Rise of the Fifth {Warrior Cats}

Chapter 2

^Raccoonfur

Shadedmoss groomed Honeyfall in the warm sun light that shone through the branches. Her belly had grown big over the past moon, and Raccoonfur guessed she would have kits in half a moon. He was the closest thing they had to a medicine cat since he'd spent over a moon in the medicine cat den recovering from his broken leg.
Owlrunner lied next to Raccoonfur, sharing a thrush. Port groomed himself while Cloudheart and Mousepaw entered the hollow. The two had just gotten back from training; everyone helped train Mousepaw, though Shadedmoss usually did it.
"Shadedmoss, I caught a squirrel by jumping through the trees!" She exclaimed as she dropped the squirrel next to the small fresh kill pile.
"Impressive." He said.
"It was." Cloudheart nodded. "She looked just like a squirrel jumping from branch to branch so quickly." The white she-cat paused and padded up to Shadedmoss. Once the apprentice had walked off to show Port, Cloudheart whispered in a low voice,"You know she's excelled in her training, and I'm not sure there's much more to teach. She's even started to make up some new moves!"
He had noticed this too. Mousepaw had been training for nearly six moons; perhaps it was time she become a warrior. But how can she become a warrior without a leader?
"You think she should be a warrior?" He asked.
"Yes." She said.
"How can we make her a warrior though? There's no leader." He replied.
Cloudheart frowned. "Can't we just make her a warrior?"
"We could," Honeyfall spoke up. "But speaking of a leader, we actually do need one. Every group of cats needs a leader to make important decisions and to guide their followers."
"How can we decided whose leader though? We don't even have a medicine cat to decide." Cloudheart said.
"Maybe a few cats should go to the moon stream to find out." Shadedmoss suggested. "Surely StarClan would tell us."
"Good idea. They should go as soon as possible." Honeyfall said.

