Hi guys. I haven't updated for a long time on any of my stories, and that's because I've been thinking up this story. Also, I was in India for 6 weeks and I type these stories on Word on my home computer. I guess you can see the problem with updating there. If this story doesn't live up to your expectations, then feel free to leave some constructive criticism in a review. Also, this story will also include the questions I do in other stories. For those of you new to my stories, at the bottom of every story, I ask a question about the world the story is set in. Always answer the question with a request for the story in a review. The first person who answers the question correctly with a request in their review gets their request chosen. I will not take unreasonable requests. If you are the first person to answer correctly, but your request in unreasonable, then I will just go to the second person who answered it correctly and use their idea. Unreasonable requests are deemed so by me. I will always tell you the answer of the question in the chapter directly after and if nobody gets the question right, no requests will be taken.

Now that that's out of the way, I'll begin.

Also, allegiances will be listed at the top of the chapter, only including characters that have been seen so far, except for this chapter, which will have no allegiances listed, so that I won't spoil anything.

Prologue

Eaglepelt stared down at the dead body of his clan's leader, Bramblestar. A battle had just been fought with ShadowClan and Bramblestar had fought his hardest, being outnumbered 9 to 4 and on his last life. And just when reinforcements arrived, Bramblestar had lost his last life. The reinforcements, including himself, had fought off the intruders quickly after and now they were mourning the death of their leader on the battlefield. Eaglepelt, after seeing Bramblestar pinned by Rowanstar, had pelted toward him, but Rowanstar bit Bramblestar's throat. Almost immediately after, Eaglepelt's paws hit Rowanstar's flank. He fought as hard as he could, taking one of Rowanstar's lives. When the ShadowClan leader got up again, he signaled a retreat and pelted across the border.

"If only I had been a little faster," Eaglepelt murmured to himself, "I might have saved him."

Dewnose padded over.

"It wasn't your fault, Eaglepelt," he said, "StarClan chose to take him."

"I know," said Eaglepelt said, "But I still wish I could have prevented it somehow."

There was a brief moment of silence.

"Let's take him back to camp," said Dewnose, "And let the elders bury him."

"Okay," responded Eaglepelt.

After returning to camp, Eaglepelt went to get the elders. Berrynose, Toadstep, and Icecloud padded out of the den.

When they saw Bramblestar laying on the ground, the three bowed their heads in grief.

"It is time for a new leader," they said in unison, "StarClan has taken Bramblestar, and our next leader is you, Eaglestar."

Then they relaxed. Eaglestar stared at them, his mouth wide open.

"Ummm," was all he managed. "Is that what all you say to all new leader" he finally asked.

"No," Berrynose responded, "Honestly, I don't even know why I said that."

"Neither do I," said Toadstep.

"I have no idea," Icecloud said.

"Maybe StarClan prompted us to," Berrynose suggested.

"Let's go with that and never talk about this again," said Eaglestar.

"Agreed," the three responded.

THAT NIGHT…

Jayfeather and Rabbitpaw came padding up to Eaglestar.

"Eaglestar, it's time," said Jayfeather.

He rose.

"Then let us be off," he said.

After making their way to the Moonpool, the three each lapped up some water, and went to sleep.

When Eaglestar woke up, he was standing in a clearing in a forest.

He looked around. At first, he didn't notice anything. Then, as he scanned a second time, he saw some cats in the distance.

When they came nearer, he saw they had starry pelts. They spread themselves into an arc.

Then, one stepped forward.

"Snowbush!" Eaglestar gasped, as he came forward.

He touched his nose to Eaglestar's head.

"With this life I give you mentoring. Use it to guide those cats younger than you," he said. (A/N If you didn't get it, Snowbush was Eaglestar's mentor)

A searing pain filled Eaglestar. Even though it only lasted a second, to Eaglestar, it felt as if it lasted a moon. He could barely bear it.

Snowbush stepped away and returned back to the arc of cats. The next cat to come forward was Squirrelflight.

She rested her nose on Eaglestar's head.

"With this life, I give you skill in hunting. Use it to catch prey and feed your clan through times when prey is scarce," she said.

Another wave of pain coursed through Eaglestar's body, leaving him unable to say anything, barely able to hold himself up, but also with sharpened senses.

As Squirrelflight returned to the arc of cats, another cat stepped forward.

Eaglestar didn't recognize her, but she was small, meaning she probably died as an apprentice, maybe a few moons before he was born. He lowered his head, and Seedpaw placed her nose on top of it.

