Post by .:-Aikoa-:. on Mar 30, 2009 16:20:26 GMT -5
There was a strange chill in that place, a deathly sort of hum that made the tom nervous. But he strode forward as bravely as he could. Boulderclaw had never been beyond the mouth of the cave, let alone beside the Moonstone, and his stomach clenched at the idea. He had heard nothing of the ceremony to give a leader nine lives - talk of such a thing was forbidden - but he knew it couldn't be as wonderful as kits made it out to be. He closed his eyes and let out a deap breath. Crookfaith was already ahead of him, and he knew he must follow. I would never have imagined this. Even as I recieved my Warrior name and wished so deeply that I would be standing here, I could never have thought... A deep sadness overwhelmed him when he thought of Magicstar's death. WindClan's leader had died of a strange illness that the Medicine cats - even before Crookfaith - could find no cure to. Luckily it had not been contagious. Boulderclaw padded into the cool chamber, with the hole in its roof that let down a stream of pale moonlight. His Medicine cat turned and nodded for him to sit beside the beautiful, shining stone. Boulderclaw, awed, obeyed slowly, hesitantly. He padded up to the mass of what seemed a chunk of the moon itself, laying down in its cold, cold shadow. He closed his eyes and took a deap breath, and then, listening to Crookfaith's instructions, he pressed his nose to the stone. A shiver passed up and down his spine, chilling him from nose to tail tip. He felt a sort of viel falling over him, masking his senses and lulling him to sleep. He drifted off...
Boulderclaw awoke in a clearing that seemed familar. There was a slope before him and the night sky beyond. He turned and saw what made this place so memorable. Four tall oak trees towered above his head, with a single rock between them. Fourtrees. Boulderclaw thought, unable to speak because of the strange silence that seemed too right in that serene place. He sat for a few more moments, and then walked towards the Great Rock. He saw starlight falling down from the sky and watched as it began to take the shape of many cats, all whispering in silvery voices, welcoming him. A starry shape stepped towards him and he couldn't surpress a delighted smile.
"Magicstar!" He cried. His leader smiled and dipped his head. No words were shared - no words were needed. Magicstar nodded to a she-cat on his left. She stepped forward and Boulderclaw recognized his mother. He purred and she did, too, stepping forward to rub her muzzle against Boulderclaw's.
"I'm so proud of you." She whispered gently.
"With this life," she began, turning to smile at the cats behind her, "I give you wisdom. May you use it well to guide your Clan in these troubled times." She meowed gravely. His mother crouched forward and touched his nose. A cold shock ran through him, and he stiffened. A hundred different scenes, pages from the lives of many, many cats - leaders and otherwise - flashed before his vision, filling his thoughts and dancing through him as though he had seen them once, as well, or was experiencing them now. His mother dipped her head and padded away, leaving her son dazed. Magicstar nodded again, and a long-limbed black tom stepped from their midst.
"Blackroot?" Boulderclaw breathed. He faintly remembered the elder who had told him many stories when he was a young kit and had been a close friend, but this young cat with such proud, unwatery blue eyes and such a strong, nimble body couldn't possibly be that weezy old elder. Blackroot smirked, as if he could tell what Boulderclaw was thinking, but he just nodded and stepped forward until Boulderclaw could smell him. Without a doubt, he was Blackfoot.
"With this life I give you understanding. I pray you will put it to good use, young whippersnapper." The tom meowed with a flick of his tail. He leaned forward and touched Boulderclaw's nose. A painful ache tore through his chest and set fire to his limbs. He felt as if his blood were hotter than the sun, and terrible, terrible feelings seemed to jab at his heart. Blackfoot nodded solemnly and turned to join the other starry cats. Boulderclaw felt weak, and he realized he still have seven more lives to go. Oh StarClan... He thought, and then bit his lip. Magicstar chuckled but said nothing. Suddenly a beautiful young cat raced from the others, her pelt showering stardust wherever it moved. She bounced to him and her eyes shone in a way that had made her hard to forget then, and even easier to remember now.
"Nettlepaw!" He cried, overjoyed to see the young apprentice who had died at the claws of a badger a few moons into her apprenticeship. Nettlepaw's kind green eyes shimmered as she pressed her muzzle against Boulderclaw's.
"I have missed you..." She purred. "I can't believe you are standing here. Imagine it, the sullen little Boulderkit and the grumpy Boulderpaw growing up into WindClan's leader!" She breathed, her eyes full of wonder as she looked into Boulderclaw's face.
"I can hardly believe it, either. It's so good to see you." Boulderclaw said gently. He forgot the pain and weariness that tugged at his body just staring into those excited eyes.
"With this life," she mewed happily, "I give you love. Use it well to care for your Clan." She touched his nose with hers and Boulderclaw was startled by the depth of feeling that spread through him. A wonderful, soothing feeling... and along with it a saddened and ferocious slash that reminded him of a mother caring for her kits. If it hadn't been for the more relaxing of the two, Boulderclaw might have winced. Nettlepaw smiled at him and then trotted back to the others, her tail tip waving. The next cat to come was a grey tom with hazel eyes. Boulderclaw did not recognize him.
