[caracalfang]

*The orange and white tabby tom cut his way across the terrain with Tigerlily, the medicine cat, in tow. On his way to the Moon Tree to become a leader, Falconeye couldn't help but feel nervous. Was he ready to lead a clan? Why had Midnightstar vanished? Would StarClan accept him if Midnightstar was still out there? And, would his clan think him fit to lead? All these questions and more buzzed in his head like an angry beehive, but his paws never strayed the course. The warrior code said that he was to become leader, and it had never steered him wrong. He would be the best he could, like he always had, and hope for the best. But what if...He didn't have time to consider it, because they had approached the Moon Tree.* Well. Here we are Tigerlily...
*He steped over to the shining roots of the tree and began to settle in. He kept his eyes on the ground as he spoke* Tigerlily...can I do this? Lead this clan I mean. I did like being deputy, but leader?
*He knew that it was uncharacteristic of him to seem unsure, but if he was to be leader after all, he would at least have to let some of his guard down to his medicine cat. And his deputy when he chose who it would be. He laid down and wait for an answer.*

[Fate Admin]

Tigerlily breathed deep the night air as they made their way to the Moon Tree. Stories the elders told said that the journey to the Moonpool had taken longer, and that journeys to the old Moonstone had taken a whole day! Tigerlily couldn't imagine, what with the Moon Tree being about half a day's journey, including both there and back. Of course, elders did tend to exaggerate at times, but how could she judge? She had never traveled to the Moonpool or the Moonstone. That was way before her time.

As they picked their way around the glowing roots of the Moon Tree, her ears twitched at the sound of Falconeye's uncertain question. She sat in a space among the roots, curled her tail around her paws, and spoke in a hushed tone, "Midnightstar chose you as Deputy for a reason, Falconeye. He would not have chosen a cat he did not think would be a good leader for his Clan. You have proven yourself a worthy Deputy, now it is your place to become leader." She dipped her head slightly in an encouraging nod, "Now close your eyes and let StarClan send you sleep. I will be here when you wake. Remember that you must not discuss what you experience with any cat...."

((Well, I'm not really sure which cats would be important enough to Falconeye to give him his 9 lives, so you are free to play out the giving of the nine lives and what gifts he's given with those lives... make the final one Midnightstar, or I can play out the final one if you want, but the final cat is going to be Midnightstar... we'll say Demon killed him))

[caracalfang]

(( Sweet! I'll do eight of them then, and leave Midnightstar up to you.))

*Falconeye smiled at Tigerlily's reassuring words and let himself slip into sleep. He waited for a while but nothing seemed to happen. He sighed and raised up, figuring it did not work, then opened his eyes and gasped. There was a whole slew of cats around him! They wore stars in there fur, and some of them seemed amused at his wonderment. He cast his eyes around, looking for something to say when they spoke.*

Welcome Falconeye. Are you ready to recieve your nine lives?

*The tom glanced around at the cats. His warrior ancestors. He felt a sudden burst of pride to be part of this legacy and stood taller and more resolute.* I am.

*The crowd rippled and a cat emerged. He looked at her hard but did not recognize her. Who was this she cat? She saw the confusion in his eyes and smiled warmly as she spoke.* Hello Falconeye. I have traveled a long way to see you, and have been given a great honor. I am Fluff, and in life I was your mother. *As Falconeye looked on in disbelief, his mom stepped forward and spoke again.* With this life I give you love and protection, to guard those close to you with all you have. *She touched noses with him, and at first he welcomed it from the mother he had never known...then the shock of pain hit him. He gasped again and felt his legs begin to buckle. It was so ferce, the feeling he was getting. Like when he fought for his clan but so much more intense! Like he could take on every cat in StarClan and all the other clans and would to keep his clan safe.*

*He opened his eyes as the feeling subsided and saw his mother still gazing at him with love in her eyes.* I have always watched you, Falconeye, and been proud. I can't say what came over your father, but I am glad it drove you to this place anyway. *She turned to go, then paused and looked back over her shoulder.* Oh. And your eyes are beautiful, not unnatural. *She gave him a last smile then vanished into the crowd. He stared after her and muttered thanks as she departed. It seemed deficient to him, but nothing else would come to his mind, which was still a little frazzled from the twin experiances of getting his first life and recieving it from his mother.*

