Here's the final segment and here we witness the nine lives ceremony! Let's see how Redflame deals with it...
Note: Takes place in StarClan.
Warriors (c) Erin Hunter
Cats/Clans (c) Me
He felt a paw prodding his sore and tired flank and begrudgingly opened his eyes and blinked a few times. He was standing in a small clearing with towering trees that scraped the heavens surrounding the perimeter. He glanced around and saw a creek to his left and, judging from an occasional splash, had bountiful fish swimming in it. To his right was a large boulder that was three times Redflame's height and had claw marks on it, suggesting that it was a meeting place for many cats, or that several young cats enjoyed scaling it. One thing Redflame took note of was that stars glittered everything, from the grass below his paws to the leaves above his head.
This was StarClan.
An amused mrrow alerted Redflame from his surveying. "It's good to see you, again, Redflame," a voice spoke, filled to the brim with humor. Redflame turned his attention in front of him and noticed a cat who wasn't there before. His heart swelled with joy as he immediately recognized his best friend, Bircheyes.
"Bircheyes…it's really you!" Redflame warmly purred. He had thought that he would never see his friend again, but now he was going to give him one of his lives!
The pale brown tabby tom happily waved his tail. "Of course it's me, you fur-ball! We don't disappear forever when we die, we come here and are reunited with old kin and watch over our Clanmates down below," Bircheyes explained. "And now…you're about to become Clan leader. How great is that? I always knew that you were destined for greatness, ever since we were kits playing in the nursery. You will become a great leader for CreekClan, and every cat here knows that you will do a fine job, but now…it's time for your ceremony." He stared firmly directly into Redflame's eyes—and his soul. "Redflame…are you ready to receive your nine lives and officially become a Clan leader?"
"Yes, I am." Redflame responded, now more confident by his friend's comforting words. Yes…he was destined for this.
Bircheyes waved his tail and took a few paces back. It was by now that Redflame finally noticed that there were several cats a fox-length away, sitting in a line and watching Redflame with sharp eyes. He was just about to recognize a few cats when a small and young pale gray she-cat with smaller and darker gray flecks scattered about her slim frame. Frost glittered with starlight appeared from her paw-steps as she approached Redflame.
"Greetings, Redflame," the young cat spoke, her voice small as a kit's but as confident as a senior warrior's. "I am Meadowpaw, Honeywhisker's sister. You remember me, don't you?"
Memories flooded back into Redflame's mind. How could he forget the horrible fate of Meadowpaw, who was crushed by a badger on her first day out as an apprentice? He remembered the devastated looks of her family when her crushed and limp body was carried back into camp; it was a sight he never wanted to remember.
"Meadowpaw…I am so sorry about your fate…" Redflame began, but Meadowpaw stopped him with a raised paw.
"Yes…what happened to me was unfortunate, but we all must move on," Meadowpaw wisely replied. Somehow the young apprentice gained so much more wisdom than a warrior could during her time in StarClan. "Fate isn't something we can change, instead we make the best of it." She padded closer and something didn't make Redflame veer away from such closeness. Meadowpaw pressed her nose against his muzzle and continued. "With this life I give you the wisdom to see the potential in others. Size or looks doesn't matter, only what's in the heart. Please, remember that, Redflame, and never forget it."
At her last words, a sudden burst of energy surged through his fur and he dug his claws into the moist ground and fiercely closed his eyes. Some nonvisible force made him stand in place, as if badger or two were pressed down on his shoulders and flanks, making sure he wouldn't move a muscle. He felt his lungs contract and he wanted to open his eyes, but he couldn't risk hurting himself. Slowly, but painfully, the energy surge ebbed away, leaving Redflame struggling to catch his breath.
What in the name of StarClan was that? Was that me receiving a single life?
He felt Flamescorch's muzzle gently press against his shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine," Redflame gasped, still struggling for breath. He hadn't noticed that his brother was standing a tail-length away, observing the entire ceremony quietly. "Eight more…right?"
"That's the idea."
Another cat was padding forward before Redflame could arrive. Redflame immediately recognize the dark brown tabby tom as Leafblaze, one of the many deceased warriors lost during the recent siege. Leafblaze looked completely different from a few hours ago; his once bloody and wounded pelt was now clean and shimmered with stars.
"Greetings, Redflame," Honeywhisker's brother greeted, suddenly being so formerly than his usual self. Perhaps it was because he was at a Clan leader's nine lives ceremony and not yapping around back in the CreekClan camp. Like his sister, he pressed his nose against Redflame's own one. "With this life I give you the courage to do what is right. It's not always easy making the right choice and even that could lead to some undesirable consequences. The strongest warriors never take the easy way, they take the right way."
Redflame was more prepared for the lightning bolt that flared through his skin this time, however this time it was stronger. Redflame felt his body filling with so much power that he felt like he could wipe that smug look off Rumbletwig's face from the previous day with a simple swipe of his claws.
