid through the thick brush of ThunderClan territory. A faint breeze stirred the woods, the wind ruffling her pelt and bringing with it a myriad of scents to shift through and sort. Darkness was creeping through the forest like a snake through the undergrowth, nearly taking her by surprise at it’s swift descent. Her bright yellow-gold eyes glowed vibrantly in the night, catching the last, faint glimmerings of sunlight as it finally disappeared over the horizon. She saw easily in the dark, picking a silent path along the trails well-worn and well used by her clan mates and herself.

There was no conscious thought involved in choosing her path; she’d been born here, grown up here, and she’d spent her entire life here; she knew these trails like the back of her paws. Parting her jaws to drink in the scents around d her, Stormbelly picked up the one she was searching for, and quickened her pace. She slid along quietly, pausing for a heartbeat on the crest of a small rise that dipped below towards the lake. Her whiskers twitched as the scent of her leader, or soon to be true leader, drifted towards her, and she angled her body in his direction. Wildpath had been going to the Moonpool to receive his nine lives, but the warrior he had chosen to go with him, Tigerlily, had come back to camp to instruct another warrior to take her place. She seemed too tired to travel so far, and Stormbelly had happily volunteered.

The stars of Silverpelt gleamed on the surface of the lake as Stormbelly padded down the slope, her paws sliding smoothly across the grass. She caught the faint outline of her leader near the edge of the lake, and then realized he was already moving. Had he elected to go alone? Hesitating only momentarily, Stormbelly quickly put on a burst of speed and surged forward, skidding to a halt at his side. She tilted her head to observe him from the side, smiling faintly as she dipped her head in greeting. “Evening, Wildpath,” she mewed, sounding excited to be able to stretch her paws, if only for a little while.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Tigerlily asked if any of the warriors wanted to go and I’d much rather get out and stretch my legs than sleep tonight. It is a nice night, after all; why spend it in a den?” She seemed at ease, her good-natured, calm personality allowing her to travel with her leader in an amiable atmosphere, one she didn’t seem disturbed by. She angled her ears towards him, her paws flowing smoothly over the rocks and then the grass as they traveled to the Moonpool. “Are you excited?” she asked curiously, flicking his shoulder with her tail. “I wonder what it’s like to receive nine lives from StarClan. I bet it’ll be wonderful.”


ooc: Hope it's cool that I kinda just...slippedher in that way. If not, tell me and I'll modify her post. =)

…Or is it too late? Gotta know what’s on your mind.

[wildstar.]

WILDPATH
and you still won't hear me.
i'm going under.

I'm scared... Wildpath thought as he drew nearer to the Moonpool. His striped ears folded back onto his head with fear. A frown laced his lips, grim but full of determination for the almost finishsed journey. Wildpath had nearly convinced himself that StarClan would accept him, but the closer he got to the Moonpool, the more doubtful he was. It made his mind swim with questions that remained unanswered. He looked over his bold shoulder and saw Tigerlily not far behind. She was lagging, which was something they both didn't need for the trek. Sympathy washed over him for her. She must be tired. The new leader could feel fatigue gripping his paws, threatening to drag him to the ground. But there was also fear and excitement mixed in there, which is the only reason why Wildpath continued on. But Tigerlily couldn't have felt those emotions - she wasn't becoming a leader. "Why don't you go back to camp? I can carry on from here, Tigerlily." I hope she doesn't disagree... he thought, his yellow eyes flashing in the darkness. Wildpath took another glance behind him, and noticed that the orange she-cat was gone.

Go get rest, Tigerlily. You deserve it, he thought, then carried on by himself. The trip to the Moonpool was going by quicker than he thought it would. It was much quieter without Tigerlily or any other cat keeping him company. But his Clan needed to rest, for tomorrow they would have a new leader. "Wildstar," he whispered his soon-to-be name under his breath. It sounded sweet, like a primrose. A purr caught in his throat. It had been such a long time since he was happy that it nearly surprised him. He loved the sound of it. Although ThunderClan hadn't accepted him when he was named the new deputy, he was proud to be their leader. Anyway, that was in the past. It was time to get ready for the future. Most of the cats now wanted him to be the leader, saying he would be the obvious choice. Anyway, it was traditional for the deputy to become the leader after the death of the former leader. Anything that went wrong during that process was rare.

