A battle. One versus one. Yowls of encouragement from the clan that surrounded the two she-cats. The small, scrawny rogue that the apprentices had brought in growled, limping as she and her opponent circled each other.

Jackalspot had a smirk on her face as her shining amber eyes followed the tiny cat.  "Think you can beat me?" the golden clan cat taunted, "Think again."

The rogue snarled, narrowing her eyes at her opponent. She would've attacked or escaped before, but these damned clan cats had drilled her on the rules so much she was afraid of breaking them. And so, she kept her place as the old, scarred clan healer, jumped down from the High Rock with a sadistic glint in his eyes.

"Let the battle between Jackalspot and Phoenix.." Emberface paused, taking a breath, "Begin!"

Not even a second had passed when Jackalspot launched herself at the small cat with her claws unsheathed. Due to the suddenness, Phoenix wasn't ready and the golden cat clawed at her face. Though, eventually, she threw her off, growled and pinned the vulnerable warrior to the ground.

Gasps collected amongst the clan as they watched Jackalspot yowl and squirm under Phoenix, the scrawny rogue having a raised claw for the killing blow.

Miraculously, at the last second, the golden clan cat managed to rake her claws down Phoenix's sides, causing the ginger cat to stumble to the ground, yowling in pain. Jackalspot took advantage of this and pinned the poor cat, claws raised over her neck, a malicious grin on her face.

"Any last words?" the warrior purred, as she slowly sliced a gash in the cat's neck.

"T-they...wi-will....f-find...you..." Phoenix choked out, voice barely audible and eyes half closed.

"And I'll kill them all." Jackalspot laughed, still grinning.

At that, Phoenix's eyes dulled, and closed completely. Her body went limp and the pool of blood around the she-cat stopped spreading.

A small nervously healer trainee ran over, grasping the cat any way he could and attempted drag her body away, with help from Mousewing, an elder.

"Good job, Jackalspot." Emberface applauded, stepping toward the warrior. He paused again, mumbling a prayer to the stars, before looking at Jackalspot, "By the powers of StarClan, I give you the nine lives of a leader.'

The scarred gray cat pressed his nose to the she-cat's forehead and Jackalspot could feel power surging through her as she received her nine lives from the healer's touch.

Kinkedtail. Wildflower. Fishpaw. Underpaw. Wolfpelt. Poppyleap. Sparrowfeather. Hollyfire. And....Zephyrstar.

The names echoed in her head, the power running, no— racing through her body. Jackalspot's legs buckled as she crumbled to the ground in pain from the life ceremony, her body convulsing and jolting at times.

I name you...

Jackalstar! Jackalstar!

Jackalstar eyes opened, the usual, dull amber eyes filled with light as she stood up. Her wounds had healed, for she was a new cat. She was no longer Jackalspot, the weak warrior. She was Jackalstar, filled with the courage, power and determination of nine cats.

The cats of ThornClan cheered, chanting her new name in neat yowls.

"Let us feast!" Emberface yowled, his voice hard to hear over the clamor. Jackalstar seemed to notice this and she let out an ear piercing yowl, before ordering to subjects to do as told.

And so, the ThornClan cats gathered, eating and speaking. After a long moment, Jackalstar stood up, prepared to appoint her deputy.

"I name Branchstripe my deputy!" She announced, then sat back down. The young warrior named Branchstripe smiled to himself. He could finally feel powerful over his dammed siblings, over his damned family..!

The clan went to sleep on a full stomach that green-leaf, and they slept soundly as they knew that both their leader and deputy were powerful and great.

Little did they know that a prophecy was given to Newtpaw that night, one that may take down this leader.

Kin of the flame, roaring through the sharp thorns. May the gentle breeze of the quiet bird save our clan. But, if the flame consumes the bird, all will fall.