"I am Seedpaw," she said, "And with this life, I give you compassion. Use it for your clan, but also for you enemies. And remember, killing is not always the way.

As another wave of pain racked Eaglestar's body, his mind took in what Seedpaw had just said, and when he understood, the pain died away.

Seedpaw returned to the arc of cats. Then, a golden cat stepped forward and rested his nose on Eaglestar's head.

"Father," murmured Eaglestar.

"With this life," Lionblaze said, "I give you strength in battle. Use it only when needed so that peace will remain around the lake." (A/N Kudos to anybody who guessed Lionblaze as Eaglestar's father.)

This life was different. Along with the pain that Eaglestar had expected, he also felt filling throughout his body, as it energy was surging into him and entering his muscles to make him stronger.

Then Lionblaze returned to the arc, and Brightheart came forward.

Putting her nose atop Eaglestar's head, she said, "With this life, I give you courage to face your fears. Use it so that you may lead ThunderClan wisely and fearlessly in times to come."

This time, it felt like a gale was rushing through Eaglestar, sweeping away his fears that Silverwing would die during her kitting, that he would be a terrible leader, and all of his other fears.

Brightheart retreated to the arc, and then a gray tabby she-cat stepped forward.

"Mother," Eaglestar whispered, as she put her nose atop his head.

"With this life," Cinderheart said, "I give you love. Use it for your entire clan in the way that a father loves his kits." (A/N I guess you all saw this coming.)

"And use this for Silverwing as well," she whispered.

This life was unlike any of the others.

Pure love and devotion ran through Eaglestar's veins. For a second, he saw every cat in ThunderClan as his kits and knew what it meant as a leader to protect each and every one of them, from the elders to the kits.

After Cinderheart returned to the circle, Ivypool padded forward, and rested her nose atop Eaglestar's head.

"With this life," she said, "I give you the ability to make the right decisions. Use it to lead ThunderClan, even in the darkest of times. And remember, a good decision may not always be the right decision."

Pain rushed through Eaglestar. When it ended, his head was clearer, and making the right decision seemed easier to him than it did before.

Ivypool backed away and returned to the arc, and a dappled brown she-cat came forward.

"My name is Honeyfern," she said, "And with this life, I give you loyalty to your clanmates. Use it with hesitation to save your clanmates, even if it means putting your own life in danger."

A searing pain shot up in his leg, and Eaglestar realized that this is what Honeyfern must have felt right before she joined StarClan. Then, the pain faded away, and all that was left was peace.

As Honeyfern padded back to the arc of cats, one last cat came forward.

"Bramblestar," Eaglestar breathed.

"With your ninth and final life, I give you leadership," Bramblestar said. "Use it to lead ThunderClan wisely, even through the darkest of times. ThunderClan may be going through hard times, with many cats joining StarClan, and few kits being born, but you will the leader that leads ThunderClan through these times."

As the final wave of pain rushed through Eaglestar, Bramblestar said, "I hail you by your new name, Eaglestar. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of ThunderClan. 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."

Then the arc of cats began to chant, "Eaglestar! Eaglestar!"

Eaglestar struggled to stand straight.

"I promise to lead ThunderClan with all of the virtues you have given me today and all virtues that I have ever been taught. I promise to be steadfast to the warrior code, and to try to maintain peace around the lake as much as possible. Killing was not my way, nor will it ever be my way, and I will teach that to each and every cat in ThunderClan. I hope to be a good leader and I will remember these virtues for the rest of my life," Eaglestar said.

And then, he awoke.

And Dewnose was standing in front of him.

Eaglestar immediately jumped up.

"Did you get you nine lives and your name?' asked Dewnose.

"Yes," responded Eaglestar.

"Then let's get back quickly," he said. "Silverwing has just begun her kitting."

"What?!" Eaglestar screeched. "Now?!"

"Yes," confirmed Dewnose. "I sent Jayfeather and Rabbitpaw back quickly, because they woke up right after I reached. StarClan must have done it."

"Okay," said Eaglestar, "But we have to be back there in case something goes wrong!"

And he turned and pelted off toward the ThunderClan camp, with Dewnose right behind.

When they reached, Eaglestar told everyone, "Yes, I got my nine lives and my name," and then quickly made his way to outside the queen's den.

When Rabbitpaw came out, he anxiously asked her, "Is the kitting going fine?"

"Yes," Rabbitpaw responded

Eaglestar let out a sigh of relief.

Just a few moments later, Rabbitpaw came outside, holding a scrap of fur by the scruff.

"Lick," she ordered, and disappeared back inside while saying, "It's a tom."

