A/N: Hey, April of the Zodiac here! Now that the total flop of an account that was my school project through the account HMHS 8th Grade is coming to a close, I have now uploaded what I have so far of my first story, Return to the Root to this account, and so that it would be easier, my pen name is the same as the alias that I used on that account. So, I hope that I can keep some of my readers from then, and that you enjoy the story! Oh yeah, and here's the disclaimer: I do not own anything from the fabulous world of Warriors, all credit goes to the brilliant Erin Hunter(s).
A solo silhouette sits at the edge of a cliff, his pelt flickering with starlight staring, down at a lush green forest sprawling out far beneath his paws. A barely audible sigh emits from his mouth, and worry is apparent in his sharp emerald green gaze as he looks down below him. At first glance he appears quite young, but you can never quite tell with StarClan cats until you look into their eyes and see the measure of the battles they have fought, the lives that have been lost, the triumphs, the bitter defeats, the hardest times, and especially for the newer members, the loved ones that they have been forced to leave behind. All of these are heavy in the starry ginger toms gaze, making him seem ancient, heavily contrasting with the rest of his appearance.
"Firestar," comes a call from a bush behind the tom, and he whips around just in time to see a regal looking blue-gray she-cat emerging from the branches. A smile tugged at the corner of Firestar's lips at the sight of the she-cat.
"Bluestar," he responded, dipping his head in respect to his former leader and mentor.
"Firestar, you must stop torturing yourself. You know that we cannot do anything to change what has already taken place or change the destinies of the cats still around the lake. All that we can do is guide their paws on the right path and hope that they listen. There is good reason behind the cat chosen for this prophecy, and we must go through with it, no matter if we disagree." Bluestar's blue gaze bore into Firestar's ginger pelt, and he could feel it even though he was not looking at her to see it.
Another sigh escaped him and he closed his eyes, obviously thinking quite hard and trying to concentrate. "I know, Bluestar, but this is like we are sending a cat in completely blind. Why the decision was not made towards a cat who was there the first time is completely beyond me, and though I understand what they are doing, it is difficult especially since the clans are being faced with such a huge prophecy, less than a quarter moon after the battle with the dark forest!" He lowered his head and shook it vigorously as though trying to clear his head, and then became very quiet and still, his head still hanging.
Bluestar stepped closer to the distressed tom and set her tail tip on his shoulder to help calm him before. "We must go, Brambleclaw and Jayfeather have almost arrived at the Moonpool, it is time to give Brambleclaw his his nine lives."
Firestar turned his head to the she-cat again, his green eyes considerably clearer and less troubled before nodding and running into the bush from which Bluestar had come. Upon arriving at the StarClan Moonpool with Bluestar, he immediately recognized the other seven cats. Brambleclaw's mother, Goldenflower, Ashfur, his old rival for Squirrelflight's heart, Snowkit, his old denmate who was carried off by a hawk because he was deaf and could not hear the warnings, Swiftpaw, his half brother whom he never met, Feathertail, one of the cats who had gone with him on the journey to the sundrown place, as well as her brother, Stormfur who had been on the journey and had almost been like a deputy to him on the journey, who unfortunately had died not long after his and Brook's kits had become to-bes, and finally his foster daughter, Hollyleaf. As the nine cats stood in silence near the front of the crowd of StarClan warriors that would be attending Brambleclaw's leadership ceremony, suddenly he and Jayfeather came into view. As the two of them rose, Brambleclaw's eyes widened considerably, which makes sense, since this was the first time he had ever seen so many StarClan warriors. Sure, he had seen some during the battle against the dark forest, but never in this sort of situation.
Suddenly the first cat came forward to give him his first life. Mixed emotions very clearly were fighting for a space in his amber eyes, for the cat that came forth was Hollyleaf. Before a clear emotion could come into his eyes, the black she-cat spoke. "With this life I give you confidence. Use it to lead you're your clan into battle without hesitation, no matter the odds, with a level head." She set her nose on his forehead after stretching up higher and he immediately went rigid. After a while he relaxed again and the next cat walked up to him. Firestar could plainly see the shock in his eyes and nearly sighed thinking about when he received his nine lives and how he almost thought he would die before receiving the ninth.
There were no mixed emotions at the sight of the next cat, only sadness and regret. It was Snowkit. "Snowkit, I…" Brambleclaw began, his voice choked up with sadness before the tiny white kit silenced him.
"It's alright," The kit's high voice rang loud and clear, so different from the broken, hesitant speech he had while alive. "With this life I give you fair judgement, so that you can make all of the cats from the tiniest kit to the oldest elder in your clan feel welcome and important." Firestar knew exactly who he was referencing to as Bramblestar stooped down low so that the small kit could reach his forehead, Briarlight, the poor young she-cat and daughter of his best friend whose spine was severed and could no longer use her hind legs.
