Chapter 1: A heavy responsibility

Twilight streamed through the canopy of leaves of the various trees in the forest. Birds were singing in the evening glory and the captivating scents of the various wild flowers wafted in the air. Two cats were walking side by side in the forest. One was a dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes while the other was a light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes. They were submerged in silence.

Brambleclaw's heart burned with pride, joy, sadness, nervousness and curiosity at the same time. However, he was not comfortable with Leafpool. He knew what she had gone through the past few days, and it was very hard for her.

"Brambleclaw, I know that you are bursting with curiosty. You may ask me all the questions you want. After all, it is my duty as a medicine cat to offer you, the Clan leader, advice and comfort." Leafpool mewed, allowing herself to wear a small smile. The ThunderClan cats had gone through the WindClan border and were now following the stream up into the hills. The scents of greenleaf wreathed around them as the forest filled with shadows, and the dew was cool on their pads.

Brambleclaw stopped and gave a quick lick to Leafpool's ear. "Will I see Firestar during the ceremony? Will he.... bless me with a life?" He asked quitely, revealing his heart-felt desire to the ThunderClan medicine cat. Even though Leafpool looked weary, she wore an amused and sad expression as she replied, "You may or may not. It is the will of the StarClan. Our warrior ancestors will show us what to do. However, you can be sure that the spirit of Firestar is with StarClan and is still watching over ThunderClan and its leader like the past leaders."

Brambleclaw nodded, reassured.

By then, the sun had dipped below the horizon. Near the WindClan territory, the ThunderClan cats met a WindClan patrol. It icluded Onestar, the WindClan leader, Nightcloud and Ashfoot, the WindClan deputy. Onestar dipped his head when he saw Leafpool and Brambleclaw. "Greetings, Brambleclaw, Leafpool. I am sorry for Firestar's demise. He was a very good friend and may I presume that Brambleclaw is going to succeed him?" Leafpool and Brambleclaw nodded.

"You are a courageous and loyal ThunderClan warrior, Brambleclaw. You will make a fine leader." said the WindClan leader. Ashfoot and the other WindClan warriors nodded, agreeing with their leader.

Brambleclaw smiled and said, "Thank you, Onestar, Ashfoot, Nightcloud. Your words are indeed very generous. However, I am very sure that however good I may be, I will never match the courage and skill of Firestar. He is the best ThunderClan leader the forest has seen." Then, Leafpool and Brambleclaw dipped their heads in farewell and continued their journey to Moonpool. As they were leaving Onestar cried, "May StarClan light your path."

Brambleclaw and Leafpool climbed farther into the hills, side by side.

By now, night had fallen. Brambleclaw and Leafpool halted at the top of a swell of moorland and looked back to see the quarter moon shining over the distant lake. There was no sign of any other cat and when they tasted the air, they could not pick up the scent of one.

"Now, Brambleclaw, do not speak at all until you reach the Moonpool. You have to lap the waters of the Moonpooland then close your eyes. I may speak to you when we meet StarClan."

"Alright, Leafpool."

The ThunderClan cats reached the tumbling stream and bounded up beside the star-filled water and pushed their way through the bushes that surrounded the hollow,.

The waterfall poured down the wall of a rock, a moving sheet of silver, churning the pool below so that it seemed full of leaping moonlight.

Leafpool led the way down the spiral path to the edge of the pool. Brambleclaw followed, feeling his paws slip into the marks left behind by generations of cats long gone.

Then, Leafpool and Brambleclaw reached the Moonpool. They crouched on the edge of the pool and craned their necks to lap from the icy water. The cold seemed to flow into every part of Brambleclaw, gripping his limbs so that he felt like a cat made of ice. His gaze was transfixed by the churning of the water; gradually it stilled, and Brambleclaw made out the reflections of countless cats, lining the hollow around him.

He looked up. Leafpool was also standing beside him. Around the pool,and lining the sides of the hollow as far as the circle of bushes, were the glimmering shapes of the warriors of StarClan.

A ginger tom with a flame-coloured pelt rose to his paws on a bare rock and leaped off it.

"Firestar!" Brableclaw cried and bounded forward to touch noses with the former leader of ThunderClan and Leafpool's own father.

"Welcome Brambleclaw. You are now going to go through the ceremony of leadership. Are you ready?"Purred Firestar.

Brambleclaw nodded, but tension clawed at his heart. It was palpitating so hard that it was a wonder that it did not explode.

Firestar touched noses with Brambleclaw and said, "With this life I give you courage. Use this to lead your clan well."

A sharp pang of pain bolted through Brambleclaw's body. He cringed, agony gnawing at him as though it was trying to finish him off. After a few long moments, the pain subsided, leaving Brambleclaw breathless and panting. He could not bear the thought that he had to go through the pain eight more times.

Firestar stepped back and licked Brambleclaw's ear. He said, "I am very proud of you. We will meet again in dreams again, do not worry."

Then, Firestar stepped back into the StarClan warriors. Then, Whitestorm, a former ThunderClan deputy, stepped forward. He licked Brambleclaw's ear and after touching noses with him, said "With this life I give you strength. Use this to fight for your clan till your last breath."

Agonising pain again shot through Brambleclaw and he winced. Then, agin after few moments, the pain subsdied. Whitestorm licked his ear again before stepping back into the ranks of StarClan warriors.

Then, Yellowfang, a former ThunderClan medicine cat, stepped forwards and touched noses with Brambleclaw. She said, "With this life, I give you confidence. Use it to fight bravely for you clan."

The procedure with the pain repeated again and after Yellowfang licked his ear, she stepped back.

Spottedleaf, a former ThunderClan medicine cat, gave him a life of wisdom. Stonefur, the former RiverClan deputy and the son of Bluestar, the leader of the Thunder Clan before Firestar, gave him the life of kindness. Then, Bluestar herself gave him the life of justice. Sootfur, a former ThunderClan warrior, gave him a life of determination. Then, Sandstorm, a former ThunderClan warrior and Firestar's mate, gave him a life of perseverence.

Last but not least, Goldenflower, Brambleclaw's own mother and a former ThunderClan queen, gave him a life of love. Unlike the previous lives he received, the life of love was calming and soothing, not agonising.

All the cats who gave Brambleclaw his nine lives were very affectionate and Brambleclaw felt loved and comforted, despite feeling strange because of rcveiving nine lives.

Then, Firestar stepped forward and cried, "From this moment on, Brambleclaw, you are

Bramblestar!"

All the cats (including Leafpool) cried his name. Brambleclaw felt happier than he felt in a long time. It was not because of power; it was because of love.

A/N: This is my first Warrior Clan Cats fanfic! I adapted some lines from Warriors The New Prophecy Sunrise. Thank you Erin Hunter and all the credit goes to him! Thank you, Erin Hunter! Anyway, please review! This is one of my favourite fanfics! Please please please review.......... This is my longest chapter, I think.... Soooo, pls review! Thank you and toodles!!!!!

(P/S: Sorry for all my errors, including the various mistakes with the different lives!)