Suddenly, he heard ferns rustling, then a gust of wind. By his side now was a fairly pretty gray-and-white she-cat. He heard her speaking, but he hardly heard. He was concentrating on the Moonpool trek. His handsome yellow gaze glared down at his tan paws, thinking for a moment. "Hello, Stormbelly," he meowed blankly. He continued to climb the slope, being careful not to slip and fall. The tom waited a moment before replying, "It's fine. I don't mind waiting." It was a lie, actually, since he hadn't been waiting for his Clanmate. Plus, impatient growled at his belly, flaming up through his entire body. "Yes. I cannot wait," Wildpath growled. It sounded sarcastic, but it was too late to shove the words back in his mouth. He looked over as he caught the part about it being wonderful about receiving nine lives. What's so wonderful about worrying whether or not StarClan will accept you? And Wildpath had heard, when a new leader receives his nine lives, that it usually hurts depending on the cat and power it has granted you. But he also heard that sometimes lives given may be sweet, warm, and loving. He hoped he would see his sister there. Maybe even his parents would given him nine lives. And Thornstar.

Silently padding in the shadows, walking in a perfect line, Wildpath heard the rush of water before he saw it. Climbing uphill had done it's part. His legs were aching for a rest. It was overcome with exhilaration. Quickly, Wildpath jumped up the rocks until he bound over the last one. He'd climbed the slope! He looked toward the hollow and saw the Moonpool. This was his first time going, and he was mesmerized by the pool of water in the center of the clearing. It was so beautiful, with the stars sparkling off of the surface of the black water. Lifting his raccoon-striped tail, he beckoned Stormbelly closer. "Wait here for me, please. I must go alone." Not bothering to wait for an answer, Wildpath stalked into the hollow, and stopped at the pool's edge. Dipping his body down into the cool mud, Wildpath paused for a moment. Fear broke through his heart. Barely conscious, the new leader dipped his tongue into the water. It was shockingly cold. Suddenly, he felt drowsy, and his eyelids began to close. Wait! Is this supposed to happen? Wildpath thought frantically before he was wrapped in darkness.


OOC: No, your post was wonderful c: I was thinking that Stormbelly should probably fall asleep and have a dream for a couple of posts, because Wildpath getting nine lives may take awhile. But it's up to you on what she does while she's waiting.

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[Stormbelly]

As the storm blows on out of control…

Stormbelly didn’t seem bothered by his curt abruptness. He sounded tense, and if the line of his shoulders was any indication, then he was feeling tense as well. But why? Stormbelly imagined the mantle of leadership was a difficult one to bear. She wasn’t sure if she could ever put herself in Wildpath’s paws, or if she ever really wanted to. She was fine being a warrior; no one relied on her to make decisions for them, and no one looked to her in a time of need. Wildpath was becoming the new leader, and he had a big hole to fill; Thornstar has been a good leader, and Stormbelly only hoped that the responsibility of looking after his Clan wouldn’t change Wildpath too much. So she didn’t fault him for being so curt with her.

She flicked her ears, looking slightly amused, and hung back as Wildpath pulled ahead. “Good luck, Wildpath,” she mewed after him as he left her side, her tail twitching in anticipation. ‘And may StarClan go with you,’ the unspoken words hung heavy in the air. Stormbelly didn’t think he needed to hear them; he’d be with StarClan in a few moments anyways, right? Or so she’d heard. She didn’t know what to expect when he next emerged from the Moonpool hollow; perhaps he would look different?

No, he would be the same cat. Just…with more power. She wished she could know what really happened at the Moonpool, but she was content to wait and wonder. She tucked her paws beneath her, and settled down in the cool grass just outside, her ears trained towards the entrance. She could hear his faint paw steps just inside the hollow, and then they abruptly faded and disappeared. Stormbelly strained to hear anything more, but decided it was best not to be too nosy. She settle her head on the ground, curling her tail over her nose as she trained her eyes on the entrance to the hollow.

A jaw cracking yawn split her muzzle, and Stormbelly realized that despite her earlier restlessness, she really was fairly tired. Despite her desire to stay awake, her eyes began to drift shut, closing of their own accord as a wave of sleepiness washed over her, pulling her into the darkness.


Despite her close proximity to the Moonpool, or perhaps even, because of it, Stormbelly’s dream was not a normal one. She was not, as she usually was, running through a forest, or chasing after a squirrel or mouse. She neither saw nor heard any of her clan-mates, and when she looked around and realized she had retained some semblance of consciousness and awareness; there was no haze or fogginess to signify this was an ordinary dream, and one she would forget soon.

