Marblepelt's Lives

[shadow]

The moonlight dappled the pelt of the ivory she-cat with a mixture of blue-black shadows and silvery moonlight. Strong muscles rippled under her pelt as the silent phantom moved through the undergrowth toward the Crystal Pool. Nearly half a moon and Jaggedstar had not returned from wherever he had gone. Marblepelt had searched and waited long enough. The clan was uneasy about the disappearance, claiming it was an ill omen from StarClan. Well, Marblepelt was going to find out and either go back to camp as Marblestar or figure out what the heck was going on. The ice-eyed she-cat refused to let the clan fall into panic simply because their leader had run off. True they had no body to prove he was dead but Marblepelt wouldn't wait for a body to prove she needed to step up and take Jaggedstar's place.

Approaching the clear pool, Marblepelt swallowed her unease. Her ivory pelt prickled as she approached the pool, glancing back for Sparrowcall, the clan's medicine cat. Marblepelt had been unaware she'd been walking fast out of almost-hidden anxiety. True her gaze and everything about her said she was relaxed but on the inside Marblepelt was trembling. Any smart warrior feared angering StarClan. What if they thought she was overstepping her bounderies as deputy? What if they were unhappy with ShadeClan and driven Jaggedstar off as a sign?

Sitting near the edge of the pool, Marblepelt stared into the depths, waiting for Sparrowcall. The last thing she needed was to forget some important part like the medicine cat's presence and then really make StarClan unhappy.

[Duskstar]

Following the ivory she-cat was another, a tortoiseshell, muscles rippling against the moonlight engulfing its mixture of colors. Long elegant tail flowing behind her like a loyal friend. An owl hooted somewhere in the distance, and as the two neared the Crystal Pool, scents of different clans mingled together into one. They had just passed the Waterfall Cave not long before, and the thunder of water could still be heard in the distance. Pale green eyes scanned the sky above. It was a clear night, with no clouds penetrating the sparkling white colors of the canopy of stars. The moon was nearly full, the gathering would be held in only a few days. Marblepelt was smart to come before it happened.

Sparrowcall trotted neatly after the clan deputy, the thudding of their paws the only sound over the whisper of the night breeze. The Medicine Cat's eyes were glazed over with pain and fear. She had been a close friend of Jaggedstar's, and trusted the leader with all her heart. With a sigh Sparrowcall ignored the feelings. She knew it was time to move on. The old ShadeClan leader was gone. Lifting her head into the sky, the she-cat sent a silent prayer, "Jaggedstar, where ever you are, may StarClan be with you."

The medicine cat lifted her head, padding swiftly down the slope that led to the Crystal Pool. The sound of water lapping against sand flowed to her ears like music, and the fresh scent tickled her nose. Sparrowcall padded to the water's edge, placing her tail on Marblepelt's shoulder and giving her a swift lick on the ear before padding a tail lengths away, settling down and giving the deputy what was hopefully an encouraging nod.

[shadow]

Marblepelt tried to take comfort in Sparrowcall's presence but she remembered all too well that the medicine cat had been a good friend of Jaggedstar's. It was probably painful to have to accept their leader's mysterious disappearance but it had to be done. Staring down at the pool for a heartbeat, Marblepelt took a deep breath and laid down, tucking her paws under her chest. Her ivory tail wrapped around her side and with another breath, Marblepelt bowed her head to the water. Lapping up a small bit of the cool water, Marblepelt felt the sweet comfort of unconsciousness swirling up to meet her from the back of her mind. Within moments Marblepelt was slumped against the ground beside the Crystal Pool.

When her eyes opened, Marblepelt found herself laying in a clearing with slopes on every side. Towering dark trees loomed all around with dark bushes fringing the forest floor. Stiffly Marblepelt sat up, icy eyes staring upward at the stars that seemed so much closer than when she was awake in her home. Uneasily Marblepelt looked around for the StarClan cats. If this was to be her leader ceremony surly they would make themselves known. If this was a punishment or prophecy than surly they would make their anger known right away?

A calm facade in place but trembling inside, Marblepelt braced herself for whatever fate awaited her.

[Duskstar]

Out of the darkness of StarClan territory came a small she-cat. Her pelt was pure white like Marblepelt's, and a small stripe of black came down the bridge of her nose. Her coat was dotted with stars, just as the many cats that followed her. Under the moonlight came eight other cats, a few large, and a few small. They lined up next to the white she-cat in the center, followed by many others, whom took up the rest of the clearing. All was silent for a few heartbeats until a call echoed throughout the clearing, "Marblepelt, my daughter, welcome to StarClan." The she-cat's voice was smooth and loving as she approached the deputy. "We are sorry for the loss of Jaggedstar."

