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Description
"Fogstorm!" Beestripes wailed at the top of her lungs, though she was panting hard from the long run. Rainclan didn't like running long distances. I'd much rather take a nice long swim!
The gray tomcat was staring into the river, one paw just above the water, ready to strike something that Beestripes couldn't see. He raised his head to see her, his amber eye surprised.
"Fogstorm, there's this cat talking to Frozenfire and he wants to take her away, but they're best friends, so Frozenfire won't fight him, so I couldn't attack without help and now you and I have to go scare him off but not hurt him because he doesn't know he's evil yet!" The words spilled out so fast that Beestripes didn't know what she said. She'd made several grammar mistakes, but this was not the time to worry about it. She shook her head hard to clear it, suddenly upset that Fogstorm hadn't understood her.
But he had.
"You want me to come because I was most willing to fight him before." Beestripes nodded, but didn't say a word. She was already on her paws, half running. She glanced over her shoulder to see if Fogstorm was following, and he was. Within a few bounds he was ahead of her with a bit of help from his longer legs. Beestripes, who was already exhausted, had trouble keeping up until the ground sloped beneath her paws and gravity gave her a helpful push.
They're still there! She thought with relief as she saw Liquidgaze and Frozenfire at the bottom of the hill. Her relief turned to horror as she realized Liquidgaze was pinning her down, claws poised to kill.
"I don't want this to happen!" he wailed. "Please reconsider coming to live with the pack!"
"Never!" Frozenfire hissed into his face, swiping a claw across his nose.
"I don't want to hurt you, but they will if you don't come! They'll do horrible things to you, much worse than this!"
Beestripes, suddenly feeling a burst of rage, raked her claws across his back. She knew that, in his own strange, sick way, Liquidgaze was trying to protect the cat he loved. He was trying to kill her quickly so that she wouldn't have to suffer through what his packmates would do.
But she also knew that she would be Frozenstar then, with nine lives to fight for. She'd be fine.
Liquidgaze staggered away towards the river, fear in his silver eyes. Good! He'll swim back to where he belongs! She and Fogstorm chased him, and suddenly her blood ran cold. Liquidgaze had turned and leapt on her former mentor, biting his neck hard before dissappearing, not into the river, but into a hole that led somewhere she couldn't see.
Beestripes ran to Fogstorm, but the gray tomcat was already getting up. To her relief, the bleeding had almost stopped.
Then a horrible cracking noise came, and Beestripes squeezed her eyes shut as a deafening sound took her senses away. She felt wind rushing past her, and then the ground vibrated. When it was over, Beestripes opened her eyes to see a horrible sight.
A great tree had fallen, and it covered the hole that Liquidgaze had retreated to.
-
Alright, Frozenfire thought. Let's get this over with!
She knew she was on Starclan territory now. The ground was too soft, the sky too blue, the endless sea of cats that welcomed her too friendly.
She couldn't enjoy any of it. She'd felt horrible after Liquidgaze's death. He had tried to kill her, yes, but it was because of the Pack. They had warped his mind so that emotions were nothing. Happiness was agony, love was a desire to kill. She felt bad for him, but didn't love him anymore. She had been more terrified for the lives of Fogstorm and Beestripes during the fight than for Liquidgaze's. He was nothing. He probably doesn't even walk these skies.
"Are you ready?" Asked a voice, and Frozenfire nodded, reminded of why she was here. She was going to get a new name and nine new lives. When she returned home, she would no longer be a foolish deputy in love with a monster, but a clan leader, loving only the members of her clan.
"But you're fifth-clan, Frozenfire," chimed in the voice that she had learned to share her mind with. "Doesn't that mean you should love everyone?" She shook her head.
A white tomcat stepped forward, and Frozenfire's grief melted away. Who cared about what she once had? This was what she had now. She was going to get nine lives and make Rainclan stronger.
This cat was Snowstorm. He'd been killed in an unnecessary battle to avenge the disappearance of Icedrop's kits. There was no anger, no light of battle in his eyes now. He touched his nose to Frozenfire's.
"With this life I give you common sense. Use it to judge whether or not battles are worth fighting."
All at once, Frozenfire was filled with such adrenaline that it burned her. Her legs ached as if she were running into battle, but there was a greater pain in her head. It grew, firey somehow, until it stopped and Snowstorm stepped back, leaving her panting. How on earth will I do this eight more times?
