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Frostkit's P.O.V.

Mom was taking her sweet time grooming me this morning. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to get taken care of, but I'm gonna be an apprentice today! That reminds me, Meadowkit wants to play mossball...

"There, I'm done." Mom meows after a bit.

"You look good, son. Cloudmist, beautiful as ever." Dad purrs from the Nursery entrance.

"Hi, Shadestripe!" Mom calls out.

Taking this wonderful opportunity, I slipped out of the den. Meadowkit is waiting for me in the center of camp.

"Hey, mousebrain. You look um..." She giggles when I get close.

"Yeah, yeah, Mom got ahold of me. What did Nightpool do to you?" I mutter, smoothing my fur back into place.

"Nothing. My mom trusts to actually groom myself properly." Meadowkit meows playfully.

"Hey! I've just got my own style!"

Meadowkit giggles some more, then flicks her tail at my ear.

"Every cat old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath Low Branch for a Clan meeting!" Nightstar calls in summons.

"That's our cue, mousebrain!" Meadowkit meows excitedly, scampering over to the giant oak.

Running after her, we reach our spots just before everyone else. I look up at Nightstar, and wonder how she felt becoming leader. Probably grief, considering she just lost Jaystar to a badger...

"Cinderflame, it's time you had an apprentice. I am giving you Meadowkit. Meadowkit, I name you Meadowpaw!" Nightstar yowls.

After gazing at the crowd gathered, Nightstar decides something.

"Fireblaze, you also deserve an apprentice. I will give you Frostkit. Frostkit, I name you Frostpaw!" She yowls again.

"Meadowpaw, Frostpaw! Meadowpaw, Frostpaw!" The Clan repeats.

As I pad forward to touch noses with Fireblaze, my pelt gets hot. Mostly because Meadowpaw was staring at me... N-not that I have a crush or anything!

Meadowpaw's P.O.V.

I'm an apprentice, I'm an apprentice, I'm an apprentice! Finally!

Cinderflame touches noses with me, then says we're on Sunhigh patrol.

"Cinderflame, Meadowpaw, Aspenfur, Ravenpaw, and Fernshade. Get going." Poolsky calls.

I follow the rest of the patrol through the camp entrance and out into the forest. For a heartbeat I stop to look around me.

"Keep up, little one." Cinderflame meows.

Running forward I catch up to my mentor and follow her until we reach a part of the forest that reeks.

"Where are we? What's that smell?" I ask.

"Lakeclan border. Smells fishy, huh?" Fernshade laughs.

"Yeah."

Cinderflame shows me how to mark the border, then let's me try a few. After we refresh our side of the border, it smells a lot better.

"Hey, Meadowpaw, want the nest beside me? Bearpaw and Scorchpaw should have Frostpaw all fixed up." Ravenpaw meows on the way back.

"Sure!" I answer.

When we get back to camp, Frostpaw greets me with a mouse.

"Look what I caught! Fireblaze is a great teacher!" Frostpaw says, excitedly.

"Well I marked the Lakeclan border!" I laugh.

"Is that why you smell like something that crawled the dirt-place?"

"Mousebrain!" I meow, cuffing him over the ear.

"Yeah, yeah. Where'd they stick you at in the den?" Frostpaw asks.

"Ravenpaw said she was going to put me beside her, but I haven't seen her since we got back..."

"I'll help you, I'm not sure where they're putting me at anyway."

We pad over to our den, sniffing out nests as we walk in.

"Um... Are Bearpaw and Scorchpaw's nests stuffed into Ravenpaw's, or is that just me?" Frostpaw asks, looking at the large nest in the center of the den.

"No, I'm seeing it too." I answer.

"I'm just gonna guess that's for warmth. So, that back corner seems nice. We could build our nests over there?"

"Sounds good. Do you know where any moss is?" I meow.

"Fireblaze showed me a spot, s'not far." Frostpaw says, turning around.

"Okay."

~Nightstar P.O.V.~

Losing Jaystar was hard. The badger, it took its time with him, but Jaystar tried to take it on his own. Spiritfire and Poolsky eventually chased it away, it headed towards the only border that isn't shared between Clans.

You see, Jaystar had a secret. He was only given one extra life, as Bramblestar still had eight left when we departed.

