Firestorm: You've paid me a wonderful compliment. :) I hope you enjoy this chapter!!!

Leafpaw woke up in a patch of moonlight, her fur tingling under its strange warmth. Silverpelt was to the right over, and Grasspaw to the left. Silverpelt's parents were nowhere to be seen.

"Hey, Silverpelt, get up!" she hissed, prodding her clanmate with a forepaw. Silverpelt got up groggily.

"What the-" she sighed. "Great Starclan."

Grasspaw was sitting serenly, washing herself.

"I know, it's a jolt the first time, isn't it?" she said, laughing. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm going to go look for some Starclan cats."

She walked away, and Leafpaw grumbled. "Don't go walking off like that!!"

Looking quickly over her shoulder, she said to Silverpelt, "If anyone comes around her, just tell them who you are. It shouldn't be long, we were brought here for something or other."

Silverpelt nodded dumbly, a little scared. She desperately wanted to ask what was going on, but she didn't want to show any fear.

Leafpaw ran away after Grasspaw. Silverpelt was left alone. Suddenly, the stars above seemed to solidify, and were incarnated into the bodies of cats, nine of them. Silverpelt ha dnever seen any of them before, but she had read the books well enough to recognize one of them- Firestar.

"Welcome, Silverpelt." a voice said. It seemed to be coming from all the cats, but also just from Firestar.

"Er...hi." she said. "Can you tell me where to go, and why I'm here. Actually, just what to do in general. I have no clue. Oh, and while you're at it, can you tell me where my parents are?"

There was silence. "Your parents are still in the tree, just as you are."

"Are they changing?"

"Yes. We're hurrying the process this time. If they join, you'll need them fully cats. You've got work ahead of you."

"Work?"

This time, it was just Firestar who spoke. "You know that prophecy we told Leafpaw last time we met your kind? Well, it has begun."

"Wait, a minute, hold up. We don't have 14 anymore. Whitepaw left, and then Trueheart and my parents came. That's sixteen."

The cats looked at her sadly.

"What?" she asked. Then she understood. "No. Nononononono. They're my parents. They can't-"

She broke off, shuddering. "No,I'll make sure that they'll..not...well, leave."

The cats still stared at her. An awkward silence ensued.

"Well," Firestar said at last. "We're not here to discuss that. We're here to do something more....hopeful."

"What?" Silverpelt asked.

The cats surrounded her, a semi circle patter...like a half moon.

"Silverpelt, are you ready to become a leader and receive your nine lives?"

Silverpelt gasped in surprise. Then she composed herself. "Yes, I am."

The first cat drew close to her. "My name is Hightail. I was once your mother."

"Mom?" whispered Silverpelt. "How- what-"

"With this life, I give you love. Use it well for the cats in your care."

She touched noses with Silverpelt. Pain ripped through Silverpelt from head to toe. She felt her mother's love for her, a sweet, but intense pain. The pain ebbed away, leaving Silverpelt shaking and gasping.

I must do this eight more times?!She thought, quailing where she stood.

Another cat walked up, a tom, with stars running through his fur. "My name is Stormfog. I was once your father."

"Dad?" Silverpelt exclaimed softly. "I'm so sorry."

He flicked his tail across her muzzle. "With this life I give you mentoring. Use it well to train the young cats of your clan."

Steeling herself, Silverpelt touched noses with her dad. This one felt different. Still painful, but fierce. The thrill of a first hunt, the exhilaration of a first run. Like taking the best feeling in the world, squaring it, and making it negative. UGh.

Quivering, Silverpelt drew away, feeling energized, despite the ordeal she was facing.

The next cat drew up. It was a a gray cat, with broad shoulders and muzzle.

"I am Stormfur," he announced. "With this life I give you loyalty to what you believe is right. Use it well to guide your clan in times of trouble."

They bumped noses awkwardly and Silverpelt shuddered as a sharp pain lanced her side. Then fire overtook her throat, and there was a desperate feeling to do what was right. She suddenly realized that she was living Stormfur's last moments alive.

Her vision cleared. The next cat stepped up. It was a gray-ish cat who's fur was oddly humped and shaped. It looked like her fur was pebbled, but though it sounded gross, it was actually quite beautiful.

"I am Pebbleface. After I died a human, I ended up here. You are my great, great, great, great, great grandkit."

She smiled tenderly. "With this life I give you tireless energy. Use it well to carry out the duties of leader."

The throes of the new life brought visions of paws skimming the forest floor, the unbridled energy of a new apprentice.

"thank you." whispered Silverpelt when the pain receded.

Another cat padded up to Silverpelt. A sweet scent curled around her and her tortoishell pelt shimmered with a hidden light.

"Little one, I am Spottedleaf. With this life, I give you compassion. Use it well for the elders of your clan and for all cats weaker than you."

She touched noses with her, and the life that poured into Silverpelt was sweet and loving, yet strong and vital. Silverpelt drank in this life eagerly, wishing to get all of Spottedleaf's life.

Four more to go,thought Silverpelt. I can do this.

A bluish-gray cat was the next to approach Silverpelt. "I am Bluestar. With this life, I give you courage. Use it well to defend your clan."

The pain ripped through Silverpelt, and again she fought back the urge to yowl her pain to the sky.

"Thank you Bluestar," she panted when the burning died away. She was tired now, but there were only three lives left to recieve.

The next life was from Tallstar, the Windclan leader. "With this life, I give you justice. Use it well to judge the actions of others."

Next, a cat that Silverpelt found to be Yellowfang padded up to her. "With this life, I give you protection. Use it well for your clan as a mother cares for her kits." she rasped.

The last life was from Firestar. "With this life I give you nobility and certainty and faith. Use it well as you lead your clan in the ways of StarClan and the warrior code."

This life was different. It was sure and just, and made Silverpelt feel like she was having the world's best adrenaline rush. She felt so energized, like if she moved her pelt would burst apart into stars. It was wonderful

"I hail you by your new name, Silverstar. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine live of a leader and StarClan grants you the guardianship of Treeclan. Defend it well, care for young and old, honor your ancestors and the warrior code. Live each life with pride and dignity."

"Silverstar! Silverstar! Silverstar! Silverstar!!"

Silverstar grinned, and looked around. She saw Leafpaw and Grasspaw on the edge of the clearing, yowling with the rest of Starclan. Then something that Firestar had said clicked.

"Wait! Firestar!" she yelled above the noise. "You said Treeclan!"

Something snapped, and she once again fell into darkness.

OOH! Cliffie!! Sorry guys, I'm sick and I'm going to go take a nap. More later!!!

-Owly

P.S. Please review! And, if you have ever solved a rubiks cube (any size) please tell me in the review. (sorry that's random)

P.P.S. I'm on spring break! YAHOOO!!!