The next cat that came to join her was Blossomfur, the cat that had helped Honeyflower look after her as a kit. She'd been killed in the same battle that Snowstorm had, but her sunset - colored fur had no hint of blood now.
"With this life I give you compassion. Use it to help everyone in need; not just cats from your own clan." Frozenfire braced herself for more pain in her head, but this was different. Instead, she felt an overwhelming sadness that threatened to destroy her. Her legs buckled. She could think only about how she wanted it to end, and then it was over.
Blossomfur did not move. Instead, she flicked her tail in a signal, and three young kits came bounding up. The first was peach-colored like Blossomfur, and Frozenfire remembered Peachkit, the sunset- furred warrior's daughter, and her former denmate. The next two were identical, though one was much larger than the other. It was almost up to Frozenfire's belly fur, while the smaller one was barely larger than her paw.
Peachkit came up to her and stood on her hind legs to touch Frozenfire's nose. "With this third life, I give you sight, not that you don't already have it. Use it to see what is right in front of you as well as things more hidden, like what happened to me." Frozenfire had a horrible ache in her head, but when it was over she just had to talk to her former denmate.
"What did happen to you, Peachkit?" The young cat had been slaughtered by something. Everyone had assumed it was Minnowpaw, an older apprentice, but no one knew for sure.
Peachkit shook her head and stepped back to let the larger of the black kits come up to her. "That is for your sight to tell you," she meowed, then she and Blossomfur retreated back into the starry ranks.
The larger black kit, now with her nose pressed against Frozenfire's, meowed, "With this fourth life I give you health. You have many lives to lose now, but you still must take care of them." To Frozenfire's surprise, this life brought no pain, but pure, sweet energy.
"Do I know you from somewhere?"
The kit stared at her. "No. . . At least, I don't think so. I.. died of sickness before you came to Rainclan. I'm Birdkit." Of course! Snakesteps's sister!
She stepped back and the tinier kit approached her. Frozenfire was surprised that the kit was able to stand up because it was so small. She was walking just fine, though, and her blue eyes glittered with intelligence that few elders had.
"Bend down, please," meowed the kit, her voice tiny, but full of authority. "I'm not very tall, as you can see." Frozenfire crouched down so that the kit could touch her nose. I've seen those eyes before, haven't I? They're. . . Berryfur's! This must be Spanglekit! Oh, if only I could tell Snakesteps!
"With this life I give you resilience. Use it to keep hanging on always, whether it be for your clan, or something bigger." Frozenfire felt grief this time, but she didn't think it was from the new life, but for Spanglekit. Take care, little one.
A black and white tomcat had approached her. "Hi," he meowed. "You don't remember me, but I am Littleleaf. I was your friend when you lived in Darkclan." He stepped closer, and Frozenfire could have sworn she remembered his scent from her dreams.
"With this life I give you strength. Be strong for your clan in moons to come." Frozenfire felt the most horrible pain that she'd felt in a long time. Every muscle felt strained, every nerve on fire. "Be strong," murmured Littleleaf, and it ended.
"With your seventh life," meowed a strange white tom with blue and purple swirls, "I was going to give you intelligence, but you've got it." He chuckled, pressing his nose to hers, and she felt another horrible headache. "Use it."
Frozenfire remembered this cat from somewhere. But where? The voice...? "Stop!" she hissed as the cat walked away. "Who are you? Why are you always in my head? Why do-"
"Hush," the cat interrupted. "You know. You know you do." Then he faded, unlike the other cats who had simply walked away.
A white she-cat walked up to her. "Dovestar! How did you get here? You only just received your own nine lives! What happened?"
The white cat shook her head. "You will find out soon enough," she meowed, touching Frozenfire's nose. "I am so sorry," she whispered. "Dreamstar died at my deputy's paws. I will never forgive myself."
Another voice purred. "Have you forgotten, Dovestar, that I forgave you myself?"
Frozenfire gasped. When Dovestar gave her an eighth life, one for peace, she barely heard, and barely felt the pain that came with it. Dreamstar was behind her, and soon he pressed his nose to hers.
"With this life I give you bravery," he meowed, his blue eyes bright. "Throw yourself into battle to protect those you love . . . especially one."
"Who?" she asked, but Dreamstar was not done speaking.
"I hail you by your new name, Frozenstar."
And then, being cheered on by all the warriors of Starclan, the world melted.

