Proofread and Edited by Gold Dew. 3

Cover art belongs to me x3

Aldershade padded into the cave of the Glowpool. It was finally time for him to receive his nine lives but somehow he wasn't excited, ever since he was a kit he KNEW he was destined to be a leader, he was the best choice for it OBVIOUSLY. He trotted into the cave and padded to the edge, he felt the wind wisp around him, as if his ancestors were welcoming the future leader to grace their sjues. Hesitantly, he lapped up some of the sacred water, it felt cool on his tongue, like he had just drunk starlight, he felt dizziness wash over him like a tidal wave, thus, he curled up on the cold, smooth, basalt-coloured rock then drifted off to sleep.

He woke up in a forest with glistening white trees, it looked as if they were chiselled from the smoothest, brightest quartz. Behind him was a calm, clear stream of fresh water, it was blue, washed in bright starlight, it glittered like a huge, smooth and long shard of crystal shone under a the sun. The sky was a darker, a more peaceful blue, the blue of a calm abyss, no twolegs disturbing it's beautiful skumber. Brightclan! In the distance was a starry grey tom with yellow eyes, calmly staring at him, then he came closer.

"Welcome to Brightclan, Aldershade. Ready to take your nine lives?" Aldershade smiled.

"Thundersong!" The grey tom purred and stepped forward, eyes glittering like twin stars.

"With this life, I give you pride. Be proud of your clan and their efforts, and they will be proud of you and yours..." as he was given his first life, a strong surge rushed through Aldershade. When he looked up there was another cat in Thundersong's place. He stared at the snow white she-cat in front of him.

"Barkflame? You died?" Barkflame nodded and began his gift of a life

"I always had faith in you, Aldershade. And here you are, becoming a clan leader!" she purred.

"With this life, I give you Hope. Use it wisely whenever the rest of your clan has lost faith and help them recover from harsh times." Aldershade gasped as a new feeling rushed through his body. He watched another cat step forward, this time a soot black she-cat with elegant grey stripes.

"Dusklily!" he smiled at her and she smiled back.

"With this life I give you Courage. Use it wisely in battle to defend what's right, for a leader who is right is no coward." Aldershade tried extremely hard to ignore the life surging to his heart but it was too strong, it felt like a fire roaring in his veins, yelling to break free, he clenched his teeth and shut his eyes just as it stopped. Aldershade opened his eyes again and stared at the ginger kittypet who had stepped forward.

"Twitch?"

"Yup!" Twitch cheerfully yelped.

"I thought you were still alive!" Twitch smiled as he stared at Aldershade.

"Nope! All dead! Anyway...With this life, I give you speed! Sprint through the forest like your lives depend on it! Use it to aid your clan in their greatest times of need!" Aldershade chuckled as warmth spread through his body, his legs felt ready to spring up, he felt ready to run round all of Brightclan territory! Twitch smiled back and let another cat take his place. The silver tom smirked, his face was so cold it could've been carved from ice. Aldershade growled.

"Finchsoul..."

"Greetings, Brother. With this life I give you strength. DESTROY all who get in your way with it! You will climb for power, destroying any cat that comes in your way for it!" Aldershade was ready for it. The power rushing through him was easy to ignore as he waited in pure boredom for the next cat. The pure white she-cat smiled.

"Hi Aldershade!"

"Hello Cloudstep." Aldershade snarled groggily, his face lazy with bordem.

"Hey! Don't be like that! With this life I give you-" Aldershade had lost it now.

"Love? Friendship? WINGS?! This is so Boring! I never knew something like this could be so Tedious! I've lost my patience now. Just get on with it and I'll be on my way!" The Brightclan cats were glaring at him. Aldershade suddenly realised what he'd done wrong.

"S-sorry.." he cowered away "W-what are y-you gonna do to m-me?"

"I think we should take something away from you, Aldershade" the other cats nodded as Cloudstep spoke up and padded towards Aldershade.

"From now on, You will no longer have sight. Train wisely to adjust to your punishment for being so rude to us."

"Alderstar! Alderstar! Alderstar! Alderstar!" Alderstar collapsed and howled in sorrow, the sorrow tore at him like an animal cruelly toying with it's prey before its final breath, why did he have to be so rude? Why couldn't he just stifle it for just a MOMENT? As he woke abrubtly, inky darkness had flooded his vision, however, he heard it all, his heart was tearing up as he realised the consequences of his sudden arrogance.

"No!" Not only had he gained just five lives, but he had lost his ability to see! Now, because of his recklessness, he was a blind, 5-lived Clan Leader. Yet Alderstar was determined to prove that he was still a brilliant leader. He'd be the BEST leader. He'd use the blindness for the best. He'd show Brightclan that they hadn't defeated him. He'd make them regret what they did to him...

Beware the Viper that will kill the Adder, and ruin the clan of the splashing Vole. The Alder tree who lost sight of right will be haunted by the soul of the Finch, and the Moon will go into an endless sleep...