Curious, Stormbelly raked her gaze over her surroundings. The forest she stood in was dark, yet shimmered with an unearthly light. It seemed to fade in and out of existence, there one second, then gone the next, and yet it was never truly gone. “Where am I?” she murmured to herself, taking a few hesitant steps forward. Her whiskers twitched as she drank in the unfamiliar scents of her surroundings, but still she could not ascertain her whereabouts.

“You are in StarClan, my little kit,” a new voice said, and Stormbelly whipped around, fur on end and claws unsheathed to face the long furred gray she-cat before her.

Shock skittered across her face as recognition crept into her mind, and she took an uncertain step towards the she-cat, eyes grazing over the stars sparkling in the deep gray of her pelt. “G-Graywhisker?” she murmured, stunned to see her recently deceased mother standing in front of her. The she-cat purred at her daughter’s obvious surprise, moved forward to brush her pelt against Stormbelly’s.

“Come, Stormbelly. Walk with me.” Stormbelly looked hesitant, but after a few heartbeats, she reluctantly followed her mother deeper into the forest.

“Graywhisker,” she began haltingly, before she plowed ahead. “Why am I here? How is this possible?”

Graywhisker gave an eloquent shrug, her face twitching in amusement. “You are simply here because you are close to the Moonpool. It makes all cats dream deeply, and you are no exception. Don’t worry though,” she added, seeing her daughter’s skeptical expression. “It doesn’t mean anything. It is just a dream. Would you rather I left?”

Stormbelly’s skepticism morphed into horror, and she quickly shook her head. “No, no. It’s fine. Please, stay.” Graywhisker looked amused, her tail flicking gently across her daughter’s shoulder as she walked.


“I will have to go soon,” her mother mewed, deep gold eyes shining brightly in the darkened forest. The stars in her pelt shimmered, and she looked back briefly over her shoulder, as if seeing something far away. Stormbelly followed her gaze, but she saw nothing.

“Where will you have to go?” she asked softly, feeling a pain in her chest at the idea of her mother leaving her again. “Can’t you stay a while longer? It feels like it’s been so long since I’ve seen you. I-I have an apprentice now, you know.” She tried to lighten to dreary mood, but she couldn’t help the sadness she felt at the thought of losing her mother a second time. “Her name is Swiftpaw, and she’s brilliant.” She tried to talk quickly, fearing their time would be short. “Graywhisker?”

Her mother turned her head, a deep purr rolling in her throat. “Swiftpaw sounds lovely, Stormbelly. I am certain you’ll be an amazing mentor.” She glanced once over her shoulder, her face darkening. “I don’t have too much time, but I will stay a while longer. Wildpath must receive his nine lives, and I must be present. It will be my duty to give him one of the nine.” She butted her head against her daughter’s shoulder. “Turn that frown upside down, Stormbelly. Besides, I have someone here who’d like to say hello…”

“Who is that?” Stormbelly asked nervously, frowning into the darkness.

“That would be me.”

A dark shape loomed out of the shadows, and a long furred, black tom stepped forward, his golden eyes glistening as brightly as the stars in his pelt. Stormbelly couldn’t repress the gasp that escaped her, her pelt bristling in surprise. It couldn’t be…could it? “Buzzard…leap?” her voice was hoarse with shock, and she stepped forward hesitantly, not noticing that her mother quietly slipped form her side and back into the shadows of StarClan; she had a job to do, and Wildpath would need one of his nine lives. Her time to meet him was drawing near.

“Yeah, it’s me Stormbelly,” Buzzardleap mewed, looking half-amused, and half regretful. “Sorry we couldn’t meet again under…better circumstances.” He dipped his head in embarrassment, his ears flicking back to lay against his head. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you, but Graywhisker and I have been watching over you. You’ve been doing well, Stormbelly. And so has ThunderClan.” He heaved a small sigh. “Sometimes I regret leaving.”

Stormbelly was staring at her brother aghast. “But-but how did you…How did you get here? What happened, Buzzardleap? You were so young! It wasn’t your time.”

Buzzardleap smiled ruefully, shaking his head. “No one chooses their time, Stormbelly. That alone is up to StarClan. They decide who lives and who dies. And I died defending my Clan; I have no regrets about that. It was a fox, you know.” He paused, shuddered, then continued. “I saved a queen from being mauled. I am only happy that they are all right.” A low, rasping purr tore from his throat. “And you, Stormbelly? Have you ever thought about what you’d like to do? To become?”

