Warriors – Nine Lives Challenge for Feathers and Frost
Word Minimum: 500
Write about a cat receiving their nine lives!
Stormfast shivered and not just because of the cold air that drifted past her furry coat, nipping her skin. Her fur was fluffed up against the chilly, leaf-bare breezes but the cold raked its claws through her fur regardless. What if this cold is a sign from Starclan that I'm not the right cat, she pondered forlornly. These thoughts had barely manifested in her mind when the lithe grey she-cat shook her head, an attempt to rid herself of the despondent thoughts that had been plaguing her ever since she had left the warmth and safety of camp for the long, cold trek to the Moonpool. But my clan needs me. That single thought had kept her sane and optimistic enough for her to come as far as she had.
The white-furred cat by her side gently turned to look her troubled companion in the eye, as though she had somehow felt the grey she-cat's internal strife.
"He believed in you, you know," whispered Snowfeather comfortingly. "That's why he made you his deputy."
"But what if I'm not the right cat?" asked Stormfast uncertainly, averting her gaze from the keen, blue orbs that encompassed knowledge beyond the white tabby's years. "What if the cold and winds are a sign from Starclan that I'm not meant to be leader?"
"What fox dung," replied the white tabby hotly, which was unusual for the placid medicine cat but Stormfast supposed that it was the hunger and cold which had ruffled her pelt as well. "It's leaf-bare. It's supposed to be cold and windy."
Stormfast did not reply but she couldn't help but be grateful towards the medicine cat for her unwavering faith in her.
Presently, the two cats arrived at their destination, a placid, starry pool. The chilly air was silent and crisp. Pawprints were visible on the ground. Pawprints that looked older than those of the medicine cats who shared tongues with Starclan at the pool every half-moon. A soft voice disrupted Stormfast's observation of the ancient, sacred pool.
"Take a sip from the pool," whispered Snowfeather serenely, not in the least intrigued or remotely apprehensive of what was to come.
Stormfast complied, briefly lapping the crisp, cold water which tasted slightly different from the water that she was accustomed to. Perhaps this is what stars taste like, thought the she-cat dimly.
Stormfast vividly registered the world around her swirling as the pool faded and was soon replaced by a great expanse of bright light, which upon closer inspection, Stormfast realized were shining cats with twinkling stars gleaming in their fur.
A voice echoed timelessly throughout the tranquil place and Stormfast was never able to make up her mind as to whether it was coming from a single cat or everyone who stood before her.
"Stormfast, are you ready to receive your nine lives?"
Stormfast's heart pounded so rapidly that she was sure that it was going to burst out of her chest. Stormfast briefly closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She felt like she was frozen and her every limb felt like it was made of stone. Her gaze flitted around her as she took in everything surrounding her when they settled on Snowfeather, her blue eyes shining with trust and hope. She gave a reassuring nod and Stormfast found it in herself to slowly nod her head in reply to the starry cats.
The mass of shining cats surged towards her and Stormfast was able to make out the faces of cats, familiar faces.
Out of the massive body of cats, a few broke off from the rest and came even closer to her.
A handsome, young brown tabby who seemed to know her very well approached her first. This cat seemed vaguely familiar yet she was unable to recall who he was.
"It's nice to see you again, Stormfast," he mewed teasingly, having noticed her failure to recognize him.
"Adderstar," she exclaimed, surprise lighting up her eyes as she recognized the sharp mew of her former clan leader. This jovial brown tabby looked so different from the troubled, grim tom she had known as Adderstar. Happiness lit up his face, something she had never thought that she would find on the old leader's face.
"With this life I give you confidence," he whispered touching noses with the grey she-cat. Energy surged through her veins in place of blood and filled her with confidence. She felt as though she had it in her to accomplish anything, race through the land, fly in the sky, anything that she ever wanted to do. Her fears and uncertainties vanished as she realized that she had it in her to lead her clan.
"There is nothing you cannot do if you believe in yourself," murmured the tabby.
Thank you, Adderstar," she replied
Adderstar dipped his head and padded back to join the rest of the cats.
Her heart lifted with joy as the next cat, a black and white tom, came up to her. She relished the comforting scent that she had forgotten so long ago. Ever since Fastpaw had joined the ranks of Starclan in place of two Shadowclan kits. She had never forgiven him or the Shadowclan cats for it and it was just one of the many burdens that weighed down her heart.
"With this life I give you forgiveness," he murmured, his eyes shining with affection as he leaned forward to touch noses with the littermate he had lost when he had to join Starclan. The pain of all the deeds that she had never forgiven seemed to claw at her insides but relief washed it away almost instantly as realization dawned on her. Those were things of the past and could never be changed but she could lighten her burden. She could forgive and forget them.
"Find it in your heart to forgive those who have hurt. Remember that it is yourself that you hurt most when you choose to live in the horrors of the past.
"Thank you, Fastpaw," she mewed in a barely audible whisper. "And I'm sorry, I understand now."
Fastpaw dipped his head, contented before he retreated into the shining sea of cats.
A beautiful tortoiseshell she-cat walked up to her, pride and admiration in her gaze.
"With this life I give you mentoring," she whispered, touching noses with her former apprentice.
Tension and fear and worry, almost too much to bear, coursed through Stormfast as she realized how apprehensive and concerned every mentor was about their apprentice.
"Use it to guide the young cats of the clan well," advised Leafpelt.
"Thank you, for the life and for teaching me, Leafpelt," whispered Stormfast gratefully. "I'm sorry if I was a troublesome apprentice."
The she-cat gently nuzzled her former apprentice. "You were the best apprentice a mentor could ever want and I'm so very proud of you."
