I know it's about time I've made a new chapter for this story. I just got lazy, but I will make up for lost time.
Tigerclaw felt someone nudging his shoulder. "Tigerclaw, Tigerclaw, get up. We have to go to the Moonstone. Remember." Tigerclaw heard Cinderpelt whisper.
"Uhh… I'm up. I'm up. And yes I remember. How could I forget? This is the day I've been waiting for." Well, second. Tigerclaw thought.
"Well. Let's get going then. We have to leave now if we want to get there on time."
"Okay." Tigerclaw said as he watched Cinderpelt limp away. He remembered the day that Cinderpelt got her limp. Bluestar was sick although he hadn't known that at the time. Tigerclaw had set up a trap for her by the Thunderpath. Little did he know that Fireheart's apprentice, Cinderpaw would be the one to take the beating.
Tigerclaw had heard that Fireheart went to get Bluestar herbs and told Cinderpaw to stay in camp, but Tigerclaw snickered at the thought that he almost got Fireheart as well. If only Fireheart had been there instead of Cinderpaw…
"Tigerclaw, are you coming?" Cinderpelt called to him, snapping him out of his daydream.
"Yes, I wouldn't miss this for the world." Tigerclaw answered.
Cinderpelt and Tigerclaw finally reached the edge of the Thunderpath. Tigerclaw watched through narrow eyes as Cinderpelt crossed the Thunderpath. A monster zoomed by blocking his view for a second, but as soon as it passed by Tigerclaw made a break for it. He ran as fast as he could on the hot sticky liquid that was sticking to his pads.
He made it across just in time because another monster zoomed by. Cinderpelt and Tigerclaw continued their journey until they reached the Moonstone. When they were at the entrance Tigerclaw started to feel dizzy and lowered his head toward the ground. His head was aching and then as quickly as it had come the headache went away.
"Are you okay, Tigerclaw?" Cinderpelt asked concerned.
"I'm fine. Just excited that's all."
"Fine. If you say so."
Tigerclaw followed Cinderpelt into the cave. It was small and dark, so dark that Tigerclaw couldn't even see his paws in front of him. The walls felt like they were closing in on him and his whiskers scraped against the wall, until the walls began to widen and then there was the entrance. Tigerclaw hurried into the cavern where the moonstone was.
It wasn't time for the ceremony yet so Cinderpelt and him waited. Finally, it was time! Moonlight shined into the cavern and illuminated the stone sitting in front of Tigerclaw.
"It's time, Tigerclaw." Cinderpelt said solemnly.
Tigerclaw and Cinderpelt both touched their noses to the Moonstone. Immediately Tigerclaw fell asleep. He woke up in what looked like Four Trees, yet not quite. Tigerclaw looked up and he saw the stars moving. They swirled all around Tigerlcaw and shifted their form until the stars looked like cats.
"Welcome, Tigerclaw. Are you ready to receive your nine lives?" A voice that sounded like everybody and yet again it sounded like it was one voice asked.
"Yes." Tigerclaw replied without hesitation.
The first cat to approach him was a dark auburn cat, Pinestar, he thought as he recognized his father. Then he remembered what his father did. His father left him, abandoned him just so he could become a kittypet and be pampered. He hated his father.
When his father approached Tigerclaw hissed at him. Pinestar took no notice of his son's hostility. He walked up to Tigerclaw until he was nose to nose with him.
"With this life I give you endurance." Pinestar said. "Use it well so you can give your Clan hope when they feel there is none." Pinestar touched his nose to Tigerclaw's.
Tigerclaw felt anguishing pain wash over him. He felt all the sadness and regret his father felt when he left him. Tigerclaw felt like he wasn't going to make it the pain was too much. When he thought that he was going to die the pain lifted. When Tigerclaw felt strong enough to stand up he saw that his father was already rejoining the ranks of Starclan.
The next cat to approach him was a black kit with green eyes. It took Tigerclaw a moment to figure out whom it was. It was his little sister, Nightkit. "Nightkit, is that really you?"
Nightkit and Tigerclaw's other sister, Mintkit, both died because they were weak. He wondered what life he would get from his sister. His sister said nothing, but there was a sad look in her eyes.
