This is a sequel to entity9silvergen's story, Broken Nature.
So, between Brokenstar and Tigerstar was a cat denied his nine lives because the former leader was alive. I like to think this character was a good, clever, and compassionate leader, Nightstar. And it didn't make much sense that StarClan would be so picky when even Sunstar got at least eight lives, and I figured he should have gotten some. I wanted to write a story about how he lost the other eight along the way, and along came Broken Nature and invited me into a whole new perspective of things.
Written with full permission of the original author(or if not the original author, the clone of the author, who just happens to know everything about them). Either way, I got permission!
Chapter 1: A Life for a Life
Nightpelt took a deep breath. No use delaying. He stepped boldly into the clearing before him. He looked up, expecting to see a mass of StarClan cats...but it was empty. He turned to Runningnose. He wasn't there.
His paws sank into the lush grass, and he frowned. "Surely this is StarClan," he said aloud. "So where are the cats?"
As if on cue, the outline of a cat shimmered into existence. He caught his breath. A she-cat, with a slender build and lithe frame. Small white paws, pale ginger fur. Bright gray eyes. He'd never seen this cat before, but he knew her in an instant.
"Miss me?" Wishvine asked.
He felt a lump in his throat. Her pelt soft and sleek, her eyes shining, Wishvine seemed so much better than when he'd last seen her, trapped in her brother's body.
"Wishvine!" he cried at last, burying his muzzle into her soft fur. "Wishvine!" She smelled of herbs and juniper.
"StarClan, it's been so long," she whispered. "You've changed. Just look at you. Clan leader."
"I didn't ask for it,"he responded, giving her a small push. "This is for ShadowClan."
"Still, it's an honor," she said happily. "You deserve it."
"How are you?"he blurted out, then realized how lizard-brained the question was.
She laughed, a sweet sound of pure happiness. "I'm at peace. And so is Hopeheart."
Nightpelt felt a fresh wave of guilt at the name. "I'm sorry,"he told her. " I should have saved you."
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Nightpelt. It was simply my time to go,"she answered.
"But I could have delayed your passing,"he argued. "Maybe you could've made it, and it would be you sitting back at camp, waiting for me."
"Look at me, Nightpelt."
When he lifted his head, she glared at him with a ferocity he had never seen before, not in Wishvine.
"Don't ever, ever blame yourself for my death," she hissed. "You did what you could; you helped Stumpytail become a warrior; you supported Hopeheart when I was gone. It was my time to go; don't beat yourself up for that."
"But you should be there," he protested weakly. "Back at camp, ready to greet me."
She sighed heavily. "This is where I'm meant to be," she said finally. "I wish I could be there for you every paw-step of the way, I truly do. As your former apprentice, your friend, your supporter, and perhaps-"she stopped herself.
"Oh, Wishvine, "was all he could say. "Oh, how I've missed you."
"So have I. I... I love you, Nightpelt," she murmured.
"You love me?"he asked, hardly daring to believe it. She loved him? A flawed, clumsy cat, average at best? This beautiful, caring, kind she-cat loved him?
"It may be wrong; StarClan may forbid it; but I don't care. I love you more than any other cat in the world. StarClan, I've wanted to say that for so long."
He was silent, then he meowed slowly, "So have I, Wishvine."
"Perhaps, in another world, we could have been mates, but since we can't... "Her voice trailed off.
"Since we can't, I'll find you waiting for me, here, when it's my time," he finished.
"I'll wait for you until the world ends, my love, until we can meet again,"she whispered, her eyes brimming with tears. "Be a good leader for our Clan."
She threw back her head, letting out a caterwaul. Starry cats appeared, some familiar to Nightpelt. Cloudpelt. Cedarstar. Foxheart. Sagewhisker. Raggedstar. And so many more.
"Nightpelt!" Runningnose was behind him once more, a cream-grey she-cat next to him. Suddenly Nightpelt couldn't breathe.
"Hopeheart and Runningnose make a good match, don't they?" Wishvine meowed affectionately, though her gaze never left Nightpelt.
"They were made for each other," was his reply. They really were. For the first time, both cats looked genuinely happy. And so was Nightpelt, to be honest with himself.
"StarClan! Assemble!" The cry rang throughout the clearing, and Wishvine vanished from his side, reappearing at the end of the line. Raggedstar stepped forward. "Nightpelt," he meowed slowly. "I give you your first life for truth. Use it well, and...and live not as the fool I was."
"You weren't a fool, Raggedstar," Nightpelt whispered. "Naive, but no fool."He stepped up to the huge tabby, accepting the life.
The pain was excruciating, but even worse were the vivid scenes. He saw Raggedstar, helplessly watching Brokenstar take over his Clan. Blind to his own son's evilness. Until it was too late. And he felt it all.
Next was Cloudpelt. The white tom dipped his head. "I am honored to give you your second life, for peace,"he said. "For power does not come from violence." This life was painless, setting the tom at ease as power flooded into him.
Sagewhisker came forward, her soft paws silently padding over the ground. Her eyes glinted with humor. "I give you your next life for kindness," she whispered. "For it is a rare thing our Clan desperately needs now."
This life too was painless. The kindness just slipped into him. He almost didn't see the next cat coming.
"Your fourth life is for leadership," meowed Foxheart. "Use it wisely for your Clan."
A wave of pure anguish rippled through him, shocking Nightpelt to the bone. It was worse than anything, especially after the two easy ones, but he gritted his teeth and accepted the life.
"I give you your fifth life for a mother's protection" said Stormflower, his mother. "Love your Clan as you would have loved your kits."