Description
"Fogstorm!" Beestripes wailed at the top of her lungs, though she was panting hard from the long run. Rainclan didn't like running long distances. I'd much rather take a nice long swim!
The gray tomcat was staring into the river, one paw just above the water, ready to strike something that Beestripes couldn't see. He raised his head to see her, his amber eye surprised.
"Fogstorm, there's this cat talking to Frozenfire and he wants to take her away, but they're best friends, so Frozenfire won't fight him, so I couldn't attack without help and now you and I have to go scare him off but not hurt him because he doesn't know he's evil yet!" The words spilled out so fast that Beestripes didn't know what she said. She'd made several grammar mistakes, but this was not the time to worry about it. She shook her head hard to clear it, suddenly upset that Fogstorm hadn't understood her.
But he had.
"You want me to come because I was most willing to fight him before." Beestripes nodded, but didn't say a word. She was already on her paws, half running. She glanced over her shoulder to see if Fogstorm was following, and he was. Within a few bounds he was ahead of her with a bit of help from his longer legs. Beestripes, who was already exhausted, had trouble keeping up until the ground sloped beneath her paws and gravity gave her a helpful push.
They're still there! She thought with relief as she saw Liquidgaze and Frozenfire at the bottom of the hill. Her relief turned to horror as she realized Liquidgaze was pinning her down, claws poised to kill.
"I don't want this to happen!" he wailed. "Please reconsider coming to live with the pack!"
"Never!" Frozenfire hissed into his face, swiping a claw across his nose.
"I don't want to hurt you, but they will if you don't come! They'll do horrible things to you, much worse than this!"
Beestripes, suddenly feeling a burst of rage, raked her claws across his back. She knew that, in his own strange, sick way, Liquidgaze was trying to protect the cat he loved. He was trying to kill her quickly so that she wouldn't have to suffer through what his packmates would do.
But she also knew that she would be Frozenstar then, with nine lives to fight for. She'd be fine.
Liquidgaze staggered away towards the river, fear in his silver eyes. Good! He'll swim back to where he belongs! She and Fogstorm chased him, and suddenly her blood ran cold. Liquidgaze had turned and leapt on her former mentor, biting his neck hard before dissappearing, not into the river, but into a hole that led somewhere she couldn't see.
Beestripes ran to Fogstorm, but the gray tomcat was already getting up. To her relief, the bleeding had almost stopped.
Then a horrible cracking noise came, and Beestripes squeezed her eyes shut as a deafening sound took her senses away. She felt wind rushing past her, and then the ground vibrated. When it was over, Beestripes opened her eyes to see a horrible sight.
A great tree had fallen, and it covered the hole that Liquidgaze had retreated to.
-
Alright, Frozenfire thought. Let's get this over with!
She knew she was on Starclan territory now. The ground was too soft, the sky too blue, the endless sea of cats that welcomed her too friendly.
She couldn't enjoy any of it. She'd felt horrible after Liquidgaze's death. He had tried to kill her, yes, but it was because of the Pack. They had warped his mind so that emotions were nothing. Happiness was agony, love was a desire to kill. She felt bad for him, but didn't love him anymore. She had been more terrified for the lives of Fogstorm and Beestripes during the fight than for Liquidgaze's. He was nothing. He probably doesn't even walk these skies.
"Are you ready?" Asked a voice, and Frozenfire nodded, reminded of why she was here. She was going to get a new name and nine new lives. When she returned home, she would no longer be a foolish deputy in love with a monster, but a clan leader, loving only the members of her clan.
"But you're fifth-clan, Frozenfire," chimed in the voice that she had learned to share her mind with. "Doesn't that mean you should love everyone?" She shook her head.
A white tomcat stepped forward, and Frozenfire's grief melted away. Who cared about what she once had? This was what she had now. She was going to get nine lives and make Rainclan stronger.
This cat was Snowstorm. He'd been killed in an unnecessary battle to avenge the disappearance of Icedrop's kits. There was no anger, no light of battle in his eyes now. He touched his nose to Frozenfire's.
"With this life I give you common sense. Use it to judge whether or not battles are worth fighting."
All at once, Frozenfire was filled with such adrenaline that it burned her. Her legs ached as if she were running into battle, but there was a greater pain in her head. It grew, firey somehow, until it stopped and Snowstorm stepped back, leaving her panting. How on earth will I do this eight more times?
