A heavy snow was falling in the ShadowClan clearing as a group of cats waited anxiously around a hazel tree. Two small black cats were whispering to each other nervously while a taller gray tabby sat behind them, licking their heads on occasion.
Finally, an elderly calico who looked like she could barely hold herself up appeared from the roots of the hazel tree.
"I'm afraid he's gone," she said. "The greencough took his last life."
The gray tabby shoved her way forward. "Does this mean... I'm the new leader?" she asked. Her amber eyes were wide with shock, and she looked back at the two small black cats who bounded forward.
"You're going to be a great leader mama," the one with green eyes said. The she-cat lowed her head to nuzzle him.
"Thank you Crowpaw," she said. Then she turned to face the clearing of sad eyes. "Reedfern, Bluethistle, bring Talonstar's body into the clearing." The two cats, one a brown tabby, the other gray, hurriedly disappeared into the den beneath the hazel tree.
The gray tabby padded over to the calico.
"Robinsong," she whispered. The elderly calico glanced up from where she was arranging herbs in the snow.
"Eh?" she asked.
"Do I go get my nine lives now? Because we have to be back by moonhigh, and it's probably around sunhigh." Robinsong flicked an ear.
"Don't get your paws twisted Pebblestripe. Let me talk to Mothblaze first." Robingsong disappeared into her den, and Pebblestripe sat down heavily, closing her eyes.
She remembered the first time Talonstar had explored outside the den. She had shown him around the camp, even though she was only two moons older than he had been. She remembered being apprenticed, and being able to share a nest with him again. When they were young warriors she had asked him to be her mate.
She remembered how he made her deputy, and how they had waited to have kits. She remembered their first litter didn't make it through the freezing leafbare, and so when her second litter had been born three seasons ago, she and Talonstar had kept such a careful eye on Crowpaw and Ravenpaw.
She remembered how Talonstar had gone on a warpath after his sister Echoshade had died. She did everything she could to calm him, but he wanted revenge on RiverClan. She was determined to make things right with them.
Pebblestripe raised her head proudly, letting the snow collect on her pelt until Robinsong appeared again.
Without a word, the two she-cats set off, through ThunderClan's snowy forests, and up the stream that crossed through WindClan territory.
Soon, the pair reached the Moonpool, and Pebblestripe sucked in a nervous breath. She padded down the narrow path to the pool, feeling her paws slip into ancient footholds.
"What do I do now?" she asked Robinsong.
"Lie down, and let your muzzle touch the water. Drink some, and close your eyes. StarClan will come."
Pebblestripe did as she was told and lapped up the frigid water. She didn't even pause to consider how strange it was that the water wasn't frozen.
Her belly churned and her body stiffened for a moment, but she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Blackness clouded her vision, and when she opened her eyes again, she was standing in the marshy area of ShadowClan territory. Birds sang around her, and a frog hopped past her paws. The sun warmed her back.
She turned to follow the frog and found herself face-to-face with a round-faced brown tabby.
"Bramblepool!" she cried happily, touching her nose to her mothers. Bramblepool let out a loud, rumbling purr and nuzzled Pebblestripe.
"Are you ready to receive your first life?" her mother asked.
"Yes," Pebblestripe breathed.
Bramblepool touched her muzzle to Pebblestripe's forehead. "With this life, I give you resilience. Use it to push through this tough leaf-bare."
Fire and fog rushed through Pebblestripe's body. She hissed as her mind clouded and her joints stiffened. Bright hot pain shot through her, and then she was left feeling like drifting smoke, aimless and hollow.
Bramblepool stepped back, and was replaced by three little tabbies, two gray, one brown.
"Oakkit! Ashkit! Birchkit!" she gasped. Her three little daughters giggled and crowded around her front paws.
"With this life, we give you nobility," the three kits chimed. "Use it to remember how strong and capable your Clan is."
This time the feeling was of a rising sun, slowly filling up the hollow place inside of her. She felt big and beautiful, like a star itself.
She opened her eyes to find Frostfoot, her former mentor, watching her with his cool blue gaze.
"With this life," he rumbled. "I give you instincts. Use them to guide your paws." This life was frightening, as if she was running through a crumbling tunnel. She had to guess where to step, where to dodge, and where to duck.
Frostfoot stepped away, and was replaced by her first apprentice Leafpelt. Leafpelt gave her a life for offering second chances, and Leafpelt was followed by Silverfall, her second apprentice.
Silverfall gave her a life for courage, and then her brother Thorntail gave her a life for clear sight.
Her seventh and eighth lives were given by the leader before Talonstar; Waspstar. And then she got a life from Echoshade. Waspstar gave her hope, and Echoshade gave her happiness.
Finally, Talonstar padded up to her, looking sad.
"Pebblestripe," he whispered. "I'm so sorry. In the final moons of my life, I treated you poorly. I was grieving for Echoshade, but I was irresponsible. I ignored my duties to my Clan, to my kits, and to you. And so, for your final life, I give you love."
This life was full of fire and heat, but also ice and bitter winds. It stung and burned her, and it felt amazing. She purred when it was over and she touched her nose to Talonstar's.
"I forgive you."