The dark ginger tabby tom quickly ruffled his pelt once Leafblaze walked away and in his place a smaller black and white tom with a distinctive fluffy tail trotted forward. It was Skunkstorm, the medicine cat who perished trying to pull an injured Clanmate to the shelter of the forest. It seemed cruel and unfair when a PineClan warrior savagely attacked and Skunkstorm wasn't even doing anything threatening at the time, even though he did swipe at a few cats who dared to approach him.
"It's good to see that you are recovering well, Redflame," Skunkstorm noted with a nod of approval to his former apprentice, "though CreekClan still has to go through a lot be at its peak once more, and that is what this life is for." He pressed his muzzle against Redflame's nose and continued. "With this life I give you healing. Wounds take time to heal and the wounds you and CreekClan have received will take even longer than regular ones. Give it time and become the leader you cats expect you to be. They may leave scars, but CreekClan will survive."
A much more soothing bolt flooded through Redflame, but it still had its pains. It washed over his old wounds, both physically and emotionally, and made them new.
"Thank you, Skunkstorm," Redflame replied, but the older medicine cat had already walked away. Redflame felt anew again and he enjoyed that feeling. He reminded himself to honor his medicine cats even more than he usually does, for they spend their entire lives caring for others, not once asking for anything in return.
The tom's heart nearly soared when he recognized the next cat approaching. Sequoiaspot, his mother, was giving him is next life.
"I've missed you, Redflame," Sequoiaspot purred and glanced at her other son. "And you as well, Flamescorch." She turned her attention back towards her eldest son with love flaring in her eyes like a raging blaze. "It's an honor to give you your next life." She gently tapped her muzzle on his forehead. "With this life I give you patience. You were always rambunctious as a kit, and that's a gift you haven't lost. Be patient, my son, for great things come in time."
His mother's life was soothing and gently and it reminded him of his younger days as a kit. Oh, how he longed to return to those simple times, but he knew he couldn't do that. With each passing life, he felt more confident about becoming Clan leader.
He longed for his mother to stay, but she soon left and sat next to her mate, Mallowlight. Redflame's father gave him a small, but noticeable, nod of approval.
A pale blue-gray tom approached Redflame next, and the younger tom recognized him as Indigofog, Lunastar's former deputy before him. The former deputy was killed in a border skirmish with BrambleClan. Indigofog's death shocked the entire Clan and his family grieved the most. This was a cat who shouldn't have died, and he deserved to become leader than Redflame.
As if he read Redflame's mind, Indigofog rested his tail on the younger tom's shoulder. "Peace, Redflame," Indigofog spoke. "I was never meant to lead CreekClan; that was your destiny. I could only guide Lunastar and help her lead the Clan. CreekClan needs a leader they can count on and that cat is you." He removed his tail from Redflame's shoulder and gently pressed his muzzle against his forehead. "With this life I give you the strength to show compassion. You don't have to be a leader by showing only bravery and courage, but by showing compassion and kindness you become an ever greater leader! Remember, this is what separates us from our enemies, whether they be rogue, loner or even the other Clans!"
Once again, another jolt of unknown and mysterious energy raged over Redflame. The force was stronger than his previous life, but it did have its softness, as if it were pure compassion filing Redflame's veins, filling him to the brim with love.
Once Redflame opened his eyes, Indigofog was gone and a different cat appeared in front of Redflame. Lunastar happily waved her tail at the sight of her former deputy. Her long and sleek black fur shone with starlight and her luminous green eyes shimmered brightly. "You were an excellent deputy, Redflame," Lunastar greeted warmly. "And you'll make a fantastic leader. I know that CreekClan is in capable paws."
"Lunastar…I'm so sorry that you died—" Redflame began, but he was at a loss for words. He could clearly see in his mind when his leader was slain from a couple of PineClan cats…and he could do nothing but watch it happen.
His leader sensed his discomfort and briefly touched her nose to his ear. "Do not fret, Redflame. It was my time. And now is the time for me to give you your sixth life." She removed her nose from his ear and instead pressed it against his forehead. "With this life I give you the trust in your warriors. They are capable cats and can take care of themselves, but they still need someone to guide them when necessary. Trust is something that is earned, not given. When you trust your warriors to fend themselves, then they will in turn trust you."
A fierce and violent jolt erupted in Redflame's body and he opened his jaws to let out a soundless cry, for he had lost his voice in the life-giving process. It was a pure storm raging inside, and Redflame acknowledged it as pure trust, something that can never be broken nor destroyed by any flame or storm.
The life left Redflame gasping for breath and he was staring at his paws, too weak to lift up his head. A soft purr was heard above him and a voice soon followed. "You are strong enough, Redflame. I taught you well enough."
Cometstrike! Redflame recognized his mentor's soft and encouraging voice from the mew and he forced himself to lift up his head and gaze into his mentor's calm green eyes. The last time he had seen his mentor when he was lying dead on the muddy and wet camp ground. Now, Cometstrike's ginger and white fur was neatly groomed and was glittered with stars.