"I am Harescurry," the tom meowed solemnly, "I was your mother's brother, once upon a time." A sad smile spread across his face. Boulderclaw faintly remembered his mother talking about the eccentric young brother she had had who was killed in a storm that ravaged through WindClan territory, his body found later underneath a fallen stone in a small alcove near the ravine.
"With this life I give you speed. May you find a proper use for it, as I am sure a WindClanner would." He meowed with a slight smile. He touched Boulderclaw's nose, and Boulderclaw was entirely braced for impact. When it came it nearly swept him off his paws. He felt as if he were flying, the wind ruffling his fur and carressing his face gently. His limbs ached as if he had been running forever, and sharp stabs of pain rain through his sides. Harescurry dipped his head and padded back to the other StarClanners. The next three cats were all Warriors who had spent their lives well before Boulderclaw's time. The first, a brown tabby called Mudstripe, gave him the gift of courage. The second, a leen golden she-cat called Heatherwing, gave him the gift of strength and determination. The third, a black tom called Nightstalker, gave him the gift of reason. Boulderclaw was exhausted beyond the point where he thought he could stand up any longer. He stared forward and watched as Magicstar paced towards him. His leader stooped down and touched his nose.
"With this life I give you the gift of justice. May you use it well, young leader." The tom said. Boulderclaw winced as a horrible feeling passed through his stomach, making him want to retch. He clung to the earth with his claws, his eyes widening in horror as a hot, sticky sensation - like blood - curled its way through him as though he were drowning in it. Magicstar backed away and the StarClanners moved aside.
"But... what about my ninth life?" Boulderclaw asked, confused. Magicstar turned and looked up at the Great Rock. Boulderclaw did, too, and froze when his eyes caught onto that beautiful shape. Her eyes were a soft green color and she was leen, with beautiful dapple spots across her delicate frame. She leaped forward and padded without hurry towards Boulderclaw. A slow smile spread across her face.
"Hello, Boulderclaw," she murmured, and he was shocked to hear that beautiful, silvery voice, "I am Windstar, the first leader of WindClan. I have come from the distant past to give you a very special gift." She leaned forward and he smelt her breath before he even felt it; it was cold, frosty almost, with a smell like wild flowers. He felt her nose touch against him, its shimmering light disolving into starflakes on his nose.
"I give you the gift of Knowing with this, your final life. Protect it well, Boulderclaw... it will be precious to you in these next few moons." She mewed gently. A horrible pain, worse than any he had felt before, ripped through him and threatened to drive him into unconsiousness. When it had finally subsided, leaving him breathless, StarClan's ranks had gathered in a circle around him. He stared at them, wide-eyed.
"Boulderstar!" Cried the familiar voice of Nettlepaw.
"Boulderstar! Boulderstar!" The whole of StarClan chanted. Magicstar smiled at him.
"May you do our Clan proud." He said gently. Windstar smiled, as well, and nodded.
"I pray that you will."
Boulderstar awoke to a soft light before his eyes. The Moonstone. He turned and tried to move his stiff muscles. He sat for a little while, breathless, and then shook his head. I'm a leader now. He thought, speechless with the wonder of it all.
Boulderclaw awoke in a clearing that seemed familar. There was a slope before him and the night sky beyond. He turned and saw what made this place so memorable. Four tall oak trees towered above his head, with a single rock between them. Fourtrees. Boulderclaw thought, unable to speak because of the strange silence that seemed too right in that serene place. He sat for a few more moments, and then walked towards the Great Rock. He saw starlight falling down from the sky and watched as it began to take the shape of many cats, all whispering in silvery voices, welcoming him. A starry shape stepped towards him and he couldn't surpress a delighted smile.
"Magicstar!" He cried. His leader smiled and dipped his head. No words were shared - no words were needed. Magicstar nodded to a she-cat on his left. She stepped forward and Boulderclaw recognized his mother. He purred and she did, too, stepping forward to rub her muzzle against Boulderclaw's.
"I'm so proud of you." She whispered gently.
"With this life," she began, turning to smile at the cats behind her, "I give you wisdom. May you use it well to guide your Clan in these troubled times." She meowed gravely. His mother crouched forward and touched his nose. A cold shock ran through him, and he stiffened. A hundred different scenes, pages from the lives of many, many cats - leaders and otherwise - flashed before his vision, filling his thoughts and dancing through him as though he had seen them once, as well, or was experiencing them now. His mother dipped her head and padded away, leaving her son dazed. Magicstar nodded again, and a long-limbed black tom stepped from their midst.
"Blackroot?" Boulderclaw breathed. He faintly remembered the elder who had told him many stories when he was a young kit and had been a close friend, but this young cat with such proud, unwatery blue eyes and such a strong, nimble body couldn't possibly be that weezy old elder. Blackroot smirked, as if he could tell what Boulderclaw was thinking, but he just nodded and stepped forward until Boulderclaw could smell him. Without a doubt, he was Blackfoot.
