Kestrelstorm stepped up in Darkblaze's face, furious. She had lost too many family members to the murderer, who could very well be Darkblaze.

"Don't even say it, Kestrelstorm," Darkblaze hissed, unsheathing her claws. The she-cat looked like some sort of demon, eyes practically glowing with anger.

"You are the murderer!" Hollysong cried, stepping away from the black and white cat and closer to Stormwhisker. Darkblaze gave her a cruel grin, then turned back to Kestrelstorm.

"Yes, I am the murderer. Who else could defeat Lynxtail and Doestar? Do you want to know why? I should have been leader! Not Doestar, me!" she told the clan.

"No, because Doestar would never have done this," Leafheart spat. Darkblaze's eyes turned cold, and she stopped all movement.

"Well, I'm not going down without a fight. I'm not the best fighter for nothing!" she screeched. She leapt at Kestrelstorm, claws outstretched.

"No!" Brightfall yowled, as she leapt in front of her sister. The cats didn't have time to react, as Darkblaze's claws slashed down across the she-cat.

"That's it! Forget exiling, your dead!" Kestrelstorm yowled, leaping on Darkblaze to avenge Brightfall. The other cats who had been affected did as well, and Darkblaze fell to the ground, dead. They didn't know who had struck the killing blow.

"I s-saved Brightfall," Foxwish announced, when they all turned back to mourn the she-cat. "I'm the m-medicine cat apprentice. It wasn't that severe, but she hit her head when she fell. She needs rest".

"We'll take her to the den," Stormwhisker offered, nudging Hollysong. The two cats carried her out of the snow, then Larktuft cleared her throat.

"Now that this crisis is over, we need to get started. Kestrelstorm, you need to be taken to get your nine lives. Who would you like to appoint as deputy?" the calico medicine cat asked. Kestrelstorm thought for a bit, then nodded.

"I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of SnowClan is Leafheart," the leader replied, voice strong. Leafheart dipped her head with respect, then met Kestrelstorm's gaze.

"We must go to the Mooncave now. There's no time to waste," Larktuft mewed. She ducked into her den, then came out with bundles of herbs. She and Kestrelstorm ate some, then immediately headed out of camp.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kestrelstorm opened her eyes, immediately noticing the cats around her. They were slightly faded, with silver specks in their fur. It was StarClan.

"Welcome, Kestrelstorm. I was glad to see that the clan defeated Darkblaze, even though so many had to die for it to be possible," a calico she-cat mewed. Kestrelstorm's eyes widened, recognizing her mother.

"Berryface?" she asked, padding closer. The she-cat nodded, approaching slowly. She touched her nose to the top of her daughter's head,

"With this life, I give you forgiveness. Use it well, for when all that is needed is a second chance," Berryface murmured. Kestrelstorm tensed up, as an electric shock went through her body. Her mother then backed away, and another cat took her place.

"Stonefang?" Kestrelstorm asked her father, eyes wide. He had died when Brightfall was still a kit, from greencough. He looked healthy now. The grey tom nodded, then pressed his nose to her head.

"With this life, I give you judgement. Use it well, and know that fighting is not always the answer," he told her. She let out a gasp, as the air was pulled from her lungs. After a few moments, it returned, and Stonefang backed away. A small kit took his place, dark brown pelt the same as her father's.

"It's me, Briarkit!" the she-kit squeaked, running up to her mother. Then she remembered why she was there, and composed herself. "Ah, right. With this life, I give you hope. Use it well, and remember that there's always a light at the end of the trail". A wave of warmth engulfed Kestrelstorm, as she embraced her dead kit.

"Thank you, Briarkit. I think of you every day," she murmured. The she-kit eventually pulled away, and a brown and white tom-kit took her place. It was Cedarkit, Briarkit's brother and Kestrelstorm's dead son.

"With this life, I give you compassion. Use it well, to care for the injured, the sick, and the defenseless," he told her. He turned to look at the StarClan cats, as a wave of burning fire rushed over Kestrelstorm's fur. "Did I do it right?". He returned to his sister, and another cat stepped up.