Next came Bluestar. All though Brambleclaw had not known her very long while she was alive, she had visited him many times, and had been the one to tell him of the prophecy that would lead him, Tawnypelt, Crowfeather, Stormfur, Feathertail, and Squirrelflight to the sundrown place. "With this life I give you faith. Use it to never lose sight of what is right and to keep your trust in your clanmates." Firestar could easily see how relieved Brambleclaw was after receiving this life, because although the last two had been full of pain and agony, this one had obviously sent a warm and relaxed feeling through him.
The next cat to come up sent a look of pure joy flashing through the tabby's eyes, it was Goldenflower, her yellow eyes shining with pride. "I am so proud of you my son. With this life I give you the strength of a mother's love for her kits. Use it to keep your clan safe from harm." Firestar winced remembering the immense pain that had swept through him when he had received a similar life. Brambleclaw was completely unprepared for that as he was, and his legs nearly gave way underneath him. And he's not even halfway done yet. thought Firestar with a sigh.
Up padded Ashfur, awkwardness shining in his blue eyes as he approached his old rival. Brambleclaw himself seemed quite surprised by the tom. "With this life I give you strength, not just outer, but inner, for a good leader only needs one, but a great leader requires both." This life appeared to bring as much, if not more, agony to the dark brown tabby than the last.
The next to come startled him the most, he did not even know that he had died! "Yes, Brambleclaw, I have died."
"But Stormfur, when Squirrelflight and the rest of the patrol returned, they said that you were fine!" Brambleclaw said, startled.
"That is true, but I fell ill not long after that," With a short pause Stormfur began again. "With this life I give you leadership. This may sound like a pointless life to give, since the others are meant to build you up towards being a great leader, but this is just as important. Use it to help you know when you must let another cat take control for a little while, you cannot lead alone, and you will need assistance from your clanmates."
Swiftpaw came up next, ghosts of scars from the savage attack from the wild pack of dogs that killed him and disfigured Brightheart still visible. "With this life I give you speed. Use it in not only battling and hunting but to make quick decisions."
As Swiftpaw padded away, Feathertail took the black and white apprentices place. Brambleclaw looked sadly at the beautiful silver she-cat as she came up, her plumy tail waving behind her. "With this life I give you selflessness. Use it to put your clan above yourself at all times."
Finally Firestar walked up to give him his ninth life, but he knew that that would not be the only thing he would be giving Bramblestar in this meeting. The great sadness was extremely apparent in the large tom's eyes as he caught sight of his former mentor. "Brambleclaw, I have been given the pleasure of being allowed to give you your final life and be the first to welcome you by your new name. But first, I believe that it is long overdue that you receive a proper apology."
"Firestar, you don't…" Brambleclaw began before he was cut off.
"Yes I do," Firestar said, his voice strong and unwavering. "I was unfair to you so much in the past, without giving you the chance you deserved. The only thing I ever saw while looking at you was your father, but you have proven yourself time and time again to be your own person, the exact opposite of your father, and I could not be any more proud. So with this life I give you understanding. Use this life to always be fair and never to rash with your clanmates. This is a very key part of being a great leader." Firestar watched again as the tom stiffened muscles rolling underneath his pelt and his jaws open in a silent wail of pain before his legs gave way and he fell to the ground. Once he had recovered, Firestar signaled for him to get up and he obliged.
"I hail you by your new name, Bramblestar. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants to you the leadership of ThunderClan. Defend it well; care for the young and old; honor your ancestors and traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity."
"Bramblestar! Bramblestar!" The voices of all of StarClan seemed to all blend together into a single voice, and eventually it faded off along with the warriors of StarClan, but Firestar still stood in front of the new leader, a grave look on his face.
"What is it Firestar?" Bramblestar questioned, knowing that when he wore that look on his face, it could never mean anything good.
"A new prophecy," Firestar responded, the graveness of his voice matching his expression. "Not much time has passed, but the clans must face another great danger. The flower must return to the root, to stop the evil that threatens the clans once more." With that, Firestar faded away leaving Bramblestar and Jayfeather to wake up beside the Moonpool.
