Longleg Becomes Longstar

[♥Goldenheart♥]

Longleg padded through the twisting, turning, convoluted passages of the path to the Moonstone. He eventually reached the cavern of the Moonstone. It shone brightly in the darkness. The RiverClan deputy- soon to be leader- touched his nose to the brilliant white stone, and waited for sleep to come.

It didn't. Longleg began to panic. What if this meant he wasn't worthy to lead his Clan? Worried, he opened his eyes.

How did this happen? wondered the pale tabby. He was sitting at Fourtrees, and it was greenleaf. Longleg looked around, waiting for something to happen.

[♥Goldenheart♥]

A pale brown warrior heard the leader-to-be's thoughts and smiled. She put a glowing paw forward and began the long journey down to the earthly place where Longleg waited. 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♥]

"Yes," meowed Longleg. He felt a little more confident now.

[♥Goldenheart♥]

Wildcloud stepped forwards and bent her head to touch her muzzle to Longleg's. She then meowed solemnly, "With this life I give you courage. Use it well in defense of your Clan." She stepped back, and a second cat padded towards Longleg. "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." Fleetfoot mewed, "With this life I give you tireless energy. Use it well to carry out the duties of a leader." Mistyheart 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." Not that she needed it. 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 Longleg. "Welcome, Longleg, greatest of my warriors. I always knew you would make a great leader. 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. Brightstar signaled that Longleg should rise as well. "I hail you by your new name, Longstar. 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, "Longstar! Longstar! Longstar!" At length, the chant faded away, and the starry warriors swirled back up to their places, leaving Longstar in the center of the clearing at Fourtrees.