Warriors: The Lost Clans

Chapter 3

Stirring, a white cat shakily stood. Their wings were sore and they groaned. Stretching their legs, they sniffed for scents.

"I'm too far from the camp," the cat meowed, unfolding their shredded wings. "I should walk to StarLake, it's closer."

Padding away, the cat limped as they walked around aimlessly through the forest, not knowing that a cat was flying above them.

***

"Welcome, Sunlight," a cat padded forward. "Are you ready to receive your nine lives?"

Sunlight looked among the nine cats. They were each of the cats she had killed. Gulping, she saw the first cat step forward.

"Snowdrop," Sunlight hissed.

The white she-cat ignored her. "I give you a life for endurance," she said. "Use it well to strengthen your Clan in times of trouble." She stepped back as screeching pain soared through her, and a dusky gray Tom stepped forward. "G-Grayf-frost?"

"Welcome, Sunlight. I give you a life for hope," he meowed. "Use it well to guide your Clan through the darkest days." He touched her nose and pain shot through her once more. Shaking she stood tall as a dappled tabby she-cat stepped forward. Sunflower.

"With this life I give you love. Use it well for all the cats who look to you for protection," she meowed. Sunlight reached longingly for this one, but was shocked when pain more painful than the lives before shot across her. Tearing up, she collapsed to the ground. A lightly dappled golden she-cat with golden tipped wings stepped forward. Looking up, tears formed in Sunlight's eyes, "Goldenwing."

"I give you a life for healing wounds caused by words and rivalry. Use it well for all cats troubled in spirit," Goldenwing reached forward. Sunlight hesitated, but stretched to receive this life. She tensed, waiting for pain, but none flowed through. She felt peaceful. The next cat didn't give Goldenwing any time to step back as he touched her nose.

"With this life I give you wisdom. Use it well when you have the hardest decisions of all to make," the golden Tom meowed.

Sunlight screeched as she looked up and saw Sunstar. Tears formed as he stood back and a lightly faded she-cat, Cloudjumper, stepped forward.

"I give you a life for sympathy and understanding," she murmured. "Use it well for the weakest in your Clan, and for all others who need your help and protection."

A dark gray Tom stepped forward. It was Lightsparrow, the deputy before Lightflight. "I give you a life for selflessness," the former deputy announced. "Use it well in the service of your Clan."

A dark brown MoonClan cat stepped forward. It was Nightshade, the black she-cat she killed who wanted to speak to Sunstar for help. "I give you a life for determination," she meowed. "Use it well to set your paws on the path of what you know to be right."

The last cat was a light gray and speckled darker. She looked like a stone. Reality struck her as she saw Lightstone, her sister and her best friend. "With this life I give you faithfulness," she mewed. "Use it well to hold fast to Clan and kin."

Pain washed over her in a quick wave as the cats faded and she woke up with her nose sparkling with StarLake water.

What have I done?