I'm shining [Mintnose]

Aspenshade knew very well that she meant more in a sense that maybe she was not ready to be leader. Then again it was against starclan for her to assume that Morningstar made the wrong choice in making her deputy. There had to been a reason, so then and there Aspenshade let out a shuddered breath. Take responsibility, the clan would need a leader and they would need a deputy. Her paws would anxiously dig into the ground with now claws out. As she moved through the blinding tunnel of darkness. She would fall silent of course and when they got to the moonstone. Her eyes widened, remembering very well how it looked when her own mentor had brought her here. Her tail lashed out behind her and she swallowed her nerves. Aspenshade hoped and prayed Starclan would show her what she needed to do. Was she really the cat to save their clan from the harsh troubles they had ahead of them. Sure she was no stranger to danger, to hurt and pain - but really what did her warrior ancestors want with a meek normal she-cat like herself.

The black and white she-cat would look to Mintnose once more. Nestled there, waiting for the deputy to receive her nine lives and begin anew. Giving a soft nod of her head, she knew she'd have the support of her clan when she needed it. After all, there would be no clan without the warriors and others who lived within it. With the moonlight filtering through to raise the brightness of the stone. Aspenshade held her breath for a single moment. Gently pressing her nose to the stone and shutting her eyes. She felt her breath leave her, slumping own in front of the great stone. The cold shattering feeling of her body being taken was disturbing. She felt the feeling leave her paws and she entered a dream like state. Only to awaken to nine shimmering almost transparent cats. All their eyes - were on her.
Aspenshade was star struck in more ways then one. Her mind blurred and while she opened her mouth to use her scent glands - there was nothing to scent on these clan cats other than star dust and emptiness. These were the ancestors of windclan though, they each had loyalty to their clan and a life to offer to her. She stiffened, and watched very carefully as the first cat stepped forward. A young she-cat, upon closer inspection Aspenshade started to tear up. It was Blackwhisker, her mother. She was choked up but couldn't say a word.

"With this life I grant you confidence, use it well to over come your anxiety for the clan." Blackwhisker pressed her nose to Aspenshade's head. Suddenly she was overcome with a rush of anxiety. Her chest pounded and the pain in her stomach left her in knotts. Yet she felt the will to overcome it. As the life faded within her, the pain started to ebb and she was left wondering 'how in the name of starclan will I be able to handle the rest of my lives' she panted. "Don't be nervous, you'll do great." her mother told her and then returned to the starry cats before Aspenshade.

Aspenshade was filled with morbid curiosity now, her drive rose and her eyes widened. This was really happening! It had been so surreal before that her nerves had gotten the better of her. With how her mother spoke though, the soon to be leader swallowed and waited in anticipation of her next life and the rest after.

The next was an elderly looking almost black she-cat, though her colors were dulled and her eyes were a green color much like her own. "With this life I grant you Mother's Love, Use it to love your clan as you would your own kits." that stung a bit as the she-cat pressed her head to Aspenshade's. However she was filled with a soft sensation of compassion. Her eyes moved to slits as the warm feeling washed over her. Though knotting her stomach with worry as well. The she-cat would step back. When she thought about it, it must have been Ashclaw Blackwhisker's mother. Ashclaw soon returned to the rest and Aspenshade went on to watch.

After she was approached by a young tom, maybe an apprentice. Though he looked scrawny. With a brownish pelt flecked with white the tom approached her. "With this life I grant you speech, use it to get your point across and to speak to your clan and others with conviction." his nose was cold as it touched her. Burning up her throat as it felt as if her throat had dried up. As if Green-Leaf had taken all of her ability to speak from the heat. She swallowed painfully wanting nothing more than to have a drink. Soon like a rush as the tom pulled back her throat would flood again with the moist feeling of more comfortable interactions.

A she-cat approached. Her brown pelt shining like the stars but it was a very dull brown. "With this life I give you level headedness, use it well to judge the actions of your clan without the hold of your emotions." her nose pushed onto her and Aspenshade's head began to ache. A pain just as worse as the last moving through her until the cat returned to the others. Four down..... she reminded herself. Though now, she was eager to get her leader name. Breathing as she calmed down and raised her head.

To her surprise, a kit was approaching her now. Barely beyond maybe three moons old. Looking at it.... the black tabby - Aspenshade realized it was the kit that Nightpelt had lost along with his mate. A pang of heartbreak hit her but Brindlekit did nothing but smile towards her. "With this life I grant you trust, use it well to trust others when other cats won't." Aspenshade crouched to that the kit could touch her nose to Aspenshade's head. Another pain, and another life down. Yet instead of drained of energy she felt like she was full of it.

Another she-cat approached. A gray tabby, with bright blue eyes. "With this life, I grant you strength. Use it well to fight for your clan." as the she-cat pressed her nose against Aspenshade's head. She felt the flashing of battle to come. Claws flying and the pain of wounds against her flank. Yet still having the ability to move on. As such after she was left to catch her breath the she-cat left for the rest of Starclan.

A brown tom approached her now. He smelt of herbs - he must have been Windclan's medicine cat at one point. Though from generations ago, as he smiled softly to her. "With this life I grant you insight, to observe what is around you and to be aware of your surroundings." Aspenshade felt as if she was filled with knowledge. Watching as after the brown tom returned to the starclan cats as well.

The next tom to approach was a brown cat with very long legs. He was massive in height, but what she noticed most was a single paw that had overgrown claws over it. Just that one as he moved to give Aspenshade her life. "With this life I give you faith, trust in starclan's will." right... she had been doubting before. She wouldn't do it again. As his nose touched her and she was met with yet again another pain. After breathing heavily. The next was the last. The one who approached her wasn't morningstar. It was Brindlekit's mother, Nightpelt's ex mate from a tradegy that took her too fast. Smiling gently as Aspenshade swallowed.

"With this life... I give you the power to move forward, don't let the past control you." As she settled her nose against Aspenshade. The sensation soon ebbed away. Now all of the nine starclan cats stood in a line ahead of Aspenshade. All of them were speaking in unison.

"We hail you by your new name, Aspenstar. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of WindClan. 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." Aspenstar took in a sharp breath. The cats called out her new name as they would with an apprentice or a warrior. As such her claws dug out a little. Soon it faded away though.

Aspenstar's eyes shot open, raising herself from the moonstone. She searched around to see if Mintnose was still here. Her eyes were having trouble adjusting though, as the moonstone became hidden again the moon passing over. She looked to Mintnose with a certain understanding. The ceremony was done and she now had the nine lives of the leader. Though she uttered a silent thank you to starclan once more. She flicked her tail to Mintnose.

Words:1508
Tags: CAWN , MINTNOSE