"Goldenstripe! Petalfall! Skyfur! Come quick! It's Aspenstar!" The three cats took off as they heard the yowl of anguish. "W-what happened?" Goldenstripe demanded taking in the bloodied mangled clearing, the dead fox, Aspenstar's torn throat, and Stemtail's bloody muzzle and claws. "I was attacked by a fox. Aspenstar tried to save me...but it killed him." He paused and gave a dramatic shudder, his flanks heaving as though he really had been fighting a fox. "I fought it off but Aspenstar...is dead." He gave a false wail of grief as Petalfall comforted him with her tail and Goldenstripe joined in their mourning. The three warriors lifted the dead leader's body and carried him swiftly back to camp.
The truth of the matter was, the fox was already dead. It had been killed by some disease. Stemtail used it to cover his tracks so no cat could trace Aspenstar's death back to him. He had finally made it. He was going to receive nine lives and become invincible! Those Brookclan cats didn't stand a chance. These fools will follow me as their new leader, and I will make Aspenclan strong in all nine of my new lives!
Upon entering the camp there were many yowls of grief and sorrow and Stemstar wrenched his face into what he hoped appeared to be a heart-broken expression. He leaped onto the High-rock and announced, "I am now going to the Moon-cave with Dawnbreeze to receive my nine lives from Starclan. When I return you may call me," he paused for dramatic effect, "Stemstar."
