The next morning, Brambleclaw padded over to Squirrelflight. "You're in charge until I get back. Send out hunting patrols and anything you find necessary." He then found Jayfeather besides his den.

"Ready?" Jayfeather asked.

"I'm not sure about this," Brambleclaw admitted. "Everything will be different after this."

They began the trek towards the Moonpool. Their journey was uninterrupted, and they reached the Moonpool near moonhigh. "Just lap up some water and you will share tongues with StarClan," Jayfeather instructed.

Brambleclaw followed the instructions and found himself standing on the moor, with wind buffeting his fur. Cats with stars in their fur surrounded him. "Welcome Brambleclaw," they said together.

A cat with blue-gray fur stepped out and nodded to Brambleclaw. "Bluestar!" Brambleclaw gasped.

"I chose well when I named you to go to the sun-drown place." Bluestar meowed. "Now you are here before me as leader."

"Thank you Bluestar," Brambleclaw said.

"With this life I give you decision making. Use it well so you know the difference between right and wrong."

A blast of pain shot through Brambleclaw and left, leaving him breathless. "How am I supposed to last through this?" Brambleclaw whispered, but Bluestar had already disappeared into the throng of cats.

"Shrewpaw!" the next cat was younger than the rest. He didn't look like the broken body that had been run over by a Twoleg monster, and instead looked like the strong and healthy apprentice that he had been before all of the Twolegs had come and before all the prey had been scared away.

Shrewpaw looked at Brambleclaw and bent to touch noses with Brambleclaw. "With this life I give you mentoring. Use it well to teach the less experienced cats about the ways of the warrior code," he said.

As the last feelings of pain subsided, Shrewpaw walked away and was replaced with a cat whose scent was too familiar to Brambleclaw. "Goldenflower! I miss you," Brambleclaw said.

Goldenflower nuzzled Brambleclaw and stepped back. "With this life I give you love. Use it well to protect every cat as if they were your own kin."

As the soothing feeling entered Brambleclaw, he drank it in to keep as many memories of Goldenflower as he could. "I love you," Goldenflower whispered as she padded away.

Soon, the next cat stepped up. The black pelt of the cat blended in with the shadows. "With this life I give you wisdom. Use it well to guide those who need it most," Hollyleaf mewed touching her nose to his head as another wave of pain blasted over him. "You are the father I have never known," she said before she disappeared into the shadows of the forest.

The next cat's silvery pelt reminded Brambleclaw of a cat lost in the mountains. "Feathertail!" He tried to race up to her and greet her, but his feet were stuck.

"With this life I give strength. Use it well to protect your clan during times of darkness," she mewed, touching her nose to his head. This time he braced himself for the wave of pain, and it came without hurting as much.

A dark gray she-cat appeared. "Cinderpelt!" He greeted her.

Cinderpelt nodded and padded closer. "With this life I give you the gift of medicine. Use it well to heal your clan through tough times." She meowed and touched her nose to his head. He forgot to brace himself as a wave of pain blasted him, harder than the last time. She left him panting.

This time it was Ferncloud who appeared. She touched her nose to his head. "With this life I give you protection. Use it well to care for your clan as a mother cares for her kits." He braced himself as the wave of pain and love hit him.

A familiar flame-colored pelt stepped forward. "Firestar! Why did you have to leave?" Brambleclaw asked.

"With this life I give you nobility. Use it well to protect your clan through hard times." He mewed, touching his nose to his head. The blast of pain was more than all the others and left Brambleclaw staggering in shock.

"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 you the guardianship of ThunderClan. Defend it well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity." Firestar said, and the whole of StarClan broke into a chant.

"Bramblestar! Bramblestar!"

Jayfeather stepped out and nodded to Bramblestar. "It is time to go now."