Author's note: Hi people! I'm looking for new characters to join this story, just some minor characters to put in the background. (I'm also looking for a major side character.) Please Rate and review!

The sun peeked just over the horizon, casting it's light once more upon the clearing. The warriors of PoppyClan sat in a broken circle around the previous leader's dead body, some sharing tongues with each other while waiting for the arrival of their leader. A small dark grey feline streaked across the clearing, and disappeared underneath a pointed stone.

"Blackfang," He whispered softly, prodding the mangy black tom's belly with a paw. "Blackfang, wake up. The burial is starting."

Blackfang's eyes slowly began to open, flashing in the darkness of the cave. He stretched out his forelegs, and shook some dirt out of his tangled fur. He looked somewhat like a small dog.

"Look at you," The grey tom gave a bit of a chuckle, licking the tom's shoulder. "Do you ever clean yourself?"

"Don' see the point," He grumbled lowly, stretching his spine into an arch. "I's jus' gonna get filthy 'gain."

The tom sighed, beginning to groom some of Blackfang's matted fur. "You really should. Come one, everyone is waiting on you to start the ceremony." He nudged the tom's shoulder gently, pushing him out the burrow.

"Thank you, Crowcall," Blackfang cleared out his throat, striding over to the circle of cats with Crowcall alongside him. He sat placed in the center with Poppystar, placing a paw on her cold body. He took a deep breath, and began the ceremony.

"We have come to this clearing to honor the life of our dear Poppystar, who has served this clan for many moons. She is the last of the first leaders to die, and will be honored through our clans for her cunning, bravery and loyalty throughout eternity. May StarClan light the way into SilverPelt, where she may hunt and watch over us as a part of StarClan. Her last battle was certainly the clan's greatest,-" Murmurs of agreement rose throughout the circle. "-And I shall trust the elders and the elders after them to pass on it's legacy." He took a deep breath, and let it out slowly before continuing.
"Does anyone wish to share some final words about our departed leader?"

No one stepped forward.

"...Very well," The tom sighed, rising to his feet. He nudged the ginger cat's body gently into the burrow, and nodded over to Crowcall, who quickly padded over and began to bury the body.

"I have traveling herbs left for you just outside my den," Crowcall said, flicking his tail in the direction of a small bump in the ground. "Look for the green , leafy bundle of herbs."

Blackfang dipped his head solemnly, and trotted through the circle of cats, who quickly skirted away to let him through. His eyes fell upon the green bundle, and he belt down to pick it up in his jaws. His nose crinkled at the bitter taste of the traveling herbs, but he quickly gulped them down, coughing and spitting afterwards. Shaking his head vigorously, he turned to face Crowcall, motioning for him to follow.

"Come now," Blackfang called out, leaping further out of the clearing. "We need to get there swiftly."

"I'm coming!" Crowcall yelled, sprinting over to the deputy's side.

They trotted along the vast, red-filled clearing hastily, the bright red poppies soon becoming scarcer and scarcer as they made their way north. The sun shone brightly upon them now, they had passed the bloodstained battlefield and made their way along the Oakclan border. They explained themselves with haste as warriors interrupted them.

They now stood face to face with a steep hill which ended in a high cliff, the moon lying just above the treetops.

"This is it." Blackfang sighed quietly, indicating Crowcall to stay at the bottom of the hill. He slowly climbed to the top, the soft wind blowing his matted fur. There he sat, perched high above the earth, the moonlight shining silver against his black pelt, silhouetting his bulky frame. And then... Nothing. What was wrong? Was he not worthy enough to become leader? He waited there for what seemed like forever. But something felt wrong...

A strong gale whipped up, almost knocking him off of his perch. his claws dug into the ground in a struggle to hold on, tail flapping sideways like a flag in a storm. He squinted, eyes narrowing. His vision blurred, and slowly, starlit shapes formed around him, silver wisps of cats' bodies surrounding him. He was locked to the spot, unable to move. A jolt of searing pain shot through his body, and dizziness filled his mind, making him groggy.

