First off, I would like to thank my reviewers!

Vinestar: Thank you! Three times, one coming up!

Swiftstar: Don't be like Wildstar. Thanks for reading!

Alexandrea Lupin: I am still updating!

Wildcat6: I love cliffys! Thanks for R&Ring.

Krissy25: I love you (not literally)! Keep reviewing!

Half-Lighter: There's a lot more…

Tigerstripe: My first reviewer on this, you are my hero! Iceclaw is in ShadowClan, by the way.

And now, for the moment you've all been waiting for...CHAPTER 7!


Chapter 7: Woken

Iceclaw woke up beside the tom. His amber eyes stared back at hers.

"Who are you? Why did you save me?" Iceclaw demanded.

"I'm your brother, Iceclaw. Don't you remember, in the nursery? Don't you remember when I left? When our father became leader?" the tom murmured.

"Y-yes, and no, I guess. Tell me your name, I forgot."

"Lostclaw."

Iceclaw's eyes lit up. Her brother, the one that hadn't died, was here beside her. "I have so much to tell you! Most of it is…bad."

She explained what had happened and about the deaths. Lostclaw listened intently, commenting on Fallenstar and Singefur's deaths. He kept his ears pricked, then insisted that they should go to her camp soon.

"Why?" Iceclaw meowed.

"So they won't think you're dead," Lostclaw replied.

Iceclaw shrugged, turning to race off. That's when she saw the rock that was blocking their way. She questioned, "How are we going to get up that?"

Lostclaw seemed to notice it too. "I'll help, just in case you fall…er…slip." Iceclaw stared at him for a moment, then leapt up the rock. It was very slippery, but she caught her balance. In a few minutes, they were up the rock and heading toward the ShadowClan camp.


Riverpaw, Moonriver, and Silverwind were waiting at the front of the camp. Riverpaw sprung up and raced over to her, Moonriver padded silently behind him, while Silverwind stayed back. Riverpaw, being the spunky-est apprentice ever, jumped on Iceclaw's head. Moonriver licked her ear. Silverwind didn't come over. More cats emerged, loping over to them and flooded the she-cat and tom with questions, exclamations, and licks.

"Are you okay?" Darkpelt mewed.

"You're soaking wet!" Mudshadow exclaimed.

"Lostclaw, we haven't seen you in a while," Mudpoppy sighed.

Silverwind padded over to them. Lostclaw and the medicine cat exchanged a few words before the sleek she-cat stepped over to Iceclaw. "Nine lives," was all she whispered.

Iceclaw nodded. Lostclaw announced, "I have to go back to WindClan, they're worried sick about me right now!" The ShadowClan cats nodded, and went back to pestering Iceclaw. Then Silverwind broke in. "I think it is time that Iceclaw received her nine lives, don't you agree?"

There were meows of agreement, but then Jaggedwind snarled, "She's too young! She doesn't even have the proper training to be a true leader for ShadowClan!"

Silverwind narrowed her eyes and lashed her tail. Moonriver spat something at him, making him back down. Iceclaw glared at him, her eyes glowing of a fire that no one had seen in a long time. They saw a true descendant of Tigerstar and one of Firestar. Silverwind's gaze softened.

"Let's go, Iceclaw."


By the time they reached Highstones, the sun had gone down, the lights of StarClan shining down upon them. Silverwind led Iceclaw through the tunnel known as Mothermouth, stopping when the young warrior got somewhat lost. They saw the Moonstone in front of them.

"Go on, Ice," whispered Silverwind.

Iceclaw nodded, bowed her head so that her nose was touching cold stone, and closed her eyes.


For a moment, she thought she was dead, for it was black, all black. Then she noticed the spirits of StarClan glowing like a white flame, flying out of the sky onto the soft ground. Iceclaw recognized most of them. Fallenstar, Tigerstar, Singefur, Tigertooth and some others were there. Singefur gave her the first life.

"With this life I give you strength to overcome tragedies and battles you will face," he murmured.

Pain, anguish, and sadness shot through Iceclaw. It left her trembling slightly, but she got three words out: "I love you." Singefur smiled, then turned away. Next was Tigertooth.

"With this life I give you courage to take on anything in your life."

No pain, instead, it was filled with a soft, warm feeling. She sighed deeply. Her first love, the one she cared about most, gave her the will to go on after her father's death. He, Fallenstar, was next.

"With this life I give you loyalty to what you know to be right."

The love she felt before was replaced by more pain. It made her want to yowl in agony, but she held it back. Next was Tigerstar.

"With this life I give you justice, use it well to guide your Clan."

More and more pain overwhelmed her. She unsheathed her claws instinctively. Next was none other than…Firestar.

"With this life I give you protection, use it like a mother to her kits."

That was what happened, another comforting feeling of security filled her with happiness. Next was Firestar's daughter named Squirreltail.

"With this life I give you love, my daughter. Use it well to protect your Clan against everything. Use it like I never did."

The feeling she got was soft, softer than the other lives she had received. Next was Tigerstar's son Brambleclaw.

"With this life I give you mentoring. Use it well to guide the young warriors and cats in your Clan."

Agony filled her, and she began to tremble more. A feeling of love entered just as Brambleclaw stepped away. Was she really his daughter? But that would mean Tigerstar would be her grandfather, not her great-grandfather. Next was a cat she could not name. His fur was gray and long, but she didn't recognize him. But then she knew, it was Graystripe.