A few of the other cats dipped their heads and murmured, though one of the she-cats gave a kit a good thump on the head when he tried catching her tail. After all, the young one's were still unruly in StarClan. After the thump the kit ran off to one of his siblings and pounced on her, the two rolling in the soft grass at the she-cats paws. Finally the cat got sick of it and came over, grabbed the tom by the scruff and set him down on the opposite side of her, separating the two siblings. She then murmured something to the kits, flicking her tail at Marblepelt. All three of their eyes widened and they ran toward the deputy, "Mother?" One of them meowed, tumbling to a stop at her paws.

The white she-cat that had first entered gave a rumbling purr, "Dewkit, Rainkit, Stripedkit, now is not the time." Ice blue eyes connected with her daughters as if to tell her she would be able to reconnect with her kits at a later date. "Marblepelt, please step forward. You have been chosen as a wise deputy, and now that Jaggedstar has left us, it is your time to take over his position and receive your nine lives." The three kits scampered back over to the crowd gazing over their shoulder's at Marblepelt before disappearing into it.

[shadow]

Icy eyes widened in surprise as Quietstep her beloved mother approached her and spoke. Marblepelt felt rooted to the spot staring longingly at her mother before tearing her gaze away at the whisper of disturbed grass. Her heart so many thought was frozen melted and dropped past her paws. Her kits, her belove kits. Marblepelt wanted to run to them and tell them how sorry she was that she had let them die, that she had let that blasted fox end their precious lives. "My kits" Marblepelt murmured longingly. Her paws unattached themselves from the ground and she took a step forward, almost deaf to her mother's command, transfixed by her retreating children. She looked at Quietstep, horrorstruck. How could her mother send her kits away? Marblepelt wanted nothing more than to trade her life for theirs.

For a moment Marblepelt doubted her ability to face the ghosts of her past; her father, her mother, her beloved kits, her own mate. How could she face them with her head held high when she'd been carrying the weight of their deaths for so long? The glacier heart of the ShadeClan deputy melted away and buried itself. How could she do this?

Slowly Marblepelt approached and bowed her head for her lives, trembling slightly. She felt so exposed before the spirits of her fallen loved ones. This was not a world she belonged in yet and so many cats were there that she loved and missed beyond endurance. So many that had died and left her alone. Her siblings, her mate, her mentor. She felt so bent and broken by the refreshed feeling of loss she felt at seeing them all around her.

Forcing her voice to work Marblepelt replied to Quietstep. "I'm ready." I hope.

[Duskstar]

Quietstep gave her daughter a nod, "You will make a great leader." Stepping forward toward Marblepelt's bent head, she continued, "I will give you your first life, tireless energy, so you may lead your clan through battles long and hard." With that a pink nose rested upon the white forehead of the she-cat, feeling the life pass through into Marblepelt. After a few heartbeats, Quietstep stepped back, retreating to the line she was in before. Another cat stepped up, barely giving the new leader time to rest after the painful experience. He was large, and battle scarred, with a tabby pelt and amber eyes. It was Tigerstripe, Marblepelt's previous mate.

"The next life you shall receive will be love, so that you may show your heart from the oldest elder to the smallest kit." His voice was gruff but soothing, amber eyes glinting with happiness at seeing his mate. The tom rested his head on the she-cat's, the pleasant life following the last not so pleasant one. Stepping back and purring softly at his mate, the tabby returned to the line as well, standing next to Quietstep, and looking just as proud. There was a longer pause before another cat stepped up.

This one was just as large as the last, if not larger, and had a light brown pelt. "I, Mousenose, give you the life of courage, so you may fight until the ends of the earth for your clan." The tom rested his light dust colored head on Marblepelt's ivory one, passing the life onto her. This one was the most painful of the three given so far, but was certainly useful, and Mousenose nodded at his sister before stepping back like the others.

((Three down, only six more to go! *pats Marble on head*))

[shadow]

She had suspected that gaining lives would be painful but when Quietstep approached her and the life began its pass from mother to daughter, Marblepelt had to lock her jaw to keep from yowling. Her claws sank into the ground so she wouldn't recoil as the life flowed into her like a bolt of lightning. Images flashed in front of her eyes; raging battles, fleet-footed messengers, search and rescues going well into the night and the wailing of battle cries ringing in her ears. As Quietstep left, Marblepelt didn't have the will to stop her, she simply slumped a little against the ground. One down. Eight to go.

