Chapter 33

Bramblestar's POV

Bramblestar opened his eyes. He was not in the the Cave of Pointed Stones anymore, but in Tribe of Endless Hunting! It looked different from StarClan. The ground was rocky and showered with snow. Many different cats were appearing through a fog. "Firestar!" Bramblestar exclaimed as he saw his fiery orange pelt through the fog.

Firestar turned towards Bramblestar, and nodded. His green eyes seemed to encourage Bramblestar on.

Five cats came out of the fog, and appeared right before Stoneteller.

"Stoneteller?" Stoneteller asked as a dark brown tabby with patchy fur approached.

Bramblestar looked at Stoneteller, confused.

"I meant the previous one," he said to Bramblestar, answering his unspoken question.

"Yes, it is me," he replied, standing right in front of the current Stoneteller, "I am here to give you your first life."

"Prepare yourself," Bramblestar murmured.

"I give you a life of exploring beyond the borders of your Tribe," Stoneteller announced, "This journey will be hard and dangerous, but it will give you many lessons to learn, many stories to tell."

Previous Stoneteller touched noses with the current Stoneteller. The current Stoneteller cringed, claws unsheathed, gripping the dirt.

When the old Stoneteller moved back, the current Stoneteller looked mystical, as if he'd seen everything beyond the mountains. As Stoneteller walked away, another cat approached.

"Flight of Startled Bird, is that you?" Stoneteller asked, incredulous, as a brown she-cat approached him.

"Yes, my son, it is me," she said, her eyes sparkling, "I have been asked to give you a life. With a lot of thinking, I have decided that with this life, I give you tireless energy. The journey is long, and you must persevere to save the Tribe and the Clans."

Stoneteller grimaced as this life was given. Bramblestar could imagine him, running, forever, into the distance.

As this life faded, another cat stepped forward as Flight went back to join the ranks of the Tribe of Endless Hunting. A familiar looking silver gray tabby she-cat stepped forward. Bramblestar blinked. Was that-

"Feathertail?" he asked, blinking. The last time he had seen Feathertail, it was at his own leadership ceremony.

Feathertail walked out of the ranks of the Tribe of Endless Hunting. Her eyes shone as she walked up to Stoneteller.

"Crag-I mean Stoneteller, with this I give you the courage to do what is necessary to protect your Tribe."

After they touched noses and Stoneteller lifted his head, he looked like he was able to take on a Twoleg monster in battle. A huge dark brown tabby tom with a ragged pelt walked out of the mist that surrounded the Tribe of Endless Hunting. Tears started to roll out of Stoneteller's eyes.

"Brother," he cried out. "Is it really you?"

Brother? Bramblestar thought. It can't be-

"Talon of Swooping Eagle?" Bramblestar rasped.

Talon smiled.

"Hello, my brother, my friend. Stoneteller, I have come to give you a life of trust. Trust the decisions your heart makes and never question it, as I once did with the Clan cats.

A dark ginger she-cat padded up to them.

"Hello, Crag- I mean Stoneteller."

Stoneteller's eyes widened. "Swoop, it's you!"

"Yes, and I will now give you a life for cooperation. The journey will only succeed if everyone works together." With that, she touched Stoneteller's nose.

Bramblestar watched as Stoneteller cringed, seemingly having to do the right thing, even if it was hard. As Swoop walked away, a white she-cat approached. Bramblestar watched as Cloud with Storm in Belly approached Stoneteller.

"Ah, Stoneteller," Cloud said, "The first, of all Stonetellers known, to receive lives. Even though I am a conservative cat, I realize why granting you lives for this journey is important. My life to you is healing. Your knowledge of the many herbs and medicines will help with keeping a cat alive during the journey."

Cloud touched her nose to Stoneteller's, and Bramblestar watched as Stoneteller received his sixth life.

As Cloud left, Bramblestar padded closer to Stoneteller, "You can do this," he murmured. "Only three more lives left."

Out of the shadows, Bramblestar could see a white cat with orange patches approaching. Bramblestar twitched his whiskers; he'd never seen him. Judging by the look on Stoneteller's face, Bramblestar knew that he didn't know who the mysterious cat was either.

"I am Fallen Leaves, one of the ancient cats who died drowning in the underground river at the lake when it overflowed."

Bramblestar remembered when Heathertail, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze went to save the kits trapped underground, in the same supposed cave system that Fallen Leaves had died in.

"That's the river that killed me," Fallen Leaves said, reading Bramblestar's mind. He turned to Stoneteller. "I give you the life of courage. Use it to help your Tribemates go through the worst of the worst."

Fallen Leaves slowly touched noses with Stoneteller. Stoneteller shuddered for a heartbeat, grimacing with the illusion of pain touching him.

Bramblestar glanced at the fiery pelted cat, and he could see Firestar focusing intently on the ceremony.

When Fallen Leaves walked away, Bramblestar was surprised to see Firestar himself walk up to Stoneteller, "I know I was never a Tribemate," Firestar said, "But your ancestors have granted me permission to give you a life. I thank them for the honor. My life to you is wisdom. Make the right, wise decisions on the journey to SkyClan."

Firestar placed his muzzle on Stoneteller's nose, and Bramblestar watched as his former mentor and leader gave Stoneteller a life. Somehow, seeing Firestar give Stoneteller a life was like seeing himself receive a life.

As Firestar finished giving Stoneteller a life, he glanced over at Bramblestar. His piercing green eyes seemed to give a message: Stay safe, journey well. Bramblestar felt comforted by the former leader's unspoken message.

A white she-cat came up to Stoneteller to give him his last life. "You may not recognize me," she said, "But I am the first leader of the Tribe of Rushing Water. Many, many moons ago, Jay's Wing, an ancient sharpclaw, founded the Tribe, and made me the first Teller of the Pointed Stones. As time went on, many things have changed, but the traditions of the Tribe have always remained the same. However, it is necessary that you must break tradition and join the Clan cats on the journey, but I do not want you to forget your customs. My life to you is honoring old traditions. Although things must change from time to time, don't ever forget the old ways."

Half Moon stepped forward and touched her nose gingerly to Stoneteller's nose. Bramblestar watched as the last life was given to Stoneteller.

As Half Moon withdrew from Stoneteller, Bramblestar murmured, "Congratulations, Stoneteller. You now have nine lives. You are strong, powerful, and will continue to serve the Tribe."

Stoneteller nodded, lifting his head up weakly. Bramblestar remembered his own ceremony, how he was already tired from the Great Battle, how tired he felt during and after the Leadership Ceremony. But it was all worth it, worth it to serve his Clan.

Half Moon spoke, "You mustn't speak of this ceremony to anyone. It could cause a great disturbance to the Tribe. Note that this is the only special occasion that we will grant lives; this will never happen again, unless something like this occurs again."

Firestar padded forward and spoke, "Congratulations for receiving nine lives. You are now fit to go on the journey. Rest, and make your way to SkyClan tomorrow."

The deceased cats faded away, and it was just Bramblestar and Stoneteller left in the area, "Stoneteller, are you alright?" Bramblestar asked.

Stoneteller made his way to Bramblestar, "That was the most excruciatingly painful thing I've ever been through, but this is so special. This has never happened before; it will probably not happen again. I feel so honored, so chosen, to receive nine lives. I thank you, your ancestors, and my ancestors for this occasion."

"I felt that way too," Bramblestar replied. "It is time to wake up, and get some real rest. You will need it for the journey tomorrow."

Stoneteller nodded, "Thank you for being here with me."

With that, Bramblestar laid down, closed his eyes, and woke up from the Tribe of Endless Hunting.