"I'm not going to tell you why I don't trust Stonetail. Because you'll argue." Stormblaze snarled. "Stormblaze, don't you remember when you and I became mates? We were the exact same age." Skyflower said calmly. "And remember when I was expecting kits, and you took me into RiverClan? I'm surprised Mistyfur,Reedpaw and Troutpaw don't know. " She said, putting her tail on Stormblaze's shoulder. Stormblaze thought of those times. He gazed into her amber eyes. "I'm sorry I ever got you into this mess." He apologized. "It's alright, Stormblaze. I'm happy, being here in RiverClan." Skyflower said. Mistyfur smiled. "Come on, let's give Skyflower and Stormblaze a moment alone." She padded out of the warriors' den.
The next day, Sandstar had lost his last life. Stormblaze had went to the Moonstone with Skyflower, leaving Salmontail in charge. When Stormblaze padded up to the Moonstone, he waited for his StarClan ancestors to give him his nine lives. When the StarClan cats came, he was overwhelmed. The cat who gave him his first life was Sandstar. "With this life I give you compassion. Follow your heart more than your mind." A bolt of energy seared through Stormblaze. He winced. Sandstar stepped back, and was replaced by Rainclaw. "With this life, I give you endurance. Use it to keep going, even if all energy and hope has left you." Stormblaze's body ached with agonizing pain. He endured it. Next was Otterface. "With this life I give you humor. Use it to lighten the spirits of your clanmates, even in the darkest of times." Otterface stepped back. Next was Brightwish. "With this life I give you hope. Even when all hope seems lost, it will be there, waiting for you." She stepped back, and was replaced by Cloudfang. "With this life I give you courage. Use it to lead your clanmates through even the toughest of times." Next was Yarrowfur. "With this life I give you patience. You will need it." Bluewhisker was next. "With this life I give you trust. Believe in your clan and yourself." A familiar scent lingered in the air. Snowfoot, his mother, padded up to him, pressing her muzzle to his head. "With this life I give you love. Use it to cherish your clanmates for as long as you live." Snowfoot's soft tail brushed against his fur. "I missed you, mom. I never wanted you to die." Stormblaze wailed. "Stormblaze, I will always be here for you. You have a mate that will love and take care of you, just as I have done." She nuzzled him before stepping back to join the others. His last life was given to him by Skyflower's mother, Shadowheart. "With this life I give you pride, so that you know your own worth and the worth of your clan." Stormblaze shivered. "Thank you for taking care of my daughter. I know she will be well loved by you." Stormstar woke up. Skyflower was sleeping beside him. He nudged her. "Come on, let's get back to camp." When they got back to camp, Stormstar chose his deputy. "Stonetail, I would like for you to be my deputy. I realize that you will take care of my daughter, and one day, this clan as well." Stormstar pressed his muzzle to Stonetail's head. "I will never regret my choice." He whispered into Stonetail's
