Lynxstar's Nine Lives
Lynxfire padded exhaustedly into the Moonstream cave, feeling like his paws were about to fall off. Each movement of his pelt stung, the marks from Stormstar's claws still an aching reminder of the attack he'd only survived because of Sunshade's intervention.
The ground beneath his pads was worn smooth, the cool soothing his aching pads. The moon shone just right into the cave, and the reflection of the light danced on the cave walls around him. All he could hear was the soft tinkling of the water as it flowed slowly along from some unknown source, heading south to divide the clans right down the middle. He closed his eyes and strained his ears, quietly relieved that the only other sound were his own breaths. Confident that he hadn't been followed after the ambush was interrupted, he padded to the edge of the stream and took a long drink, enjoying the cool water against his tongue. He settled there, laying next to the stream with his paws folded beneath him, and closed his eyes.
Slowly, what he assumed was the cold from the stone seeped up into his frame, going from mildly uncomfortable to nearly unbearable in the space between heartbeats. On an instinct, he tried to shift so he could warm himself, and found he could not move. He sat there for a spell, the pain only growing worse, when his muscles finally responded to him and he shot to his feet, opening his eyes, about to yowl in frustration when the sound died in his throat-
He was in the old ThunderClan camp by the lake, in the very spot where he had received his warrior name. Mouth hanging slightly ajar, he felt his heart constrict as he looked over the old dens, new as if the two-legs had never passed through. The leader's den, still covered with bramble tendrils. The warriors den tucked safely in the branches of the beach tree. The thorned tunnel that served as the entrance to their camp.
The sound of footsteps caught his attention, dragging him from his memories and forcing his gaze to the sky. Silverpelt shined brightly above, illuminating the camp almost as if it were day. He could not recall having ever seen the night sky so bright. He realized, delayed, that the stars seemed to be the source of the sound, and that each was quivering in place. He watched as the individual stars took shape as they padded toward him, flooding the camp and perching in any space a cat could fit.
"Welcome Lynxfire. Are you ready to receive your nine lives?" The cats around him seemed to speak at once, though the sound came out as one voice with a thousand tones of the different cats gathered around.
"Nine... lives?" He mewed slowly, feeling out the words on his tongue, "I... Don't have a clan to lead?" At this, he was almost surprised to hear an amused purr.
"And what is it you call a group of cats, doing their best to follow the warrior code?" Lynxfire spun at the sound, turning to face the sparkling form of his former leader. Dawnstar looked like a new warrior again - her pelt sleek and well groomed, eyes sparkling with the life that had made her so easy to follow. "You do have a clan, all your own. You have lead them away from their home, and they still look to you to lead. Do you accept the burden?"
"I came here for guidance. I..." Words failed him as he stared at the orange she-cat. There was still a gleam of humor in her eyes, though he vaguely recognized her expression as the same one she'd worn when he'd said something stupid as an apprentice. Warm, but still vaguely exasperated. He understood a heartbeat later - this was his guidance. StarClan was choosing him to lead. Dawnstar purred when she realized he understood.
"Your clan is FloodClan, for the flood of cats who left their home to follow you. Are you ready to accept your nine lives, Lynxfire?"
"I'm ready." He mewed, grateful he sounded more confident than he felt. With a nod, Dawnstar stepped back, and in her place, Berrypelt stood. Lynxstar felt a deep ache settle in his chest as his mother approached, drawing in her scent as she came close and placed her nose to his forehead.
"With this life I give you strength - use it well to build your clan into what you know it can be." She mewed, a heat like fire burning from her nose through every hair on his pelt. He wanted to run or yell or do something to make it stop, but his limbs locked and he felt as though his voice had abandoned him. Slowly, the burn faded, leaving him on trembling legs even as his mother stepped away. His father came forward next, as tall and imposing as Lynxfire remembered.
"With this life I give you trust - use it well to know your clanmates are exactly who they say they are." The rumble of Heroncry's voice echoed in his ear, even as he was washed away in a comforting sense of calm. There was no pain; just a warm rush of confidence. It was the same sensation one felt running into battle alongside their clan, knowing as long as you stuck together, things would turn up fine. It was nearly dizzying, and Lynxfire again found his voice cat as his father moved away.
Two smaller shapes approached him next, and he realized with a pang that they were his littermates. Tigerpaw stepped forward first, her small steps more sturdy than even some warriors he had seen in their prime. Slowly he dipped his head, giving her the opportunity to touch her nose to his forehead.
"With this life I give you love - use it well in caring for your clan, treating each cat like kin." This live was harsher then he expected, almost bowling him over with the change. It was the moment he learned Cloverstream was carrying his kits, the sorrow of loosing Berrypelt, the joy of Icepaw recieving her warrior name, and the fierce anger that flared in his belly every time Stormstar treated and non-pure "ShadowClan" cat like they were nothing but carrion. The sharp contrasts clawed at his belly like an enemy attack, and he was still breathing hard when Tigerkit stepped back and Cougarkit stepped into her place.