Cloudheart, Raccoonfur, and Shadedmoss walked along the silvery stream with only the moon light to guide them. Everyone decided that only a few cats should go, and they chose three. The trio would find out who was to be the leader of their group.
"I think it's right up here." Raccoonfur said.
Sure enough, the mouth of the shiny bubbling stream appeared ahead in a few moments. The stars reflection shone in the stream, and it made it look like actual stars were in the water.
"It's beautiful." Cloudheart gasped.
It was truly breathtaking.
"Come on," Raccoonfur waved his tail. "Let's drink."
They sat down next to each other and slowly lapped up the icy water.
Shadedmoss was transported to the stars. The night sky was all around him, and he felt like he could touch the stars.
A black cat much like himself appeared. "Hello Shadedmoss."
"Am I in StarClan?" He asked. That's a stupid question. Of course you are. He scorned himself. "Who are you?" He added.
"Yes, you are in StarClan, and I am your father." He replied.
"Really?" Shadedmoss gasped. Maplestar had never told him who his father was, and he always figured it was Darklight, an all black tom in my clan. But he had long fur, like Maplestar, and that didn't explain where Shadedmoss's short fur had come from.
"I'm Blacksquirrel. Maplestar chose me to be the father of her kits because I was agile, strong, and smart. She hoped her kits would develop these traits, and they did." He explained.
That's why Mousepaw is so lithe and nimble. But Mousepaw was in Maplestar's second litter, and my father wasn't in the clan at that time.
Blacksquirrel continued. "Shortly after you were born, Maplestar took me on a walk outside of camp and threatened to kill me if I returned. I'm not sure why she did this. I believe she did it because she thought raising you fatherless would make you more resistant to pain and stronger. Like if some she-cat breaks your heart then you can just shake it off and say,'I've been through worse; I never knew my father,' or something like that. It doesn't make much sense, but then again, I'm not sure Maplestar thinks like a normal cat, or actually has feelings. I left because Maplestar also said she'd kill you if I didn't go, which I'm not sure she meant because it was obvious you'd be a valuable addition to the clan. However, at the time I believe her and I shot out of there. I did stay close by, and joined a small group of rogues that called themselves LightClan. I was happy with my new friends, and I even had a mate. She was just about to give birth when Maplestar found me. She's very manipulative, and somehow convinced me to mate with her. She said it'd be for the good of TimberClan, and that it wouldn't really effect my personal life. I regret meeting her, but at least you have your sister Mousepaw. Right after she killed me. There was really no need, but I know she did it due to her bloodlust. She hides it from her clan, but if blood can be spilled, Maplestar will have it be. She probably figured I was useless."
All of this processed through Shadedmoss's mind. It all made sense, and made him more glad he had left TimberClan.
"Maplestar is an evil leader, and many more cats than there already are will fall victim to her, but it's not time to tell you about that." Blacksquirrel paused.
What'd him mean?
"Now it's time to change the fate of the Clans." He declared loudly, and cats with stars on their pelt appeared a little behind Blacksquirrel.
Shadedmoss stared in awe, and his jaw dropped.
"Shadedmoss, it is your duty to guide and lead a new clan." His father said and stepped back to the line of cats.
A small gray and white long haired she-cat stepped forward.
"I am Fairy, Blacksquirrel's mate from LightClan." She said simply, and then leaned forward.
"With this life I give you happiness and gratitude. Use it well to enjoy life and appreciate what you have."
A shock flowed through me, and it felt jovial, making him want to smile and laugh. He stuck with grinning.
A small gray and black tabby tom stepped up. He had a long scar from the base of his ear to his shoulder. "I'm Fable, your father and Fairy's son. With this life I give you faith. Use it well to trust your friends and warriors in times of doubt."
This hurt much more than happiness, and it jolted through this body, making every hair on his pelt sore.
Fable stepped back, and the next cat came up. A bright orange cat stood in front.
Shadedmoss recognized this cat; she was his former mentor, who later on was killed in a border fight with WaterClan many moons ago.
Rayflower began,"With this life I give you the warrior code. Use it well to guide your clan and teach your warriors."
A strong kick of power surged through his body, rocking him on his paws.
I always had questions about the warrior code, and Rayflower never stopped telling me "there are rules for a reason."
"Shadedmoss,don't skirt around them. Remember, there are rules for a reason." The orange she-cat stepped back.
A yellow tabby tom came next. Shadedmoss knew the kittypet from his journey, and he gave them food, directions, and shelter in his owner's shed.
Ollie? He died?
"What happened? Why are you here?" He asked immediately.
"The road." Ollie answered.
While they were there he had also saved them from the dangerous thunder path, also called a road. They nearly got run over by a monster, also called a car.
"With this life I give you instincts. Use it well to trust you self when you are lost."
Next came Gopherheart, a brown elder that he used to listen to stories to. He died when Shadedmoss was five moons old fighting a badger when all the other warriors were on patrols.
"With this life I give you tireless energy. Use it well to lead and protect your clan in times of pain and old age."
A rush of sheer energy and excitement, making him want to run all the way to Honeyfall and tell her everything that's happened tonight.
He was still excited when a small dark tabby she-cat. This was Wildpaw, an apprentice that Shadedmoss had trained with and even had a small crush on her for a little while. She had died by trying to prove she could chase a squirrel up the tallest tree in TimberClan.
"With this life I give you humility. Use it well to humble yourself and control your pride."
This hurt far more than he expected.
I never knew being humble could be so powerful.
Two more cats came after her, both from his old clan. One gave him kindness and forgiving, the second giving him understanding and told him to think before you act.
That was my eighth life, so this one will be my ninth!
Finally, Blacksquirrel stepped up.
"With this life I give you justice. Use it well to stand up for those being crucified, and to judge fairly."
Instead of a wave of pain, this just hit his body all at once. He felt like he was getting crushed, but then it ended.
Blacksquirrel said,"I hail you by your new name, Shadedstar. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of the fifth clan. 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."
The stars seemed to dance and all of StarClan appeared. "Shadedstar! Shadedstar! Shadedstar!" The voices blurred together into one chant.
He could only hear Blacksquirrel talk. "You have a harder destiny ahead of you than any other clan leader. Remember, you're not alone."
The stars faded all at once, leaving him astounded and breathless. He was now Shadedstar, ruler of the fifth clan, but was he ready for the daunting task of creating a clan?