"Darktail."

    The noise seemed to come from the night forest, a lilting sigh of the rustling leaves, woven from the constant hum of insects. A dark tomcat stood beneath the thriving trees, his fur blacker than the night around him.

    Shock and disbelief caused his fur to stand on end. Hot fire wrapped around his heart, making it throb maniacally. Had his ears heard right? Could it be true?

    "Father!" he suddenly cried into the night, his words fading like the white cloud of breath in front of him. Desperate, he rose his voice, nose pointed toward the thick, whispering canopy above. "Molestar, is it really you?" But his voice was swallowed by the night, drowned out by the choir of crickets and moaning trees.

    The black tom waited a heartbeat for an answer, but the only sounds he could hear were the pounding of his heart and the blood roaring in his ears.

    Darktail couldn't wait any longer. He bolted into the forest, crying out for his father. But he was only a slight disturbance in nature's nightly universe. Still, he forced himself onward, the trees a blur around him.

    A cold breeze suddenly curled over his body. The black tom flung himself to a halt, tripping over his own paws. The sight before him nearly blinded him, and he had to blink twice to assure himself it was real.

    It was a lake of rippling stars. Darktail could hear the hushed murmurs as the waves crashed upon the shore. It was as if all the lights of the night had fallen out of the sky and landed on the water like dandelions. Dark, colorful galaxies were spilled into the lake and fused and intermingled until it was a watery blend of the entire universe.

    Darktail gaze was fixated on the immense body of water, his eyes filled with the purples and blues of the night sky. Then something brushed against his shoulder.

    Darktail tensed with shock and spun around.

    It was a she-cat. She was beautiful with glossy black fur that seemed to glow and dark amber eyes that burned like fire.

    "You don't know who I am," the she-cat said solemnly, her voice deep and steady. It wasn't a question.

    "Enlighten me," Darktail breathed, astonished.

    The black she-cat sighed. There was grief in her amber eyes. "I am your mother, dear one."

    Darktail suddenly stumbled back, blinking. Shock seeped through his veins like poison. He felt as if he were trying to walk across a heaving lake. "You're my mother. You are Blackflower." His head began to pound.

    "Be steady, Darktail," the StarClan warrior meowed, pressing her weight against her son. "You will need strength for what is to come."

    "But, you're my mother! My mother that's been dead my whole life!" Darktail said, feeling as helpless as a kit. "Can we at least talk here? Can I get to know you?"

    Blackflower blinked calmly at her son. "You do know me. You've known me all your life. I've been with you from the moment you were born. Dead or alive, spirit or mortal— it doesn't matter. You may not see me, but you have felt me."

    Darktail dug his claws into the ground in frustration. "That makes no sense!" he growled.

    Blackflower stretched up to lick his ear. Although Darktail stood taller than her and was built with the strength of trees, he felt like a tiny kit next to his mother.

    "It is all a puzzle for the living," Blackflower began. "But when you walk with us, you will be enlightened to our ways and the ways of this earth. Just remember, my son, I am watching over you, always."

    Darkstar closed his eyes and leaned against Blackflower. He lavished the warmth of her pelt and the sweet scent of her soft fur.

    And then it was gone.

    When Darktail's emerald eyes fluttered open, he saw hundreds, maybe thousands of StarClan cats standing before him. Each pair of eyes, all different shades and shapes and colors, were locked on him.

    "Darktail."

    His green eyes darted toward a spot in the crowd where the stars stirred. Blackflower silently emerged from the throng, her body as soft as a shadow. She spoke as she approached her son.

    "Darktail, you have StarClan's blessing to lead ThunderClan. You will now receive nine lives to ensure a long leadership in which you shall bring prosperity to the Clan. I will give you the gift of your first life."

    Darktail blinked lovingly at his mother, and he watched with bubbling anticipation as Blackflower leaned toward him. But the instant that her soft nose touched his, a wave of heat scorched through his body.

    Darktail bit back a yowl of pain. The fire was agonizing, and it didn't cease. The black tom tried to pull away, but he was frozen in place. He could hardly concentrate as Blackflower spoke to him.

    "With your first life I bestow upon you confidence. Don't be afraid of those lurking beyond your borders. You shall not hesitate to face the unknown. Even your own Clanmates will challenge you in the future, but stick to what you believe is best. You are their true leader, after all," Blackflower said softly over the roar of the pain.

    Suddenly, the fire vanished from his body. Darktail gasped and his legs began to buckle. But the next cat that trotted up to him made him freeze just before he fell.

    It was a kit, one that looked no more than a moon old. Her fur was smooth and black, with a small droplet of white on her nose, like a petal of a small, snowy flower.

    Darktail looked down at the little kit solemnly. "I remember you. You're my sister."

