A forum challenge for "A Perfect Circle." Hope you enjoy!

Rowanheart blinked open her eyes. The air around her was calm and peaceful as a gentle breeze danced among the vibrant leaves of towering trees overhead. Everything was peacefully still, except it seemed to Rowanheart that she could almost hear all the lush plants living and growing. But she was far from alone, different cats of all ages and sizes watched her silently as stars gathered around their paws and countless moons of wisdom brimmed in the depths of their ancient eyes.

Suddenly, a faint flicker of movement at the edge of her vision caught her attention. A beautiful white she-cat with golden patches had materialized from the crowd and now her regal form had stopped right in front of Rowanheart. She gazed at the smaller brown she-cat with all the love in the world swimming in the depths of her warm golden eyes.

The she-cat remained silent a moment before speaking with a soft and delicate voice, "Greetings young one, I am known as Goldenflight, you do not now me as I died several moons before you were born."

Goldenflight stepped closer to Rowanheart, "With this life, I give you sympathy. Use it well to care for and understand the misunderstood and the innocent"

With that the white and golden she-cat pressed her nose to Rowanheart's. Immediately a huge weight seemed to bear down on Rowanheart's shoulders and it felt like claws had plunged into her chest and was tearing her heart out from her very chest. Rowanheart gasped with surprise and she screwed her eyes shut as the pain burned and seared it's way through her body. All the memories of heartbreak, betrayal, and loss swelled within her and she bit her tongue to keep from wailing in grief for the unfortunate souls. As quickly as it had started, the pain and the miserable memories of the suffering subsided leaving her on shaky paws.

She blinked open her amber eyes just in time to see the regal she-cat fade back into the crowd only to be replaced by a reddish brown tom with glowing amber eyes. Her knees shook as familiarity welled within her. The last time she had seen him, his body was emaciated from starvation and greencough. Now he looked perfectly healthy and well-fed.

He no longer looked old as youthfulness and humor once again toyed with the features of his handsome face. "Reedfeather, I'm sorry you should have been deputy..." her voice cracked with grief as she greeted her former mentor and deputy.

He flashed her a sad grin but his eyes shone with pride, "there was nothing you could do." He stated simply before leaning in, "With this life I give you strength. Use it not to vanquish others, but to carry and stand tall for you loved ones and clanmates."

He gently pressed his cold nose to hers and she immediately felt strength and energy flowing though her body, so strong it almost knocked her off her paws. She once again closed her eyes. She felt like she could run for an enternity. She felt the rush of battle in her veins as she protected her family and clanmates. She felt like she could defeat any foe. She felt like she could never grow old. The pulsing sensation soon faded away, leaving the she-cat breathless and exhilarated. Her former mentor flashed her one last smile before disappearing into the multitude with a flick of his bushy red tail.

Her heart jumped into her throat as she was overwhelmed with grief again when she recognized her father's familiar black pelt flash among the seated cats.

Her father stopped before her with pride and love plastered onto his face, "With this life I give you justice. Use it well to protect the innocent and to have mercy upon the guilty."

He touched his nose to her's and it was all she could to not recoil from the pain that shot through her body. It felt like her entire pelt was alight with flame. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth as confusion swam in her head making her dizzy. Countless thoughts and images flowed though her mind as her fur continued to burn. Soon the images slowed, and as her mind gained clarity, her fur began to cool. The she-cat's eyes fluttered open and she looked around wearily, waiting for her next life.

Rowanheart panted with exhaustion and her body ached. Her lives had gone by quickly but they were painful and it took all her strength to keep herself upright on her own paws. The brown she-cat felt her heart drop as one last cat, a large black and white tom with green eyes halted in front of her.

A faint smile cracked her lips, "Spiderstar it's good to see you."

The noble tom didn't answer but his eyes shone with the same wisdom and understanding that he possessed in his long life spent in RiverClan.

He opened his mouth to speak, "with this last life, I give you wisdom. Never be afraid to seek advice from the elders as sometimes the key to the furture lies in the past."

The large tom pressed his nose to Rowanheart's. This life wasn't painful like the others, instead it filled her with a deep sense of knowing and a pleasant calm washed over her body. The she-cat's tense muscles loosened as she knew her clan had been around for countless generations and would still be around for countless more.

Rowanheart felt at peace and she blinked open her eyes to meet the green gaze of Spiderstar.

He smiled and dipped his head to her before yowling, "I hail you by your new name, Rowanstar. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of RiverClan. 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 newly named Rowanstar felt pride flash through her pelt as countless upon countless generations of mighty warrior ancestors chanted her name to the sky. She had been granted gifts from StarClan and she would use them to the best of her ability.

Soon the world slowly faded, and Rowanstar found her nose pressed to a cold hard rock. But the voices of the past still rang in her ears and the images of her ancestors still lingered in her mind.