"Thank you, Kestrelstorm, for taking in Mistpaw when I died. You were there, when I couldn't be," the grey she-cat mewed. It was Greyclaw, Mistpaw's mother and Kestrelstorm's best friend. She had died defending the nursery from a fox, only a few suns after giving birth.

"You would have done the same for me," Kestrelstorm replied, knowing in her heart that the statement was true. Greyclaw smiled wistfully at her, then touched her nose to her head.

"With this life, I give you humility. Use it well, to know that it's okay to ask for help. The safety of you and your clan is more important than your pride". Kestrelstorm almost collapsed to the ground, as a crushing weight fell upon her back. Greyclaw faded into the crowd of cats, as a more recent face stepped forward.

"Mistpaw," Kestrelstorm breathed, the apprentice looking like he did before he was murdered. "Oh, Mistpaw. You were too young".

"It's okay, Lynxtail, Greyclaw, Cedarkit, and Briarkit are here. I'm happy," he told her. He touched his nose to her head, then pulled away. "With this life, I give you trust. Use it well, and don't let this tragedy limit your ability to rely on others". Kestrelstorm felt as if the ground had suddenly dropped from beneath her feet, as Mistpaw padded away. Lynxtail came next, hesitantly.

"Kestrelstorm, I don't know if I'm allowed to say anything besides the words to give you your life. But I'll wait for you. I'll be here, with our kits. Take care of Mosspaw," he mewed. Then he cleared his throat, and touched his nose to her head. "With this life, I give you endurance. Use it well, to hang on even when the task seems impossible. A few more pawsteps can make all the difference". Kestrelstorm felt as if she was about to collapse, all of the energy pulled out of her body. Then Lynxtail left, and was replaced by Owlfeather.

"I know I wasn't the best warrior, and my son was one of the murderers. But I'm still here to give you a life," the fluffy she-cat announced. She pressed her nose to Kestrelstorm's head, determined. "With this life, I give you patience. Use it well, for even the most difficult problems will become clearer with time". Owlfeather didn't say anything else, as a numbing cold washed over Kestrelstorm's body. Finally, Doestar stepped up, a proud look on her face.

"With this life, I give you wisdom. Use it well, for even the strongest cats need help sometimes," the previous leader told her. Kestrelstorm experienced the feeling of being supported by countless cats, and all of the pain from the previous lives disappeared.

"Thank you, Doestar, for all of your years as leader. You should have had more, but we can't change the past," the tortoiseshell she-cat mewed, grateful and sad at the same time.

"I had my time, it's yours now," Doestar retorted. Then she backed away, joining the other eight cats who had given lives. "I hail you by your new name, Kestrelstar. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants your guardianship of SnowClan. Defend it well; care for young and old; honor you ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity". The StarClan cats chanted her name, as they faded away from the Mooncave.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kestrelstar watched her clan go about their daily activities, proud of the way they were handling themselves. There were Thrushwatcher and Sparrowchaser, returning from a hunting patrol with Stormwhisker. The grey tom, the patrol's leader, immediately headed towards the nursery, where Hollysong and their kits were staying.

"You need to stop h-hurting yourself, Brightfall. What n-next, is an icicle going to b-break off and hit your h-head?" Foxwish asked, as he patched up a few gashes on her shoulder. Larktuft looked on with approval, as she sorted herbs in the den.

"How was I supposed to know the hare would kick at me instead of run?" the tortoiseshell she-cat argued. Foxwish let out a sigh, but didn't say anything else. Kestrelstar's sister would never stop getting injured. But he and Larktuft would always be there to patch her up.

"The border patrol was pretty uneventful, except for when Brightfall got attacked by the hare," Leafheart reported, coming to a stop next to Kestrelstar. She had taken Brightfall and Mossleap out at dawn. The others would take the dusk patrol.

"That's good. Blossomkit, Brackenkit, and Russetkit are completely healthy, according to Larktuft. Stormwhisker is still being overly worried, though," Kestrelstar told her deputy. Leafheart shrugged, unconcerned.

"Let him be worried. He's a father, it's natural. The important thing is that the kits will be safe from now on," the tabby mewed. Kestrelstar nodded. From here on out, all of them would be safe.