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Bramblestar's Nine Lives

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Bramblestar's Nine Lives

Moonlight shone off the treetops, turning the forest silver. Crickets chirped from atop the branches as a soft greenleaf breeze whispered through the forest, carrying the tantalizing scent of fresh-kill hiding in their burrows across the long grass. The moon was nothing more than the thinnest of clawscratches, but the stars shone clear and white on the lake below.

A twig snapped in the undergrowth. Brambleclaw slowly lifted his paw, and glanced at the ground below him. Under the hazel thicket he was standing in was a pile of leaves from last leaf-fall, crumpled and dead. More twigs spread across the forest floor as well. Carefully, Brambleclaw stepped around the twigs, emerging into a small clearing.

"You don't have to be so careful, you know," came Leafpool's voice from behind him. "There's no one out here but us."

Brambleclaw sighed.

"I know, but I still don't know whether Starclan will accept me! I am Tigerstar's son, after all."

"Starclan has shown their approval for you many times," Leafpool reminded him. "They did choose for you to represent Thunderclan in the journey to the Sun-Drown Place. And don't forget that sign I got that you should be the rightful deputy, all those moons ago. The only one who caused a fuss was Ashfur, and he's always had bees in his brain."

Brambleclaw purred in amusement.

"I guess it's only natural for you to be nervous," Leafpool continued. "Firestar told me he was pretty nervous himself. Even though he was subject to a prophecy, he still had kittypet blood."

"Was Bluestar nervous?" Brambleclaw murmured, remembering the noble leader from his kithood.

"No warrior's prefect," Leafpool replied with a shrug. "Every leader has done things against the warrior code, and every leader worries Starclan will hold those things against them. But…forgive and forget, that's what I say. If you make up for what you've done wrong, what's the point in remembering it?"

There was an edge to her voice, like she was thinking about something other than leadership. Brambleclaw shook his unease off and continued walking.

Brambleclaw pricked his ears as he started to hear the smooth, sweeping sound of water flowing over pebbles. Within heartbeats, the two cats emerged from the trees to the banks of a clear stream filtering into the lake. Brambleclaw licked his chops at the thought of the cool, refreshing liquid.

"Can I get a drink?" he asked, stepping toward the stream. "Or is it sacred or something?"

"No, no, you can drink from that."

Leafpool nodded toward the stream, her mew tinged with amusement.

"It's just the actual pool you don't want to quench your thirst with."

Brambleclaw stepped forward and took several thirsty gulps. It tasted fresher than the moss that was brought back to camp, but it was cold from the night air, and swallowing felt like tiny icicles were prickling his throat.

"Thanks, Leafpool." He rasped, water dripping from his muzzle. The dark tabby went to stand beside the medicine cat, and together they made their way up the hill toward the Moonpool.

"So how exactly does this work?" Brambleclaw asked.

Leafpool shrugged.

"Not sure. Leaders are forbidden to talk about it. But Cinderpelt told me you see all of Starclan come to greet you, and then they ask you if you're ready to receive your nine lives. Then, one by one, cats you once knew each give you a life and the gift of a trait with it. Brace yourself, though, receiving lives can be really painful."

Brambleclaw gulped.

"You're a strong warrior, though. I think you'll be fine." Leafpool meowed.

The two cats entered a narrow valley with gently sloping walls. The rush of water grew louder and louder, and Brambleclaw knew the source of the stream must be nearby. His paws ached from being dragged, though, and he hoped they were getting close to the sacred sight.

At the end of the valley was a steep cliff. Leafpool clambered up it with ease, but Brambleclaw's paws ached from the climb. His throat felt dryer than ever. Panting, he glanced around. The stream poured down a steep cleft in the rock, the stars turning it silver. For the first time since he left the
camp, Brambleclaw felt his heart pump with excitement.