*Now a young brown tom stepped forward. He grinned happily as he strutted up to Falconeye. The orange cat smiled in return as he recognized the cat. It was Acornpaw, his friend from apprenticehood. He had been carried off by an eagle when out on an evalutaion. Now, he came to stand in front of Falconeye and said.* With this life, I give you mentoring, to train those in your clan to be honest warriors, no matter their age. *Still with the goofy smile on his face, he leaned forward and touched Falconeye's nose. He was more ready for it this time, but still not completely able to stand up to it, and he felt his legs buckle again as his eyes squinted shut. When his eyes opened again, he saw that his friend had backed up and a new cat was about to take his place.*

*Now an older cat paced up to him, and Falconeye's smile changed to one of warmth. This was his favorite elder from when he was an apprentice to the time that she died. Moletooth, a soft grey she-cat with long whiskers, stopped before him with a huff. Most of the apprentices didn't like to tend to her because she was bad-tempered but Falconeye, after seeing true anger at the paws of his father, always took it as spirit rather than frustration. Besides, she had the best stories if you could get them out of her.* I give you the gift of patience, to put up with those that get to you and to outlast their stupidity. *He just had time to reflect that it was just like her when she touched his nose and the pain shot through him again. This life hit with a wave of long-suffering endurence and left him feeling a little tired. Of course, he reflected, it could just be that it was all getting to him.*

*As his eyes opened again, he saw that Moletooth had taken a spot beside Acornpaw. A big brown and white tom now came forward to stand before Falconeye. It was his mentor, Quailfeather, and he couldn't help but dip his head in a show of respect to the tom. All of a sudden, he felt a swift, but soft rap on his head. He looked up startled and saw the cat roll his eyes with a small smile on his face.* Always the self-depreciating one, you. So I give you the gift of confidence, to believe in yourself and your actions, and those of your clan. *He touched a still-suprised Falconeye on the nose and the young tom buckled once more, but this time, he was hit with a wave of self-belief and felt as if the whole forest was on his side and ready to support him. He gasped to get his breath back and smile slightly as his eyes opened. His mentor was turning to leave, but Falconeye called to him,* Thank you. You were always more of a father than my real one, and I appreciated it more than you'll ever know. *Quailfeather glanced back with a smile and a sharp nod, then continued on to stand beside the others.*

*He watched his mentor take his place, then looked to see what cat would come next. It turned out to be Echosong, the medicine cat before Tigerlily. She didn't hesitate but walked right up to him and said,* I give you the gift of wisdom, to know what is right and wrong and to pick the lightest when things are a shade of grey. *This time the pain was accompanied by a sharp pain in his head and he felt as if he suddenly knew more than any cat ought. She was already in place when he opened his eyes.*

*The next cat to approach was Quickadder. He was a thin black tom who ran faster than any cat in the clan during his time. He had been killed by a badger that wondered into the territory. Falconeye had gotten the honor of being in the party that tracked it down and got rid of it. Even the black tom's stride was abnormally quick, and he got to Falconeye faster than all the others.* I give you the gift of speed and energy, to get to your clan when they need you and to stand for them when you get there. *Falconeye felt a surge of energy with the pain and could not make up his mind if he felt good or bad until the wave faded. Then he was sure he was getting more and more exhausted as the lives came on. He was going to need a nap by the time he made it back to camp.*

*Falconeye looked up wearily as the next cat approached him. Badgerstorm, the deputy before him appeared with his always present dignified stride. He gazed at Falconeye, then lifted his head with his tail.* Stay strong, my friend. You have almost completed your trial. I give you the gift of justice, to judge others and own actions wisely. *Yet another bolt of pain and Falconeye was beginning to wonder why life caused such pain. He opened his eyes and waited for the next cat to show itself. Just two more to get through; He would make it. He hoped...*

*The eighth to pad to him was a grey tabby tom with blue eyes. Frostgaze was his name, and he had been a rather loud warrior, but a friend of Falconeye's anyway. With a smirk, he said,* I give you the gift of respect. Use it to listen to every cats oppinion and take it into account. *He touched Falconeye's nose and as the orange tom recieved his eighth life he just kept thinking, one more, one more.*

*Falconeye took a deep breath, opened his eyes, and looked about to see the cats who had given him his lives so far, then looked into the crowd to see who would bestow his ninth life upon him.*

[Fate Admin]

A moment later the cats parted to allow a big black tom to pass and come to stand before Falconeye. Midnightstar touched his nose briefly to his deputy's ear in greeting before pulling back to look into his eyes as he spoke, "The Clan is worried because they do not know where I have gone... tell them I rest here now. I should not have gone wondering about alone and was caught by Demon, the monster cat. You may tell them of my death so that they are resolved to it." He dipped his head slightly, he wanted his Clan to be at peace with themselves and knew how much his disappearance was troubling them. When he looked into Falconeye's eyes once more, there was new resolutionas he moved on to give him his final life as the new leader of TreeClan, "With this life I give you faith and loyalty, to StarClan, to your Clan, and to your heart. Know yourself, Falconeye, know your heart, and let it lead you well in the decisions you make for your Clan." He touched his nose to Falconeye's, and there would be a quick flash of heat, like being struck by lightning, but then the warmth would grow from Falconeye's toes and fill him from nose to tail tip. It was a softer life, and one that would give back a little of the energy that had been taken out of him with his previous eight lives.