“Become?” the she-cat echoed. “I don’t understand. What exactly do you mean?”

“ThunderClan will need a new deputy, Stormbelly. Have you thought about that? What if you are chosen?”

Stormbelly shuffled nervously, her gaze instantly darting to her paws. “Ah, er, well, I don’t think that’s really for me, to be entirely honest. I’m not deputy material, and I’m certainly not leader material.” She noticed Buzzardleap’s wry smile, and grumbled. “What?” she demanded. “You think I should try to be deputy? No, Buzzardleap. I don’t want that. So don’t even start with me.”

Buzzardleap dipped his head, looking amused. “All right, Stormbelly, no need to get your tail in a knot. I was only making a suggestion.”

“Yeah, well, keep your suggestions to yourself, mouse-brain,” she mewed good-naturedly, bumping his shoulder with hers. “Buzzardleap…How long can I stay here? I don’t want to leave you or…Graywhisker.” She seemed just to notice her mother was missing, and frowned thoughtfully.

“Truthfully? For only a short time longer, Stormbelly. Only a short time longer. Come, walk with me.”

…deep in her heart the thunder rolls.

[wildstar.]

WILDPATH
what is a family?
arms out wide to welcome you to stay...

The darkness wrapped into Wildpath, leaving him hollow and full of sadness. It seemed to last forever, or perhaps it was a single heartbeat. Then it was over, and he was blanketed in the sun's warmth. The tabby tom lapped up the strange warmth, allowing it to bake his shoulders with a delighted purr. He almost felt like basking in the patch, but he remembered that he was a leader now. No longer was he a younger cat. He was still the same age, but he had a huge responsibility. It made him feel years older than what he really was. Yellow eyes looked around. Where was he, exactly? He blinked once, and realized he was still at the Moonpool. But everything was covering in a hazy white dust. Shaking his head, he realized with a bolt that he wasn't imagining it... It was actually there. When he took a step, stars danced and a white pool of water formed, then faded. A-am I dead? Wildpath wondered in awe. If he was, he wasn't frightened. Maybe some other cat - like Stormbelly or Seafang - would take his place in leadership. Maybe it was his time to die.

"You mustn't think such nonsense, Wildpath," a voice spoke in his mind. Wildly looking around, he noticed that a cat had appeared. It was his old mentor and leader, Thornstar! His heart skipped a beat. It had been so long... actually, just two days since the horrid death of the former leader. But there had been an empty space where Thornstar had once been. Wildpath missed that place. In his heart, the hole ached longingly for Thornstar to return. Then he could be deputy, and almost carefree. Everything would be back to normal. "You are here to receive your nine lives. You aren't dead, young warrior." There was a purr in his voice. It made Wildpath proud to once have been his apprentice - and leader after him. It melted away his worry and fear and replaced it with happiness. It is alright to be afraid sometimes... right? That's what Grayeye told me. When a battle comes, it would be foolish not to be scared. And this is my battle. With a nod, Thornstar mewed, "Right." Then rows upon rows of cats began to appear, of all shapes and sizes! Kits, elders, queens, big cats, smaller cats, dappled she-cats, striped toms... All four Clans mixed in the air, but mostly ThunderClan scent lingered.

Wildpath was in too much awe to speak. His eyes sparkled with mixed emotions. Purring, he noticed one cat step forward. Who was this cat...? Someone he hadn't seen in awhile. "We're going to get the ceremony started, Wildpath. There is something important that we need to share with you afterward." Wildpath thought, I wonder what it could be? All of the cats seemed to be able to read his thoughts, but much to his disappointment, no cat answered. The new leader looked down at the much smaller gray she-cat, and with a sickening bolt, recognized her as his own mother. He hadn't seen her since he was six moons old. That was why he couldn't even tell who she was. "Wildpath, with this life I give you love. Love your Clanmates no matter what - from the oldest elder to the most newborn kit." The life knocked the breath out of him, nearly flattening the gray-brown tabby to the ground. He gasped for air, but nothing reached his lungs. But the harshness faded into a soft, lovable feeling that allowed him to breathe again. Thankfully, Wildpath gathered himself to his paws. Imagine! One live had nearly killed him, and he still needed eight more! Largeheart purred toward him, with happiness in her eyes. No words were spoken, but he knew she was proud of him. She turned and stalked back toward the other cats.