"Follow me!" Leafpool called, dashing down the stream and swerving around a clump of thornbushes. Brambleclaw limped after her, his breath coming in rasping gasps. He stopped beside the light brown tabby and followed her gaze.

Below him was a small clearing, with steep, rocky walls. A curving path curled along the walls and stopped at the banks of a wide, starlit pool. The water was pure silver, with countless stars reflected in it, and in the center, the clawscratch moon. Water spilled into the pool from a jutting spurt of water coming from a crack in the stony walls.

"It's amazing," Brambleclaw breathed. "I've never seen anything like it!"

"I thought you might say that," Leafpool mewed. "Especially since you never did see the old Moonstone, back in the forest."

"Was it like this?" Brambleclaw asked.

"Well, yes." Leafpool replied. "It was…different, but still incredible."

"I…I don't know…this is just too much!" Brambleclaw spluttered.

Leafpool raised her eyebrows.

"Are you ready to receive your nine lives"

"I hope so!" Brambleclaw sighed.

"Then come on."

Leafpool padded around the hollow and started down the path. It was marked with countless paw prints, more than the medicine cats could've made. As Brambleclaw started down the path, he could feel his paws fitting into the ancient pawprints. He thought he could hear the whisper of ancient cats in his ears, the cats that lived here long before the clans. He could not understand what they were saying, but he thought better than to ask Leafpool.

I might be imagining things because I'm so agitated! the tabby deputy thought. Brambleclaw tried to shake the voices out of his ears, and to his relief, they stopped as he stepped off the path.

"What do I do now?" he asked Leafpool, who had lay down on her stomach with her front paws right by the pool's edge.

"Come lay beside me," the brown tabby whispered.

"When you're ready, take a small sip of the water. Just a small one; remember what I said earlier."
Brambleclaw slowly reclined himself by the starry water's edge, placing the edge of his paws less than a whiskerlength from the shimmering pool. After several deep breaths, Brambleclaw slowly leaned forward, sweeping his tongue over the surface of the pool.

There was no way to describe the way the water tasted other than that it tasted of the moon and stars and the night sky. It tasted of the happy peace in Starclan, but also of the coldness of death, which brought cats there. Brambleclaw felt shivers run through every hair on his pelt as he leaned back and closed his eyes.

It seemed like seasons before the darkness faded. When Brambleclaw opened his eyes at last, he was standing at the edge of the island where the four clans met for gatherings. Nothing seemed unusual about it. The stars were out, the moon was bright…but the stars seemed to be moving.
Then, one my one, each star grew larger and larger until it shot out of the sky. Each bright ball became a cat, a cat with starshine in their fur. More and more of Starclan swept down, until they filled up the island, all gazing at Brambleclaw. He was amazed they could all fit on the island, until he remembered this was a dream, and almost anything could happen.

"Welcome, Brambleclaw."

The warrior ancestors spoke as one.

"Are you ready to receive your nine lives?"

"Yes, I am." Brambleclaw squared his shoulders, feeling confidence rush through his veins.

A silhouette emerged from the crowd, and as it came closer, Brambleclaw recognized dark gray fur and blue eyes. It was his old friend Rainwhisker, who had died suddenly two leaf-bares ago.
As he came closer, Brambleclaw touched muzzles with the gray tom. "I've really missed you," he purred.

"And I've missed you, too," Rainwhisker replied. "But I'm happier now that I'm with my mother, my father, and Sootfur. I miss Sorreltail, but she's got a wonderful mate and three beautiful she-kits to keep her company. Molekit is safe with us."

Without another word, Rainwhisker leaned forward and touched his nose to the top of Brambleclaw's head.

"With this life I give you endurance," he murmured.

"Use it to guide your clan through the hardest of times, and to have faith in your own strength.
Brambleclaw was not prepared for the pain that followed. It felt as if a hard, sharp object had fallen onto his back, locking him to the ground. He gasped as the air was squeezed out of him.
This is the pain Rainwhisker must have felt when that falling branch killed him!

