s Moonlilly walked into the camp, she saw her cousin and leader, Nightstar, she purred and ran up to. "Oh Nightstar, guess what!" yowled Moonlilly.
"What is it this time?" she asked.
"Lightwhisker asked me to be his mate!" Moonlilly was so excited she wanted to bounce up and down like a little kit. But she knew better then to do that.
"Oh Moonlilly that's wonderful!" Nightstar pushed her nose into her fur affectionately, they may just be cousins but both their parents had died or left when they were very young and were as close as littermates. She knew Moonlilly had been after Lightwhisker for some time and was very happy for her. She knew she needed some strong smart cat in her life like Lightwhisker, especially since her brother, Goldenspirit had been stolen by Breezepaw. Moonlilly was also the clan deputy, so she had many responsibilities. Amberheart, the medicine cat and Moonlilly's best friend, walked in the camp with some herbs.
"Oh Amberheart, you'll never guess what's happened!" Said Moonlilly,
"I already know, Starclan told me." She replied.
"Huh? You do? Oh… but I'm excited! He's so brave, strong, and ….. Well, perfect to me." Moonlilly said.
"We know, you love him so much you would walk to Starclan and back for him." Said Amberheart, not unkindly, but gently.
"Yeah, why don't you guys go share tongues?" said Nightstar in a slightly teasing voice.
"I'll get you for that!" yowled Moonlilly. She jumped on her back and Nightstar rolled over, Moonlilly jumped sideways only to be pinned down by Nightstar. "Seems I can't win here huh." Purred Moonlilly. Just then she lunged upward, catching Nightstar by surprise and then dancing away. She shot out of the camp only to have Nightstar chase her out, there was a small river up ahead and she jumped into it, loving the feel of cool, smooth water around her fur and paws, and also knowing that Nightstar hated water.
"Cheater!" yowled Nightstar.
"You know how to swim, why don't you?" asked Moonlilly.
"You know I only swim when I absolutely have to!" she replied.
"So? This time could count." Purred Moonlilly.
"Not to me it doesn't!" said Nightstar. Moonlilly just shook her head and started swimming in the river, then, she froze horror filling her gaze. "Nightstar run!" she shrieked. All of a sudden, a giant wolf appeared! Running as fast as Windclan, they streaked away from the camp, knowing that if they ran that way they would be leading it towards the elders and other cats. "Moonlilly, go to the gorge!" yowled Nightstar
"You got it!" she replied. Not sounding scared at all just excited. Rolling her eyes, Nightstar just kept on running, thinking how carefree her cousin could be, though sometimes it would be considered dumbness. Sooner or later they got to the gorge, the wolf only two fox lengths behind them. Now Moonlilly looked scared! Her eyes were round and frightened. She suddenly whirled around, confused the wolf stopped, she jumped at its throat and clawed and bit till it was dead, they used this technique often in the woods. Panting hard she stopped. Nightstar looked at her seriously and said, "We must get back to camp, now."
Looking confused Moonlilly says, "But a wolf is nothing! We see them on our territory almost every day!"
"I-it's not that" blinking confusedly, but loyal, Moonlilly followed her leader home, racing ahead then doubling back, she could tell that Nightstar was upset about something but didn't know what it was. When they went into the fern tunnel Nightstar jumped on the ledge and yowled, "ALL clan cats gather beneath the ledge for an important announcement!" Lightwhisker was the first to run out, purring he ran up to Moonlilly and sat as close to her as he could. Moonlilly purred but signaled for him to be quiet. He nodded and looked up at Nightstar. "Everyone, it has recently come to my notice that we are encountering more and more trouble these days, and we need a good and strong cat to lead us. That is why I shall step down from being leader, and give the leadership to my deputy, Moonlilly. "
"But I-I can't! I'm not ready! Your not even on your 3rd life yet!" protested Moonlilly.
"Starclan has agreed with me and have already removed my extra lives."
"But-but I'm not ready!"
"It's to late. I am Nightember once again, tonight Amberheart will take you to the Moonpool, that is my final order as leader."