Another cat stepped in. Scarstripe, his father! "Dad..." But Scarstripe ignored him with a purr, and murmured, "Son, with this life I give you protection. Protect your Clan from all enemies." This life was much more fierce, and it blew Wildpath back. Flinching from the pain, it quickly dulled. With a grim snarl on his face and with one eye closed firmly, his dad nodded toward him, then walked back into the crowd. Another cat pulled forward. It was Grayeye, his first mentor that had died of greencough. "With this life I give you pity. Take pity on others, no matter where they are from." This life was beautiful and rich, full of warmth. He drank it in thoughtfully, enjoying that this life wasn't as hurtful. But afterward he felt strangely sad. Grayeye stalked back into the crowd, and was replaced with another gray cat.

"With this life," she meowed happily, "I give you thoughtfulness." This life was also honey-sweet, but wasn't as soft as the one Grayeye had given him. He liked that one since it wasn't so harsh. "Who are you?" He wondered, wracking his brain for a name. "Graywhisker. Strombelly's mother." There was a twinkle in her eye. He dipped his head polietfully. She stepped back, and a WindClan cat replaced her. "Troutpool!" Troutpool had been his only friend throughout his life if he didn't include his siblings. The black-and-white she-cat had died from a RiverClan patrol, but it had been an accident. His old friend dipped her head, but said nothing but the life she was giving him. "With this life, my dear friend, I give you friendship. It is okay to have friends outside of Clan, you know." She gave him a wink. Longing tugged at his fur. If only he could go with her... She shouldn't even be dead. She died when she was just thirteen moons old. Sorrow clouded his gaze, so he didn't see the next cat up until they were nose to nose.

"Wildpath, with this life I give you justice. Defend your Clan with it," the gray-and-white tom spoke in a blunt, cold voice. It was the former medicine cat, Thrushfur. They hadn't really talked much when he was alive, but he wasn't surprised that he was giving him a life. A shock of lightning electrocuted up his legs and engulfed his whole body with static-y pain. He clenched his teeth together, eyes widening with pain. His eyes turned black, and he saw a Clan leader exiling another cat standing over the dead, bloody body of a kit. Then he saw a cat being taken back into a Clan since it was proved not guilty. The vision turned blurry, then died all together. The pain dulled down, but his body still ached.

A tiny voice squeaked to him, "With this life I give you mentoring. Use it to train the young cats in your Clan." There was hardly any pain or sweetness to this, just energy that flowed through him. The kitten that he was looking way down on was one from Bramblepath's new litter. His brother had kits with his mate, but all three of them were dead. One was a still-born, one had heart problems and died a day later, and the third died from being sick from birth. This was the third one, but he looked healthy now. I'm his uncle... the poor little kit. He looked exactly like him and Bramblepath. His mate and his brother had named him Thornkit, after the former leader. Thornkit turned and pranced back to his littermates, Slashkit and Silverkit. Then his deceased sister jumped in with her usual gracefulness.

Dipping her head, she muttered quickly, "I'm sorry I wasn't there to support you, Wildpath. I know I should have... please forgive me." Not waiting for an answer, she continued, "With this life, I give you forgiveness. Forgive every cat that sinned you, then you will be truly respected." He knew the words meant more than that, since she had asked him to forgive her. The striped tom nodded to Streameyes with a smile, even though a snap of pain scratched at him, then coldness. Everything was blurring up for him, since he had already taken this eight times. He just had one more left to get. Who would give it? He peered through the crowd, wondering which cat would be lucky enough to finish him off. Streameyes grinned at him, then backed away toward Scarstripe, Largeheart, and the three kits.

Last up was a golden-brown tom with thick shoulders and brown eyes. Thornstar! "Wildpath. My friend, my apprentice, my deputy. I welcome you. I will be the cat to give you your ninth life. After this, we have something to share with you. S-Something we will share with all leaders from now on." Thornstar winced and looked away, screwing his eyes up right. Wildpath wondered what was wrong. But a moment later, his former leader looked back up and meowed loudly, "With this life I give you strength, courage, and tireless energy. You will need them all to guide our Clan to greatness." The pain was incredible, but it was already setting into the tom, making it hurt not as much. But when it was all over, all he wanted to do was flop into a patch of sunlight and never move. His legs quivered, unable to hold his weight. "You are now Wildstar. You are no longer deputy of ThunderClan, but leader. You now have the nine lives given to you by StarClan. Guide your Clan well, Wildstar. They need you." Thornstar turned tail and padded away. Then every cat yowled, "Wildstar, Wildstar!" Like they were accepting a new warrior. Wildstar was a leader now.

