‘Prologue’

Sootstrike waited patiently as Crouchrumble gathered their desired herbs of Daisy and something else that he forgot the name of.

And as the gray tom ate the bitter herbs with distaste, he followed the silver tabby out of camp, trotting with ease as they approached the cavern he paused wide eyed.

The cavern seemed daunting and a bit threatening in his eyes, the healer turned to him "Sootstrike?"

Sootstrike shook his head and licked his chest "coming coming" he muttered following him into the cavern.

After a few moments of walking through darkness they both stopped in front of a shining pool making Sootstrike's eyes widen then immediately squint at the sight of the bright pool of water.

Crouchrumble led him to the pool and gave him instructions on how to react when he sees a StarClan cat.

Sootstrike nodded and got into a loaf position and dipped his nose in the cool water.

When he opened his eyes again he found himself in the stars of Silverpelt, he glanced around and sees a gray tabby and he puffs up in shock but softens as he realizes it was a StarClan cat.

The she-cat twitched her whiskers and lifted her muzzle to him "hello Sootstrike, my name is Riverstar."

'Riverstar' Sootstrike scrunched his muzzle in distaste, she looked young for a leader...

He then blinked as she approached him and placed her muzzle at his chest "I Riverstar gives you the life of tireless energy"

As she finished speaking a sharp pain shot through his chest causing him to gasp and sink to the ground, he writhed on the ground as the pain coursed through him.

He tried to speak but he blacked out, when he awoke he instantly gasped for air as he scanned the area around him.

"Sootstrike! What happened?" He turned to see  Crouchrumble staring at him shocked and worried, Sootstrike shook his head as he realized that his fur was spiked and puffed up.

"I uh-" "you got the leader mark!" Crouchrumble interrupted gasping, Sootstrike glanced down at his chest and saw a star shaped mark on his pelt.

The gray tom then glanced at the healer as they smiled "they accepted you Sootstar" Sootstar...that was his name now...

Sootstar huffed as he staggered to his paws shaking his head ridding him of the previous pain he'd just experienced "l-lets go home eh?" He mewed leading them both back to camp.

{Sootstar gained his nine lives}