Barksky led Spottedfur down a trail over the hills. It was dusk, and the sky had become vibrant, and brilliant.

Spottedfur, a speckled tortoiseshell she-cat, gazed up at the watercolor sky, in awe of the stars. The colors of twilight seemed to paint the sky.

"StarClan watches us tonight," she murmured

"Indeed," agreed Barksky, a brown tabby tom, "A fine night to be at the moonflower."

They continued on a bit more, in silence, paws sweeping the cool grass. Spottedfur's gaze widened a bit, "To be honest, I'm a little nervous."

"About what?"

"Seeing my ancestors, and my kin. I never made peace with them. I know they won't reject me, but what will they say when they see me becoming leader, when they've already died?"

Barksky closed his eyes in thought, "Spottedfur, you say that as if they might envy you, the living. But if you ask me, I believe we're the ones who should be envying them."

"You think we should envy the dead?" asked Spottedfur, tilting her head.

"I'm not saying we should wish that we were dead. But when I see my ancestors up there, laughing, residing in complete peace, having that whole sky up there the bound in with endless possibilities, it would be silly to think that StarClan warriors wish that they were still alive."

"I suppose so," murmured Spottedfur.

"And you? You're the finest deputy MistClan's ever seen. You know I don't say such things just for compliments, Spottedfur. I mean it."

Spottedfur bowed her head in thanks.

Soon, the two of them reached the bottom of the hills, where the entrance to the cave was. They quietly crept inside. Following their sensitive whiskers, they found a chamber. The chamber was beautiful, lined with purple and blue-white flowers that seemed to glow.

In the middle of the chamber, a gorgeous violet flower, proud and tall.

Spottedfur smiled with nervous anticipation, "I feel like an apprentice again."

Barksky smiled back, then closed his eyes again, "Spottedfur, my deputy, close your eyes, sleep in the presence of the moonflower. May StarClan welcome you among their ranks."

Hesitantly, Spottedfur curled up and closed her eyes, before she was drawn into a deep sleep. Barksky did the same.

Spottedfur woke up in the hollow, surrounded by hundreds of StarClan warriors.

Barksky watched with them.

A starry black she-cat walked up to Spottedfur, who took a step back. The black cat smiled. Regret shown on her face, "Do not fear, my daughter. Our quarrels are gone."

"But we never made peace," whispered Spottedfur in horror.

"Oh, darling, don't say that. Look closer, my Spottedfur. Then you can realize that we made peace long ago."

Barksky watched as Spottedfur's eyes filled with tears. She opened her mouth to speak, but her mother interrupted her.

"Spottedfur, my sweet, sweet child, with this life, I give you the wonder and innocence of a kit. For those who do will find peace in the cruel world you live in."

While Barksky watched, he felt someone prod his shoulder. He turned, to find a black StarClan warrior.

"Badgerclaw?"

"Shh, listen to me quietly, we're not supposed to speak during the ceremony."

Barksky stared at him in confusion.

"After you and Spottedfur fell asleep, another medicine cat and their deputy came."

"So?"

"No one believes me, but I've this in the mist: When two leaders are given their nine lives on the same moon on the same night, it's an omen."

Barksky scoffed, "Do you StarClan cats make these things up as you go? That's ridiculous! What would it possibly be an omen of?"

"It just means something big is going to happen. I don't know it it's good or bad, but if it's bad, a lot of cats will pay for it!" he whispered hoarsely.

Barksky folded his ears and stared at him.

"Spottedfur, with this life I give you judgement. Use it not to judge others, but to choose the path in which your clan shall take," a brown tom leaned forward and touched noses with Spottedfur. She yowled in pain.

Barksky shook his head, "Look Badgerclaw, that's very vague, too vague to act upon,"

"But -"

"Just let me watch the ceremony. I'm sure two deputies becoming leaders on the same night doesn't foreshadow death to the clans."

Badgerclaw scowled. He strode past him, whispering in his ear, "You'll regret this."

Barksky watched him trail away, He shook it off, and continued to watch the ceremony.

A ginger she-cat walked up to Spottedfur. Barksky knew this was her deceased sister.

"And finally, with this life I give you compassion. Compassion is among the most powerful things a leader can use to maintain the respect of his or her clanmates, and to lead."

Once more, Spottedfur withered in pain, but after it faded away, she stood up, with her head raised high.

"Spottedfur, you have proven yourself as a deputy. Tonight, your new lives take wing. Your old life is no more. With this precious gift StarClan has given you, do you promise to dedicate every breath of your new lives to justice, goodness, and leadership?"

"I do."

"Then by the will of StarClan, I name her Spottedstar."

The StarClan cats erupted into the most glorious cheering Barksky and Spottedstar had ever heard.

"Spottedstar! Spottedstar! Spottedstar! Spottedstar!"

Joy seemed to radiate in the atmosphere. For a moment they wished they could stay and celebrate with StarClan forever.

But just as soon as it started, the StarClan cats and the hollow began to fade. Barksky and Spottedstar woke up in the chamber of the moonflower, where they started. Sure enough, two other cats were in the chamber, sleeping among the the flowers. They were from LochClan.

Barksky hesitated. Was Badgerclaw's warning valid? He was a StarClan cat, after all. But the other StarClan cats disagreed with him…

He turned, to see his new leader wake up. Her eyes were bright, in wonder.

I'll tell her about later, he thought, No use worrying the brand-new leader. She'll find out soon enough. Even if Badgerclaw's warning is true, how bad could it be?