Leafpelt joined the other cats but not before giving Stormfast one last affectionate glance.
The next cat was a golden-furred tom with amber eyes that bored into Stormfast's green ones.
"With this life I give you appreciation of a medicine cat's work," murmured the former medicine cat of Thunderclan. Stormfast shivered as she felt the worries of a medicine cat and the pain of the lives that they were unable to save. She felt so exhausted that it was almost a miracle that she hadn't collapsed. Weariness tore at her but she knew she couldn't ive in because her clan relied on her day in and day out. When the feeling passed, Stormfast made a mental note to watch out for Snowfeather more often.
"Make sure Snowfeather takes care of herself and that she gets help if she needs it. It won't do the clan much good if their medicine cat works herself until she's ill," reminded the tom before retreating back to the other cats.
"Thank you," Stormfast called after him.
A handsome, black-furred tom that Stormfast remembered only too well approached her next.
"Darkclaw," she purred, eagerly leaning forward as the tom came closer to her until the tip of his nose was barely a whisker's length away from her. Her eyes shone as she gazed at the dark warrior who had stolen her heart many moons ago and shattered it when he had succumbed to greencough more recently.
"Darkclaw," she whispered once again, this time so softly that it was barely audible.
She whispered it as though saying his name any louder would shatter the moment. Darkclaw gazed into her leaf-green eyes unblinkingly, his eyes lit with affection.
"With this life I give you love," he whispered, touching noses with her. A warmth spread through her blood and fur and bones from the tip of her nose to the rest of her body when Darkclaw touched her. There was something soothing and comforting about it and Stormfast felt safe and happy as though she was cocooned in unconditional love and affection. A brief stab of longing pierced her as the blissful feeling melted away.
"Use it to make your clanmates feel safe and beloved," he murmured as he gave her a gentle lick and melted back into the crowd of cats.
Next, a diminutive, stubby-legged kit padded towards her. She was the size of a newborn kit but the vast understanding and knowledge flickering in her amber eyes betrayed wisdom beyond the kit's age.
"I'm Hopekit," she mewed cordially. More playfully she added, "I hope you haven't forgotten me."
"How could I?" murmured Stormfast, her heart melting at the sight of the kit she had never gotten to know. Motherly instinct long buried stirred within her and she longed to caress the kit and share tongues with her.
"We will get to do that someday but not today," mewed the kit reading her thoughts. A note of solemnity crept into the kit's voice as she tiptoed and Stormfast crouched lower to the ground to touch noses. "With this life I give you hope."
Stormfast suddenly felt an optimism that she could face her burdens and worries with vigor as positive energy seemed to course through her veins, rejuvenating her. She felt as though no matter what happened, Starclan would guide her and help her lead her clan well.
"Use it to keep going when things seem bleak because if you search hard enough, you will always find stars even in the darkest of nights," she mewed before retreating to the other cats and getting absorbed amongst them.
A sturdy grey-furred tom approached her next. His amber eyes glowed with pride as he neared her. His fur was neatly groomed and spotlessly clean. There was a lively gleam in his gaze and he seemed such a different cat from when Stormfast had last seen him, his fur plastered with blood and grime and river of blood flowing from the gash in his flank. Before long his eyes had closed forever and he had reeked of the scent of death.
"Greysnow," Stormfast choked.
Greysnow gave an almost inaudible purr and touched his nose to his daughter's. "With this life I give you wisdom."
Stormfast felt as though an invisible burden of knowledge pressed her towards the ground. Her legs almost buckled under the force and for a heartbeat, Stormfast thought that she wouldn't be able to take the pain but remembering Adderstar's life, she took a deep breath and tried to convince herself that she could take it. The pain and pressure gradually gave way to relief as they lifted and Stormfast straightened her legs.
"Use it to make your decisions well," he advised, affectionately brushing her cheek before joining the rest of the cats.
"Thank you," she whispered.
The next cat was a kindly tabby she-cat. Her gentle green gaze shone with pride as she approached the kit she had borne and nourished in the nursery many moons ago, now grown up and having her leadership ceremony.
"Doestep," purred Stormfast.
"With this life I give you compassion," mewed the former queen, touching noses with Stormfast. "Sometimes the best thing to do is listen to your heart."
Pain seared Stormfast and she squeezed her eyes shut. It gradually melted away to a comforting warmth which reminded Stormfast of the time when she was a kit huddled up against Doestep.
Doestep retreated into the crowd of cats.
One more life, thought Stormfast. One more life and I'll be Stormfast no more.
A glossy black-furred she-cat padded up to Stormfast. Her green eyes shone bright. It took Stormfast a moment to place this strong, lithe she-cat whom she recognized as none other than Ravenfrost, a resident of the elders' den until Stormfast had become a warrior. She had joined Starclan peacefully in the silence and stillness of the night.
"With this life I give you acceptance," she whispered as they touched noses. Stormfast steeled herself for the blast of anguish and quivered as pain flowed through her veins like molten steel. This was the most painful life in ways more than one. There was an explosion of complicated emotions inside her, guilt, confusion, anger, hatred. The pain gradually faded away but left an imprint and message in Stormfast's mind eternally.
Suddenly, all the starry cats swarmed around her and spoke as one yet as many. "Welcome Stormstar, new leader of Thunderclan!" Her heart flittered and her eyes shone with renewed pride and confidence as she gazed at the mass of starlit cats chanting her name, reminding her of the time when she had become an apprentice, warrior and deputy, except now she was a leader and the cats of Starclan were cheering for her.
"Stormstar! Stormstar! Stormstar!" cheered the cats.
Stormstar took a deep breath, her first breath in this new life. As Stormstar, leader of Thunderclan.