Blinking her icy gaze to refocus, Marblepelt once more felt her heart stutter. The large tabby approaching her had been so fierce looking in life that many hadn't gone near him but he was the only one Marblepelt had ever loved. Stealing herself, Marblepelt reached forward for this life, meeting her mate's gaze, unafraid of any life he would give her. To her surprise and great thanks this life was gentler, flowing like the waters of a gentle stream rather than jolting like lightning. In her mind Marblepelt saw herself with her kits as newborns, hunting with Tigerstripe as apprentices, looking up at her mother as a kit with affection in her gaze, standing in a rain-drenched clearing sitting vigil for her three fallen kits while Icekit, Frostkit and Cliffkit curled up beside her. Marblepelt breathed in, capturing Tigerstripe's scent before he could leave, knowing it was possibly truly the last time she would see him.

The cat following Tigerstripe was big, like her father had been and looked like Marblepelt after she'd been coated in fine dust. Marblepelt purred softly in affection as her brother approached. It had been many moons since she had seen Mousenose. Bracing herself but still lulled by the life of love, this life nearly made Marblepelt yowl and recoil more so than Quietstep's had. It felt like a lightning bolt was trying to split her in half. Courage, such a painful thing but oh so necessary. The images Marblepelt saw was of a leader standing before battle lines yowling to his cats, a warrior throwing himself at a clan leader to save an apprentice, an apprentice tackling a fox to drive it away from the queens.

When Marblepelt opened her eyes she saw Mousenose retreating and a new cat coming forward. Three down, six to go.

[Duskstar]

The next cat to come forward was a tom as well, with broad shoulders, and a dusky brown pelt. Ice blue gaze glazed over like a hard stone, this cat was one never to show emotions. His purr of happiness came only once, just so Marblepelt could hear, "The next life will be given by I, Raggedtail. I shall give you protection, so you may lead with StarClan right beside you." His voice was as gruff as Tigerstripe's, and had a sort of rough edge to it. Then Raggedtail rested his head on his sister's, passing on yet life. This one would be painful but still have a loving edge to it, like great sorrow combined with happiness and excitement. Even the tom's energy wared thin as he finished passing on the life, stepping swiftly back in line next to Mousenose.

Another pause, another cat, this time a she-cat. Her pelt was as white as snow, same as the new leader before her, and voice as soft and caring as Quietstep's. "I, Flyheart, pass on the life of mentoring to my beloved sister, so that you may pass on all your knowledge to the generations after." This sister had a bright green gaze, same as her father's, but other than that looked very similar to Marblepelt, and it looked like a reflection as the she-cat passed on the life to her sister, her pink nose brushing gently against white fur. Mentoring wasn't the worst of the lives, but still required more energy than the others.

After the process was done, Flyheart gave Marblepelt an exhausted blink, nodded her head and padding away to join the others. The next cat that stepped forward was twice as battle scarred as Tigerstripe, and with the same pelt coloring as Mousenose. The tabby stepped forward, a strong gait connecting with the soft green grass of StarClan territory. He approached Marblepelt slower than the others, to give her more time to recuperate. This life would be harder than the others.

"I Onyxheart, give my daughter the life of Loyalty, so she may lead ShadeClan with all of her heart." As he leaned forward to pass the life on, a small mutter was heard, "Even though I know you could do it without me." With that Onyxheart touched his nose gently onto Marblepelt's forehead, cringing as it drained the energy from him. The tom could only imagine what was happening to his daughter on the other end.

[shadow]

Marblepelt couldn't imagine protection could be so painful, though in the back of her mind she understood why. Protection was throwing yourself in front of death to defend those you loved. Protection was a mother's intense determination to not leave her kits for a heartbeat but instead remain near them, forever guarding them even once they left the nursery. Marblepelt flinched at the very thought as images flashed through her mind of larger cats looming over their clanmates, she-cats fighting off badgers outside of a nursery and brothers and sisters fighting for one another. Marblepelt slumped against the ground as her brother retreated to stand beside Mousenose.

Forcing herself to look up and greet the next life, Marblepelt smiled at the sight of Flyheart. Mentoring. Something she had done and something that she would seek to do again. Not as painful as protection thankfully, Marblepelt still felt her energy wavering as the pains of the life waved through her. The images leaped to life in her mind; a tom and an apprentice wrestling, elders chiding kits, apprentices training together, a leader looming above his clan giving them direction. As the images faded, Marblepelt bit back a groan. Her bones felt like those of a hundred-moon-old elder and wariness was creeping in. Between lives the pain only lessened but did not vanish.