"With this life I give you understanding. I pray you will put it to good use, young whippersnapper." The tom meowed with a flick of his tail. He leaned forward and touched Boulderclaw's nose. A painful ache tore through his chest and set fire to his limbs. He felt as if his blood were hotter than the sun, and terrible, terrible feelings seemed to jab at his heart. Blackfoot nodded solemnly and turned to join the other starry cats. Boulderclaw felt weak, and he realized he still have seven more lives to go. Oh StarClan... He thought, and then bit his lip. Magicstar chuckled but said nothing. Suddenly a beautiful young cat raced from the others, her pelt showering stardust wherever it moved. She bounced to him and her eyes shone in a way that had made her hard to forget then, and even easier to remember now.
"Nettlepaw!" He cried, overjoyed to see the young apprentice who had died at the claws of a badger a few moons into her apprenticeship. Nettlepaw's kind green eyes shimmered as she pressed her muzzle against Boulderclaw's.
"I have missed you..." She purred. "I can't believe you are standing here. Imagine it, the sullen little Boulderkit and the grumpy Boulderpaw growing up into WindClan's leader!" She breathed, her eyes full of wonder as she looked into Boulderclaw's face.
"I can hardly believe it, either. It's so good to see you." Boulderclaw said gently. He forgot the pain and weariness that tugged at his body just staring into those excited eyes.
"With this life," she mewed happily, "I give you love. Use it well to care for your Clan." She touched his nose with hers and Boulderclaw was startled by the depth of feeling that spread through him. A wonderful, soothing feeling... and along with it a saddened and ferocious slash that reminded him of a mother caring for her kits. If it hadn't been for the more relaxing of the two, Boulderclaw might have winced. Nettlepaw smiled at him and then trotted back to the others, her tail tip waving. The next cat to come was a grey tom with hazel eyes. Boulderclaw did not recognize him.
"I am Harescurry," the tom meowed solemnly, "I was your mother's brother, once upon a time." A sad smile spread across his face. Boulderclaw faintly remembered his mother talking about the eccentric young brother she had had who was killed in a storm that ravaged through WindClan territory, his body found later underneath a fallen stone in a small alcove near the ravine.
"With this life I give you speed. May you find a proper use for it, as I am sure a WindClanner would." He meowed with a slight smile. He touched Boulderclaw's nose, and Boulderclaw was entirely braced for impact. When it came it nearly swept him off his paws. He felt as if he were flying, the wind ruffling his fur and carressing his face gently. His limbs ached as if he had been running forever, and sharp stabs of pain rain through his sides. Harescurry dipped his head and padded back to the other StarClanners. The next three cats were all Warriors who had spent their lives well before Boulderclaw's time. The first, a brown tabby called Mudstripe, gave him the gift of courage. The second, a leen golden she-cat called Heatherwing, gave him the gift of strength and determination. The third, a black tom called Nightstalker, gave him the gift of reason. Boulderclaw was exhausted beyond the point where he thought he could stand up any longer. He stared forward and watched as Magicstar paced towards him. His leader stooped down and touched his nose.
"With this life I give you the gift of justice. May you use it well, young leader." The tom said. Boulderclaw winced as a horrible feeling passed through his stomach, making him want to retch. He clung to the earth with his claws, his eyes widening in horror as a hot, sticky sensation - like blood - curled its way through him as though he were drowning in it. Magicstar backed away and the StarClanners moved aside.
"But... what about my ninth life?" Boulderclaw asked, confused. Magicstar turned and looked up at the Great Rock. Boulderclaw did, too, and froze when his eyes caught onto that beautiful shape. Her eyes were a soft green color and she was leen, with beautiful dapple spots across her delicate frame. She leaped forward and padded without hurry towards Boulderclaw. A slow smile spread across her face.
"Hello, Boulderclaw," she murmured, and he was shocked to hear that beautiful, silvery voice, "I am Windstar, the first leader of WindClan. I have come from the distant past to give you a very special gift." She leaned forward and he smelt her breath before he even felt it; it was cold, frosty almost, with a smell like wild flowers. He felt her nose touch against him, its shimmering light disolving into starflakes on his nose.
"I give you the gift of Knowing with this, your final life. Protect it well, Boulderclaw... it will be precious to you in these next few moons." She mewed gently. A horrible pain, worse than any he had felt before, ripped through him and threatened to drive him into unconsiousness. When it had finally subsided, leaving him breathless, StarClan's ranks had gathered in a circle around him. He stared at them, wide-eyed.
"Boulderstar!" Cried the familiar voice of Nettlepaw.
"Boulderstar! Boulderstar!" The whole of StarClan chanted. Magicstar smiled at him.
"May you do our Clan proud." He said gently. Windstar smiled, as well, and nodded.
"I pray that you will."
Boulderstar awoke to a soft light before his eyes. The Moonstone. He turned and tried to move his stiff muscles. He sat for a little while, breathless, and then shook his head. I'm a leader now. He thought, speechless with the wonder of it all.