THUNDERCLAN
LEADER
BRAMBLESTAR—dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes
DEPUTY
SQUIRRELFLIGHT—dark ginger she-cat with green eyes
MEDICINE CAT
JAYFEATHER—gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes
WARRIORS
(toms and she-cats without kits)
GRAYSTRIPE—long-haired gray tom
DUSTPELT—dark brown tabby tom
SANDSTORM—pale ginger she-cat with green eyes
BRACKENFUR—golden brown tabby tom
CLOUDTAIL—long-haired white tom with blue eyes
MILLIE—striped gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes
THORNCLAW—golden brown tabby tom
LEAFPOOL—light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes, former medicine cat
SPIDERLEG—long-limbed black tom with brown underbelly and amber eyes
BIRCHFALL—light brown tabby tom
WHITEWING—white she-cat with green eyes
BERRYNOSE—cream-colored tom
HAZELTAIL—small gray-and-white she-cat
MOUSEWHISKER—gray-and-white tom
POPPYFROST—tortoiseshell she-cat (
CINDERHEART—gray tabby she-cat
LIONBLAZE—golden tabby tom with amber eyes
FOXLEAP—reddish tabby tom
ICECLOUD—white she-cat
TOADSTEP—black-and-white tom
ROSEPETAL—dark cream she-cat
BRIARLIGHT—dark brown she-cat
BLOSSOMFALL—tortoiseshell and white she-cat
BUMBLESTRIPE—very pale gray tom with black stripes
DOVEWING—pale gray she-cat with blue eyes
IVYPOOL—silver-and-white tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes
APPRENTICES
QUEENS
(More than six moons old, in training to be warriors)
MOLEPAW—brown-and-cream tom
CHERRYPAW—ginger she-cat
(she-cats expecting or nursing kits)
SORRELTAIL—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with amber eyes (mother to Lilykit, a white she-kit, and Seedkit, a very pale ginger she-kit)
BRIGHTHEART—white she-cat with ginger patches (mother to Snowkit, a white tom, Dewkit, a pale gray tom, and Amberkit, a ginger she-kit with white paws)
DAISY—cream long-furred cat from the horseplace
ELDERS
(former warriors and queens, now retired)
PURDY—plump tabby former loner with a gray muzzle
SHADOWCLAN
LEADER
BLACKSTAR—large white tom with one jetblack forepaw
DEPUTY
ROWANCLAW—ginger tom
MEDICINE CAT
LITTLECLOUD—very small tabby tom
WARRIORS
OAKFUR—small brown tom
SMOKEFOOT—black tom
TOADFOOT—dark brown tom
APPLEFUR—mottled brown she-cat
CROWFROST—black-and-white tom
SNOWBIRD—pure-white she-cat
TAWNYPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
OLIVENOSE—tortoiseshell she-cat
OWLCLAW—light brown tabby tom
SHREWFOOT—gray she-cat with black feet
REDWILLOW—mottled brown-and-ginger tom
TIGERHEART—dark brown tabby tom
DAWNPELT—cream-furred she-cat
PINENOSE—black she-cat
FERRETCLAW—cream-and-gray tom
STARLINGWING—ginger torn
QUEENS
KINKFUR—tabby she-cat, with long fur that sticks out at all angles
IVYTAIL—black, white, and tortoiseshell she-cat
ELDERS
CEDARHEART—dark gray tom
TALLPOPPY—long-legged light brown tabby she-cat
WHITEWATER—white she-cat with long fur, blind in one eye
WINDCLAN
LEADER
ONESTAR—brown tabby tom
DEPUTY
ASHFOOT—gray she-cat
MEDICINE CAT
KESTRELFLIGHT—mottled gray tom
WARRIORS
CROWFEATHER—dark gray tom
APPRENTICE, WHISKERPAW (light brown tom)
WHITETAIL—small white she-cat
NIGHTCLOUD—black she-cat
GORSETAIL—very pale gray-and-white tom with blue eyes
WEASELFUR—ginger tom with white paws
HARESPRING—brown-and-white tom
LEAFTAIL—dark tabby tom, amber eyes
ANTPELT—brown tom with one black ear
EMBERFOOT—gray tom with two dark paws
HEATHERTAIL—light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes
BREEZEPELT—black tom with amber eyes
APPRENTICE, BOULDERPAW (large pale gray tom)
SEDGEWHISKER—light brown tabby she-cat
SWALLOWTAIL—dark gray she-cat
SUNSTRIKE—tortoiseshell she-cat with large white mark on her forehead
ELDERS
WEBFOOT—dark gray tabby tom
TORNEAR—tabby tom
RIVERCLAN
LEADER
MISTYSTAR—gray she-cat with blue eyes
DEPUTY
REEDWHISKER—black tom
APPRENTICE, HOLLOWPAW (dark brown tabby tom)
MEDICINE CAT
MOTHWING—dappled golden she-cat
APPRENTICE, WILLOWSHINE (gray tabby she-cat)
WARRIORS
GRAYMIST—pale gray tabby she-cat
APPRENTICE, TROUTPAW (pale gray tabby she-cat)
ICEWING—white she-cat with blue eyes
MINNOWTAIL—dark gray she-cat
APPRENTICE, MOSSYPAW(brown-and-white she-cat)
PEBBLEFOOT—mottled gray tom
APPRENTICE, RUSHPAW(light brown tabby torn)
MALLOWNOSE—light brown tabby tom
ROBINWING—tortoiseshell-and-white tom
BEETLEWHISKER—brown-and-white tabby tom
PETALFUR—gray-and-white she-cat
GRASSPELT—light brown tom
QUEENS
DUSKFUR—brown tabby she-cat
MOSSPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes
ELDERS
DAPPLENOSE—mottled gray she-cat
POUNCETAIL—ginger-and-white tom
There you go, nothing really that different from last time! Hope you enjoyed it and please R & R!
Later!
April of the Zodiac