With this life I give you resilience - use it well in carrying on through the hardest of moons." Cougarkit's soft voice surrounded him, even as pain like a horrible pang of hunger shot through him, even as the sensation of claws in his fur came through again - things he'd suffered through for DawnClan, and he would need to do so again. He trembled as his sister stepped away, though he managed to meet their gazes. Both of them were looking at him with bright eyes and puffed chests, before they bounced off to the side playfully.
He was almost surprised to see the she-cat who stepped forward next. Bluefoot - Sunshade's mate, who'd passed of mysterious circumstances. Seeing the pretty cat stand before him once again, the fact that is was Sunshade of all cats who had saved him made a striking amount of sense. If the look in Bluefoot's eyes was anything to go by, he supposed StarClan had been waiting for this longer then he thought.
"With this life I give you determination. May you stand like a tree beneath the storm- bending but never breaking. Use this life to do what is right in the face of tremendous opposition." This life was cold, as painfully so as falling into the stream in leaf-bare. A sudden shock that remained a steady block in his chest. He remembered the night he left DawnClan, how he was so certain he was making the right choice as he lead Cloverstream away from that life. For a moment he was Bluefoot, leading her own mate away from the life of a medicine cat, knowing they belonged together no matter what. It all lead to this moment. All he had to do now was keep pushing for a better life for all of them. His chest began to regain some warmth as she stepped away. This time, he almost managed to speak, but Mosspelt cut in front of Bluefoot before he could call out.
"With this life, I give you curiosity - use it well to learn about the cats who surround you and the territory you call home." This life was blissfully gentle. It was warm in his chest, a dim glow of the satisfaction of discovery. It was the first time a medicine cat asked about herbs, the first bite of a new kind of prey, of trying a new technique and seeing what happens. As Mosspelt stepped away, he couldn't help but feel that the life had been a bit of a reprieve.
He noticed the next cat step forward, and realized it was Cloverstream's father, Skunkstripe. The tom had always been close to his kit, and Lynxfire could still remember the talking to he'd gotten when he first started to return Cloverstream's affections. The tom had still treated him like kin, and he would always be grateful for it.
"With this life I give you truth - use it well to address your clan." He mewed. This life was again cold, and an odd mix of feelings - the embarrassment of being caught in a lie, and the satisfaction of proving you hadn't. It was painful, though in more of an aching way than the sharp pain that had been there in other lives. He almost wondered if it were a bad sign that the lives felt easier to handle as the process wore on. Skunkstripe was replaced with his mate.
"With this life I give you pride - use it well in your addresses to other clans and leaders. Never be ashamed." His chest swelled almost painfully, filled with and aching burn as he thought of the cats who had joined him so far. And how many more there could potentially be. He couldn't imagine ever being ashamed. They were his clan, who came to him willingly looking for a better life. What was there to not be proud of? Spottedpuddle stepped away, letting him come to his senses. He realized, in the back of his mind, that there was still a life left.
Dawnstar padded forward again, looking almost as pleased as the day he'd been assigned her apprentice. When she was Dawnshine, a simple warrior. He felt almost as small as he did then, but at the same time, he felt bigger than her. She dipped her head to place her nose to his forehead.
"With this life I give you hope - use it well in guiding your clan to a brighter future." She mewed. It felt like racing along the border for fun, lying in the sunshine and letting the warmth soak your fur, the wonder of a cat's first snowstorm. He suddenly saw the clans how Dawnstar must have when they first arrived - battered, exhausted cats who had survived their worst nightmares and made it out the other side. A new home to continue on as they always had. The thought that she and her brother would have to separate to lead their clans, but the hope and joy in knowing they would be re-united in StarClan.
As it faded, Lynxfire nearly staggered as the weight of his new lives filled him. Dawnstar was looking at him with a vaguely amused look on her face as she gestured for him to straighten up.
"I hail you by your new name, Lynxstar. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of FloodClan. Defend it well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity." Dawnstar mewed. He listened as all at once, the many cats cheered his new name.
"Thank you." He finally managed to speak again, voice hoarse from all he'd experienced.
"You're going to do great things, Lynxstar. Never doubt you are the right cat for the job." Dawnstar mewed, before padding away. Slowly, the rest of the gathered cats dispersed, and suddenly Lynxstar found himself waking in the Moonstream cave, still surrounded by the hints of all the cats who had visited him.
Slowly he stretched, before heading out and taking the long way home to announce to FloodClan what had happened.
((hahaha this got away from me ill edit later I need a bed.))
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