This life was the most painful yet, as a mother's fierce love poured into him.
Next was Wolfstep. "Your sixth life is for making good decisions."
"A life, to guide you through your despair and give you strength."
Last were two beautiful sisters, both stepping daintily to him from the mass of starry cats.
"I give you a life for wisdom," Hopeheart said, her brown eyes unusually bright. "Think carefully before each decision, and be the best leader you can be."
Nightpelt accepted the life, and flames engulfed his insides. Millions of thoughts ran through his head, each of them fluttering just out of reach. Was this what it felt like to be all-knowing?
He opened his eyes. He knew what was coming as the last cat stepped towards him.
"Your final life is for love,"Wishvine said softly. She didn't say anything more, and she didn't need to. Nightpelt heard every unspoken word. Her green eyes glistened as she passed the life to him.
The agony was undescribable, but strangely satisfying.
Wishvine spoke to close the ceremony. "Your old life is no more. We hail you as Nightstar, leader of ShadowClan!"
"Nightstar! Nightstar! Nightstar!" the StarClan cats yowled. He dipped his head awkwardly, ut he didn't have the time to think it over before yet another cat came to him.
"Under circumstances, StarClan has agreed to give you one last life,"meowed the gray she-cat. "I am Moth Flight, the first medicine-cat. Your final life is for accepting your fate."
Accepting his fate? Was that a warning? Nightpelt barely had time to think before the life flooded into him...but with peace. Strength. And suddenly, the forest turned into skeleton trees, and the cats disappeared. He froze. Where was he?
"Nightstar," said a voice behind him. That voice. He could never forget that voice. He turned to see Brokenstar glaring at him.
"What do you want?" Nightstar asked, fearing that he already knew the answer. This was what Moth Flight must have been trying to say.
"Your lives," Brokenstar said hungrily. "Fortunately, Houndleap has allowed me to reclaim what is mine by right."
"Hound...what? Oh, never mind. And why are they yours?" Nightstar challenged.
"Because...you carry my sisters in you," the other tom hissed, before leaping.
Nightstar dodged, but too late. Brokenstar had already claimed his first life. Suddenly he was in StarClan once more, Raggedstar before him. "I am truly sorry," the ginger tabby said, as Nightstar was jerked back to life.
Brokenstar frowned. "So not this one," he meowed, then lunged again.
Cloudpelt stood where Raggedstar had, hiss amber gaze darkened with sorrow. He merely gazed helplessly at Nightstar as he was dragged back to the Dark Forest.
Brokenstar hissed angrily. "Cloudpelt. I have no use for him," was all he said, as Nightstar died once more.
This life was Sagewhisker. "Have strength," she murmured into his ear. He wanted to say something but found he couldn't. "This wound is hard to heal," she said quietly, "but I think you will make it."
The fourth life taken was Foxheart's, and his former mentor barely had time to choke out, "Last life," before he was back again.
He stood up. Foxheart had been right. His wounds has closed. He lunged at Brokenstar, but the younger tom sliced his claws again into his unprotected throat.
"When will this end?" Stormflower wailed, her muzzle buried into his blood-soaked fur.
He was tossed back to Brokenstar, who howled in fury. "Where are they?" He screamed, killing him again and again.
Wolfstep. Cedarstar. The two cats passed in a blur.
Then suddenly, Hopeheart stood before him. "I am sorry, Nightstar," she said. "It is we that he wants. But you can change it. You can keep Wishvine's life. Think, Mentor."
Think. He could use Moth Flight's life instead. But how?
The she-cat's words came back to him. "...accepting you fate." That was what he has to do.
Brokenstar's eyes gleamed. "Finally," he rasped. "Hopeheart. And now...for Wishvine."
"No," Nightstar said. "I... I accept my fate. You will not take her."
This time it was Moth Flight who stood before him. "So you gave my life,"she said slowly. "Well done."
"Indeed," said another voice. All the other cats came out of the trees, Wishvine in the lead. "Be the best leader you can be," she said again, her eyes full of love.
Back in the Dark Forest, Brokenstar's eyes were full of hatred. "Wishvine did not give you her life?" He hissed furiously. "Well, then. I have no use for you. You have cleared the path for the next leader. Goodbye. Say hello to StarClan for me."
And with that, Nightstar was back at the Moonstone, Runningnose frantic beside him. "Nightstar! What happened? I woke up after you received your nine lives, but you were still out! And wounds started to appear! Who..."
"Brokenstar," he replied grimly.
Runningnose gasped. "The Dark Forest?"
He nodded.
"How...how many lives did you lose?"
"Nine," Nightstar said.
"Nine?"
"I got an extra life from Moth Flight," he said. "Like a second chance. I don't even know if it's allowed, but she said that the next leader of ShadowClan needed to be kept from the position. Hopeheart told me I could keep Wishvine's life if I was willing...so I gave up Moth Flight's. And here I am. Once Brokenstar had taken nine lives, he thought I was dead, and Wishvine hadn't given me a life. So I lived. I am sorry I did not fight better. Perhaps then ShadowClan's downfall could have been stalled a little longer."
"Nightstar... "was all the medicine-cat said. "Let's get you back home."
A/N
Yep. I write crappy love scenes. I mean, this may only be the third I've written on paper, but this one hits the spot. If you want a little more sappiness or happiness...sorry. You're looking at the wrong cat.
Nightstar was one of my favorite cats, so I was bummed when the Erins killed him off. This time around, Wishvine's life will count!
Thanks for reading!
With lots of luv,
Iris