The pain coursed from his paws to his tail tips, making him want to yowl in agony, but he couldn't move his jaws. As the sensation ceased, Brambleclaw looked up at his friend.

"Will I see you again?" he panted.

"Yes, in dreams you will."

With a friendly nod, Rainwhisker turned and padded to sit at the edge of the crowd.

The next cat who stepped forward was quite a bit bigger than Rainwhisker, and more muscular as well. This cat looked many moons older, like he was a senior warrior when he died. As he came closer, Brambleclaw recognized the thick white coat of Whitestorm, the first deputy under Firestar's leadership, and Rainwhisker's father. He had been killed in the battle with Bloodclan, by the brutal deputy Bone. Brambleclaw had only been an apprentice, but he and a swarm of other apprentices had taken Bone's life together in revenge.

Whitestorm placed his nose on top of Brambleclaw's head and spoke softly and gently.

"With this life, I give you courage. Use it well to defend and fight for your clan."

Energy tore through Brambleclaw, and he felt unnaturally sharp claws tearing across his back. It felt as if his pelt was on fire, but this time he didn't flinch.

I have to endure this if I'm going to be a strong leader, he thought.

As Whitestorm lifted his head, he gazed at the dark brown tabby with admiring blue eyes.

"Thank you for avenging my death, Brambleclaw," He meowed.

Brambleclaw dipped his head.

"You deserved to be avenged, Whitestorm.

Whitestorm turned and walked back toward the crowd, and sat down beside his son. The next cat to emerge was smaller than both Rainwhisker and Whitestorm, and slowly the Thunderclan deputy recognized the dark brown pelt of Shrewpaw, an apprentice who had been about the same age as Leafpool when he was killed by a twoleg monster in the old forest.

"I'm sorry," Brambleclaw murmured. "You were too young to die."

The small brown apprentice ignored him. He leaned up, touching his pink nose to the side of Brambleclaw's muzzle.

"With this life I give you compassion, so that you will be able to care for all of the weak and sick in your clan, and all the others weaker than yourself."

Brambleclaw felt something hard hit him fiercely in the side, at an incredible speed. He felt pain burn through every fiber of his body, but it was all over as quickly as it had started. Shrewpaw turned and walked the other way, toward two she-kits playing at the edge of the crowd. They were Larchkit and Hollykit, Shrewpaw's younger sisters who had died of starvation. Brambleclaw let out a purr. They seemed so happy here in Starclan.

The next cat who came forward had a pelt so full of starlight it was blinding. With a start, Brambleclaw recognized the silver pelt of Feathertail, one of his friends from the journey to the Sun-Drown Place, who had died saving their group and the Tribe of Rushing Water from Sharptooth. Brambleclaw happily pressed his muzzle to hers in greeting, and giving her ear a quick lick.

"I thought you belonged to the Tribe of Endless Hunting," he meowed confusedly.

"I belong to Starclan as well," the silver cat replied.

"I've really missed you," Brambleclaw murmured. "We all have."

"And I've missed all of you—especially Crowfeather." She mewed sadly. "But killing Sharptooth was my destiny, and I earned a place in the Tribe of Endless Hunting for it."

Feathertail leaned forward, touching her nose to Brambleclaw's

"With this life, I give you hope," she whispered.

"Use it to find happiness even in the darkest of times."

Determination seared through Brambleclaw, burning in his claws. Brambleclaw accepted the life eagerly, drinking in everything about Feathertail. Her grace, her patience, her sympathy, her bravery…

Once the pain ebbed, Brambleclaw found his voice again.

"I wish I could tell Crowfeather about this, but we're forbidden to speak about any of this."

"Crowfeather will guess," Feathertail replied.

"Even if he doesn't, he has intentions of becoming leader himself someday. And if he succeeds, I will make sure I am there to welcome him."

"Are you angry that he had kits with Leafpool?"

