The Ebony Jury (Warriors, Book 2)

Chapter 10

Hauntedmind dug his claws into the smooth stone, his back claws searching for a groove to help haul himself up. Eventually, he felt his back claw settle on a ditch in the rock, and, using that, he leapt to the top, landing ungracefully on the smooth surface. As he dragged his gaze up, he saw Treepool staring at him thoughtfully. Hauntedmind looked to the left to see Echopaw dragging her silver pelt up the rock as well, though it blended in pretty good with the pale gray surface. Eventually, the medicine cat apprentice leapt to the rock, excitement radiating off her.

"This is the cave," Came Treepool's voice. Hauntedmind turned. In front of him was a gaping cave, stalacites hanging from the entrance. Mothermouth. Thought Hauntedmind. "Well?" Treepool prompted softly. "Come on."

Echopaw let out an exciteded squeal and followed Treepool as she stepped into the shadows. Trembling, Hauntedmind followed after Echopaw's silver tail as he too was engulfed in shadows. Water splashed his pads and his whiskers felt wet at the dampness of the cave. Everything was pitch black like he was walking into night itself.

The three seemed to walk forever until blinding light shot Hauntedmind's vision. He winced, before blinking a few times and looking up.

A blue-gray stone jutted from the ground, shining its light all over the silver stone. Treepool's tabby pelt turned silver like the moon; Echopaw shined like a star at night. The most amazing thing about the stone that pierced Hauntedmind's heart was that there was a strange cat shape with a star in the middle, outlined in white. This is the moonstone.

"Lay down," Advised Treepool, turning to Hauntedmind with warm, friendly eyes. "Touch your nose to the moonstone, and let StarClan guide your paws." She smiled, then padded over to the corner of the cave, Echopaw bouncing after her.

Hauntedmind gulped; he didn't like sleeping in front of other cats. Regardless, he padded over to the large stone til it shone in his face. He crouched, his chin brushing the ground, before his nose touched the moonstone. It felt cold and powerful as his nose brushed it, like it was telling him, "Power power power I give power."

The world shifted beneath Hauntedmind's paws. He blinked open his eyes. He was standing in a stary field, fresh green grass at his paws. He blinked and stared up. A row of cats were sitting, stars glittering in their pelt. Hauntedmind's ears pirked as a strange voice, or rather, voices echoed through the field.

"Welcome, Hauntedmind." Said the voice, wind whistling past Hauntedmind's ears. "Are you ready to recieve your nine lives?"

Hauntedmind blinked. "I think so." He replied quietly. "But I'm not sure. Am I the right cat to lead ThunderClan? Flamestar should've been alive longer. I hid during the battle. I could've saved Flowerpelt or Flamestar..." He looked at his paws.

"No, Hauntedmind." Hauntedmind looked up. The clear voice came from a gray, scruffy tom with a blue gaze.

"Rottenstar!" Exclaimed Hauntedmind, looking up in awe at the previous ThunderClan leader. The tom's muzzle wasn't gray anymore, and his muscles boomed beneath his pelt. The massive scar on his eye was gone, as well as all the other battle scars, previously hidden in his pelt. He looked young and healthy now.

"You are the right cat to lead ThunderClan, Hauntedmind." Whispered Rottenstar. "I just wish I had realized it sooner."

Rottenstar blinked thoughtfully, then drew his muzzle and touched Hauntedmind's cold nose. "I give you a life for bravery. Use it well to fight in battles." Rottenstar backed away, and intense agony shot through Hauntedmind. He sank to the ground, squeezing his eyes shut and gritting his teeth to stop himself from yelping. "Be brave," Came Rottenstar's voice. "Endure the pain. See it as the cost of being a leader."

Letting out a grunt, Hauntedmind blinked open his eyes and sat up once more. Rottenstar was slinking away, and then he faded into a storm of stars. When Hauntedmind blinked again, a new cat was in his place.

"Hello, Hauntedmind." Greeted Grassfern. He reached forward and touched his muzzle to Hauntedmind's. "I give you a life for sense. Learn when to panic or attack."

Gritting his teeth, Hauntedmind braced himself for pain, but the life flooded through him like a moving stream. He felt his heart fire up as a familiar pelt replaced Grassfern, who had aswell faded into stars. "I give you a life for friendship," Emberstep murmered, touching noses with Hauntedmind. "I'm sorry for how I treated you. But I've always been relieved healing your wounds."

The life also flooded through Hauntedmind, but with a new sensation in it. Suddenly Hauntedmind felt more social, more eager to make new friends then he had been his entire life. I'll love every cat in my Clan, He vowed.

The next cat was a tiny brown tomkit. Hauntedmind gasped and bent down to see the kit eye-to-eye. "Mole!"

His tiny brother had died from the freezing cold when the kind barncat, Wheat, had taken them to ThunderClan. "I'm so sorry..." Whispered Hauntedmind as Mole touched his tiny nose to his brother's. "I give you a life for agility," He murmered. "And its okay. I know you'll do great, and you're nothing like Mama." Hauntedmind felt a knew speed in his paws, and pain sparked his pelt like lightning.

But he ignored it, gradually.

The she-cat who replaced him was another kit. "Widow..." Murmered Hauntedmind. His sister's red spots glowed in the starlight. "I give you a life for love. Use it for all the cats in your care- espically Dawnkit." The life brought fierce agony to Hauntedmind, but he barely felt it through his confusion. Dawnkit?

The cat who replaced Widow was a tall, slender she-cat with tortoiseshell spots. "I am Duskflower, your grandmother." She told Hauntedmind, before reaching forward and touching noses with him. "I give you a life for honesty." Pain engulfed Hauntedmind, and he let out a whimper before looking up again.

A black and white she-cat stood, sightless eyes glinting. A horrifying aura radiated from her. Ravenshadow! "I give you a life for strength," Growled the rogue. "I know you don't trust me. But I'll at least give you a life." Hauntedmind barely felt the agony. He stared in awe at his mother who faded away in a storm of dark clouds, being replaced with the familiar ginger coat of Flamestar.

"I give you a life for forgiveness," The leader mewed, touching his muzzle to Hauntedmind's. "Forgive all the cats who had hurt you, as well as yourself."

Who'll give me my last life? Wondered Hauntedmind as he sank to the ground in agony. When he blinked open his eyes, he saw the coat of one he didn't loved- but only liked. "I give you a life for loyalty to your Clan and the Warrior Code," Muttered Flowerpelt with a strange hostility with took Hauntedmind by suprise. "I'm sorry." She murmered. "I know about Jaguar. I don't know if I can forgive you, Hauntedstar, but I love you enough to give you this life." Hauntedmind let out a wince. "I- I'm sorry." He choked out. "I don't know if that was meant for me," Snapped Flowerpelt as she turned his back on him. "Or you."

Despite the guilt flooding through Hauntedmind, he pirked his ears as many voices came, loud and clear.

"Long live Hauntedstar! Hauntedstar! Hauntedstar!"

Hauntedstar jolted awake from his sleep. He sat up and looked around the moonstone cave, his vision brighter than it ever was before. Echopaw and Treepool had sprang to their paws already. "So?" Prompted Treepool. "Hauntedmind, what happened?"

He didn't exactly know what to say first. "My name is Hauntedstar, now." He told them proudly. "And lets go home."