Firestar's Tenth Life

Jayfeather settled into his nest after a very long day. First, Lionblaze had woken him up way before dawn because he wanted to talk about the Dark Forest.
When they had gotten back, they found that the dawn patrol had talked to a ShadowClan patrol and found out that Ivypaw was being held prisoner and that they wouldn't give her back until Jayfeather gave them some catmint to cure Littleclouds greencough. So Jayfeather had had to run all the way to the ShadowClan camp, give up some of his precious catmint and bring Ivypaw home.
As soon as he was back at the camp, he walked over to the fresh-kill pile to choose something for himself, but of course, Leafpool and Squirrelflight chose that moment to talk to him.
"We need to talk with you and Lionblaze." meowed Leafpool.
"Well, you'll have to talk without me." Jayfeather hissed back.
"Don't use that tone with your mother" Squirrelflight snarled.
" What mother? Last I checked I don't have one" meowed Jayfeather as he whisked away to his den with his mouse. Not long after he finished eating, Firestar entered the den and sat down next to the blind medicine cat.
"Jayfeather, why are you so agaisnt forgiving Leafpool and Squirrelflight?" asked the Clan leader.
"Why should I forgive them after what they put me and Lionblaze through? They should have told us the truth when we were kits, that way maybe Hollyleaf would still be alive." Jayfeather meowed in reply.
"Because unless we unite we stand no chance against the Dark Forest." Firestar paused as Jayfeather yawned. "Get some rest. I know you and Lionblaze have been on your paws since before dawn." meowed Firestar as he left the den.


Jayfeather opened his eyes to find that he was in a bright starlit clearing. He saw three cats emerge from a bush and pad towards him. Two he recognized, Yellowfang, a dark gray she-cat with a broad flattened muzzle and long matter fur, and Spottedleaf, a pretty tortoishell and white she-cat. The third, a light gray tom with long feathery whiskers, he had never seen before.
"Greetings, Jayfeather. I am Featherwhisker, ThhunderClan's medicine cat before Spottedleaf." meowed the tom.
"What now? Can't a cat get a decent sleep for once?" groaned Jayfeather.
"Watch your tongue, medicine cat! We could jsut as easily leave without telling you anything!" Yellowfang snapped back.
"But we have to-" Spottedleaf was interupted by Yellowfang's rusty laughter.
"We don't have to do anything! If he is going to be rude, I'm leaving and your plan wouldn't work." Yellowfang meowed sternly.
"Well, then lets tell him before morning comes and he wakes up!" meowed Featherwhisker impatiently.
At that moment, Spotteleaf's mouth opened, and with the distinct ring of prophecy in her voice, meowed "Four shall be left alone to face twelve. At the claws of Tiger, a leader shall perish and Darkness shall rule the skies and the forest!" For a few moments, all Jayfeather could do was stare in horror at the three former medicine cats.
"You know who the four are, don't you?" Featherwhisker asked gently.
"Yes. It's Firestar, Lionblaze, Dovepaw and I." answered Jayfeather. "But what does the 'four shall be left alone' mean? Does it mean all the others are dead?"
"No it does not mean that. it means that you four will be the only ones left fit enough to fight." Spottedleaf replied gently.
"But no matter how hard we fight we will fail." concluded Jayfeather.
"There is but one way to answer that. Jayfeather, step forward." Once Jayfeather did this, Featherwhisker put his muzzle on the smaller tom's head. "With this touch I give you the power to heal with any and evry herb." As Featherwhisker finished, Jayfeather felt a shooting pain go through his head as, suddenly, he knew the name of ebery herb and how to use them.
Next came Spotteleaf. "With this touch I give you compassion to care for any and every cat that comesto you for help." As she finished, Jayfeather felt guilty that he hadn't yet forgiven his mother and her sister.
Last came Yellowfang. "With this touch I give you faith, so you may see the way through the toughest situations." As Yellowfang stepped back, Jayfeather felt strong determination flow through him.
When he looked up, he saw that the three StarClan cats had formed a circle around him. A voice that seemed to come from all three but none at the same time said "With this breath we give you life so you may give any cat a second chance." As their breath hit him, Jayfeather felt as if all of StarClan's warriors had stepped inside him and given him their lives.
"But how do I use this gift?" he asked the medicine cats.
"Bring him to the moonpool and enter his dreams." They meowed toghether as the wind picked up and the three cats vanished.

Jayfeather awoke in his nest and groaned. He felt just as tired as the night before, and tonight he would have to go to the moonpool with Firestar and have another night full of dreams. He exited his den and scented the air. He located the two she-cats he was looking for eating near the fresh-kill pile. He went over to join them.
"What? Come to ruin our morning have you?" Squirrelflight meowed sharply.
"No. I want you to know that I forgive you." Jayfeather answered and padded to Firestar's den. He paused at the entrance to meow a greeting.
"Goodmorning, Jayfeather." his leader meowed.
"Goodmorning, Firestar. StarClan visited me last night and said that they need you to go to the moonpool to speak with you."
"Of course. We will go tonight."

That evening, Jayfeather and Firestar left camp to go to the moonpool. They arrived at the pool just after mmonrise. Jayfeather waited while he heard Firestar lie down and lap up some water. Them he lay next to him and drank from the cool water and entered his dreams.
He opened his eyes to find that he was in a large clearing sorrounded by four big oak trees. He looked around until he found Firestar standing atop the great rock in the center of the clearing.
"Fourtrees." he heard his leader meow.
"Firesatr!" Jayfeather howeled.
"Jayfeather? What are you doing here? thid is my dream."
"I will tell you if you come down and stand in front of me." He waited while his leader jumped down from the rock and padded over to him, confusion clear in his green eyes. "Firestar, I know this is your last life. StarClan has asked me to give you a tenth." He pausedd, not sure that he wanted to go on. Then he sighed and stretched until he touched his nose to Firestar's. "Firestar, with this life I give you perseverance, so that you may lead the Clan through all the challenges we will face." As he finished giving the life, he could feel the flame colored cat's pain as if it were is own.

As Firestar's gasps of pain and shock faded, found himself back in the hollow where the moonpool lay, blind once more.
Beside him, Firestar was stirring, and Jayfeather wondered if he would be angry about the pain Jayfeatherhad caused him.
When Firestar awoke, Jayfeather felt eyes on him, and sensed his leader's awe.
"Jayfeather, last night," he paused for a heartbeat "d-did you really give me a tenth life?"
"Yes." The medicine cat answered simply.
"Now I know for sure that we will win the fight against the Dark Forest." Firestar declared, determination ringing strong and clear in every word.
The End