Their paws rustled on the tiny rocks and sand that blanketed the cave-floor. As they went deeper in, she saw glowing on the walls. So it was true about the glowing rocks!

They came to the end of the tunnel, where the rocks glowed the brightest and there were a good deal more of them there. She marveled at all of the colors that decorated the walls. At Cometkit's nod, she pressed her nose to a pale blue one and settled down to sleep.

Her eyes shot open as a chill touched her fur. She stood up, whipping around in painc. She was at the camp! Why was she at the camp? Looking up, she noticed the stars were moving... And moving much closer to her! They swirled down into the camp, taking the appearance of hundreds of millions of cats. "Welcome, Starkit."

The voice boomed and resonated as one, but had the steady chant of thousands.

One warrior, proud and tall, strode to her. "Oakheart!" she mewed, sitting back on her hind legs so he could touch noses with her.

"With this life I give you endurance. Use it to bear all the pains and woes of your Clan." Oakheart said, leaning down a bit.

A bold of pain shot through her body. She clenched her tiny sharp teeth against a pained howl of anguish.

Oakheart looked approvingly at her before moving away to be replaced by a beautiful tortoishell queen. She had a very plesant scent around her, and she also had the scent of herbs on her. "I am Spottedleaf. I was once ThunderClan's medicene cat. I have aided Firestar often, and I will gladly aid this young new Clan. With this life I give you charity. Never take more than what you give."

This life was full of desire to give. She wanted to give everything to her Clan until not a breath remained in her! But already Spottedleaf was pulling away to be replaced with another she-cat. This one was strong and had the look of a warrior on her. Her blue-gray fur shimmered in the dull light.

"I am Bluestar, once leader of ThunderClan. With this life I give you faith. Use it to hold onto what you know to be true and good." the queen told her, bending to touch her out-streched nose.

It hurt! Things were ripping at her, trying to tear her away from the light! But she couldn't let go!

As Bluestar pulled away, she started to pant, feeling a little over-whelmed. But that was only her third life! How would she keep going through all six she had left?

Already a large tiger-striped warrior was striding forth. A little hesitantly, looking to the rest of the cats as if for permission. "I am Tigerstar. I was once a warrior of ThunderClan, but in my exile I became leader of ShadowClan. I have been allowed to give you this life. With it comes pride. Never undermine your own worth, but remember the pride of others as well."

This one wasn't so bad... She felt as tall as a mountain, but at the same time, her Clan was more mountains, smaller, but mountains.

Now a small black tom was coming forth. She wondered if he was a kit, because he was tiny! Then she saw the fang-studded collar and the reinforced claws. She realized this must be Chain's father... Scrouge of BloodClan!

"I'm Scrouge. You already know my reputation. All cats go to StarClan in the end. With this life I give you malice. Exert it on those who oppose your Clan and do wrong."

Anger! Anger, rage, desire to strike down those who would dare to hurt her Clan! She felt she was burning, on fire! But as she looked down to prove this fact, Scrouge pulled away and the feeling vanished.

Who would be next? She had four more lives to get. The cats were pulling apart. Three enormous cats strode through them to her. She really had to lean back to look up at them... Lion, Tiger, Leopard! Cats of the first three Clans! Her eyes were wide in shock and admiration.

The lion laid down to reach her. "As first LionClan leader, I give you a life with courage. Use it in battle and the face of danger."

The large black nose touched her own tiny pink one, and she suddenly felt... Well, brave! Like she could fight a badger, no a thousand badgers! But it was over quickly and the tiger replaced the lion.

"As first TigerClan leader, I reward you with a life with daring. Dare to defy the ones who do wrong, dare to do what is needed to survive."

She'd barely gotten that life before the impatient leopard shoved the tiger aside. "With this life, you're being given patience. Patience is the key in everything for a Clan."

Her nose was rammed by the leopard's. She now felt like she could sit and wait... For eternity...

Slowly, the leopard pulled away. "Remember... Just wait..." it murmured softly in her ear. "You're the spitting image of the legendary Black Leopard."

She was confused as to what legend that was but stayed silent. She looked around, wondering where the ninth cat was.

"Uhmm..."

The mew came from behind her. She turned to see a tiny tiny kit. He was smaller than her, and had a white pelt with yellow flecks and bright orange eyes. "I was granted the permission to give you a life. I am your elder litter-mate. But I died before I was named, so I'm nameless."

"Well, in my mind, you'll be Sunkit. We're the opposite, aren't we?" she said boldly, defying the silent law she'd been holding.

The cats of StarClan shifted around, murmuring and mewing uncomfortably. The lion stepped forth. "You're brave to say this, young leader. From now on, your brother's name is Sunkit." it rumbled loudly.

Sunkit padded forward, reaching his nose out. "With your final life, I give you love. Love for you Clan and family, love for peace and a prospering Clan."

She eagerly reached forward to accept this life, thinking of how gentle it must be...

How wrong!

She was searing with agony. It was all she could do not to scream! So this was how a mother felt for her kits! The dire urge to defend the faceless little shadows at her feet from all menaces! Starkit writhed in agony, clenching her teeth until she was sure she would bleed. Finally, it was over. "Th-thank you... Sunkit..." she panted.

"Your welcome, Starstar."

"Starstar! Starstar! Starstar! Starstar! Starstar!" StarClan chanted.

She woke slowly. Cometkit stood over her, looking concerned. He desperately wanted to speak, she could tell. But they mustn't speak inside this cave.

She gestured with her tail for Cometkit to follow. He came obediently. They padded back out of the cave. Storm lay there, his face dreamy. "Hello, little leader." he purred.

"Hello, Storm." she said, eagerly breaking the silent spell.

"Sooo... You're now the leader?" Cometkit asked.

"Yes. Now, come. We must be getting back to LostClan."

The name popped out of nowhere. LostClan. The name of the young new Clan.