The personal question spilled out of Brambleclaw's mouth before he could stop it.

Feathertail let out a mrrow of laughter.

"That would be hypocritical of me! Don't forget my relationship with Crowfeather was forbidden. I'm just happy he can feel what he felt for me for a cat who's still alive and breathing."

"I'm not sure he loves her anymore," Brambleclaw admitted. "He's been so cold to her ever since her secret was revealed."

"Living cats may not be able to see past Crowfeather's tough exterior, but I can," Feathertail meowed. "He still loves her, with all his heart. He just is too proud to admit it."

"I wish I could tell her," Brambleclaw sighed. "Poor Leafpool! She's been so upset."

Feathertail brushed her tail across Brambleclaw's flank

"I'll tell her, when the time comes. But for now, I must go."

"Will I see you again?" Brambleclaw asked.

Feathertail nodded.

"When times of trouble come, I will be there to guide you."

Feathertail turned and started to pad away.

"Good-bye, Feathertail!" Brambleclaw called after him. "May Starclan be with you!"

Feathertail looked back at him, her clear blue eyes sparking with humor.

"Starclan IS with me!"

With that, Feathertail turned and walked back toward the crowd of cats. But instead of sitting with the others, she pushed her way through the crowd and walked on, her silvery tail swishing back and forth as she walked.

She's going back to the Tribe of Endless Hunting! he thought.

Brambleclaw almost didn't see the next cat stepping forward. With a start, he recognized the black-and-white pelt of the former Windclan leader.

"Tallstar!" he gasped.

Tallstar simply purred, his long tail sweeping across the grass. He leaned forward, touching his muzzle to the top of the tabby tom's head.

"With this life, I give you wisdom," he mewed.

"Use it well to make the most difficult of choices, like I had to."

Agony seized Brambleclaw, a dull, piercing kind that twisted in his belly and tugged at his tail. He rooted his claws to the ground, his fur bristling, waiting for it to fade.

"You were one of the only ones to know of my final decision about the new leader of my clan," Tallstar went on.

"And you fought tooth and claw to defend it, even against your own kin, Hawkfrost. I will not forget all Thunderclan has done for my clan, and I hope Onestar will remember it."

Tallstar purred with amusement.

"Someday, I hope Windclan and Thunderclan will be united again. Until then, I'm sure Thunderclan will grow strong under your leadership."

Brambleclaw dipped his head respectfully.

"Thank you, Tallstar. You've helped my clan out a lot too, and I won't forget that."

As Tallstar walked away, a pure white she-cat stepped forward. It took Brambleclaw several heartbeats to realize it was Frostfur, a Thunderclan elder who had stayed behind in the old forest when the clans moved to their new home. She had been so old and frail when Brambleclaw had last seen her; now she looked young, and beautiful.

Frostfur placed her nose on top of his head and closed her dark blue eyes.

"With this life, I give you humor. Use it to lighten the spirit of your clan, and to look on the lighter side of problems."

A tingling sensation flooded through Brambleclaw, like bugs were crawling in his pelt. It rippled through his body like a wave until it faded at the end of his tail.
Frostfur smiled down at him before turning and padding back to the crowd, her beautiful white coat rippling. Three of the white queen's kits still lived on in the clan, two of them with kits of their own.
And those kits were having kits! Frostfur's blood would travel through Thunderclan in noble warriors for many moons to come.

Brambleclaw almost didn't see the next cat step forward. It was a tiny white tom with wide blue eyes, even younger than Shrewpaw. The kit was Snowkit, a deaf kit whom Brambleclaw played with in the nursery. He had been carried away by a hawk, from which Brackenfur had unsuccessfully tried to save him.

Brambleclaw leaned down so the kit could touch the underside of his muzzle.

"With this life, I give you trust. A leader needs to believe in himself and in the clan. Never doubt yourself or your decisions."

As Snowkit stepped back, the dark tom gazed at the kit thoughtfully.

