Here it is! Runningshadow's leader ceremony! Enjoy!!
Darkness. Cold. This was all that Runningshadow felt the instant that he fell asleep. Was he doing something wrong? Was StarClan reluctant to send him a dream?
He felt as if all of the life, all of the warmth of his body, were being sucked out of him. It was like a greedy, ragged rogue that was hungry for warmth and happiness and was willing to take from other cats even if it made them miserable. Runningshadow felt…dead
Suddenly, when Runningshadow felt as if he would die of fatigue and low body warmth, he was transported to a glade. Warm, velvety grass blew against his face, and slowly he received his life again.
Runningshadow looked around, and realized that he was in Fourtrees. He heard the leaves on the trees swaying in the lovely spring breeze. But it was winter- there weren't leaves on the trees!
The stars of Silverpelt shone brightly above him in the dark sky. Runningshadow admired the beautiful gems up high in the sky, smiling down upon him.
Suddenly, the stars…were spinning? What was going on?
Runningshadow felt his heart lurch. Was this dream going right?
Soon, the stars fell down from the sky and onto the ground in front of him. Runningshadow curiously looked to see who it was, and to his amazement it was the cats of StarClan. And some of them he recognized- was that Featherstream? And- no way- that was Cinderhope! Runningshadow felt like running up to his former mentor and giving him a lick on the nose, but he forced himself to hold back. Now all he had to focus on was getting his nine lives.
Runningshadow peered among the crowd as they appeared one by one. And, to his delight, he saw…Cinnamonpaw. "Cinnamonpaw! Oh Cinnamonpaw, you're here!" Runningshadow cried.
Cinnamonpaw said nothing but gazed at him fondly with her gleaming silver eyes. Oh, how Runningshadow missed those eyes!
When all nine cats had arrived, one of them stepped forward. It was Ashstar! Runningshadow felt like yowling out with joy. If only his world was like this.
"Welcome, Runningshadow," Ashstar called out. "Are you ready to receive your nine lives?"
Runningshadow gulped. "Yes," He mewed, trying not to let his voice shake. "I am ready."
Ashstar nodded and let the first cat come forward. Runningshadow recognized a gray tom.
"Poisonpaw!" Exclaimed Runningshadow. "I'm so sorry I let you die…I shouldn't have let you go out and alert the patrol about the fight."
Poisonpaw said nothing. He stepped up to Runningshadow and lay his nose on his head. "With this life I give you courage. Use it when your Clan is in trouble or you are in a vicious fight."
Runningshadow jumped as an electric shock shot through him. It was a bolt of freezing that spread throughout him and refused to leave. Yet he felt a sudden, strong feeling in his chest. It made him want to fight for his rights. This must have been what receiving a life was like.
Poisonpaw stepped back to let the next cat come. Runningshadow realized how silver his pelt looked in the moonlight. It was almost as blinding as the glittering moonstone.
It was time to receive his next life. Runningshadow braced himself for more pain. Do I really have to suffer eight more of those? Thought Runningshadow fearfully.
The next cat was Featherstream, Ashstar's departed daughter that had been killed by a badger. She put her nose on his head as Poisonpaw had done.
"With this life I give you perseverance. Use it when you are in the midst of trouble and feel you will give up."
Another shot of pain flowed through Runningshadow. He shut his eyes tight and gritted his teeth as the jolting feeling spread through his body like wildfire.
Next there came an unrecognizable cat. Runningshadow saw his blue-gray pelt and smelled that RiverClan had once been in his fur.
"I am Waterfoot, Silverfoot's son. I was the one killed by Mudpelt."
Runningshadow nodded and his blue eyes flew open. This cat was wildly handsome. What a shame for RiverClan to lose him.
"With this life, I give you the wisdom to do what is right," Waterfoot meowed. "Use it when you are having trouble making up a decision for your Clan."
Runningshadow remembered when Ashstar made the choice to rebel against Hurricanestar. He hoped he would have the same wisdom she did or even more than that.
This time the pain wasn't as strong, but it still was there. Runningshadow felt as if someone was striking their claws along his flank. He almost looked to see if there was blood.
After Waterfoot, another cat came forward, this time recognizable. Runningshadow realized that it was Ratfur. "With this life I give you nurturing," She mewed, laying her muzzle on Runningshadow's head. "Use it to look over your Clan as if they are your kits."
Runningshadow braced himself for more pain, but he only felt calm warmth seep into his body. He felt a strong need to return to his Clan.