Trembling slightly Marblepelt raised her sapphire gaze to meet the sight of her father, Onyxheart, approaching her. Marblepelt closed her eyes and braced herself as best she could as the life of loyalty passed from father to daughter. Too much more of this and Marblepelt was sure she would break. Struggling against the pains, Marblepelt focused on the images, trying to let it distract her. She saw two cats on the border, looking longingly at one another before running back to their clans, felt the strain of a choice between friendship or her clan, sensed the pains of the decision between fighting for what was right and what was best for her clan.

The pains faded slowly and Marblepelt forced herself to open her eyes and meet the next life. Six lives down. Three more to go. Three more faces to ghost forward from her past.

[Duskstar]

Onyxheart gave a sympathetic glance at his daughter before turning away and stepping back into the line. Another cat was next, looking odd against the lighter pelts and muscular builds. It was a lithe tom with a jet black pelt dancing with stars. His eyes were a light yellow and were glimmering with emotion as he stepped forward, long limbs taking him to Marblepelt quicker than the others had. After arriving the tom-cat paused a few heartbeats before speaking, "To think that I have mentored such a great cat." He chuckled, gazing at the ivory fur before him, "I, Stormfrost, shall give you the life of Nobility, so that your already fierce bravery may increase as you lead your clan." Yellow gaze resting on Marblepelt's ice blue optics, the tom rested his head on her's, passing on the seventh life to his previous apprentice. After a few heartbeats Stormfrost stepped back, flicking his tail to beacon the next.

This one was a she-cat, though still larger than the one before her. Her pelt was ivory like her sister's, and two green eyes lit up to see it was her turn. Stepping forward she purred at Marblepelt, brushing her muzzle against her sibling's to great her, "We had many adventures together as kits." She commented, "And now I, Lichenpelt, give you the life of Justice, so you may judge fairly, easily earning the respect of your clan." The she-cat rested her nose upon Marblepelt, passing on the life.

Once finished Lichenpelt stepped back and returned to the ranks of StarClan. The next cat was the smallest of the group, with a glowing amber gaze and a solid ivory pelt with a small black stripe down the bridge of her nose. She stepped forward, approaching Marblepelt, and spoke with the same tone as Quietstep, "My sister, I knew from the moment I was old enough to think that you would one day be leader." The she-cat purred softly, gazing at Marblepelt with a loving gaze, "I, Smallcloud, give you the life of Compassion, so you may pass on the love you showed to your own kits to the rest of the clan." With that Smallcloud rested her head on Marblepelt's, just as all the others had, and passed on the last, least painful life. Once finished she stepped back into the group of cats, and Quietstep stepped forward once again.

"Marblepelt, until you have lost your ninth life, joining us in StarClan, you shall be leader of ShadeClan." There was no mistaking the pride in the mother's voice, "Your new name, my daughter, is Marblestar, and we shall be with you throughout your leadership."

With that, the StarClan cats began to disappear, fading away into nothing, leaving the new leader alone in the clearing. The scents of her friends and family were still looming in the air, a comforting message.

[shadow]

The pain began to blend into one long ache burning through her body. Nobility. A leader stood tall above his clan, a second leader led the way to battle yowling her clan's battle cry. Justice. A leader stood over captured prisoners to hand down their sentence. The clan chased off a traitor hissing and yowling. Compassion. A medicine cat tended a ragged looking loner. A SwiftClan cat carried a ShadeClan kit back to its home. Fighting warriors chased off the wounded to avoid death and sorrow. Three lives down. All nine accounted for. It was over. Marblepelt pried her eyelids apart and forced herself to rise as her new name was passed down.

Marblestar regarded her friends and family with a new gaze, calm and confident, chilling like a winter storm and as powerful as a lioness. Breathing in the scents of all her family, Marblestar savored every one. In her mind Marblepelt had died and remained in StarClan. The cat facing the fading StarClanners was a new cat, no longer carrying her many crosses but instead the burden of StarClan's trust in her ability to lead her clan. That weight was all together different and instead of shy from it Marblestar took it up without a thought.

Bowing her head to the StarClanners she had loved so dearly in life, Marblestar closed her eyes.

Jolting awake Marblestar raised her head and found herself once more beside the Crystal Pool. Pain thrummed through her body in time with her heartbeat and seemed embedded in her very bones. Moving stiffly and slowly, Marblestar forced herself to rise and look around for Sparrowcall.

