~Prologue~
It was a cold night. The breeze ruffled my ginger-brown fur. My eyes, a sharp emerald green, glinted against the moonlit sky as I scanned the surrounding open moorland. My long, feathery tail swished against the grass, and my lynx-point ears were pricked, as I listened to the sounds of nature. The moon and stars shone above, illuminating the surrounding heather in a purple glow.
I was dreaming that I was a cat, roaming the hills free of the stressors of my human life. I was a proud and experienced Warrior of WindClan, serving and protecting my Clan with all my heart and soul, rather than being a soulless human desk clerk who had to live paycheck to paycheck under the boot of greedy overlords.
If only this was real. I thought to myself, all too aware that a life such as this was only a fantasy that bordered on impossibility. Yet, despite my awareness, I decided to live in the moment and continue my hunt. I prowled forward, my heightened feline senses alert for any sign of rabbits venturing out of their burrows.
"...Blazeheart…"
I came to a stop, my hackles raising as I heard a rather eerie voice carrying on the wind. It had murmured my Warrior name, the one that I created for myself while delving into the dozens of my fantasy books.
"Who's there?" I asked, looking around and scanning for anybody nearby. Strangely, there was no one. Nothing. Out of instinct, my emerald gaze travelled up to the stars, studying them with curiosity. They appeared to be still, just as they should be.
Until they moved.
Some of the stars began to slowly swirl in the night sky, increasing their tempo until they suddenly appeared closer, brightening to the point where I had to close my eyes and look away. I pressed myself against the grass, digging my claws into the dirt. I was half terrified for my life, and half terrified that whatever was happening would tear me out of dreamland.
That was when the voices appeared.
"You expect too much from him. He isn't worthy."
"He looks so small, so weak!"
"He has too much fear. Maybe enough to blind him."
The voices continued to build in volume, judging and vague as they were until, finally, they were all silenced by one voice booming above them all.
"Hush! His spirit is in the right place! He will prove himself."
That final voice boomed through the surrounding air, making my ears ache. The bright light quickly vanished, leaving behind the same night sky that had been present before. I kept my eyes closed, still afraid and still processing the voices. Suddenly I felt something touch my nose, and a feminine purr rose out of nowhere.
"Do not fear. You are safe." The booming voice had a lowered tone, sounding like it was right in front of me. "Open your eyes."
Reluctantly, I opened my eyes, narrowing my emerald irises into slits. Never before had I actually interacted with another being in my dreams. I had only ever roamed the moorlands and forests alone, left to my fantasies. I took in the sight before me, realising that I was surrounded by the shadowed figures of many cats.
So many… I thought to myself, feeling uncomfortable under so many gazes. Some appeared judging, and some appeared praising, as if they were deciding who I was and what my fate would be. Upon further inspection, the cats had a dreamy, star lit appearance.
That was when I saw her.
She was beautiful. Her long, black pelt shone brightly in the moonlight, emitting a silver sheen. It seemed as if the stars were dancing in her wise indigo gaze. She stood tall, dwarfing my small and lithe frame with ease. She stepped closer toward me, leaving her position among the surrounding dreamy cats.
"Who are you?" I asked the older star lit molly, my voice a low whisper.
The black molly simply smiled. "A guide." Suddenly she stepped towards me, stopping only when her muzzle was a mere mouse-tail away from mine. The other cats surrounding us still kept silent, watching her with intense stares. "Are you ready for your gift?"
"My…gift?" I echoed, my orbs widening in bewilderment. Who were these cats, and why were they here? They seem so real! Did I think them up?
The molly's eyes lit up with amusement, as if she could hear my thoughts. "Yes. A gift of life. Are you ready for it?"
Her vague words did little to soothe my confusion. I stared into her eyes, trying to read them for emotions, anything to get a hint of what her intentions were. Strangely, I could detect nothing but warmth and sincerity. Well… It's just a dream, right?
"Alright." I responded to her question, allowing myself to relax and give in to the interaction. I dipped my head, respectfully. "I'm ready."
Her amused expression continued until she looked up at the stars, as if asking permission from them. After a number of heartbeats, her gaze returned to me.
"With this life, I give you courage. May you find it within yourself to break through the darkness."
She leaned forward and touched her nose to mine. I was unable to react as electricity shot through my body, paralysing me and keeping rooted to my spot. What is this!? I thought to myself, gasping aloud and barely able to maintain my composure. I felt like my heart was racing a million miles an hour, and I felt as though I could take on a pack of wolves, regardless of the risks.
"What did you do to me?!" I let out a panting breath as she broke away from me. Her whiskers twitched, but she did not speak. Instead, she retreated into the shadows, vanishing among the other shadowy cats.
"She gave you a life. The first of many." Another cat stepped out of the shadows, voice deep. This cat was easily twice my size, being massive and muscular in build, almost like a bobcat. His fur had the pattern of a bobcat's too, being a grey tabby. He approached and looked down at me, his face expressionless.
"With this second life, I give you humility. Always know your place, and never let your ego control your judgement."
A second life- I barely had time to think up a sentence before he touched his nose against mine, just like the molly had before, rooting my paws to the ground with electric fire. Many emotions ran through my mind, racing between arrogance, defiance, and pride. After that though, I began to feel more understanding, as if I was realising that I should focus on raising up others, instead of looking down on those less fortunate than me. Before I knew it, the tomcat had broken off, giving me a stern look before disappearing.
The feelings barely dissipated before a third cat approached. She was a young tortoiseshell molly, not dissimilar in appearance to Spottedleaf of ThunderClan, aside from her green eyes. She simply touched noses with me, not even bothering to say anything before sending yet another shockwave through me and making my fur stand on end. She giggled before breaking away, her voice light and cheery.
"With that life, I give you youth. May you have the joy and innocence of kithood, regardless of where you are in life."
Life… Lives… Wait- In the fleeting moment I had to think, I began to realise just what this was. A leadership ceremony? But why would I be dreaming this?
Pretty soon though, another cat took the tortoiseshell molly's place. Then another after that, and another.
"A life for tranquillity. May you find peace in the direst of moments."
"Have a life of compassion. Show compassion to those who deserve it the least."
"Empathy. Those who feel the emotions of others are often the wisest of all."
"I give you confidence. Have confidence when doubt and uncertainty seem overpowering."
"Have temperance. May you see both sides of the leaf, and moderate your choices."
"And finally, a life for kindness. A little bit of kindness can save a life."
Finally, the last cat stepped away. I was left as a sort of whimpering and ruffled mess, my energy sapped and my emotions going all over the place. Luckily, I was given some time to gather myself, before the ceremony continued. I sat back on my haunches, unsure of myself and ever more bewildered by what had unfolded.
"Your gift is received." The black molly appeared once more, padding up and gazing around at the other cats, before bowing her head toward me. "Your old life is no more. Your old name is cast away. A new destiny awaits you now."
"A-A new destiny?" I stammered, feeling as though I was being thrust onto a path not of my own choosing.
"A new destiny is what you wanted, isn't it?" The black molly pointed out, a low purr rumbling from her chest. "Go now, Blazestar! Your new life awaits!"
"Blazestar! Blazestar!"
"Blazestar! Blazestar!"
The star dashed cats chanted the name. My fur began to tingle, and I felt a strange power surging through my chest. But, as I opened my mouth to ask the molly more questions, the dreamy cats began to fade into nothingness, one by one. Even the black molly was fading now.
My emerald orbs went wide as moons, and I jumped up, yowling at her. "Wait! Where are you going?! What destiny?!"
The black molly ignored me, instead staring into my eyes and boring into my very soul, until only her faint outline remained.
"May StarClan light your path, Blazestar."