When the chanting died down, Juniperstar addressed Sagestar again.

"The night is nearly over, but I do have some more things to tell you."

He began walking back to the shoreline, and Sagestar hurried to keep up.

"You have a daunting task ahead of you," he said once her paws were firmly on solid ground. "JuniperClan is in peril- you must return the Clan to the ways of the Warrior Code."

"I'll do my best," Sagestar said hesitantly. "But I don't know very much about the Code, or Clan traditions... or really anything. I only know what my father told me when I was a kit."

"I know. You must rely on Thistletail." He gestured towards the old medicine cat with his tail. "He has held true to the tenets of the Warrior Code. You must also choose a deputy by next moonhigh. I urge you to select a cat who will help you to lead the Clan down the correct path."

Sagestar wasn't sure how she could choose the best cat for the job when she knew only a small number of JuniperClan cats, nearly half of whom were still apprentices.

"Okay," she said. "I'll try."

"Good. The sun is rising now. I must return to StarClan's hunting grounds."

Sagestar noticed with a start that the sky was getting lighter. Had the ceremony taken all night? The StarClan cats were climbing the waterfall, leaping from one invisible pawhold to another until they were so high that they seemed to be just light shining on the water's surface.

Juniperstar turned and began making his way to the base of the StarFalls.

"Juniperstar, wait!" Sagestar called after the retreating StarClan cat. "I still don't know what to do!"

"You must learn," he called back over his shoulder. "May the stars light your path, Sagestar, leader of JuniperClan."

Sagestar watched as he made his way up the StarFalls with the last of the StarClan cats. The sun peeked over the treetops just as the last shimmering lights reached the top of the waterfall.

"What in the name of StarClan just happened?"

Sagestar started. She had forgotten that Cougarstrike was there.

"You know perfectly well what just happened," said Thistletail. "JuniperClan has a new leader."

Cougarstrike shook his head. "StarClan must have bees in their brain," he muttered. "I can't believe this."

Thistletail looked expectantly at Sagestar.

"So?" he asked. "What now?"

A sense of panic settled in Sagestar's chest. She hadn't realized that she would have to start leading right away.

"Um... let's... let's meet back up with Willow and Robinfrost. Then we should get back to the rest of the Clan."

Cougarstrike seemed to be fighting the urge to roll his eyes. "Sure thing, Sagestar."

They found the two she-cats sleeping in the Ancestor Grove. Robinfrost woke and jumped to her paws when she heard them return. Willow blinked sleepily.

"Where have you been?" she demanded, rounding on Cougarstrike. "What happened?"

Cougarstrike frowned. "I'm not sure how to explain it. Maybe they can do it better."

He jerked his head towards Sagestar and Thistletail.

Sagestar blinked wearily. She was exhausted, and wasn't sure how to explain the night's events... but she had to try.

"We saw StarClan," she began.

Robinfrost raised an incredulous eyebrow. "Are you sure that's what you saw?"

Cougarstrike interrupted. "It was StarClan, Robinfrost. They spoke to us. I saw cats I knew- Smokewhisker, Fidgetburr... they're real."

Robinfrost blinked in shock.

"Smokewhisker?" Willow asked. "Our father was there?"

Sagestar smiled at her sister. "Yes. I spoke to him."

"Was Mama there?"

"No," Sagestar shook her head sadly. "She wasn't."

"What about Eaglestar? Shadowfoot?" Robinfrost asked. "My mother?"

"No," Sagestar replied. "They weren't there either. That's why Thistletail and I have to go back to the camp where they were buried. We have to perform a ceremony to help them get to StarClan."

Robinfrost and Willow looked at her, confusion etched on their faces.

"Why do you have to go?" asked Willow. "What did StarClan say?"

Sagestar glanced at Thistletail, who nodded encouragingly. She took a steadying breath.

"StarClan said that Thistletail was right- they thought I was the answer to the prophecy."

"What does that mean?" Robinfrost asked.

"I don't know all of it yet," said Sagestar. "I don't know what the 'ghosts of JuniperClan's past' are, or how I'm supposed to save us from them... but they made me the new leader of JuniperClan."

Willow stared at her sister in shock.

"I'm sorry, what? You?" demanded Robinfrost. She turned to Cougarstrike. "Her?"

Cougarstrike nodded. "I don't get it either, but I saw it. StarClan chose Sage... Sagestar. They gave her the extra lives and everything."

"You got... extra lives?" Willow looked utterly confused.

Sagestar nodded. "I have three lives now, a gift from StarClan to help me lead JuniperClan."

"Wow... okay," said Robinfrost, shaking her head. "Now what?"

"Now we go tell the rest of the Clan," she said. "Cougarstrike, can you lead us back?"

He blinked at her, his expression thoughtful. "Yes, Sagestar."

Well, folks, that's what I've got written so far. I won't be publishing 10-plus chapters at a time in the future though- that's just what I already had written. Drop a comment/review and tell me what you think! Even if it's "Your writing's bad and you should feel bad." Do you think Sagestar is cut out for this? How do you think the JuniperClan cats will take the news that this barn cat is their new leader?