Chapter Four: Three more Lives!

Firestar and Leafpool jerked their heads up as Mistyfoot and Mothwing were led into the den. Both looked like they had been deep in conversation. Normally, this wouldn't be unusual, but with what had been going on lately...

"Mistyfoot?"

"Mothwing?"

"We have come to speak to you about Leopardstar," Mistyfoot meowed, "She is dead."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Leafpool said in a soft voice. Firestar was just silent. It hadn't looked like Leopardstar was sick the last time he saw her. She was old, but not old enough to die of it. Leafpool suddenly looked confused, and she gestured with her tail for them to sit beside her.

"We'll be going now," Squirrelflight said calmly, "Come Dreampaw."

"Brambleclaw, Squirrelflight, wait," Firestar rasped, "I want you both to stay here. Dreampaw, fetch Sandstorm, then go hunt for the elders."

"Yes, Firestar," The apprentice murmured, but as she ran to the warrior's den, she wondered... it was odd, that look in Leafpool's eyes.Sandstorm was sitting, talking with Dustpelt, another senior warrior.

"Sandstorm," She called, "Firestar wants you in his den."
The pale ginger she-cat looked confused for a moment, then nodded.

Sighing, Dreampaw ran into the forest to hunt. As she dropped to a crouch, ready to pounce on the mouse in front of her, she smelled a sweet scent. Hmm...

"Well. I never thought I'd see Firestar as a grandfather."

Whirling, Dreampaw found a pretty tortoiseshell watching her with amber eyes. She recognized her as Spottedleaf, the medicine cat who had guided both Firestar and Leafpool. Hmm.

"So. I guess I'm next?" She meowed.

"Yes," Spottedleaf purred, "It is my destiny to guide Firestar and his descendants. My path has been laid out since birth."
"You mean... you were meant to die young?"
"Yes," Spottedleaf murmured, "I was. Though, then again, I never knew 'til I entered Starclan. Dreampaw. Your destiny has been laid out as well. But it is your choice on whether you follow your true path. Starclan doesn't control your life."

"That's news," Dreampaw commented dryly. "So cats like you just chose to die."

"No," Spottedleaf mewed, "We just accepted our destiny."

Dreampaw flicked her tail. "Well," She hissed, "If I'm going to die, then I won't accept my destiny. Now, if you'll let me, I'm going to go and catch some fesh-kill for the elders."

As Spottedleaf watched the fiesty young cat flounce off, her eyes clouded with sadness. There were many hardships ahead for beautiful Dreampaw.

000

"Here, Littlecloud," Windpaw murmured, setting the sparrow down. "I caught this for you."

"Thank you," The little tabby's eyes were shining gratefully. But they were still fixed on how snow-looking Windpaw's sleek pelt appeared.

"By the way," Windpaw meowed, "I think that Mosspaw has a cough." Though often, the two had fought, Windpaw's light green eyes showed worry for his weaker brother.

"Great," Littlecloud sighed, "The last thing we need is a cough spreading around camp. Tell Mosspaw to come here now."

Nodding his head, Windpaw turned and ran toward the apprentices' den to find his brother crouched over his nest, coughing pitifully. The stench of sickness was reaching Windpaw's senses. He was glad that none of the other Shadowclan cats had this illness.

"Mosspaw," He murmured, "Littlecloud wants you in his den."

"But-" Mosspaw began to protest, but a cold voice interrupted him.

"Obey the medicine cat." Blackstar was standing, watching them. His yellow eyes were angry looking. In the background, near the fresh-kill pile, Windpaw saw Berrypelt, looking stricken and scared, her eyes on Blackstar.

"Yes, Blackstar," Mosspaw muttered, walking over to Littlecloud's den, tail trailing on the ground.

Windpaw turned back to his father. How different was the expression in his eyes when Blackstar looked at his older son. When he looked at Mosspaw, all he saw was a weak disappointment. But when he saw Windpaw, he saw himself, but younger. And without with black paws and yellow eyes.

But at the same time, it was like he saw a future rival, a cat who could one day defeat him.

And that was not good at all.

000

Dreampaw proudly deposited the squirrel, the mouse, and the crow in front of the elders. She was proud of what she had caught.

"Thank you," Cinderpelt rasped, taking the squirrel.

"You're welcome," She replied, then, somewhat hesitantly asked, "Have you heard about Leopardstar?"
"No?"
"She's... She's dead."

"What?" Cinderpelt cried, "But she had a full three lives left!" She then dropped her dark blue eyes as if she had said something horrid.

"She did?" Dreampaw gasped.

"Um... no... elder's mistake."

But Dreampaw knew it was no mistake. Anything but...

000

Mistyfoot looked around, wondering who was going to give her her nine lives. There was silence, and finally, she heard the voices.

"Hello, Mistyfoot," Came a kind voice. Mistyfoot's eyes nearly watered with tears when she saw her mirror image, her mother, Bluestar. She wished... she wished that she had gotten to know her better. "It's nice to see you again. It is time for you to recieve your nine lives."

Suddenly, a row of starry cats closed in around her. One stepped forward, and Mistyfoot recognized Walnuttail, her mentor. The light brown tabby tom's amber eyes settled on her.

"With this life, I give you mentoring. Use it well for the young cats in your clan."

He then touched his nose to her head, and she crouched down low, a burning feeling rushing through her body. Ugh... Firestar had told her it would be bad, but not THAT bad...

As Walnuttail walked off, a second cat came up. This one was the former medicine cat of Riverclan, Barkface.

"With this life I give you protection," He said, "Like a mother with her kits."

Once again, that burning feeling... she felt the sickness that killed Barkface sweep through her body, and the horrible hunger when the poisoned rabbits came.

The third cat who walked up was Leopardstar, a new member of Starclan.
"With this life I give you tireless energy. Use it well to carry out the duties of a leader."

Once she was gone, there came a cat that made Mistyfoot feel completly awful. Her former apprentice, Feathertail.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you," Mistyfoot murmured.

"Don't worry," Feathertail whispered. "With this life I give you compassion. Use it for the elders of your clan, the sick and all those weaker than yourself."

Mistyfoot hated to witness her former apprentice's last dying moments, defeating the Sharp Tooth, and wished that she could close her eyes during the whole part.

Next came Crookedstar.

"With this life I give you Justice," He said, "Use it well to judge the actions of others."

Silverstream came up. Mistyfoot's best friend...

"With this life I give you loyalty(a/n: Just like with Firestar!). Use it well to guide you clan out of trouble."

Mistyfoot now understood Silverstream's love for Graystripe. She herself could see the gray tom watching his mate with pride.

"Now do you understand?" Silverstream asked.

"Yes."

Now came a bracken colored tom. Oakheart, Mistyfoot's father.

"With this life, daughter," He murmured, "I give you nobility. Use it well to lead your clan in the ways of Starclan and the warrior code."

Mistyfoot gazed at her father, restored. Her father.

"Thank you," She whispered, "For coming."

A gray tom walked up, and Mistyfoot gasped. Her brother, Stonefur.

"With this life I give you courage," He meowed, "Use it well to defend your clan."

The final cat was the great Bluestar, restored to her former glory.

"I wish that I had known you better, Mother," Mistyfoot sighed.

"Me too," Bluestar whispered, "With this life I give you Love. Use it well, for all the cats in your care."

She felt the horrible loss that marked Bluestar's life. So terrible.

"We now hail you as your new name, Mistystar," Bluestar declared.

"MISTYSTAR! MISTYSTAR! MISTYSTAR!"

"Be careful, my daughter," Bluestar whispered.

"Why?"
"The Black. He will want you."

000

R and R!