Redstorm Becomes Redstar

[♥Goldenheart♥]

"Creampaw and Swiftpaw, stay here," the commanding blood-red tom ordered the apprentices. "Keep watch." The apprentices sat obediently at either side of the cave, their eyes darting around nervously. The cave was a bit creepy.

[{sweetly bro.ken} Hollyleaf]

The medicine cat beckoned to Redstorm. "Follow me. I will know the way." With that, she began to pad down the twisting tunnels, glancing back to see if Redstorm was still with her until she could not see a thing. She kept going still, because the Moonstone was deep within the cavern.

[♥Goldenheart♥]

Redstorm followed Hollyleaf until they arrived in the cavern of the Moonstone. It was dazzling white, and the deputy was supposed to approach it. He did so, and touched his nose to it. As he closed his eyes, Redstorm wondered what was going to happen in this dream he was supposed to have.

...What felt like an eternity later, he was still wondering. The ground was cold and hard, and he was beginning to feel cramped from sitting. Did something go wrong? Were StarClan rejecting him? He opened his eyes, ready to admit defeat, and nearly yowled in shock. He was at Fourtrees? How is this possible? he wondered. Then, suddenly, he knew. This is the dream!

[{sweetly bro.ken} Hollyleaf]

Hollyleaf watched as Redstorm fell asleep. A wave of shock seemed to emanate from him, and the medicine cat knew that the dream had started. Of course. He is afraid of the things he does not understand.

[♥Goldenheart♥]

Brightstar put a sparkling paw forward and began the long journey down to the earthly place where Redstorm waited. She wished she didn't have to grant nine lives to her murderer, but all around her, the rest of StarClan was doing the same, and the millions of them stalked proudly down the sky. No cat could have told how much time that took, because time was irrelevant to these cats. When they were finally all sitting around the hollow, they spoke. "Are you ready for your nine lives and new name?" They didn't need to ask this question, because they knew already. It was part of the ceremony, however, so they asked it, as they had asked every Clan leader who had risen to power since the formation of StarClan.

[♥Goldenheart♥]

Redstorm watched them. He saw things that scared him: things in the form of Brightstar, Fleetfoot, and Wildcloud, the three cats he had murdered. He still managed to hold his head high and meow proudly, "Yes."

[♥Goldenheart♥]

The first cat stepped forwards and bent his head to touch his muzzle to Redstorm's. He then meowed solemnly, "With this life I give you courage, not that you need any more. Use it well in defense of your Clan." He stepped back, and a second cat padded towards Redstorm. "With this life I give you justice. Use it well to judge the actions of others." The action of approaching the warrior was repeated over and over. Each cat had a different message. A cat who had been right when others were wrong had, "With this life I give you loyalty to what you know to be right. Use it well to guide your Clan in times of trouble." A cat who had been killed on the Thunderpath mewed, "With this life I give you tireless energy. Use it well to carry out the duties of a leader." One strong queen used the words, "With this life I give you protection. Use it well to care for your Clan as a mother cares for her kits." The apprentice who had never become a warrior carried the message, "With this life I give you mentoring. Use it well to train the young cats of your Clan." A former medicine cat announced clearly, "With this life I give you compassion. Use it well for the elders of your Clan, and the sick, and all those weaker than yourself." A cat who had died for love purred, "With this life I give you love. Use it well for all the cats in your care." Finally, Brightstar stalked proudly over to Redstorm. "Welcome, Redstorm, my warrior, and my deputy. With this life I give you nobility and certainty and faith. Use them well as you lead your Clan in the ways of StarClan and the warrior code." The ceremony was almost over now, and there was only one thing left to do. StarClan rose to their paws. The former leader signaled that Redstorm should rise as well. "I hail you by your new name, Redstar. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of RiverClan. 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." The cats chanted, as if receiving a new warrior, "Redstar! Redstar! Redstar!" At length, the chant faded away, and the starry warriors swirled back up to their places, leaving Redstar in the center of the clearing at Fourtrees. Secretly, many of StarClan were glad to go.

[{sweetly bro.ken} Hollyleaf]

Hollyleaf watched nervously as Redstorm experienced his dream. When the tom began to wake up, she mewed, "Did it go all right?"

[♥Goldenheart♥]

"It went fine," he mewed sternly. "I have nine lives and my name is now Redstar, so everything is fine." The new leader began to race up the twisting, turning passages until he approached the mouth of the cave, at which point he moved much more slowly and with more dignity. The apprentices nearly jumped out of their pelts when he came out. With a flick of his tail, Redstar indicated that they should set off towards home, and so they began to return back to RiverClan territory.