Just as he was basking in the warmth of their praise and enjoying the fact that all of the pain and coldness was gone, Wildstar was plunged into something freezing cold and black. As the darkness swallowed him, he tried to gasp for air. Water filled his lungs. No... Pausing for a brief moment, he realized this wasn't water at all. It was sticky and clung to his fur, staining it... crimson. This was blood! Icy fear gripped him as he was covered and thrown into a river of blood. Great StarClan, help me! Is this supposed to happen? was the only thought that Wildstar could think of before he was caged in walls of red and black.

[Stormbelly]

As the storm blows on out of control…

“Your time is almost up here,” Buzzardleap informed Stormbelly quietly.

Stormbelly’s eyes stretched wide, shining with questions and sadness as she stepped towards her brother. “But I don’t want to go. I want to stay and talk with you.” She dropped her voice a notch, feeling her fur prickle with apprehension. “Will I see you again? You or Graywhisker?”

Buzzardleap’s gaze had shifted to stare over her shoulder, looking trouble and faintly dark. When she spoke, his eyes darted immediately back to her, flinching away from her words as though they stung. “I’m sorry, Stormbelly, that we must part ways for a second time in your life. But you cannot stay here forever. You must understand that.”

“You will see us again though, kit,” Graywhisker’s voice mewed from the darkness, and the long-furred she-cat stepped form the shadows, eyes and pelt glowing with star shine. “In your dreams. You need only reach out to us.”

“Reach out?”

“Of course. All cats dream, and many are able to speak with their family or friends who have moved on to StarClan; most do not put stock in their dreams, and forget them when they wake, but the feeling of contentedness, or resolution they receive form the dream will remain. They will know all is well. As will you, when you wake.” But even as she spoke, her gaze turned troubled, and she shared a look with her son.

Stormbelly watched what passed between them, eyes drifting between her brother and her mother. “What?” she demanded finally. “What’s wrong? Why do you look like someone just stepped on your tails?” Her whiskers twitched with apprehension; something bad hadn’t happened to Wildpath, had it?

“Be still, kit,” Graywhisker murmured, brushing her tail over her daughter’s back affectionately. “All is well.” But the lingering worry in her eyes didn’t ease the clenching of Stormbelly’s heart; the gray and white she-cat chose to ignore it. “Wildpath is now Wildstar. And he shall lead your clan through many seasons, both good and bad.” She rasped her tongue over Stormbelly’s ear, reminiscent of how she’d done when she was a kit. “Stay safe Stormbelly. And trust in your leader, no matter what happens.”

Stormbelly felt as though there was a deeper meaning to her mother’s words, but didn’t press the issue. Buzzardleap and Graywhisker stepped forward to press their muzzled gently against her own, and before her eyes, they began to fade. “Goodbye, Graywhisker, Buzzardleap. I shall miss you…” Stormbelly called sadly even as she felt herself drifting on the edge of consciousness. “Good hunting.”

“StarClan will be with you, my beloved kit. Forever and always…”

------

Stormbelly woke slowly, a small, lingering feeling of unease tugging at the back of her mind. She hauled herself to her paws, wondering how much time had passed since Wildpath…Wildstar had entered the hollow.

Stretching her legs and arching her back, she stared worriedly at the entrance leading to the Moonpool. Should she go in? Would it be wrong to interrupt something so sacred? He still had not reappeared, and Stormbelly sat down anxiously, her tail curling over her paws and twitching occasionally.

The worry in her mother’s eyes remained imprinted in her mind, and Stormbelly couldn’t help but feel as though Graywhisker and Buzzardleap had been keeping something from her. Perhaps it had something to do with Wildstar?

And what did they mean ‘no matter what happens’? Was something going to happen? Stormbelly tried to ignore the anxiety clawing at her stomach, and quickly refocused her gaze on the entrance to the hollow, willing Wildstar to appear and ease her worries.

…deep in her heart the thunder rolls.

[wildstar.]

