Well, here's the first story in my Great Book of Challenges! This one's for the forum Night Walkers, and the Challenge is called Nine Lives, by Seraph the Beyonce.
"Fernstar is dead!" three stomach-hurling, heart-stopping words that hit me with a force nothing else could. "Stormblaze is our new leader!" Brookberry, our medicine cat cried. As my Clanmates cheered, I stood, wallowing in my grief. No mate. No more of her sweet scent. Our kits would never be born, she died carrying them. Shrewfur, a she-cat warrior nudged me. "Stormblaze, you need to go." she mewed, watching me. Brookberry motioned to me, and I followed her, trudging to my destiny.
As I pressed my muzzle to the cool, smooth stone, sleep's strong arms enfolded around me. I woke in a bright field, full of starry cats. A dappled tortoiseshell she-cat stepped forwards. "Welcome to StarClan. I am Spottedfern, first medicine cat of MistClan, and I give you your first life." as she spoke, the other cats faded, and she stepped forwards to touch my forehead. "I, Spottedfern, give you a life of patience. Use it well to solve problems calmly and never lose it." As she faded, a white she-cat stepped forewords. "Wingtalon!" I breathed. My mentor looked as young and strong as she was during her mentoring of me, before she died in the cruel hands of greencough. "My apprentice, I have trained you well. I give you a life of acceptance," she mewed, touching my forehead, "so that you may never be tempted to scorn those you do not know well." as she faded, a strong, burly brown tom appeared. "Eagleswoop!" I cried. My brother looked as young and charming as he was before he died in the claws of a dog. "Hello, brother. I'm here to give you your third life, a life of growth." he mewed, touching my forehead. "Know that you can always grow and learn from others, from the tiniest kit to the eldest elder." when he faded, a pearly tom appeared. "I, Cloudtalon, give you a life of persistence. Never lose it, for losing persistence is losing leadership itself." when my father faded, a familiar scent surrounded me. A golden she-cat appeared, smiling. "Mother!" I cried, tears threatening to well. Although receiving my lives had hurt, this comfort healed all pain. "Hello, my dear son." as she touched my forehead, I bathed in her scent. "I, Summerleaf, give you a life of caring. Care for all, not just your Clanmates. When another needs help, always care." and then she withdrew, a feathery tom appearing. "I, Featherfang, give you a life of love. Love all things, equally, and love in harmony." smiling, he faded, and a striking she-cat replaced him. "Hollyfire!" I cried. The pretty she-cat had been my archenemy, until the day she saved my life. From then on, we were best friends. And he had met Fernstar, then Fernstorm, Hollyfire's sister. "Hi, Stormy. Your seventh life is a life of honor. Never ever lose honor, because your Clan shall fall. Dun-dun-dun!" then, without another word, withdrew. A dark ginger tom stepped forwards. "Rustfoot." I hissed. The tom had been the unwanted follower of Fernstar. He had called her his mate, until one day, Fernstar announced she was expecting Stormblaze's kits. Now, Rustfoot's head was bowed in shame. "I'm sorry. Fernstar...she was my joy. I couldn't bear to think she didn't love me, so I convinced myself she did. Until she announced your kits. My mind...it was shrouded in pain. And I didn't hunt, never ate. Then, well, I died. But I am here for a purpose. I give you a life, your eighth, a life of loyalty, not only to your Clan, but to the Clans in whole." and then he left. And a sweet, silver she-cat stepped forewards, two kits at her feet. "Fernstar?" I mewed, not believing it to be true. "I'm here love. With our kits. I still haven't named them." I stood in shock. The little silver tabby she-kit with huge blue eyes stared at the. She nudged a stormy furred tom with green eyes. "Look! It's papa!" she squeaked. "Starkit. The silver kit is Starkit, born of a star, in the land of stars." I mewed, finding my voice. "Beautiful! And what about Aspenkit for the tomkit?" Fernstar purred. "Wonderful." I breathed. "I come with purpose, love. I give you the life of courage. To know what to do takes great courage. Use this life well." And she, along with our kits, faded away, and I tumbled into reality.