"With this life I give you strength. Use it to defend your Clan at all costs." Nightkit touched her nose to Tigerclaw's and searing pain entered his body. The pain wasn't as bad as the first so it didn't take long for Tigerclaw to stand up again.
The next cat was a mottled brown tom with amber eyes. Tigerclaw knew who it was immediately, it was Adderfang. Adderfang didn't hesitate to give Tigerclaw his next life. "With this life I give you decisiveness. Use it to make the right decisions for your Clan." Adderfang touched his nose to Tigerclaw's and again Tigerclaw felt searing pain as the new life entered his body.
Tigerclaw was out of breath and panting as the next cat walked up to him. This cat was mottled gray tom with fur that stuck out in all directions. TIgerclaw would know this crazy furball anywhere. "Goosefeather?" Tigerclaw asked. Goosefeather was the last cat that Tigerclaw would have suspected to give a life. Tigerclaw knew Goosefeather hated him, So why's he giving me a life? He thought.
"With this life I give you wisdom," he said. "Use it to make wise choices for your Clan." Goosefeather stood there for a second staring at him through narrowed eyes, and then he finally touched his nose to Tigerclaw's.
Tigerclaw fell to the ground in pain. His face twisted in agony he held in a scream of pain. By the time Tigerclaw got up his whole body was aching. Goosefeather was already gone by the time he looked up.
What surprised him even more was when a cat with an all too familiar tortoiseshell pelt and red tail approached him. "Redtail?" Tigerclaw said in confusion and malice.
Redtail just gave him a hard cold stare but said nothing. "With this life I give you nobility," Redtail practically hissed the words out. "Use it to show fairness and equality among your cats." Redtail pressed his nose to Tigerclaw's.
Tigerclaw by now was used to the pain so this time, although it still hurt, Tigerclaw stood tall. Redtail walked away with his tail held high.
A golden cat walked out of the ranks and approached Tigerclaw. "Lionheart." Tigerclaw said curtly.
"With this life I give you chastening. Use it to discipline your Clan and yourself."
"What do you mean?" Tigerclaw barely had time to get the words out before searing pain entered his body. He clenched his teeth, trying to ease the pain. The pain eventually faded and Tigerclaw could unclench his mouth.
Next, a familiar tortoiseshell she-cat came out the ranks. Tigerclaw knew who it was, Spottedleaf. Spottedleaf approached him without a moment's hesitation.
"With this life I give you compassion. Use it to care for and sympathize with your Clan." Spottedleaf touched her nose to his and stepped back.
Tigerclaw was glad that this life wasn't as bad as the first six and the pain waned faster. Tigerclaw looked up to see a mottled black she-cat approach him and Tigerclaw's eyes softened as he saw his mother, Leopardfoot.
Leopardfoot looked at her son sadly, but quickly blinked and the look was gone. "With this life I give you love. Use it to protect your Clan with not only your strength, but your heart too." His mother touched her nose to her son.
Tigerclaw was surprised to feel pain so treacherously agonizing he had to wither on the ground to make it stop. By the time the pain had pasted he was panting and gasping for air. He looked up hoping his mother was still there, but she was gone and he could no longer see her. He found instead a very livid Bluestar standing over him.
"Get up you lousy piece of fox dung!" Bluestar hissed. "You don't deserve the life I'm about to give you, but since its tradition I'll follow through with it." Tigerclaw stood up meeting Bluestar's unwavering gaze. "With this life I give you the ability to follow what your heart tells you to and to follow the warrior code and all it stands for." Bluestar touched her nose to Tigerclaw's and a burst of pain throbbed through Tigerclaw.
Bluestar stood her ground and waited. Tigerclaw got up battered and weak so that he could barely stand. "I hail you by your new name, Tigerstar. Your old life is no more. You have received the nine lives of a leader, and Starclan grants to 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." Bluestar announced.
All around him Starclan cats began chanting his name even Bluestar though she did so grudgingly. "Tigerstar, Tigerstar."
He was enjoying the attention so much he didn't even notice when he woke up. Cinderpelt was already awake and was cleaning her paw. "How did the ceremony go?"
"Great." Was Tigerstar's curt reply.
Sorry I haven't written anything on this story for a long time, but I hope this chapter was worth the wait. I won't ever leave you hanging that long again I promise, and if I do its probably because I'm busy.