A New Beginning

Chapter 17

Dawnmist's eyes flew open as she felt soft grass underneath her paws. She looked around at her surroundings.

She knew this place well now. She was in Starclan. Dawnmist looked around for her friends. Breezeflight was getting to his paws beside Star. Leaf was already up and was walking over to join Dawnmist.

Dawnmist looked around the green meadow, searching for any starry figures.

Her gaze snapped onto two cats that were walking towards them. Once they were closer Dawnmist recognized them as Gingerspot and Dustfur.

Dawnmist dipped her head respectfully to the Starclan warriors. They returned the gesture.

"So what happens now?" she meowed. Gingerspot looked her in the eye and purred, "You get your nine lives."

Just then hundreds of ranks of Starclan cats appeared before her. Dawnmist saw Berrysplash walk out of the ranks of cats. The she-cat stopped in front of her.

"I give you the life of compassion. Not only be compassionate about your clan but also about your clanmates and family," Berrysplash meowed and touched her nose to Dawnmist's head.

Dawnmist gritted her teeth as pain seared through her body. She gasped for air as another cat stepped forward. It was a white tom who looked to be an apprentice.

"I am Cloudpaw from Sunclan. I died in the battle against Blazestar. I give you the life of courage," he meowed and reached up to touch her ear.

This life made her fur stand on end. Pain seared through her limbs. Next was Dustfur.

"I give you the life of hope. Have hope for the future Dawnmist. Never give up hope," he meowed and touched her head.

She closed her eyes as a fierce force swept through her. She swayed as the pain eased and another cat stepped forward.

It was tiny white and gray tom kit. He didn't even look older than a quarter moon, but he held his head high and his eyes shined brightly.

"I'm Pigeonkit. Mistyberry and Whitestar are my parents, which makes me Fishstream's brother," he squeaked.

Dawnmist's jaw dropped. Her mentor had a brother? She heard the story of Whitestar and how he had forced Mistyberry to have his kits. But she didn't know Fishstream had a dead brother!

The kit purred with amusement, "I know its a surprise. No cat has told you about me because Mistyberry has kept it a secret. Anyways I give you the life of a mothers love. Love your clanmates as much as a mother loves her kits."

This life didn't hurt. The fierce need to protect her clanmates from anything flowed through her veins. She felt at peace. She felt love.

Dawnmist looked around for the next cat. A tall gray tom stepped out to greet her.

"I am Cloudstar, first leader of what is now Shadeclan. I give you the life of leadership. Lead your clan well, young one. Trust in every decision you make," he meowed and touched his nose lightly to her head.

She clenched her teeth as the life flowed through her. Dawnmist was out of breath when two she-kits ran up to her.

They somehow looked familiar. One kit looked the exact same as Leafblossom, just with amber eyes. The other kit was a ginger tabby she-kit with green eyes, just like Leafblossom's.

"Hi I'm Willowkit and this is my sister Brightkit. We are Tigerblaze's and Leafblossom's sisters," Willowkit squeaked.

Understanding came flowing back. She remember playing with the two kits when she was first born. She also remembered Willowkit and Leafblossom being twins.

"We give you the life of loyalty. Always stay loyal to your clan, now matter what," they both stood on the tips of their toes and touched noses with her.

Dawnmist gasped as pain shot through her whole body. After a few lives she still wasn't used to it.

Then came a cat called Amberface who gave her the life of pride. Then Rabbitleg who gave her the life of humor.

The last cat was Gingerspot. She was gazing at Dawnmist proudly. "I knew I chose the right cat for the mission. Dawnmist, I'm so proud of you. I wish I could have been there to see you grow up. When you get things sorted out with Squirrelstar please tell her I love here and that I'm always watching over her. And tell Grayfur that I love him so much and I miss him," she meowed.

Dawnmist nodded, "I will," Gingerpspot's eyes shone, "Dawnmist, I give you the life of wisdom. Use it well to lead your clan."

Dawnmist didn't flinched. Peace settled over like a blanket of snow. She breathed deeply as Gingerpait stepped back. Dawnmist watched quietly as Breezeflight got his nine lives.

He looked in as much pain as she had been in. Dawnmist looked at Breezeflight with pride as the last cat stepped back into the ranks of Starclan.

Gingerspot looked to Dawnmist. "Dawnmist, from this point forward you will be known as Dawnstar. You are the first leader of Dawnclan," she meowed.

Dawnstar raised her head proudly. I can't believe I'm a clan leader! I never thought this would happen.

She watched as Breezeflight became Breezestar. He was now the first leader of Breezeclan.

Dawnstar lifted her head proudly as the Starclan cats called out their names. "Dawnstar! Breezestar!"

She looked to Leaf. Leaf gazed at her happily. She was a leader. She was the leader of Dawnclan.