Tinylegs' Leader Ceremony

This was it, he was going to become the leader of SkyClan. It'd all happened so fast and even though at first he'd had his doubts about his ability to lead the clan physically and mentally, he was ready now. Ready for the good times and the bad, the fights and compromises. On his way to the Moonstone, he'd made a promise to himself that no matter what, he would keep moving forward and protect and care for his clan in any and every way that he could, even if it meant costing his life in the end.

Staring at the Moonstone from within the cave, Tinylegs let out a deep sigh. It was time. Well, in all honesty though, he'd barely had enough time to process all that had happened, but after a few pep talks to himself, he knew that he could do this. Besides, he was about to be given his nine lives from StarClan themselves. He had no clue who would give him his lives or how this ceremony was even supposed to go, but he knew that whoever it was, he would be blessed by their presence, seeing as though they were members of StarClan, after all.

Laying down with his stubby white and grey legs tucked neatly under him and his grey tail curled around his long body, he closed his eyes. Touching his nose against the cold rock, the sudden chilliness sent a shiver up his spine just before he fell into a deep sleep, and with that, the tiny deputy was on his way to StarClan.

The itch of anticipation was running through her wispy, white paws as she waited. Silently, both her and the eight other life-givers sat in a circle, surrounding a small clearing. Above them, the sky was bursting with stars, illuminating them brighter than sun beams - dreamlike, cool light, making her white fur glow. Eyes bare and glazed, she breathed slowly, unfazed by the alien beauty. Because she couldn't see any of this, could she?

Cherrymist jolted awake from her trance as a new smell caught her attention. Something she hadn't smelled for moons, yet she couldn't forget. She took a sure step forward, no longer the scared and timid she-cat she had once been. A smile etched on her muzzle, as she tilted her head down, a motion she recalled so clearly now that he was here, then pushed her pale pink nose against his, nuzzling him and purring almost childishly, relishing this sensation of bubbly happiness. The blind queen pulled back, clearing her throat, eyes fixed on a point past her father's shoulder

"Father. Welcome to StarClan." Cherrymist mewed, her voice sweet yet strong. "Luckily, you will not be joining us for now. Indeed, you have come here for another purpose. For your nine lives."

She took a deep breath. "I, Cherrymist, grant you your first life. To persevere, in the face of the ones who dare doubt your strength, to protect your Clan no matter the drawbacks, and to forgive those who see themselves above you" and with that, the queen bowed down on her front paws, touching her nose to his once again. This time, a strong wave of energy rushed from within her and into Tinystar, shaking the small tom. Blinking warmly, the she-cat turned and padded back to her spot in the circle of StarClanners.

Opening his eyes, Tinylegs had arrived. The calm, quiet starry land stretched out as far as the eyes could see, and just being in such a place like this made the small tom quiver with joy. But before he was able to think much more about his surroundings, a cat began to appear in front of him, and even though her pelt was filled with glimmering stars, he could never forget what his own daughter looked like. It felt like it'd been all too long since he'd seen his daughter, and while this land was different than reality, he wanted this moment to last forever.

Nuzzling the blind she-cat's cheek, Tinylegs listened to what she said, soaking in every second of hearing her voice. Perseverance. Something that he knew about all too well, but didn't say a word as Cherrymist finished speaking. When she was done, part of him wanted to say something, but he was lost for words in these first captivating moments of receiving his lives, so the short white and grey tom gave a simple nod with a smile still planted on his muzzle. "T-thank you," he managed to choke out, trying not to get too emotional as he spoke.

Closing his eyes and reaching up to touch noses with his daughter one last time, he didn't expect the sudden somewhat painful sensation of life energy rushing through his veins. So that was what a life felt like. It was an odd feeling of pain, but it soon ebbed away, and opening his eyes, a different cat was standing in front of him, one in which he didn't know as well as he would've liked, but definitely knew her.

The next cat to step out of the surrounding group was yet another familiar face. Her long legs and slim stature had hardly changed since she joined the ranks in Skyclan, but there was something oddly different about her. As she padded up to her uncle, Rabbitfoot radiated a confidence like the gleaming of the stars in her coat. Yet, the gentle look in her eye created a warm comfort and brought about the same awkward kindness that used to line her personality. "Tinylegs, it's good to see you!" she purred, stepping forward and pressing her head down against his for a moment. Backing away just enough, she took a deep breath, trying to make sure that she had the words lined up in her head. "Wi-With this life, I give you compassion," she mewed, going so far as to sit down to keep herself in line. "Always remember to think of others before yourself, putting yourself in their paws." For a moment, the she-cat paused, her face creating a perplexed look as if she had lost her train of thought. Opening her mouth for a moment as if to try to force the words out, she finally gave up, shut her yap, and awkwardly pressed her nose against his. When she was finished, she quickly backed up and disappeared into the crowd again.

Next, in front of him was Rabbitfoot, his Niece. He remembered how when Antdrop was still living, she was his pride and joy, which he could understand, seeing as though she was a wonderful and talented she-cat. A smile on his muzzle as their heads pressed together, he listened to the starry pelted she-cat. Although there was some hesitation in her voice, he found her words comforting. When she finished, the small tom braced himself for what was next to come, though this time, he didn't find the life as painful, and hoped the lives next to come were the same way, if not even less. Taking a step back, he dipped his head in thanks to Rabbitfoot and awaited the next cat's arrival, wondering who it would be.

