Chapter One
Ebonyfang looked 'round with wide, curious eyes at the StarClan cats surrounding her. Only nine stepped forward, and the rest stayed behind in respect.
"Welcome, Ebonyfang. Are you ready to receive your nine lives?" Ebonyfang nodded and replied with a simple "Yes." A sleek golden tom approached her, and her eyes widened as he rested his nose on the top of Ebonyfang's head.
"With this life I give you energy." Lionfoot meowed. "Use it well to carry out the duties and hardships of a leader." Suddenly Ebonyfang felt the thrill as if she was racing through the forest, paws skimming across the ground, and felt like she could fly! It was over quickly however, and left the black she-cat shivering with amazement as Lionfoot padded off.
In his place was a beautiful black-and-white tabby she-cat; Ebonyfang's own mother, Brightfeather. She padded up to Ebonyfang softly. "With this life I give you loyalty. Use it to lead your Clan with what you know right."
This life was warm and yet held the hint of a vicious ferocity that almost knocked Ebonyfang off her paws. She stood with eyes wide as a pretty tortoiseshell, Seedheart, approched. "With this life I give you love. Use it well to treat your clan like the family you were born to protect." At once Ebonyfang nearly shrieked as a bolt of betrayal swept through her and the love that hid behind it, warm like the green-leaf sun in leaf-bare. The she-cat understood that this is what Seedheart felt as her love, Darkfox, a RiverClan cat, betrayed her, costing her own life.
"With this life I give you courage." A tiny voice mewed and she recognized the dark pelt of Foxpaw, the kit who had died bravely protecting his mother from a fox. "Use it in times of need and battle."
Ebonyfang's eyes narrowed as the thrill of battles and hunts coursed through her, numbing her senses. It ended with a flash of blood, red, and two different feelings of pain, as Foxpaw (kit at the time) lost his life.
Now a tortoiseshell approached, green eyes glowing. It was Tawnypelt, the legendary ShadowClan she-cat who had passed when Ebonyfang was still a kit.
"With this life I give you hope. It will lead you in the darkest of hours." She meowed. Ebonyfang's paws where light and she closed her eyes as she felt like racing through a dark forest, a large light a head. Is that hope?
Her question was unanswered as Ebonyfang's mentor Jaggedfur appeared. "With this life I give you justice. Use it to treat others fairly and not with unkindness." A bolt of electricty close to Lionfoot's gift of energy but much fiercer was what the black she-cat felt as she let out a half-yowl, shaking.
She shook with fear and excitement as she waited for her last three lives. The first to approach was Mudheart.
"With this life I give you compassion. Use it to care for the elders and kits in your Clan, and those weaker than yourself as well." Ebonyheart suddered as rage coursed through her, followed by pain and confusion, then the warm feeling of forgiveness. It was rather curious, considering the pain she felt before. But the long-furred tom padded away, and in his place was a silvery-white she-cat with amber eyes like the sun.
"With this life I give you curiousity." Swiftclaw purred. "Use it well to find the truth in things and to discover things not understandable." Ebonyfang felt the curious presence of a strange cat, poisoning the beliefs of a Clan, and it overwhelmed her, leaving her head spinning.
Finally, Littlestar approached. He dipped his head and let out a soft yet audible meow. "Welcome, Ebonyfang. I give you this life with faith, nobility, and forgiveness. Use it well to lead your Clan in the ways of StarClan and the warrior code." Ebonyfang's legs buckled as the pain of the life coursed through her, seemingly never-ending. Finally, she struggled to her paws as the pain ebbed away.
"I hail you by your new name, Ebonystar!Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of ShadowClan. 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."
"Ebonystar! Ebonystar! Ebonystar!" The ranks of StarClan yowled out their approval and purrs congratulated her. Suddenly Mudheart leaned over and hissed in her ear;
"Ten 'paws must go and live a life,
In the mountains and prevent a strife,
For five moons with each other in the light,
For bitterment lies in even the heart of the bright.
The Fire Hawk shall lead the Raven to a nest among the reeds of spies,
and fill her longing heart with lies."