WILDSTAR
you could be the best for me
when i'm the worst for you

The coldness wrapped against the brown-gray tabby tom, making shivers shake his body. Despite being surrounded in a river in blood, Wildstar was surprisingly calm as the water closed over his head. StarClan had given him his nine lives. This must have been the thing they wanted to share with him. Why would they make him be a leader just for him to die in a dream? The newly appointed leader was cheered up by this thought, even though the crimson liquid started to fill his lungs. He wasn't a very old cat, but he could tell that this was cat blood. Coughing it up, he allowed the current to take him wherever. Don't fight the current, he thought, remembering a RiverClan warrior telling his apprentice that at a Gathering a couple moons ago. Wildstar went limp, getting sucked in and pushed out of the river until he reached a small island made of sand and pebbles. His body was washed gently upon the shore. It was hard to believe that he went through that ordeal, and for a moment he wondered if he was actually dreaming this. Obviously he was. Maybe StarClan wanted to show him a sign here? Or maybe this was the sign? With a cold shudder, he heaved himself to his paws. It took a great effort just to stand up. Once he was on his feet, he vomited mouthfuls of sticky fluid. Disgusted, Wildstar found himself looking around the tiny patch of land.

Although he was grossed out by the river of blood, Wildstar wanted to know what else there was to this new place. Curiosity and fear mingled in his heart, and he wondered what he should do. Sure, he should be scared of this place. And that old saying "curiosity killed the cat" lingered in his brain. But the kit side of the new leader won, and he bounded across the strip of solid ground. It was only a couple paces long and wide, so it only took a couple heartbeats to lope to the other side. But when he got there, he looked into the murky, dark red blood. He saw a vivid reflection of himself, only tinted with crimson. It shocked him for a moment to see how ugly he looked. His once playful yellow eyes seemed haunted. His pelt that used to be well-groomed was now stained and clumpy. With his sticky pelt clinging to his frame, he looked bitterly small and gaunt. What he saw he didn't recognize. Although he didn't like this, he stared down into the blood until he could see a couple pebbles down there.

All of the pebbles were the same - a foggy dark gray color - but two of them were black as night. A sudden gust of wind shook the air, causing the different pebbles to wobble a lot. A thin strike of lightning split the sky, and Wildstar heard the distant clap of thunder in this lonely new world. As the pebbles soared downstream in the river of blood, they were lost in the large shadow of a gnarled oak tree. Terrified by this short vision, Wildstar hollered, "Is this what you wanted to show me, StarClan? Pebbles? What do pebbles have to do with my Clan?!" His yellow eyes glinted in the darkness. After his words, they were followed by a huge boom of thunder. Wildstar shrank down onto his belly strangely. It felt like he wasn't even in control of himself anymore. Fear made the ThunderClan leader stupid, so he continued on. "I thought that the message would be grater than this!" Wildstar howled, laying there rigidly. "I thought it would be more important than just a bunch of old pebbles!" But he was silenced there by another crack of thunder. Thunder, wind, shadow, and river will carry away the strangers until one is taken whole. Four will become five, five will become two, a calm voice spoke in his mind. Then it started to rain, only it wasn't regular rain falling from the sky. It was blood.

"Decoys, you twit!" a voice spoke to him, only this time he could actually hear it. "They are here to kill you, Wildstar! Beware...!" the voice growled again. "Who are you? What do you mean?" Wildstar howled at the top of his lungs. "My identity must remain a secret," the cat muttered, almost impatiently. "I'm talking about decoys! They are cats in disguise just waiting to kill medicine cats, then leaders! Now you are a victim! If your medicine cat suddenly dies, run without question. They will come for you next!" Disbelief clouded his gaze, but the cat spoke the truth. It was just so hard to believe. "Explain to me," Wildstar murmured. "Tell me more."

"They are cats in disguise, just waiting to kill you, and they meet up with other decoys! You will not know which cat is a decoy, and they will kill you when you least expect it. And they are so ambitious that they will do it over and over again until you've lost your ninth life. They have a leader, but that cat must remain a secret to you non-decoys... for now. A decoy could be your friend, your enemy, or even your mate! Watch out, Wildstar! Every decoy wishes to kill any cat that isn't a decoy, and you're a specific target now! You have been warned!"

"Wait! Who are you? What do you mean 'you non-decoys'?" Wildstar screeched, pain and fear grappling his chest. The cat replied, "You know me, Wildstar. I was in your Clan. I... I even gave you one of your lives. But I was a decoy." After those last words, everything was cut off, leaving the leader in dead, black silent.

