Cloudfeather slept, and he saw a fox, standing on top of Highledge. There were stars gathered around him. Cloudfeather woke with a jolt. Did that mean Foxflight was supposed to be the leader of ThunderClan now?
"It must be," he thought.
Cloudfeather jumped onto Highledge, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!"
The cats gathered. There was only two cats missing, Alderpaw and Moonfall. He strained his ears.
"You said you were happy that Morningpaw was dead!" Moonfall hissed, "You didn't even fight!"
Cloudfeather could hear loud crashes.
"I'm not going to kill you," Alderpaw announced, "It's no honor to kill a cat."
"At least you got that right!" Moonfall snapped.
The two emerged, and Alderpaw had torn flesh on his shoulder and cheek, while Moonfall's leg was bleeding as she limped out, and a few clumps of fur were missing.
"StarClan have spoken to me in a dream," Cloudfeather announced, "I saw a fox on the Highledge, with stars surrounding it. Foxflight must be the new leader of ThunderClan."
A ginger tom stepped forward, stunned, stammering "I-I never e-expected to b-be g-given such a-an h-honor."
"Foxstar! Foxstar!" cheered the ThunderClan cats.
"Don't call me that yet," Foxflight muttered, his voice barely audible and his jaw barely moving.
"I will accompany you on the journey to the Moonpool for your nine lives," Cloudfeather offered.
The two cats padded on, toward the Moonpool.
"Welcome," Dreamcloud mewed, "I give you your first life for courage. Use it well to lead your Clan into battle when necessary to defend yourself."
A fiery blaze seared through Foxflight; he almost collapsed.
"I give you your second life to be chivalrous," Acornfall meowed, "Use it well to protect the old, young, weak, and injured."
Another pain shot through Foxflight.
"I give you your third life for knowledge," Rosebreeze announced, "Use it well to make good decisions for your Clan."
Foxflight felt the pain, which was a bit better than the first two.
"I give you your fourth life for nobility, certainty, and faith," Bluestar murmured, "Use it well when times are hard and believe that StarClan will light your path. Use it even when your own warrior attacks you."
The pain wasn't that bad this time.
"I give you your fifth life for loyalty," Cinderpelt declared, "Be loyal to your Clan above all else. Use it well even during frustating time."
The pain still wasn't bad.
"I give you your sixth life for love," Cinderheart meowed, "Love your Clan."
A warmth flooded into Foxflight.
"I give you your seventh life for justice," Morningbreeze declared.
A feeling swamped over Foxflight.
"I give you your eighth life for protecting your Clan, like a queen would protect her kits." Lilystar meowed.
Foxflight relaxed, but this life made his legs tremble when it swamped over him.
"I give you your ninth life for tireless energy, to serve your Clan," Breezewind meowed, " Your old life is no more. We hail you by your new name. Foxstar! Foxstar!"
The last life sent energy and strength flooding into Foxstar's legs.
The rest of the StarClan cats chimed in. "Foxstar! Foxstar!"
Foxstar woke.
"Foxflight!" Cloudfeather greeted, "I mean Foxstar! Did you receive your nine lives from StarClan?"
Foxstar nodded, "Come on, we have to go back. Dreamstar and the Dark Forest are still not defeated."
YOU ARE READING
WARRIORS The Moons of the New Great Battles
AçãoBook that has a lot of battles! Good description, vivid feelings, etc.
