"Hopheart. Welcome to Starclan." A pale gray and white tom smiled, his blue eyes glowing.
"Quailsight," Hopheart murmured, "Greetings."
"You are here to receive your nine lives?"
"N-no… Silverstep had a very… very vague dream… and uh, also yes."
Quailsight licked his forepaw, dragging it over an ear. "I see. Silverstep is a medicine cat. You must trust him."
"I do trust him!" Hopheart argued, "It's just-"
Quailsight blinked up at her. Her gray-ish cream fur rippled in Starclan's breeze. "You love him, I know. You may have his kits, we will bless it."
Hopheart was silent, her green eyes wide.
Quailsight nodded, "But he's not with you here."
Hopheart swished her fluffy tail, "He doesn't-"
"I know." Quailsight murmured. "I know he doesn't. He was my son, and his mother didn't either."
Hopheart nodded. A blue-gray speckled she-cat appeared behind Quailsight.
Rainwatcher.
"Mother," Hopheart dipped her head, "I'm sorry my and Rapidtail's births were your end."
Rainwatcher nodded, "It's fine. I loved both of you from the moment I first saw you. Even if it was just a moment." Rows and rows of shimmering cats then appeared behind both of them. Quailsight stepped forward.
"With this life…"
…
"Hopstar," Hopstar's head shot up, and she glanced around, this wasn't Starclan's hunting grounds. The blue-shimmering trees had turned black. The soft grass had turned springy and dry. She looked around, her eyes wide.
"W-what the hell?"
"Returning to your rouge language I see." A large white and gray tom stepped out of the shadows his yellow eyes going up and down her body. "You only have eight lives. Do you know who I am?"
Hopstar looked up at down him. He flicked an ear. "N…no…"
He stepped closer to her, "I am Thistleclaw."
"Thistleclaw? Bluestar's sister's mate…?"
He dipped his head, "Yes. Whitestorm's father."
Hopstar gaped at him as he slowly waddled around to face her.
"With this life…"
"D-Dark Forest cats can give cats lives?"
Thistleclaw stared down at her, his gaze hardening. He then shrugged and smirked. "Starclan is still holding lies? Why yes, yes we can. Do you think Starclan is stupid enough to give Tigerstar and Brokenstar nine lives?"
"H-haven't they?"
"No. Starclan's not that stupid. As I was saying…"
Hopstar gulped as he set his head on hers.
"With this life, I give you faith."
"Faith?" Hopstar quietly repeated.
"Yes, faith. You must remember that Dark Forest Cats had hearts at one point in their lives." Hopstar nodded, "Faith. I give you this life so you may always believe in your warriors. No matter what they do." Hopstar nodded under him, licking his shoulder as she'd done with the other cats. Instead of the nice, milky coldness the Starclan cats had tasted of, he tasted like dead leaves and weeds. She tried to stop herself from cringing at the taste.
Thistleclaw looked at her as her head came back up.
"We have a prophecy for you."
"A prophecy? From the Place of No Stars? Is it good or bad?" She couldn't help words from tumbling out of her mouth.
Thistleclaw smirked. "You decide. The lightness of the wind shall blow into the sun, and with it, turn paws to stone."