Chapter 14
Tigerpelt's Nine Lives
Tigerpelt's POV
I woke up at dawn, ate breakfast, and gathered all the apprentices for training. Dirtpaw was up right away, while Spiderpaw and Frogpaw took a while to notice what was happening. Once at the training hollow I told them "today we will be working on how to ambush an enemy when they trespass on Vixenclan's territory. Dirtpaw and I will be the ambushers because our pelts blend in easier. I want Frogpaw and Spiderpaw to pretend to be from Swiftclan and sneak around trying to get to our base, where I will be lying in wait somewhere with Dirtpaw. Oh, and the base is here so you two will start at the Swiftclan border." I signaled Dirtpaw to follow me so we went a little way from the base and climbed a tree that was right over the path the other apprentices should take. I heard a rustling so I crouched down and prepared to leap when Frogpaw tripped right under us and swore. Spiderpaw helped him up so I nodded to Dirtpaw and we dropped- claws sheathed. They yowled in surprise and I burst out laughing because Dirtpaw missed and landed in the river. He got out muttering about how stupid we were. I decided that training was over for the day and all the apprentices could go to sleep.
Mistyfoot POV
I watched at my son took out all the apprentices and felt a surge of pride but remembered from a prophecy told to me when I had just become deputy 'with great power comes great responsibility, use yours wisely.' I hoped Tigerpelt was being a good deputy. I went to eat then decided to go for a walk in the forest. It was a beautiful day to walk and while I was out I met the warrior Piketail. He was a light brown tabby with blue eyes and a polite cat as well. He was sitting by the lake staring out into space and noticed me. He invited me to sit by him so I did. "So, n-nice weather w-were having." Piketail said. I nodded and he said something else "d-do you want t-to go hunting w-with me?" "Sure, why not" we each took turns diving in a deep pool until we each had a fair amount of fish to bring back to camp. Piketail didn't leave yet "t-that was fun r-right? Maybe w-we can do i-it again sometime?" "I'd love to, but you don't have to stutter, we're friends so don't be nervous." Piketail seemed to float away in happiness and Grasswhisker came up to me and mewed "looks like there might be a new queen soon. Hmm?" My ears felt hot so I shrugged and ran off to my nest which I noticed was now right next to Piketail's. I sighed and closed my eyes to welcome a dreamless sleep.
Tigerpelt's POV
I went back to camp, ate, and visited Grasswhisker to see when she left for the moonstone. "I'll leave at dawn" she answered. I dipped my head and left for my nest to rest up for a big day. I woke with a yawn right before dawn and saw Grasswhisker heading out the entrance tunnel so I quietly followed her. Right when we entered Swiftclan I leaped over her, spun around, immediately killed her and left her near the border but still in Swiftclan territory. I knew my way to Highstones and was there in no time at all. I waited until dark and padded through the moss covered tunnel leading to the interior of the cave. The moonstone had already lit up so I lay down and touched my nose to it. I awoke in the dead where I was surrounded by the cats I knew and trained with. The first cat to approach me was Darkstripe "I give you a life of speed; use it when you must ambush others." Next was Thistleclaw, "I give you a life of darkness; use it when you need to sneak up on an enemy." After him was Mapleshade "I give you a life of protection; use it when you're outnumbered in battle." Then Snowtail "I give you a life of craziness; use it when needed." Next to my surprise was Graystripe "I give you a life of life; use it when you die." Brokenstar was next "I give you a life of fire; use it when trapped in a flood." After that was Hawkfrost "I give you a life of murder; use it after Snowtail's life" 2nd to last was Scourge "I give you a life of strength; use it when you are smaller like the enemy." Finally Tigerstar was up "I give you a life of power; use now and always" Then they all shouted at once "WE HAIL YOU BY YOUR NEW NAME TIGERSTAR!" My ears were left ringing until I woke up. I grinned widely and raced back home to jump in my nest in the warriors den and slept instantly, I'd answer questions in the morning.