"At least stay as my deputy!" Moonlilly yowled with a note of desperation in her voice. Narrowing her eyes Nightember hesitated but finally agreed. Looking distraught Moonlillly walked up to Amberheart and said, "Why do I have to be leader? Ever since Blazestar died living here has gotten more and ,more difficult but Nightstar- I mean Nightember has always been a very good leader, why would she step down?"
Amberheart replied, " Not everything is simple Moonlilly, but everything has a reason. Nightember always knew you had more right than her as leader, she may have been good, but she always felt that she didn't belong there."
Moonlilly sighed and said, " Thank you Amberheart you have no idea how much that just helped, but I'm still unsure about this…" Amberheart looked at her and layed her tail on her should briefly in comfort and gestured for her to follow her, signaling that Moonlilly's journey to the Moonpool had begun. Gulping Moonlilly hastily followed her out the entrance and along the territory's edge. As they neared the moonpool Moonlilly's eyes widened at the sight. Amberheart looked at her in a way that said now is the time, take the chance. Moonlilly layed down and touched her nose to the cool water that smelled of the stars. She was all of a sudden standing alone on a strange looking mountain that somehow felt right to her. She was surrounded by cats with starlight in their pelts. She scanned the crowd and saw many cats she knew and one she didn't know. Her mother, Brokenheart, stepped forward gaping in astonishment Moonlilly said, "I have so many questions to ask" in reply her mother said,
"Dear one you know all the answers already in your heart! With this life I give you wisdom, use it in times of hard decision to guide you forward." Thinking this life would be gentle she gasped as a crisp sharp pain went through her she blinked her eyes watering and said,
"That has to be done NINE times!" Brokenheart purred and nodded. Looking up Moonlilly saw her father, Phantomtail, step forward she purred brightly and said, "I miss you, the whole clan still does, you were the best deputy ever!" He purred in return and said,
"It was my time and I was happy to go. With this life I give you courage, use it in the most dangerous paths in life, and I don't mean just battles. Another wave of pain went through Moonlilly. She waited for the next cat and gave a squeak of excitement when she saw Nightember's father, Bloodheart, step forward. Her eyes shining she stood still and waited for her next life.
"With this life I give you gentleness and caring use it when it seems right." Bracing herself she waited for the pain, but none came, instead a great passion and warmth seeped through her. She waited as the next cat came forward she did a little cat smile when Nightember's mother, Painstrike, Brokenheart's sister, came forward.
She said, "With this life I give you protection, use it to keep not only your clanmates but you as well safe." A burning sensation passed through Moonlilly as she received the life. Skypurr Painstrike and Brokenheart's other sister steped forward. She said,
"With this life I give you hope, use it in the darkest and most horrible times of your life, use to keep your clan hopeful as well." A fiery pain worse then the others so far wept through Moonlilly, she gasped and screwed up her eyes against it. Greatheart, her grandfather on mothers side, stepped forward Moonlilly bounced up and down like a little kit then calmed herself. Greatheart purred and said,
"With this life I give you patience, use it in the most frustrating times." Moonlilly almost purred as a great calm went through her. Featherdance, Greatheart's mate, stepped forward,
"With this life I give you pride, use it when others doubt you yet you know you are right in your ways." A burning stubbornness. Blazestar, the leader before Nightember, stepped forward. He looked at her and said,
"My how my little grandkit has grown! With this life I give you humor, use to cheer up clanmates in otherwise un-funny times when they need it." A lighthearted feeling went through Moonlilly and she purred. Then the cat she didn't recognize walked up she looke just like Brokenheart except for her fiery brown pelt and said,
"Moonlilly I'm your sister, we didn't tell you of me because it wasn't time. I was born in an earlier litter and died giving birth to kits, their father was from a different clan and they grew up there. I'm sorry. With this life I give you endurance, use it when you seem to be about to give up." A burning sensation passed through Moonlilly. Then it was over, she had her 9 lives. Her lost sister stepped back and was the first to yowl, "MOONSTAR! MOONSTAR! MOONSTAR!" they all joined in after that, then her dream faded and she woke up on a rock next to Amberheart. Amberheart only looked at her and said,
"You cant talk about it, come on, lets head home!" eyes shining with excitement she got up and started walking, feeling the pulse of all nine lives going throught her