"You could've become a warrior, if the clan had given you a chance."

Snowkit shrugged.

"I have two good ears to hear with here, and my mother taught me how to hunt in Starclan's forest. The prey never runs out. If that hawk hadn't come by and grabbed me, I only would have had half a life."

"I'm glad you're happy now," Brambleclaw purred, watching the white tom pad away.

The next cat to emerge from the crowd had a pretty pale ginger coat and leaf-green eyes. With a spurt of joy, Brambleclaw recognized his mother.

"Goldenflower!" he meowed, running toward her and tenderly rubbing his muzzle against her head.

"Brambleclaw."

Goldenflower looked down at him with admiring eyes.

"I'm so proud of you," she purred. "I always knew you hand the makings of a leader, from the very day you left the nursery."

Goldenflower touched her wet, pink nose gently to her son's head.

"I give you a life for love, Brambleclaw. Use it for all cats in your care, but most especially for Squirrelflight."

Brambleclaw hadn't expected this life to hurt, and it didn't. He purred as the life drifted through him, filling him with warmth from nose to tail-tip. He could smell kits and milk, and he almost could hear them suckling. But as the feeling ebbed, Brambleclaw looked up at Goldenflower, puzzled.

"But…Squirrelflight lied to me! She didn't trust me! She told me those three cats were mine when they weren't! How can you want me to love her again?"

Goldenflower's eyes filled with sadness.

"Goldenflower only did what she thought was best—for the kits, for the clan…and for you. Didn't you like the feeling of being a father?"

"Not if it was all fake!" Brambleclaw cried angrily.

"Brambleclaw."

Goldenflower ran her tail across the deputy's back.

"Don't forget, dear one, that for many moons Squirrelflight didn't trust you. She thought you were neglecting her because she spent too much time with Hawkfrost. Remember how much you missed her? Well, that's how much she misses you now."

"But if I forgive her, the clan will think I am no better than a liar!" Brambleclaw protested.

"The clan have moved on," Goldenflower mewed softly.

"Squirrelflight and Leafpool and the three kits are trying their hardest to serve their clans, and they are doing a good job of it. They are strong warriors Thunderclan is proud of."

Brambleclaw looked away.

"But I don't love her anymore."

Goldenflower let out a mrrow of laughter.

"Just as Feathertail can see into Crowfeather, I can see into you. You do still love her, and miss her."

Brambleclaw looked up into her green eyes, as green as Squirrelflight's. Leafpool's words echoed in his head.

Forgive and forget.

"I must go," Goldenflower murmured, before giving each of his ears a loving lick.

"Think about what I have said, and try to see past the obvious, my son."

With that, Goldenflower turned and padded over beside Frostfur. Brambleclaw already knew which cat was going to give him his last life. He watched as a flame-colored tom emerged from the crowd and slowly stepped forward. It was Firestar, the former leader of Thunderclan.

And Squirrelflight's father, he realized with a sickening jolt.

"Welcome, Brambleclaw," Firestar purred. "My apprentice, my warrior, and finally, my deputy. I was wrong to have ever doubted your loyalty because of where you come from."

"But it almost got the best of me!" Brambleclaw remarked, remembering when his half-brother Hawkfrost had trapped Firestar in a fox trap, plotting for Brambleclaw to kill him and become leader. "Think about what I could've done!"

"Ah, but Brambleclaw, it's about the decisions we did make, not the decisions we could've made. You chose to save me, and prove yourself to the rest of the clan in a noble way."

Brambleclaw smiled.

The ginger tom touched his nose to his deputy's head, speaking softly.

"With your 9th life, I give you selflessness. Use it to lay down all nine of your lives fearlessly for your clan."

Within that moment, Brambleclaw felt the tom's life zap through him. He could feel the anger of being mocked, the horror of Graystripe loving Silverstream, the fear of leading Lionclan against Bloodclan, the pain of having to leave to forest, and the agony of claws and teeth tearing him apart in his last life. As the pain ebbed, he could feel the warm greenleaf breeze, and see a big, dangerous forest spreading out from where he sat on a wooden fence.