Taking a step back, he spoke once more, "I call you by your new name, Falconstar. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of TreeClan. 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." With that, the cats of StarClan began to call out, "Falconstar!" greeting him by his new name just as the cats in the valley might greet a newly named apprentice or warrior. Slowly they began to fade until only Midnightstar was left standing with Falconstar, his eyes dark, "Troubled times are ahead of you, they will test your skills and ability to lead TreeClan. I will be here to guide you, should you truly need me. Remember what I told you, Falconstar, know your heart and let it lead you...." It seemed as though he might stil be speaking, though his words were the faintest whispers as he faded away.

[caracalfang]

(( I am leading StoneClan, not TreeClan. lol ))

*Falconeye dipped his head to acknowledge Midnightstar's story. He had hoped the leader was still out there, but he knew it was a slim chance to begin with. Midnightstar would have come back by now had that been the case. As he recieved his ninth life, his legs still buckled and his eyes slammed shut, but as the feeling receded he greeted the warmth with a sigh of pleasure.*

*The cats of StarClan began to call him Falconstar and he raised himself up with the last bits of energy he had left to present a strong leader to his ancestors. He dipped his head in respect to them and smiled as he heard his name echo around the area. The cats faded and only Midnightstar was left. Falconstar had to strain his ears to hear what he said, but as he began to fade and Falconstar began to wake, he said,* Thank you, Midnightstar.

*Falconstar blinked his eyes open to take in the Moon Tree's roots that he was nestled among. He took a deep breath and raised himself to his feet to turn to Tigerlily. Though he had smiled much in his meeting with StarClan, he was not known for smiling. He did, however, give his medicine cat a small one.* That was...interesting.

[Fate Admin]

((lolz, sorry, spacey moment))

Tigerlily purred, seeing the smile upon her leader's face, she knew all had gone well. She turned, leaping over a few of the glowing roots, back toward the entrance to the cave that held them, "Let us return to the Clan, then... you will need to choose a deputy." Tilting her head back at him, she looked at him curiously, "Did StarClan give you any message? I've been told they sometimes do, during these ceremonies.... You do not need to tell me," she added quickly.

[caracalfang]

*Falconstar's mouth now turned down into a more familiar frown. He stepped from the roots of the tree to stand beside Tigerlily at the entrance to the sacred place.* No, no. I intend to keep nothing from my medicine cat. I actually have two messages. First, I was given word that troubled times are ahead. I don't know if they are for all the clans or just ours, but we will meet them full on. I don't want to worry the clan, so I will keep that one between us two until I see fit to share it, if I ever do. Second, I know what has happened to Midnightstar. Would you like me to tell you now, or would you prefer to hear with the rest of the clan? *He began to walk towards home, figuring they could walk and talk just as easily. And he really wanted to get to his nest before he collapsed.*

[Fate Admin]

Continuing on their trek back to camp, Tigerlily listened. It was not surprising that troubled times were ahead, all five Clans had had a relatively peaceful time in the valley since their arrival, minus a few run ins with Demon and an outbreak of greencough some moons ago. When he mentioned Midnightstar, her ears perked slightly, though when she glanced over at him, she shook her head, "No, I can wait to hear it with the rest of the Clan, since you plan on telling them as well. Right now you can save your breath for the journey back." He looked exhausted, though maybe it was just her ability as a medicine cat to see past the fronts cats tended to put up. She flicked her tail encouragingly across his flank as she padded beside him, continuing on to camp.

((you can just make a thread in camp or ... not, lol, but if my post here doesnt end it then you should end it with your next one.))

[caracalfang]

((Ending it with this one. Since there aren't many cats in the clan, I will probably take Falconstar to do something else.))

*Falconstar acknowledged the medicine cat's touch with a nod and was pleased she didn't insist that they take a break or want to hear about Midnightstar. It would be bad enough telling the clan once without having to reveal such painful news twice. He sighed deeply. Well, he would have to tell it twice wouldn't he? The other leader's would want to know what happened to her as well. Still, two, in this case, was better than three. He paused to consider that his thoughts were beginning to go in a circle and was thankful that he was headed home to the clan. His clan.*