A faint voice carried down to him, it's tone gentle and sweet. "Blackfang, you have encountered much in your old life, and I congratulate you for making it this far."

"Poppystar...?" He wheezed, voice struggling to escape his lungs.

"We have taken way your old life from your body, in order to grant you with nine," Poppystar continued, her blurry form appearing in front of him. She touched her nose to Blackfang's forehead, sending a rush of relaxation through his body, his vision clearing slightly. "With this life, I give you understanding. Use this to help your clanmates in times of hardship and struggle."

She dissolved into the silvery river of the other Starclan cats, and a new leader took her place. He looked quite old, and yet, still looked like he was a great warrior.

"I am Firestar, once leader of the ancient Thunderclan." He purred, touching his nose to the new leader's forehead as Poppystar had. He felt a wave of strength rush through him. "With this life, I give you determination. Use it when all seems lost, when you feel like you want to give up."

His vision was clearer now, close to what it had been before. He could now see the silvery shape of a large tom, whose face looked like it had been torn and horribly mangled by a badger. He knew him all to well.

"Don't say anything. I know you miss me." The large tom gave a deep, grumbling purr, touching his nose to his son's forehead. He felt he could no longer stand, his legs failing to support his weight. "With this life, I give you confidence. Use this to see your clan to victory, no matter the odds. And," He paused for a moment. "Take care of your brother."

"I will," Blackfang called as he disappeared into the silver river, wanting to take a few steps forward to follow him. But he was still locked on spot, unable to move.

He continued to receive the rest of his lives and their gifts, hope, love, wisdom, faith, compassion, and morality. Slowly the silver river faded away, his vision clearer than before. He felt a sudden dizzy spell, and looked up to the moon, which was now nearly at it's highest point. "By Starclan!" He shrieked, panic overtaking him. He felt a sudden dizzy spell again, and blacked out, only to be re awoken in his clan camp. He groggily got to his feet, stumbling back and forth. The sun was rising, the sky painted with violet.

"You were lucky," Crowcall purred, brushing against the black tom. "Blackstar. Starclan has given you another day."

"Oh!" Blackstar gasped, eyes darting around the camp. Some stared at him with concern. Others carried about their daily lives, aware of what had happened. He cleared his throat, sitting down and observing the others.

"You may discuss it in the leader's den with me, if you'd like." Crowcall chirped, hopping over to his burrow in the small hill, flicking his sleek tail for him to follow.

"Yeah, that'd be great." He murmured, following him into the dingy burrow. The scents of many herbs assaulted his nostrils, causing it to scrunch up again.

"You know, if you're going to chose a deputy, you might as well look presentable while doing it." Crowcall mumbled, looking at the tom's tangled web of fur in disgust. He began to vigorously groom the tangles out of it, rough pink tongue cleaning out the dirt.

"I just don't know who to pick.," Blackstar sighed, staring at the ground."Foxclaw seems-"

"Foxclaw will betray you with the first chance he gets!" Crowcall hissed sharply, pausing his grooming and cutting him off mid-sentence.

"Well, who do you think I should pick?" Blackstar snarled, but quickly calmed himself down, quieting his growl.

"Frostfang." He began to groom his black fur again, which was beginning to become sleek like his own. "There's a warrior who cares about true loyalty. It is your choice, though, not mine."

"I'll take your word for it." The tom purred, beginning to groom his paw. "Thank you, Crowcall."

The gray tom nodded, curling up beside him. "Frostfang will be pleased. She always wanted to be a great deputy." He purred, stretching out his forelegs.

"I'll do the ceremony when the sun sets," Blackstar yawned, curling up beside the medicine cat. The smell of herbs had dulled in his nostrils, not as strong now that he had gotten used to it. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all. He wouldn't be as good as Poppystar- Never as good as her, but decent, maybe. Maybe he'd get used to it.