PROLOGUE
A strained, agonizing yowl pierced the skies. A lean, male cat staggered regaining himself. His heart ached as he recovered. Shadowy feline figures wavered by the trees behind him and all around. Another feline tensed in front of him, sensing his pain.
"Wildstep," it said, not daring to come closer, "are you alright?" The male cat nodded faintly, his pain slowly ebbing away. He slowly looked upwards at the cats before him, the cats that had given him his new nine lives. A new feline figure materialised before him. The male cat gasped quietly.
"Larchstar!" he breathed in awe. Larchstar lowered her head in greeting. "Greetings, Wildstep. You've come so far. I knew that you were the right deputy, despite the other opinions in our clan." Larchstar padded forward and touched her nose to Wildstep's forehead.
"With this life, I give you union and self sacrifice. Use it well to come together as one with your clan and to give your clan the best."
At once, a warm sensation spread thoughout Wildstep's body from the point in which they touched. It slowly warmed up and tingled at his tail and paws. It was less painful than the other lives; it was almost heart warming. Wildstep looked up to see Larchstar step back. She examined him before saying the words, "I hail you by your new name, Wildstar. Your old life is no more. You have received the nine lives of a leader and StarClan grants you the guardianship of LynxClan. Defend it well; care for the young and the old; honour your ancestors; live each life with pride and dignity."
"Wildstar!" exclaimed the cats around him. They all excitedly acclaimed for the new leader and chanted his new name. "Wildstar! Wildstar!"
Wildstar couldn't help but smile. Larchstar looked at him approvingly. Suddenly, amidst the positive environment, the scenery changed. It swirled around Wildstar, who was too stunned by the sudden change of mood. Wildstar felt his gut clenching, as he free fell into darkness. In the distant, many cats' yowls were heard. They sounded sick and deathly.
Wildstar felt many presences and suddenly heard eerie silence. Many cats spoke into his ear as one. They said, "Take care, Wildstar. Something big will gradually happen. New dangers will rise. You will meet another in battle, but not in the way you will expect. And the battle will end in complete silence."