It was Firestar's first memory of the clans.

"With your last life, I also give you your new name, Bramblestar. From this moment forward, you are no longer Brambleclaw. You will be Bramblestar until you come to walk the stars with us."

"Bramblestar! Bramblestar! Bramblestar! Bramblestar!"

The Starclan warriors began to chant, in countless, harmonious voices that all mixed together. Bramblestar stood up, his muscles rippling. Never had he felt more confident, never had he felt more proud. This was his moment, the best moment of his life. His reputation would grow among the clans as a fierce leader who fearlessly led his clan, but without his wicked father's help.

I can do this alone.

But then the brown tabby tom realized something. He couldn't do this alone. There was just one cat he needed by his side.

Slowly, the voices began to die down and the scene grew darker and darker until it was as black as the night sky. Bramblestar blinked open his eyes, finding himself beside the Moonpool. He lay staring into the depths of the starry water, thinking about the ceremony…and about Squirrelflight.

"Well?"

The familiar voice came from behind him.

"How was it?"

Bramblestar turned to see Leafpool crouching beside him.

"It was incredible!" he gasped.

"I…I don't know how to describe it."

"Good, 'caus you're not supposed to," Leafpool mewed curtly.

"But I know how you feel. After my medicine cat initiation ceremony, I just didn't know how to explain it."

"I still can't imagine what it would be like to be you. Having these kind of dreams all the time."

"Not all dreams are like that. Some are sent as omens, and are meant to be told. But it's the destiny
Starclan planned for me, and it's fascinating to me."

"Is this the destiny Starclan Planned for me?" Bramblestar asked.

"Did you get your nine lives and your name?"

"Yeah."

"Then I guess it must be," Leafpool replied with a grin.

Bramblestar looked around feeling awkward.

"It's getting cold," he stated. "Can we go home?"

"You sound like a whiny kit!" Leafpool purred. "But it is almost dawn. We can't keep the clan waiting much longer.

Leafpool started toward the spiraling pathway out of the stone hollow.

"Leafpool, wait!" Bramblestar called.

Leafpool glanced back at him with curious amber eyes.

"Aren't you coming?"

Bramblestar took a deep breath.

"I…I want you to tell Squirrelflight something."

The medicine cat's eyes widened. Without waiting for a reply, Bramblestar went on.

"Tell her…tell her I'm not mad at her anymore. Tell her she doesn't have to avoid me anymore."

"Now what did Starclan tell you?" muttered Leafpool, but Brambleclaw could hear her purr under her breath as she turned back toward the path.

Leafpool took a few steps up the ridge before turning back to the new leader and flicking her ear impatiently.

"Come on, Bramblestar." She mewed. "Your new clan awaits you."
SPOILER ALERT!!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!











Yay! My first story! It's in honor of my username, obviously. This is about what I believe would happen in Brambleclaw's leader ceremony. It takes place after an alternate version of Sunrise, in which HONEYFERN DOESN'T DIE (That's why she doesn't give him a life) and The Three stay sane *cough* Hollyleaf *cough* but the secret is still revealed (So Bramble and Squirrel are fighting). At the end of the alternate version, Firestar is killed by a bear :( sorry about the "he thought" s, on the word document, I just put the thoughts in italics, but I couldn't do that here, so I had to insert some last minute "he thought"s. Sorry! And also, I was gonna put Sootfur in here, but I wanted several diverse cats, and Sootfur seemed too much like Rainwhisker to really be interesting. Tallstar seemed much more appealing. Don't worry Sootfur, you're still awesome! So enjoy the story. And like it or hate it, don't be afraid to comment!
© 2010 - 2024 Bramblestar27
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I though this was amazing! Thanks for making this!