    "Yes," the she-kit squeaked, voice as flawless and clear as birdsong. Her tone was utterly innocent, but something about it sent chills down Darktail's spine. Maybe that was it; she had died too young, knowing nothing of the fears, joy, and pain of life.

    "Rosekit," Darktail murmured, voice heavy with remorse. "I'm so sorry. I . . ."

    Her laugh was like the chiming of bells, the purest of singing angels, the laugh of a child who did not know hate. "Do not worry, brother. I forgive you. And I love you, as I always have, as I always will. Lean down now, and receive your second life."

    Datrktail hesitated. A dark storm of shame was brewing inside him. He pinned his ears. "I don't deserve this,"—a step back—"I don't deserve any of this."

    "Don't be silly, Darktail," Rosekit assured him cheerfully. She bounced toward him in tiny delicate paws. "You deserve this more than anyone. You've earned it."

    Darktail lowered his head slowly. He paused a whisker away from his sister's nose. Her eyes were a beautiful dark blue. They shined like moons. Then he pressed his nose to hers.

    It felt as if wires snaked through his body, wringing themselves around his bones and snapping tight. Darktail stiffened and bore the intense pain. Rosekit's heavenly little voice rose into the air.

    "Your second life comes with the ability to focus on what matters. The duties of a leader can be misleading. Don't get caught up in them, and have a little fun with your Clan every once in a while. Remember that your Clanmates are still your dearest friends, and you have a personal duty to each of them," Rosekit chirped over the roar of the pain. Darktail clung to her voice like a lifeline in a stormy sea.

    The she-kit finally pulled away, and this time Darktail did collapse, his legs terribly weak. He felt shame at having fallen during the ceremony, but the ground was cool and welcoming, comforting his weary body. Darktail shut his eyes. Before Rosekit vanished, her precious voice stirred his ear fur, "They are your friends. As am I." Then she was gone.

    Darktail groaned as he lay sprawled on the ground. He was drained of energy and didn't know if he could rise again. I've only received two lives, he thought with a twist of dread. How will I ever get through this?

    But he did. One deceased friend after another approached him, their pelts shining and eyes filled with joy and pride as he recognized them. Some held lives of courage and boldness that sent pure agony through the black tom, and others were overflowing with the sweetness of love and compassion.

    Darktail was still standing after a particularly painful life electrified him. His father's father, legs as strong and thick as logs with a wide wolfish head, dipped his head to the future ThunderClan leader before sweeping around and padding away.

    He had been through eight. Just one more.

    Then it hit him.

    Molestar. He hadn't seen his father yet. Darktail stretched his neck, searching desperately for him in the hundreds of sparkling StarClan warriors.

    But the black tom did not have to look.

    "Molestar," Darktail said, intending to speak clearly, but his voice cracked and ended in a desperate whisper. The black tom's ears burned and he quickly flattened his chest fur in embarrassment.

    If Molestar noticed, he showed no sign of it. In fact, he showed no sign of any emotion. The large tabby and white tom peeled away from the crowd and strode steadily toward Darktail, unblinking eyes strangely blank. They were like dark green voids.

    The black tom retreated one step back in confusion as Molestar approached him. He couldn't decipher what the patched tom would do. Darktail was unsure his former leader. He was unsure of himself.

    Molestar finally reached the black tom, and he did not hesitate to shove his head against his son's. Darktail released a deep, rumbling purr of relief, and his grief for this tom crushed him like a boulder. He remained against his father, relishing the warmth radiating from his soft, thick fur.

    Molestar finally pulled away, and cold air rushed in to fill the space between them. Darktail shivered as his father stared at the black tom with his identical warm green eyes. "Welcome, my son," the StarClan cat said warmly, his voice sure. The voids had flooded with light.

    Darktail couldn't bear it any longer. He rushed forward and pressed his head back into his father's thick snowy chest fur like he once had as a kit. Molestar gently lowered his chin onto Darktail's head. The brown and white tom sighed and closed his eyes, as if he lavished the feel of his son's fur.

    Darktail wished that moment could have lasted forever. There was no better place to be than under the fierce protection and gentle caring of a father. But Darktail could only stay here for little time.

    Molestar pulled away and looked down at his son. His eyes shone with such love and pride that Darktail had to tear his own nervous gaze away. The black tom was uncertain that he could ever live up to his father's legacy and greatness. The expectations were high and Darktail would to anything to reach them. His sole ambition was to become the strong warrior Molestar was.

    Molestar let out a deep, rumbling
chuckle, an earthquake in the air. "I remember when I received my nine lives," he remarked deeply. "I was just like you, nervous as a rabbit."

    Darktail felt slightly ashamed, heat rushing to his face. He lowered his head and a pit formed in his stomach.