As Eaglestar licked, he thought of possible names for the brown tom. Dustkit? No, his fur was browner than dust.

After a few seconds of thinking, Eaglestar finally settled on the perfect name. Falconkit. His fur was almost the exact color of a falcon's feathers.

Right after Eaglestar settled on Falconkit, Rabbitpaw came out and said, "The kitting is over."

Eaglestar picked up Falconkit by the scruff, and went inside.

"Eaglestar," breathed Silverwing as he came inside.

"They're beautiful," he said.

"What do you think we should name them?"

"I think this brown tom should be Falconkit," he responded.

"Falconkit," Silverwing said, "Perfect."

"And what about the other one?" asked Eaglestar.

"I was thinking Sparrowkit," Silverwing said.

"Falconkit and Sparrowkit," said Eaglestar, "Perfect."

Right after he said that, Sparrowkit began coughing violently.

Eaglestar jumped on his paws and ran to the medicine den.

"Jayfeather," he said, "Sparrowkit is coughing violently!"

"Coming," said Jayfeather, and Eaglestar ran back to the queen's den.

Almost immediately after, Jayfeather and Rabbitpaw entered the den.

Jayfeather rushed over to Sparrowkit, with Rabbitpaw carrying herbs close behind him.

After a few moments, Jayfeather drooped.

"I don't know what's wrong with her," he said, "It's not greencough or whitecough or anything I've ever seen before. We have to wait."

After an agonizingly slow few moments, Jayfeather muttered, "Fox dung," and then said, "Rabbitpaw, give her catmint.

So Rabbitpaw fed her catmint.

Sparrowkit did not show any signs of getting better. In fact, it seemed to be getting worse.

After a long and agonizing wait, the light in her eyes dimmed.

"No…" cried Silverwing.

Eaglestar pressed his pelt into hers and entwined their tails.

After what felt like forever, Dewnose entered.

"The whole clan has felt your loss deeply. But Eaglestar, it is almost moonhigh. You must announce the deputy," he said.

Eaglestar struggled to his paws, and climbed up on top of the Highledge.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here under the Highledge for a clan meeting," Eaglestar yowled.

All the cats came out of the dens quickly. After the loss of Sparrowkit, most could not sleep and those who could slept fitfully.

"I say these words before the spirits of our warrior ancestors, so that they may hear and approve of my choice," said Eaglestar.

"The new deputy will be Dovewing."

Dovewing rose to her paws, stunned.

"I never expected you to choose me, Eaglestar," she said, "But now that you have, I will serve ThunderClan as best I can and I hope to serve for many moons to come."

Eaglestar jumped down from the Highledge.

He watched the elders take Sparrowkit for burial.

Eaglestar padded over to Dovewing and said, "I will stand vigil tonight, so I will need you to organize the dawn patrol."

"Okay," she said, and padded off to the warrior's den.

Dewnose padded over and said, "If you want, I can stand vigil with you."

"No. You need some rest," said Eaglestar.

And Eaglestar stood vigil for the night in memory of Sparrowkit.

You probably hate me know. I probably killed off one of your favorite characters. Yup. I most certainly did. The only cats I didn't kill off are Dovewing, obviously, Molewhisker, Dewnose, Lilyheart, Ambermoon, Bumblestripe, Alderpelt, Cherryfall, Blossomfall, Larksong, Honeypelt, Sparkheart, Berrynose, Toadstep, and Icecloud.

Actually, now that I look at the list, I didn't kill off a lot of characters.

You probably still hate me.

Not to mention I did put a really sad death in the prologue.

OCs are Eaglestar(pelt), Silverwing, Goldenpaw, Rabbitpaw, and Falconkit.

You haven't met Goldenpaw yet. Goldenpaw and Rabbitpaw are littermates.

Just in case you wanted to know, Silverwing's parents are Tigerheart and Dovewing, but everyone in ThunderClan except Silverwing and Dovewing herself think that Bumblestripe was Silverwing's father, even Bumblestripe. Cause Bumblestripe/Dovewing/Tigerheart is one of my favorites.

Question of the chapter: Who was Firestar's second apprentice?

This should be pretty easy.

If this chapter was horrendous then review. If this chapter was stupendous then review. Just don't forget to answer the question and give something you want me to add. I'm still looking for OCs. And people, try to appeal to my taste.

Wow, this is the longest chapter I've ever written. It's a little over 7 full pages on Word and over 2500 words.

Anyway, this is Luck1492, signing out.

P.S. School starts on August 23 for me this year, so I probably won't be updating as much.

I'M SO SORRY! *sobs*