[Duskstar]

Sparrowcall watched silently as the she-cat awoke, rising with a seemingly a lot of effort. The medicine cat watched sympathetically. The lives passed onto a new leader were painful and tiring, and she could hardly imagine how the ivory she-cat was feeling right now. As the moon reflected off the Crystal Pool the calico feline padded to her side, giving Marblepelt's ear a swift lick. After a few heartbeats Sparrowcall waved her tail for the ivory cat to follow. It was disrespectful to speak around the Crystal Pool, with StarClan so near to them, and with many moons of being silent around it the ShadeClan medicine cat wasn't about to break the ancient rule.

As Sparrowcall padded up the slope away from their warrior ancestors, she allowed her thoughts to wander. Had Marblepelt been named leader or given a terrifying prophecy? Both could have meant exhaustion and although she had assumed the leader's ceremony, the deputy could have easily have just been nearly drowned in blood. The calico shook the though away, scolding herself silently for even thinking such a horrid thought. Marblepelt, although very tired looking, did not appear frightened. There was no way StarClan would have scent a bad omen simply because of Jaggedstar's disappearance.

Sparrowcall suddenly stopped near the Waterfall Cave, though far enough away that the thunder of the water was only a background noise in the night. The she-cat sat, wrapping her calico tail around her paws, "We may speak now." Sparrowcall meowed, "Congratulations Marblestar, the clan will thrive with you as leader."

Normally the medicine cat would've waited until she knew the facts before calling the deputy by a new name, but she was sure that Jaggedstar was gone. It needed to be accepted no matter how hard. Blinking away the sorrow Sparrowcall gazed into her companion's eyes, waiting patiently for an answer.

[shadow]

Wearily Marblestar followed Sparrowcall. It seemed to take a lot of effort just to move her paws and keep her balance as she followed the smaller calico she-cat toward the Waterfall Cave where Gatherings were held. She remained silent, following Sparrowcall's unspoken rule of respect toward their StarClan ancestors. Marblestar came to a stop when Sparrowcall did but dared not sit or crouch lest her muscles lock up and refuse to move again. Instead she inclined her head politely to the medicine cat and looked up at the sky. It was paling as dawn approached. A new day had dawned for the clans and soon Marblestar would have to name a clan deputy following the ancient traditions.

"We should go back to camp" Marblestar meowed, her voice brisk and clipped as usual rather than betraying her weariness. "I can only hope ShadeClan is strong enough to accept this change of power without Jaggedstar's body." Icy eyes glanced at Sparrowcall. She knew of the medicine cat's fondness and friendliness toward Jaggedstar and knew the fact must be difficult for her to accept despite having spent the night watching over the nearly lifeless body of the clan deputy receiving lives.

Marblestar knew that if Sparrowcall accepted and supported Marblestar as clan leader it would be more likely the rest of the clan would as well. Without the support of one of StarClan's chosen, Marblestar would have no hope of keeping the clan under her wing. Locking gazes with the medicine cat for a long moment, Marblestar sighed and shifted her weight for a moment before turning and beginning the slow trek back toward camp. She felt restless and the memories of her lost kits and family made her simply want to go back to the company of her kits waiting in the camp.

[Duskstar]

The calico hung her head, "Jaggedstar was a great leader," After a pause she lifted it once more, eyes glinting with emotion, "But the clan must move on, no matter how difficult." Sparrowcall took another moment of silence out of respect to the previous ShadeClan leader before starting after the newly named Marblestar. "StarClan, please watch over him, wherever he may be..." Then there was once again silence, the medicine cat left to her sorrowful thoughts.

As the two cats continued to travel the light in the sky became brighter, warming Sparrowcall's chilled pelt by dappling it with sunlight. She didn't speak much, and it seemed as though the effect of Jaggedstar's death had finally hit her. The cat that she had trusted with all her heart was gone. After they passed the rocky territory StoneClan called home, Sparrowcall could finally scent ShadeClan nearby. The trek from Crystal Pool had never felt so long. The calico feline was exhausted, each step a nightmare for her old and already aching limbs. "Poor Marblestar..." The she-cat thought, "Her pain must be far worse than mine..." Pale green eyes scanned the area, ignoring a few cautious looks from a StoneClan patrol.

By the time the sunlight was cut off by the dense canopy of trees that Sparrowcall and her clanmates called home, the sun was no longer partially visible, but fully, having just come over the horizon. Only now did the medicine cat finally feel comfortable, weaving skillfully in between large oaks as the color changing leaves of Leaffall crunched at her paws. The traveling herbs had not lasted long, and Sparrowcall's stomach rumbled a few times on the way through the territory, pelt growing hot with embarrassment.

Then finally the entrance to camp was visible, and the she-cat had to use all of her willpower to resist running through in excitement. It had never felt so good to be home.