The next cat that came to join her was Blossomfur, the cat that had helped Honeyflower look after her as a kit. She'd been killed in the same battle that Snowstorm had, but her sunset - colored fur had no hint of blood now.
"With this life I give you compassion. Use it to help everyone in need; not just cats from your own clan." Frozenfire braced herself for more pain in her head, but this was different. Instead, she felt an overwhelming sadness that threatened to destroy her. Her legs buckled. She could think only about how she wanted it to end, and then it was over.
Blossomfur did not move. Instead, she flicked her tail in a signal, and three young kits came bounding up. The first was peach-colored like Blossomfur, and Frozenfire remembered Peachkit, the sunset- furred warrior's daughter, and her former denmate. The next two were identical, though one was much larger than the other. It was almost up to Frozenfire's belly fur, while the smaller one was barely larger than her paw.
Peachkit came up to her and stood on her hind legs to touch Frozenfire's nose. "With this third life, I give you sight, not that you don't already have it. Use it to see what is right in front of you as well as things more hidden, like what happened to me." Frozenfire had a horrible ache in her head, but when it was over she just had to talk to her former denmate.
"What did happen to you, Peachkit?" The young cat had been slaughtered by something. Everyone had assumed it was Minnowpaw, an older apprentice, but no one knew for sure.
Peachkit shook her head and stepped back to let the larger of the black kits come up to her. "That is for your sight to tell you," she meowed, then she and Blossomfur retreated back into the starry ranks.
The larger black kit, now with her nose pressed against Frozenfire's, meowed, "With this fourth life I give you health. You have many lives to lose now, but you still must take care of them." To Frozenfire's surprise, this life brought no pain, but pure, sweet energy.
"Do I know you from somewhere?"
The kit stared at her. "No. . . At least, I don't think so. I.. died of sickness before you came to Rainclan. I'm Birdkit." Of course! Snakesteps's sister!
She stepped back and the tinier kit approached her. Frozenfire was surprised that the kit was able to stand up because it was so small. She was walking just fine, though, and her blue eyes glittered with intelligence that few elders had.
"Bend down, please," meowed the kit, her voice tiny, but full of authority. "I'm not very tall, as you can see." Frozenfire crouched down so that the kit could touch her nose. I've seen those eyes before, haven't I? They're. . . Berryfur's! This must be Spanglekit! Oh, if only I could tell Snakesteps!
"With this life I give you resilience. Use it to keep hanging on always, whether it be for your clan, or something bigger." Frozenfire felt grief this time, but she didn't think it was from the new life, but for Spanglekit. Take care, little one.
A black and white tomcat had approached her. "Hi," he meowed. "You don't remember me, but I am Littleleaf. I was your friend when you lived in Darkclan." He stepped closer, and Frozenfire could have sworn she remembered his scent from her dreams.
"With this life I give you strength. Be strong for your clan in moons to come." Frozenfire felt the most horrible pain that she'd felt in a long time. Every muscle felt strained, every nerve on fire. "Be strong," murmured Littleleaf, and it ended.
"With your seventh life," meowed a strange white tom with blue and purple swirls, "I was going to give you intelligence, but you've got it." He chuckled, pressing his nose to hers, and she felt another horrible headache. "Use it."
Frozenfire remembered this cat from somewhere. But where? The voice...? "Stop!" she hissed as the cat walked away. "Who are you? Why are you always in my head? Why do-"
"Hush," the cat interrupted. "You know. You know you do." Then he faded, unlike the other cats who had simply walked away.
A white she-cat walked up to her. "Dovestar! How did you get here? You only just received your own nine lives! What happened?"
The white cat shook her head. "You will find out soon enough," she meowed, touching Frozenfire's nose. "I am so sorry," she whispered. "Dreamstar died at my deputy's paws. I will never forgive myself."
Another voice purred. "Have you forgotten, Dovestar, that I forgave you myself?"
Frozenfire gasped. When Dovestar gave her an eighth life, one for peace, she barely heard, and barely felt the pain that came with it. Dreamstar was behind her, and soon he pressed his nose to hers.
"With this life I give you bravery," he meowed, his blue eyes bright. "Throw yourself into battle to protect those you love . . . especially one."
"Who?" she asked, but Dreamstar was not done speaking.
"I hail you by your new name, Frozenstar."
And then, being cheered on by all the warriors of Starclan, the world melted.