My ceremony was odd, Snowclover shooed everycat into their dens, saying that it was bad luck to look upon a Star ceremony.

~Flashback~

"Touch you nose to the Moonstone, Nightshade." Snowclover meows.

As I follow her instructions, sleep washes over me.

"Open your eyes, Nightshade." A silvery voice calls out.

"M-mother? Is it really you? Is Dad here?" I ask.

"He's running around here somewhere. Now for your ceremony." Moonleaf tells me.

I nod mutely.

"I shall give you your first life, the strength of mind to know when to give in. I love you my daughter."

As she touches noses with me, a shock strikes my heart. An overwhelming sense of hopelessness mixed with acceptance follows quickly. With a look of longing she pulls away.

"I am going to give you a life as well." A deep voice comes.

The dark tom with glowing amber eyes pads forward.

"Breezepelt? I thought you didn't care for me."

"You made Jaystar break the precious Code, of course I like you! I give you a life for speed." Breezepelt laughs, touching my nose.

This one feels wind in my fur, energy, and a comforting soreness in my legs.

"Gonna say hello to your father? I'm a bit late, I know, I know." Minnowriver asks, approaching me.

"Dad! Are you going to give me life as well?" I purr, rubbing against him.

"Well, duh! I give you a life for the ability to see how your choices affect the Clan." He replies.

Touching noses with my father, a heavy burden is deposited into my shoulders, and I begin to tire.

"I'm next!" Squeaks a kit. "You don't know me, I died when I was a newborn, but I'm you brother! Oh, my name is Perchkit."

"Hello, Perchkit. What life will you give me?" I ask the brown tom-kit.

"Hmm... One for remembering to enjoy yourself!"

I touch noses with my sibling for the first time, and experience a kit-like joy. The scent of flowers flowed through the air.

"My turn!" Trills an older she-cat.

"Hello. May I ask your name?" I meow.

"I'm Rockshine, and I will give you a life for faith." She purrs as she presses her nose to mine.

Stars swim into my vision, and I remember many a prayer.

"I am Sunstrike, and I give you a life for understanding." An orange tom pads forward, shoving his nose in my face.

I feel old confusions and misunderstandings melt away, replaced by the same love and understanding that my mother always gave me.

"Nightshade, you've grown!" A familiar voice calls out, soon followed by a brown tabby pelt.

"Lilywhisker! Are you giving me a life?" I ask the elder.

"Of course. I give you a life for daring to change traditions. Be well dear." She announces as we touch noses.

I don't feel much on this one, but I do feel a tinge of pride. Seven lives done...

"I'll give you a life for adjusting to changes." Briarlight, my old friend, meows.

"You can walk again! I'm so happy!" I purr, butting my head against her shoulder.

"Yeah, but I'm still getting used to it, now don't you have a ceremony to get on with?" She laughs, pressing our noses together.

This one is different. I feel her pain in the accident, her hopelessness afterwards, her dejection, and finally accepting it. How she got to the point where she dragged herself around, and became as strong as the rest of us again.

Eight lives, I'm becoming exhausted.

"Wake up, sleepy-head. I still gotta give you a life."

Is that... Jaystar?

"It's me, its me. Now, I give you a life for love." Jaystar calms.

Fire goes through me, washing away hatred I didn't even know existed. It brought kits playing, flowers growing, mates meeting for the first time. It brought every moment with Jaystar to the surface, and with that I broke.

Tears streaming out of my eyes, I look up at Jaystar, and at the cats gathered around me.

"T-thank you, thank you all, but how can I lead my Clan if I can barely lead myself?" I whimper out.

"With Strength of Mind, Speed, Choice, Enjoyment, Faith, Understanding, Daring, Adjustability, and Love." The nine cats say together.

"We have each given you a trait that true leaders have. Are you willing to step into your roll?" Sunstrike asks.

"Yes."

"Then we name you Nightstar, Leader of Jayclan. May your reign be long and fruitful." The starry cats yowl.

"Nightstar, Nightstar!" Starclan yowls out.

"Time to wake up Nightstar." Snowclover whispers in my ear.

~Flashback End~

***

The End.

So... What do you guys think?

Possible topic of Discussion: Jaystar's Death and Secret.

Love ya!

-Jay.