The next cat stepped forward. This time it was… Cinnamonpaw!
"Oh Cinnamonpaw…I'm so sorry that I accused you…" Runningshadow mewed feebly.
Of course, like all the other cats, Cinnamonpaw ignored Runningshadow's words. "With this life I give you love," She mewed gently. This time she was touching her nose to his. "Use it well, in all care of your cats- and good luck with Cloverleaf."
Runningshadow felt guilt twist him, but that was the only pain that he felt. This life, like the one Ratfur gave him, was warm and calm.
After Cinnamonpaw, came an all too familiar cat. "Cinderhope! Is that you?" Asked Runningshadow. "I'm so glad to see you again!"
Cinderhope's shining pelt was too aching to see for Runningshadow, but he knew he must receive his life.
"With this life I give you strength. Use it when you are in battle."
Runningshadow again felt a shock of pain, and this was probably the worst. It was so strong that his legs almost crumpled under him. But he had to ignore it.
Also, he felt strength building up inside of him. His rippling muscles were screaming to do something.
After Cinderhope, came Stormfeather. He too was a son of Ashstar, and Featherstream's brother. "With this life, I give you patience. Use it to train your apprentices and wait for them to become warriors."
Runningshadow dipped his head. He remembered that when Stormfeather had been made a warrior before him he had been very annoyed. He felt really guilty he had ever shot a glare at the noble tom. In fact, Runningshadow was fretting so much over Stormfeather that he didn't feel the pain in the life that Stormfeather had given him. Perhaps it was gentle like the last couple.
When Runningshadow saw who stepped forward next, he felt extreme sadness. It was Goldpuddle, one of his great friends even though she was an elder.
"With this life I give you compassion," Goldpuddle mewed. "Use it to take care of the elders, especially Spiritwing."
Runningshadow felt honored to receive a life from the cat that had given him all her wisdom and advice as an apprentice. "Oh Goldpuddle, I've missed you so much," He whispered. He wondered if the old she-cat had heard him.
Finally, it was time for Runningshadow to receive his last life. He looked forward eagerly to see who would give him the last one.
Ashstar came up. "Runningshadow…my best warrior, my greatest deputy, I knew you would be the best leader for this Clan." She purred and lay her muzzle down on Runningshadow's head. Runningshadow actually dipped his head to receive his leader's guidance.
"With this life I give you nobility and faith. Use it when you are leading your Clan and looking to the stars for your departed starry warriors."
Runningshadow couldn't describe the pain that followed after that. It was very painful, the most painful life that sent spasms chilling down his limbs, but he felt happiness among all the hurt. His love for StarClan was burning even stronger than ever, as if someone had put many pine tree branches into a fire.
All nine of the cats of StarClan that had come down got to their paws.
"Are you leaving already?" Asked Runningshadow. "Please don't leave…"
"I hail you by your new name, Runningstar," Ashstar announced. "Your old life is no more. You have received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of ThunderClan. Defend it; care for young as well as old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; and live each life with pride, dignity and love for your Clan and StarClan."
"Runningstar! Runningstar!" Chanted the warriors of StarClan. They chanted Runningstar's new name as ThunderClan warriors would a new warrior.
As the StarClan warriors' chants faded, Runningstar slipped out of his sleep and found himself on the cold floor of the cavern. The moonstone was beside him, no longer glittering.
Mossflower was awake heartbeats after Runningstar. Had she been looking on in his dream?
Mossflower just smiled at him and padded out of the cavern. Runningstar was reluctant to leave the beautiful stone that had given him his nine lives.
As they padded through the stone tunnels, Runningstar looked around and noticed that some claws had been carved into the walls. There were four different rows and a clawmark for each name of the Clan.
Runningstar traced the cave for seven clawmarks for thunder and admired the rest of the clawmarks. Under the six clawmarks (shadow) Runningstar noticed a particularly new set of clawmarks: nine of them. He shivered as he realized it spelled hurricane.
Finally, he found the set of seven clawmarks, but Mossflower was getting very impatient. She whipped her tail the other way, but Runningstar felt he had to do this.
Runningstar looked for an open space under thunder and noticed, to his delight, that there was a set of three clawmarks under thunder. A-S-H, Runningstar thought.
Right under the three clawmarks, Runningshadow made seven more clawmarks, one for each letter of his name. The stone squealed.
Mossflower hissed quietly and pushed Runningstar impatiently. The light brown tom followed.
I kno, the scratch mark thing was kinda bizarre...but I thought it would be a cool new concept! Review please please please!!