Before Redflame could open his jaws to speak with his mentor, Cometstrike already placed his muzzle against Redflame's. "With this life I give you endurance. The path you now follow is a path less traveled, and it's a dangerous and tiring one. You will need every ounce of strength you can summon to continue down the trail."
Before Redflame could blink, Cometstrike's life was pouring into Redflame. The endurance life soaked through his fur and seemed to replenish his strength, making him feel anew like Skunkstorm's life. He felt like now he could climb the highest mountains, traverse across the fruitless plains and swim through the treacherous waters. There was nothing he couldn't do without StarClan at his side.
"Cometstrike…thanks for everything," Redflame mustered out. Even though his body felt rejuvenated, his lungs were still struggling to obtain air.
Cometstrike merely nodded and walked back towards the lines of cats. Redflame recognized some other cats amongst the ranks of StarClan, such as Crowflight, Rosethorn, Streamflood and Summersand, and many others. All were gazing at Redflame with pride and love.
A gray and white she-cat with berry-blue eyes emerged from the ranks and gracefully made her way towards the dumbfounded Redflame. He could hardly believe his eyes; it was Coalpatch, the she-cat he had feelings towards before she died the previous day.
Coalpatch let out an mrrow of amusement at her lover's expression. "I've missed you, too, Redflame," Coalpatch purred.
"A-And I missed you as well!" Redflame mewed and rubbed his muzzle against Coalpatch's. Her touch and scent felt so real, but Redflame knew that she was just a spirit and that they could never be together.
"I'm honored to give you your eighth life," Coalpatch purred and gently pressed her muzzle against his. "With this life I give offering second chances. What happened between CreekClan and PineClan was tragic, but we all must move on. Rivalries only end in bitterness and death, so offer anyone a second chance of redemption, whether it be a single cat or an entire Clan."
Coalpatch's life was soft and gentle like a mother's love and it calmed Redflame down. It was like an herbal medicine designed to ease tensions off of cats. His lungs ceased aching and he relished in breathing in Coalpatch's sweet scent. He was disappointed when the life passed away and he opened his eyes and gazed into Coalpatch's blue ones.
"I wish I could stay," Coalpatch meowed after a few heartbeats. "But you must move on, Redflame. There will be someone else who you shall find love in."
There will? He wanted to wail like a kit abandoned by its mother. No! He wanted to tell Coalpatch that he will be forever faithful to her, but she had already left before he could. No…there could never be a cat to replace her. No one could. Never.
Redflame shifted his paw uneasily. There was, thankfully, one more life to go, and he wondered which cat would step forward to give him his final life. Bircheyes stepped forward into the starlight. He had been watching the ceremony with prideful eyes and Redflame immediately knew that it was his friend's turn to give him his final life.
The pale brown tom stopped half a tail-length away from his soon-to-be leader and gazed at him with prideful wide eyes. "Redflame…it's an honor to be both your friend and warrior, and I'm also grateful that I was chosen to give you your final life." He paused for a heartbeat before continuing. "I've thought long and hard about which life I should grant you, and I know that it will be fitting." Without another word, Bircheyes pressed his nose against Redflame's. "With this final life I give you the gift of farsightedness, so that you may see the oncoming battles and obstacles that litter your path of leadership. You must chose careful how to overcome them, but I know that you will overpower anything that stands in your and your cats' way."
The final life surged through Redflame's pelt and made his fur stand on end. He felt tiny lightning bolts race through his red fur, going from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail. He wanted to flinch, but Bircheyes' nose was holding him in place. How fitting the life Bircheyes gave him was farsightedness, since Bircheyes was named for his large amber eyes that were as watchful as an owl's. Perhaps this gift would grant Redflame the same ability, in a way.
The pain ebbed away and Redflame flexed his claws. Despite the numerous pains and tribulations he just faced through receiving his lives, Redflame felt rejuvenated, as if he were a completely different cat now. Bircheyes gave him a nod of approval and he took a paw-step backwards.
"I always knew that you could do it, Redflame," Bircheyes whispered before speaking louder. "Redflame, I hail you by your new name, Redstar! Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of CreekClan," Bircheyes announced, his voice ringing and echoing throughout the clearing so that every cat may hear his proclamation. "Defend it well; care for the young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and with dignity."
"Redstar! Redstar! Redstar! Redstar!" the numerous cats Redstar held dear and close to his heart chanted with enthusiasm. "Redstar! Redstar! Redstar!"
"Thank you, cats of StarClan," Redstar yowled. "I promise to lead CreekClan to the best of my abilities, and I won't let any cat, whether they are living among me or watching above, down."
The spirits of his ancestors continued to cheer with joy and Redstar purred. He had finally accepted that what happened yesterday didn't matter anymore; CreekClan was his and his alone now. He would protect them like a mother protecting her kits; he would lead them like the leader of a pack; he would be with them as if he were his shadow; he would defend them with his life, if necessary, and he would not fail.
