The next cat padded forward. It was Strikepelt, the former deputy. "With this life I give you swiftness to serve your Clan with efficient speed," he announced with dignity.

Instantly Brownstripe felt as if his paws were as light as feathers to run fast for almost forever.

The next cat to come forward was no one he recognised. "My name is Stormcloud," the tom introduced. He stared deeply in Brownstripe's eyes and said, "With this life I give you judgment to judge your clanmates fairly."

Brownstripe felt a jolt of pain in his belly, then it faded as quickly as it came. He felt a sense of fairness as he looked down on his Clanmates.

The next cat that came forward surprised him. Darkthorn, Nightstar's father. "With this life I give you loyalty. Never let your loyalty waver over a selfish want," he said with his distinctively deep voice.

Brownstripe felt uncertainty but then a glow of hope that grew stronger every moment and it faded, leaving Brownstripe dazed.

The cat who was going to give him his seventh life was Shadeheart, the mother of Appleshade, Dustfur and Icetail.

"With this life I give you kinship, to treasure your strong kinship with your brother, and to treat your Clan like kin," she whispered.

Brownstripe felt fear, regret and sadness as he received the life. Suddenly, he realised that it was what Shadeheart felt when she saw her kits ignoring each other.

A darker tom came forward. "Nightstar," Brownstripe breathed. The noble leader had came to give him a life.

"With this life I give you faith," the former leader announced. "To have faith when leading the Clan."

Brownstripe let out a gasp of pain as he realised that he must have faith in hjmself to serve the Clan.

The final cat stepped forward, his pelt looked similar to his. It was Oakblaze, his mentor. "With this life I give you choice. Everyone has a choice," he reminded him.

Brownstripe nodded, bracing for the pain to come. It increased until it finally stopped.

"I hail you by your new name, Brownstar. Serve your Clan with wisdom," Oakblaze finished.

"Brownstar! Brownstar!" the StarClan cats shouted. The cheering seemed to echo around him until it broke off.

"Flames will bring a chasm that might mean the doom of all Clans. Only the one can save the clans," Oakblaze whispered in Brownstar's ear.

He faded away as the ground broke apart on Brownstar's feet. He yowled in terror as he fell into an endless abyss, waiting to devour him into darkness.

"Brownstar! Wake up!" Stagwind shouted urgently. Brownstar woke up, looking around fearfully. "What happened?" she asked.

"I was falling in a gorge after receiving my nine lives. Does it mean that I should not be leader?" he asked slowly.

To his relief, Stagwind shook her head. "You were Nightstar's deputy. Of course you should be leader. It might be a prophecy."

Brownstar nodded. "Let's get back."

~~~~

"Wake up lazy bum!" Silverpaw yowled at her sleepy mentor. "Even if you did guard the border all night, it gives no excuse to neglect my training!"

"Fine," Frostleaf grumbled. She stood up stretching as Silverpaw mewed, "I want to learn how to swim."

Frostleaf gave an amused purr. "ThunderClan cats don't swim." She heard a snort and added, "Except Specklebreeze of course."

Silverpaw darted to Specklebreeze and began asking her eagerly to teach her swimming.

Specklebreeze nodded and headed to the stream near the training hollow. Frostleaf followed the pair.

When they arrived at the stream, Silverpaw eagerly touched the water. "Oh! It's cold!" she squealed.

"Of course it's cold," Frostleaf said. Without hesitation, Specklebreeze jumped in, swimming easily. "Just keep moving your paws and don't stop," she adviced.

With an excited mew, Silverpaw hopped in. She flinched as she hit the cold water but followed Specklebreeze's advice.

"I'm doing it!" Silverpaw yowled happily. Specklebreeze waved her tail to Frostleaf to invite her to swim but she frowned.

"ThunderClan cats don't swim," she repeated, sighing. As if on cue, Silverpaw appeared out if the water and pushed her mentor in. She yowled in surprise, thrashing her paws wildly.

"Relax and move," Silverpaw laughed.

"How can you do that to your mentor?" Frostleaf huffed in frustration as she tried to swim.

After a few tries, Frostleaf climbed back up to the ground. "I still don't like swimming," she insisted.

"It's useful," Silverpaw argued.

"Stop arguing," Specklebreeze mewed with a snort.

Frostleaf sighed and said, "Let's get back to camp."

As they headed back, Frostleaf felt a small feeling of pride for her apprentice for being so driven to learn. She tripped since she was distracted and before she could stand up, she caught a glimpse of a golden pelt.

A pair of gleaming dark amber eyes was looking at Frostleaf. "Who are you?" she asked, unsheathing her claws.

A tom with a golden pelt stepped out, licking his paw with no signs of aggression. "Who are you?" the tom asked with a smile.

Frostleaf ignored the question and mewed, "You are in ThunderClan's territory. Get out or I will attack."

"I'm not," he retorted with an amused purr. "I am at least a mouse length away from your precious border." She checked the border marks and realised that the tom was right.

"I didn't notice," she explained. The tom laughed. "Okay then. I better leave before someone gets a little hostile. Name's Golden, by the way. Bye." He left and Frostleaf just stared at his vanishing tail as he left.

Better get back to camp before someone misses me, she thought, her mind filled with questions of that strange tom.

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If you are wondering whether Golden is going to be Frostleaf's mate, no. But he will appear in the next with a different name.