Sandclaw ~We do not know when I will be able to receive my nine lives from Starclan. I would like to do it soon before the clan's foundations will be destroyed, but I don't want Ripplepaw to die because of me.

Ripplepaw~

I open my eyes, and pain seers through my entire body. My leg feels like it is on fire. Everything comes back to me. Those creatures. A name rings out in my mind, something that I must have heard from Shadowfur. Wolfs. The name seems to fit. I close my eyes. I feel myself slipping into dreams.......   I am in the forest. A strange cat walks up to me. She stares at me with gentle eyes. "It is not yet your time to walk among us. I will lead a cat to find you. You shall not die, Ripplepaw, my precious kit." 

Sandclaw ~Ripplepaw has gotten much better since Darkstar died so Moonshadow and I have made the journey to mooncrystal. As I touch my nose to the crystal everything goes black and then I see many cats in front of me. Then I see - no Flowertail my mother! She bounds up to me andnuzzles me. "Flowertail!" I exclaim. She says " I give you a life for loving all cats, no matter where they come from. " A great warmth spreads through me and when it's gone I wish it would come back. A large heavy black tom steps forward as Flowertail steps back. "I am Oaktree I died long before you were born, trying to save my apprentice from a badger.I may have died, but my apprentice lived to rally the clan to drive the badger out. So now I give you a life to protect your clan from the greater danger." He said without letting me a word. ~to be continued.

Sandclaw ~As he gives me my second life, a great pain sears through me and then is replaced by a great ferocity. Then a kit steps foreword and says "I was always curious during my time among the clans, and a little curiosity is good, but I died in my curiosity it over took me and, well let's just say that I poked my nose where I shouldn't have. So I will give you a life for the just right amount of curiosity." A funny feeling spread through me as if butterfly's spread through me willing me on to look at everything.~to be continued.

Ripplepaw~

I look up, and really, really wish that I could leave Moonshadow's den. My leg is feeling much better, and I don't see why I have to stay here. Of course, the last time that I snuck out....... I shiver, and try to block the memories from my head. I look down sadly at my fur, which is now marred by several ugly scars. I try to move my leg, and pain flashes through my entire body. Oh yeah, I think grimly, That's why I have to stay here. Moonshadow told me that I almost died, and that I should be grateful that I even lived. Apparently, Shadowfur had a dream that some strange cat had told him where I was. That was my mother. The words feel strange. I've always been vaguely jealous of the kits that had mothers. Apparently, I was found in the forest, and darkstar said that I could stay in the nursery. A strong flash of sadness and anger seers through me. Sadness that darkstar is dead, and anger at my mother abandoning me. Maybe she'll be in my dreams I think hopefully, and I drift into sleep.

Sandclaw ~ As I try to bear the pain another cat steps up and says to me "I am from a different clan, which lives far, far away from here, but that is of no matter for now. I have been allowed to give you your fourth life. It is a life for giving for the common good for all the clans." I brace myself for the force when a sudden warmth fills me. The reddish colored cat steps away as he says "My name is Firestar."

Night-- 

I walk slowly, through the forest. The life of a rogue has suited me for my life, ever since kithood, yet I'm feeling a tug at my heart---a restlesness I've never felt before. As my weary paws crunch on the leaves, I fear I may collapse. I've been running from dogs all day. Thankfully I outran them. Suddenly I stop. A chill runs down my spine and enters through my tail. My senses are on full alert, my hackles rise, and a strange scent floods my nose. It reminds me of lighting, and smells like more cats than I can ever imagine. I think I've entered their territory... But maybe if I hide in that tree, I can rest without fear of attack. And maybe this is the change I seem to have been waiting on... Maybe these strange lightning-cats will let me join them. Maybe I can finally find a place to call my own. Numbly I drift off into the welcome warmths of sleep, with not a thought more.