Post by Snowstar on Aug 22, 2006 21:45:21 GMT -5
Snowclaw stepped into view of the Moonstone cave, Mothermouth and looked at it nervously. Here lay his destiny; if he went in there, he would not--could not--come out the same. If StarClan accepted him, he would come out Snowstar, to lead Thunderclan. He would be able to communicate with StarClan in a way that others--besides medicine cats--could not. With these thoughts whirling through his mind, the soon-to-be-leader stepped slowly towards the cave. There's no going back now, he thought as he plunged into darkness.
Snowclaw padded forward a few more paces, each paw-step becoming more nervous and yet he continued forth, for he knew this was needed. Eyes flickering back and forth, it was if he waiting for someone, something to come out. He shivered with both the excitement of an apprentice, yet the nervousness they felt as he knew that he would be rejected by starclan, for whatever reason. Blindly, he still stepped forth, and soon, he reached it. The moonstone. The light suddenly became bright, blinding him until he could see nothing and by instinct, he backed up into another wall, making him fall to the ground. Blinking several times, and even squinting his eyes tightly, he finally got used to the light - after several attempts that is. Letting out a startled gasp, he blinked once more and he stared in awe at the large structure before him, his jaw agape with aw. Slowly and nervously, he stretched a paw forth, standing up and his small paw felt the cold ground around him, as he continued again towards the moonstone. He took a deep breath, before laying down in front of the monument and touching his nose gently to it, praying that they would accept him. All went dark and cold the instant Snowclaw's nose touched the moonstone and his eyes closed.
Had they rejected him?
He felt himself tremble with the utmost fear, at the thought of returning to his clan and telling them that he hadn't received what he had come for. His eyes closed tightly, and he thought that Starclan had indeed chosen the wrong cat for the job. Sadly, he opened his eyes; ready to turn back. The sight before him was nothing at all what he had assumed and he let out a startled gasp. His eyes widened in surprise, as he examined the clearing around him and stood slowly. No, he definitely wasn’t in the cave anymore. From what he saw, it seemed that he was in Fourtrees.
Is this the dream.... the dream, I'm supposed to receive? Then, I must have been accepted, well if it is the ceremony.
Different thoughts surrounded his mind, a mixture of happiness, shock and excitement. However, The feeling of despair and dread, no longer lingered in his thoughts. Snowclaw tilted his head toward Silverpelt, and was shocked to see it so clear and close. Suddenly, the stars began to move and swirl around him, and his paw gave way, nearly making him trip until he regained his balance again. Soon, the lights began to change. They began to transform into the bodies of cats, many whom he had known all his life. The cats of StarClan were all around him now, he realized, their pelts crystal white with frost sparkling around their paws and in their eyes. The scents weren't separate as you might expect of any cat, but of Ice and Fire. Then a voice sounded all around him, all of them into one clear voice, yet he could hear each separate voice clearly as his own.
" Welcome, Snowclaw are you ready to receive your nine lives? "
Snowclaw swallowed nervously and attempted to speak with a calm voice, but it just came out in a startled jumble.
' Y-Yes I'm r-ready...' I hope..
A white figure behind the crown soon rose to his paws, and with a gasp, Snowclaw soon figured out who that was.
" S-Skyshine? But how?" he meowed hesitantly, still unable to believe that he was here, Right before him. Then suddenly, Snowclaw's gaze softened and with a purr, he managed to move to touch noses with him in greeting.
Skyshine! I'm so glad; you're here and safe. he meowed, restraining himself from yowling and kept his voice steady.
Skyshine was Snowclaw's beloved brother, his twin. All throughout their kit-hood, apprenticeship and even warrior-ship, they had been inseparable. They were always found together, no matter what they were doing: hunting, patrolling or sleeping, you name it. Until that day. The day he left and disappeared from Snowclaw's sight forever, until now that is. It was after an argument, about who would be deputy and Skyshine got so mad that he left without a word, and he was always the more reasonable one too. Yes, that was the day Snowclaw was made deputy, but he still regretted that fight. It was all nonsense after all and he still thinks, that Skyshine would have been made deputy if their quarrel hadn't intervened. Still, then he wouldn't be here and Snowclaw, might have been in Starclan. So. Maybe that was for the better. Snowclaw decided to ask him now, where he had gone, while he had the chance.
" Sky...I'm sorry. You should have been made deputy, not me. I'm really sorry, but where'd you go? "
Skyshine didn't react at all, but his expression turned into an extremely happy one, for he too seemed to be happy to see his brother again. He trotted up to Snowclaw and rested his touched his nose gently to his brothers, shining with pride.
"With this life I give you justice. Use it well as you judge the actions of others." he meowed, solemnly.
A shock flew through his body, vibrating him to the core and Snowclaw felt as if he would fall to the ground. Surprisingly he didn't and stood there, gritting his teeth. He felt the sadness that Skyshine must have felt for leaving his brother, and yet felt the pride, of seeing one so close to him reach the ranks of leadership. Skyshine turned away, with a sad murmur and already another cat had risen and was heading toward Snowclaw, one he knew quite well.
"Silentbrook?" whispered Snowclaw, his eyes widening in amazement. Silentbrook had been his mentor, the one who taught him everything and was like a friend to him. Sadly, though after Snowclaw's vigil, he had been killed by a Shadowclan patrol, and Snowclaw will never forgive him or forget who had done it.