    Molestar looked sympathetic. "But you'll pull through," the tom assured his son. "Because I know your strength, Darktail. I watched you from the moment you were born. Everyday you prove your worth with each piece of prey brought back and every drop of blood spilled for your Clan. You've always valued your Clan more than your own life. That's why you're the deputy of ThunderClan and their future leader."

    Darktail met his father's gaze, still uncertain. But Molestar's eyes were solid, causing the black tom to believe that he was telling the truth. Molestar continued with the ceremony.

    "Darktail, with your ninth and last life, I give you wisdom to make the best choices for your Clan. Do not run from reality. Face it. Lead them well, son," the leader meowed as he touched his muzzle to Darktail's.

    Darktail flinched and recoiled at Molestar's touch, as most of his previous lives had been fierce and painful, but this one only brought back all the memories of his life. Every event from the moment he peeled open his eyes as a tiny kit to his journey here to Moonpool reeled through his mind. After Darktail snapped back into reality, he felt heavy with all the knowledge and memories that filled him. Darktail breathed deeply and dipped his head respectfully to Molestar.

    "I will lead your Clan wisely and bravely, Molestar. Trust me, you are putting ThunderClan in safe paws. I will keep it alive with your memory and knowledge," Darktail promised.

    Molestar looked at his son, emerald green eyes glowing like moons. He raised his head proudly and, warm breath billowing like smoke, yowled, "You are now Darkstar!"

    The StarClan cats in the crowd began to murmur their quiet congratulations. Molestar started chanting, "Darkstar! Darkstar! Darkstar!"

    Darkstar himself was inwardly afraid that his father would be  the only one that chanted for him. His ears burned with embarrassment and he willed to Molestar to shut his mouth.

    It started with the closest cats. They shouted his name rhythmically. The cheering then spread like a plague. Soon every one of the thousands of StarClan joined in and the beautiful sound of their cries blended into a great angelic harmony. It was a thundering roar of beauty and strength that seemed to make the earth tremble beneath Darktail's paws and the sky itself break apart.

    And then he was awake.

    Well, that's what he thought at first.

    Darkstar lifted his body from the cold stone that he rested on. A about a fox-length away, a dark gray form lay on the ground, a limp ginger tail beside it that looked as if it could not possibly match the body. Her nose was not a pawstep from the water. Firetail was still asleep.

    The black tom thought that he would feel utterly exhausted, unable to even stand after nine lives that seemed to toss him around like a scrap of prey. The experience was as exhausting as fighting nine separate foxes. But now he felt alive, more alive than he had ever been.

    "Darkstar."

    He jumped at the voice and his head snapped around to the Moonpool. In its center, upon the cold starry water, stood a glowing Molestar.

    Darkstar gasped. His father stood as if the water were solid, frozen like ice. The black tom dipped his own paw in the water to see if it really had iced over, but his fur came out soaked and cold.

    "I can't stay long, Darkstar. They might find out," Molestar said quickly, his voice laced with worry.

    "What are you talking about?" Darkstar asked. He had the feeling something wasn't right.

    "Just listen to me, son. Listen closely," Molestar growled. He swept closer, beads of light showered in his wake.

    Darkstar was frightened. Then the black tom shook his head violently. Clan leaders don't show fear, he told himself sternly, but the twinge of dread in Darkstar's belly could not be eased.

    Molestar shifted uneasily. "Here in Silverpelt . . . Well, things are not going well. Cats are beginning take sides and our enemies are straying beyond their borders. A storm is brewing."

    "B-But why?" Darkstar stammered. What could possibly disturb the peace and tranquility of StarClan?

    Molestar just shook his head. He sounded exasperated. "We've received a disturbing vision of the future, my son. I can't explain it to you, but there is one thing you must know."

    Darkstar nodded for his father to continue, ignoring the tumult is his heartbeat. "Go on. Tell me."

    Molestar peered into Darkstar's eyes, as if he was searching for something.

    "Give light to the leopard that prowls through darkness. Let joy and happiness reign her heart. Courage and bravery thrive within her, but death and darkness may tear her apart. Strength and pride must run in her veins, when the mountain of shadows arrives to reign.

    "Remember this, Darkstar. You can't forget," Molestar meowed desperately. It was as if he was begging.

    Darktail felt himself tremble. "A prophecy," he whispered. "It's like a riddle. Why must I receive it?"

    Molestar didn't answer. The stars in his fur were growing dimmer, his voice sounding more distant. "Please, my son. Promise me you won't forget it!"

    As scared as confused as he was, Darkstar trusted his father.

    "Don't worry, Molestar," he meowed as his father dissolved to mist.

    "I won't forget. I never will."