As the vision faded, Wildstar was full of sorrow and fear. But it was evaporated as soon as he felt the ground beneath his paws and heard the sound of rushing water. He was back at the Moonpool. Leaping to his paws despite his aching muscles, Wildstar headed toward the entrance. He was slightly disappointed with StarClan for not showing him a better vision. The ceremony could have gone better, too. Why did the StarClan cats want him to feel pain when receiving lives? Maybe it was to test him to see if he really should be a leader. One had to be strong to lead a Clan, and maybe not just physically. He stalked through the exit with his tail dragging in the dust. He looked to his side to see Stormbelly. Something seemed up with her, but he couldn't tell what it was. "Ready to go?" he croaked.

[Stormbelly]

As the storm blows on out of control…

Stormbelly was gazing quietly at the entrance to the Moonpool. Her worried golden eyes clouded over with the memory of what her mother had been so concerned over, and she wondered if it had anything to do with her leader. Had something happened to him? Would something happen to him? Stormbelly’s tail twitched irritably, wishing her mother had told her more.

When Wildstar finally emerged, Stormbelly leapt to her paws, looking him over in concern. Nothing seemed to be outwardly wrong with him, except for the fact that he seemed…tired. Had receiving his lives taken so much out of him. Stormbelly circled him quickly, then brushed against his side comfortingly, staring quietly into his eyes in obvious concern.

“Yes, I’m ready,” she mewed, sounding uncertain. “But are you? You look tired. Are you okay Wildstar?” Wildstar. She was the first of his Clan to see him as a leader, to call him by his new name. She pressed her nose to his shoulder in a gesture of worry, bright golden eyes watching him steadily.

“Do you need to rest? Do you want me to hunt for you?” Her worry swept over him as she stood at his side, hoping that it was only the ceremony that had taken so much out of him and not something…more.

…deep in her heart the thunder rolls.

[wildstar.]

As ThunderClan's new leader walked out of the Moonpool's entrance, he immediately felt worry clouding around him. It was obviously came from Stormbelly, who's glossy eyes were glittering with it in a sweet, undisguised way. Wildstar was glad that she felt worry toward him, but it was no need. He'd be fine. After all, he was leader now, with nine lives to throw away. He had nine lives. Nine lives. I can die nine times... to lead my Clan. That was when he felt the power that rested on his shoulders. He'd felt it before, when he was deputy, but now it almost overwhelmed and consumed him whole. Wildstar was in charge of his Clan. When he was younger, he would have never even dreamed of becoming leader as much as the thought had been a happy one. But now the feeling was much different from being cheerful. He was actually scared, heart flooding with fear. Even though he was frightened, he knew he would make it through his leadership until death. StarClan had accepted him as ThunderClan's new leader, and for now, that was all that mattered. The thought, once again, cheered him up. His tail was lifted in the correct posture of a leader now, something that he had never done before. It felt strange to be looking down upon so many cats... Now he was equal to the other three leaders ringing the lake.

"Yes, I'm perfectly fine," Wildstar murmured with a soft, throaty purr. Even though he spoke those few words, his young energy was draining. He felt his limbs wobbling threateningly. All he wanted right now was to curl up into a ball and fall into a moon of slumber. But that would never happen. He was ThunderClan's leader now! His Clan had duties to attend to, plus he still needed a deputy. A deputy. Who should be it? There are plenty of warriors that would do a wonderful job. But I'll need some guidance, especially since I wasn't a deputy for too long. I'll have to sleep on it, although some cats will be angry if I don't appoint a deputy right away... It had happened before in the past, so it wasn't like it was something new or anything. So Wildstar didn't worry too much. "I'll be fine, Stormbelly. I can eat something in the morning and rest when we get back to camp." A small smile spread across his maw. "I just want to get back to camp," Wildstar mewed urgently. With a slight nervous chuckle that he allowed one of his warriors to see that something was wrong, he quickly changed the subject so Stormbelly wouldn't notice something was wrong, "So, let's get going then." When Wildstar slipped up, it was usually hard for him to fix himself. Just as it was now, leaving the gray-and-white warrior in silence. Urgency clouded his normally happy yellow gaze. What will happen when I get back home? Decoys could be ruling the camp by now. I must return as quickly as possible. The newly appointed ThunderClan leader soon broke into a run, not bothering to look and see if Stormbelly was following him or not. The forest seemed to stretch on forever until he saw the wide, gaping maw of the camp's entrance. Home.


OOC: Should we end this thread after your post, or leave it like this? And sorry all of the running is so short :c I kinda want this thread out of my total thread count since it got past the good part.