Again, no reply reached his ears. He rested his nose to hers and began to speak. Not with the, weak and old voice he had known him as a senior warrior, but a confident, proud strong one that boomed throughout the clearing.
"With this life I give you courage. Use it well to defend your clan"
His eyes closed, and it took all his strength as Snowclaw gripped himself from being flung towards the trees. The strength of his mentor surged through him, and fear clung to him, as if he could imagine the last moments of his death. He stepped back and another cat took his place. A beautiful silver tabby stepped forward next.
"Silverwind!" cried Snowclaw. The tears that had begun to form in his eyes began to fall at the site of this she-cat, forming a tiny puddle between his paws. This was Snowclaw's mother, and she sadly died of old age, along with his father. Unlike Skyshine, he had been much closer to his mother and father then any cat could have imagined.
But once again, the cat did not say anything, but rested her nose on her son and murmured, "With this life I give you protection. Use it well to care for your Clan as a mother cares for her kits."
He gritted his teeth, as another shock was sent through his body and his body was still shaking from the pain. He imagined the fearless energy a mother had as she protected her kits, as she had done for him in her long life. She turned away. "Wait!" cried Snowclaw, tears falling down his cheeks. "Don't you have anything to say to me?" She wailed, but her mother only looked back at her and smiled.
Another cat rose from the crowd and padded forward. This cat at first, Snowclaw did not recognize. It was a white cat, with odd colored eyes and then it hit him, it was his friend, Jayfall who had died from a deadly plague that swept the camp. Just as all the others, the she rested her nose on her head and meowed, "With this life I give you tireless energy. Use it well to carry out the duties of a leader."
He shook violently as the energy bolted through him and, he bit back a yowl of agony from the pain. He stepped back and another cat came to take his place. Snowclaw's began to widen again, in surprise.
"Crescentmoon," he whispered. "Father!"
The tom just stood proudly in front of his son, his muscles still strong and he stared into the eyes of Snowclaw, deeply as if searching for something.. Then he rested her nose on his head and meowed, with this life I give you loyalty to what you know to be right. Use it well to guide you Clan in times of trouble.
Crescentmoon padded back to join the others. Then another figure stepped forward next. Joy and happiness flooded through as he recognized Ripplepool, his best friend.
Ripplepool had been Snowclaw's closest friend and the former deputy. He padded up to him and rested his nose on her head like all the others had done.
"With this life I give you mentoring. Use it well to train the young cats of your Clan."
The surge wasn't surprising, and he ignored it, though his claws were unsheathed as they gripped against the ground. Ripplepool stepped back and in his place came another figure, one he hadn't recognized at all. It was a black figure, young as an apprentice and had bright golden eyes. Lostpaw! He'd died or rather, run away for unknown reasons and as the clan guessed, he died. Lostpaw had always had a troubled kithood, everyone picking on him, but Snowclaw had always stood up for the young apprentice, something he had never been thanked for. Snowclaw had always felt sorry for him, still wondering why he had run.
Lostpaw rested his nose on her head and announced, "With this life I give you compassion. Use it well for the elders of your Clan."
The young tom stepped back, but before he murmured a 'Thank you'
Two more to go he thought as watched another cat come forward, no cat he had ever met in his life. The pain somehow had blurred his vision and he couldn't argue, as the cat came forward and touched her nose to his head. However, he soon realized who it was as she came closer. It was Dancingpaw. It was one of his close friends and somehow he had grown a liking to her, possibly even love her. But then, she had died from Green cough and Snowclaw had grieved for moons.
Dancingpaw came forward and rested her nose on his head,
"With this life I give you love. Use it well for all the cats in your care."
It was surprising what he felt though, it was a soft comforting touch and Snowclaw smiled. If she had lived, he would have loved her dearly, protecting her forever. However, that wasn't her or his fate. She stepped back slowly, a smile placed on her maw and her amber eyes, dancing with pride.
One left to go. Somehow, Snowclaw was not surprised at all when Flamingstar stepped forward.
"Welcome Snowclaw, my warrior, my friend and my deputy. I hope you will make as great of a leader as I always thought you would make."
Snowclaw bowed his head to his leader as she placed her nose to Snowclaw's head. For a moment, his mind still wondered why she had left and Snowclaw slowly shook the thoughts away, turning to the present.
"With this life I give you nobility, certainty, and faith. Use it well as you lead your Clan in the ways of StarClan, the Warrior Code and for what you think is right"
The shock sent him flying once more, and his eyes closed tightly, for after the soft feeling Dancingpaw had given him, he hadn't expected this. He was still in shock, when he slowly opened his eyes to hear her voice again
"I hail you by your new name, Snowstar. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of ThunderClan. Defend it well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code. Live each life with pride and dignity!"
Then, all the cats of StarClan started chanting his new name, as the clan would do for a warrior
"Snowstar! Snowstar! Snowstar!"
Suddenly, the chanting ceased and the cats of StarClan began to disappear, swirling into a mist as they flew back up to the sky. A faint mew, resided next to him as he watched in awe the disappearance
" Good-bye Snowstar. Lead your clan well and Good luck. "
Suddenly, everything was dark and as he opened his eyes again, he realized he was back in Moonstone. Snowstar blinked his eyes in the light of the Moonstone. He had received his nine lives and was now back at Mothermouth. He sat up and stretched, then started out toward the entrance to Mothermouth where he would continue his journey home.
[[Hope I did that right...]]