"With this life I give you wisdom. Use it to decide for your children; for your Clan."

Pain, not like physical pain, but a pain like a mother losing her kits filled her. She wanted to cry, to cry for him. To cry for every single thing she had lost. Her loves, her father, her mother, her leader. All of those, but she didn't she sat there, waiting for the last life. The last was a beautiful, young cat. She was blue-gray in color, and she had blue eyes. It was Bluestar.

"With this life I give you compassion. Use it to care for elders, warriors, queens, apprentices, and kits; use it for the sick and the injured; use it for your kits."

The other pains that she had felt could not have matched this one. This one covered her like a shadow; it roared like thunder, it was cold like the river; and it was swift like the wind. It was guiding like the stars themselves, and it raced like blood. It was like the Clans, ShadowClan, ThunderClan, RiverClan, WindClan, StarClan, and BloodClan. It was like the burning rage that filled her when her foster father had been killed.The rage she felt when Singefur was killed.She was a true leader now.

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

"Icestar! Icestar!" Just as the forest Clans would acclaim a new warrior by name, so the cats of StarClan acclaimed Icestar, in rich voices that tingled in the air. "Icestar! Icestar!"


Icestar was woken. Her golden eyes scanned the cave. Silverwind was sitting nearby, a smile stretched across her face.

"Did you wake me up?"

"No, Icestar. It is dawn."

Sure enough, when Icestar (A/N: Does anyone like that name?) looked through the hole in the roof of the cave, a pinkish tint was mixed with a purple tint in the sky. The moon was gone, replaced by the sun low on the east horizon. The naming ceremony had lasted from dusk to dawn apparently.

"Oh, I have a question. While I was getting my nine lives, a ginger cat named Squirreltail said that I was her daughter. Is that true?"

"Yes, you are Squirreltail and Brambleclaw's daughter," Silverwind meowed.

"But that would mean that I would be Tigerstar's granddaughter, not great-granddaughter, right?" Icestar murmured.

"Exactly."

Icestar stared at the medicine cat for a moment before rising to her paws, stretching and yawning. Her fur gleamed in the soft light in the cave, turning it to almost a ginger, white, and silver color. Her golden eyes were low, but her face was happy. She looked as if she had had her kits.

"Let's go, Silverwind. Moonriver might be in a panic by now!" laughed Icestar.


Now she knew why every Clan wanted her. It was because Brambleclaw and Squirreltail became mates. It was because of Firestar and Tigerstar's children had been the parents of her. It was because she was destined to be leader of ShadowClan. It was because she was the granddaughter of a traitor and a hero.

Icestar padded into the camp, trying not to be noticed. But Riverpaw and his sister Gentlepaw saw them.

"Hey, Icestar is back!" Riverpaw yowled.

"Yeah, come on everyone!" Gentlepaw piped.

All of the warriors and queens, and even the cranky elder Dapplefur raced to meet the new leader. They started to chant her name, just as the StarClan warriors did.

"Icestar! Icestar! Icestar!"

Even though it was dawn, and the patrols were supposed to be out, every warrior and both of the apprentices were there to greet the leader.

Icestar leapt out of the ragged circle of surrounding cats and leapt onto Highrock. She didn't have to call for them, for they had already gathered beneath her.

"I promise to be a very good leader to you all. The warriors that gave me my lives will remain secret, until you have learned of the true past. As the omen said, 'Ice Alone Can Save ShadowClan,' that is what my life has led to. I am now the true leader of ShadowClan!"

There were loud yowls of happiness followed by more chants of her name. She then yowled, "I will announce the new deputy for the Clan at moonhigh. Be ready, my warriors, for tomorrow is the Gathering!"

She leaped down from the rock and padded to her new den. The leaders' den. She loved her name, her Clan, her birth Clan, which was ThunderClan, and her parents.

"Hey, Icestar!" called Riverpaw. The apprentice hurried over to her. "Um, when am I going to be a warrior?"

"Once I see your fighting skills, Riverpaw. Then I will give you your warrior name," Icestar sighed. "I will come watch you train tomorrow, and bring Gentlepaw, I will need to watch her too."

Riverpaw nodded, then raced away. That was when the white and gray tom swaggered into the camp. He was covered with blood, his neck torn open. Icestar instinctively raced toward him, claws unsheathed, until she saw his face. He looked very weak from the loss of blood, and she stopped.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"Moon," he coughed. More blood flowed out of the wound.

Moonriver loped over to him. "Come with me, I can help you." She said it softly, which seemed to comfort him. He looked at her gratefully. The medicine cat apprentice nodded to Icestar, who was already helping Moon up by his scruff.

"Follow me, Silverwind and I will help." And that was the beginning of a love never seen before.


Well! Did you like that chapter? Well there's a lot more where that came from! Just review and I'll put up chapter 8 real soon!

Icestar: You'd better!

Me: I promise I will.

Singefur: Yeah, you'd better or we'll claw your eyes out!

Me: You heard him! They'll kill me if I don't put up another chapter! Review!

Icestar & Singefur: YEAH!

Next chapter preview:

Chapter 8: Gentle River

Gentlepaw and Riverpaw are surveyed by Icestar, and get their warrior names! Also, a big surprise comes up!

Icestar: What is it?

Singefur: Yeah, what is it? Please tell us!

Me: Anyone who reads this has to review or I…I won't let you see the surprise!

Icestar & Singefur: NOOOO! REVIEW, WE ARE BEGGING YOU ALL!