The next cat to step forward out of the crowd was a beautiful gray and white bicolor she-cat, her sleek pelt and murky green eyes glittering with the lights of a thousand stars as her tail swayed calmly behind her.  Every step Pansyface took towards her father was carefully placed, the grass beneath her paws barely ruffled by her movements.  She looked happy, a powerful purr rumbling deep in her throat, but there was a certain shadowing around her eyes, the mark of a cat who had recently experienced many restless, worried hours.  Bending forward, she lowered her head to nuzzle her much shorter parent; "Father, it's so good to see you again."  Her voice was low, nostalgic, but tired.  Pulling away, she smiled softly down at Tinylegs for a long moment, before beginning to speak.  "The tragedies that have befallen SkyClan as of late have broken my heart, as I'm sure they have also broken yours...so with this life, I give you faith."  Pushing her gray nose forward to connect with her father's tiny pink nose, she closed her eyes to fight back against the rush of tears that threatened to spill onto the silver-tinged ground.  "The faith...to know that StarClan will always be here to watch over our clan, to guide us...and to greet us on the day that our time on earth comes to an end.  Never lose hope...because there will always be something to believe in."  Her shaky voice rang with a mysterious height of emotion, but as Pansyface pulled away after the life had passed through her, she smiled.  Slowly, her form vanished back into the crowd, leaving a strange melancholy air in her wake.

Meeting the following cat's green gaze, and his purring didn't cease to stop. Nuzzling Pansyface's muzzle, Tinylegs listened as the starry pelted she-cat spoke, occasionally nodding in agreement. So much had happened to SkyClan lately and every night, he prayed with all his might that things would get better. "I'll never lose hope, I promise," he mewed softly as she leaned back from giving him the life. Yet another wave of pain surged through the small tom's veins, and opening his eyes, his beloved daughter was gone, leaving him with only the memory of her slender figure as he waited for the next cat to come forward.

Next to stride up to the tiny tom was Acornheather, whom he vaguely remembered as one of SkyClan's past medicine cats. "With this life, I give you prudence, so that you may discipline yourself using reason and cautiousness," the tabby she-cat mewed and leaned over to give Tinylegs the life before stepping back.

Approached by a familiar form, Swiftflight, one of his sons, stepped into view, a warm smile on his muzzle. "With this life, I give you humility, so that you may known when to be humble," the tom mewed with a nod to his father. Leaning down, he awarded his father with his next life, before moving back among the ranks of his fellow StarClanners.

Stepping up to Tinylegs was a cat whom he didn't know personally, but recognized very well; Ivystar, RiverClan's former leader. The she cat looked down at him with a skeptical gaze, but didn't say anything or make any other comments except what she was supposed to. "With this life, I give you wisdom, so that you make apply your knowledge and experiences in any situation," she finished and gave the little tom his next life. Before she rejoined the others, Tinylegs gave the RiverClanner a curt nod of thanks, for her time and advice.

Next up was his father, Crowstar. Looking up to the former leader, Tinylegs couldn't help but feel a slight sense of pride that he was related to such an amazing leader. "You've made it a long ways from kithood, good job," the fluffy, black leader began. "With this life, I give you loyalty, so that you may stay devoted to your clan and StarClan," he finished and proceeded to give Tinylegs his next life, which wasn't as painful as the others. Once he was done, the former stepped back among the small crowd.

Stepping forward, Breezewhisker, his half brother, stood in front of the small deputy. The two of them had their differences, but even so, they'd been decent to each other, way back when. "With this life, I give you justice, so that you may be fair and reasonable to those in and outside of you clan," he mewed and touched noses with Tinylegs, sending a shiver up his spine. Stepping back, he was quickly replaced by another cat, whom Tinylegs had hoped to see during his visit.

The last of the cats to step forward was Antdrop, another one of his older siblings. The lean black tom made his way forward, his black coat glimmering and green eyes shining. A small smile was held on his muzzle, which was a surprise to Tinylegs, seeing as though Antdrop was never one to ever smile. Stomach turning, Tinylegs' throat closed up as him and Antdrop met gazes. His older brother had undoubtedly been taken from his life too soon and while the two of them had never really had the best relationship, he couldn't have been more overjoyed to see his kin.

"I'm sorry, for everything," the black tom began softly, looking down to his paws. "I was never a good brother to you, I had so much jealousy and hatred in my heart, but now I see that it was all for nothing, and look what you've become," he mewed with a gentle smile, looking back to the small white warrior. "With this life, I give you discernment. So that you may judge well for your clan's safety, and your spiritual understanding," done speaking, he leaned down and touched noses with Tinylegs, which brought the tiny tom his last sense of pain. "May we meet again, brother," he whispered in a hushed tone, and with that, the starry eyed tom backed away into the crowd.

"You've received your nine lives and have earned your spot as leader of Skyclan. From here on, you will be known as Tinystar. Starclan welcomes you as leader of Skyclan, and wishes that you lead them well,” Antdrop finished with a curt nod, and chants of Tinystar’s new name broke out among the nine cats. Not long after standing before his friends and family, the group of cats began to disappear into the stars, leaving the newly named Tinystar alone on the open moorland of StarClan, which soon began to fade into darkness.

Opening his eyes, Tinylegs blinked a few times before standing up, facing the dull Moonstone, which was slightly dimmer than before, but he was still able to see enough to get back through the tunnel. Flinching as a damp breeze ruffled his pelt, he continued to make his way upward until he emerged into the open air. Letting out a content sigh, the small leader looked up to the moon and stars above, silently promising to himself and his ancestors that he would use every last ounce of his strength to serve SkyClan. Looking to Mintwhisker, Tinystar gave a nod. "Let's head home," he mewed with a smile, and the pair made their way back to camp.