"Dapplefur, you'll be fine. Don't worry about Flightstar. She'll recover. Stop pacing about." A black she-cat called to a lithe white she-cat with brown and black spots. Her tail was swishing quickly as she paced back and forth on the ground below her leader's den.
"You're not helping, Nightsky!" Dapplefur shot back, clawing the ground impatiently as she paused.
"Oh, Dapplefur, you know I'm always right." Nightsky teased.
"Shut up, mouse-brain." Dapplefur snapped.
Flightstar's coughing could be heard outside of her den.
"I'm going in to check on Flightstar." Dapplefur argued, heading towards the leader's den.
"Dapplefur!" Nightsky yowled back, exasperated.

"Dapplefur? Is that you?" Flightstar's voice was weak, and it made Dapplefur cringe.
She won't make it to newleaf...
Dapplefur thought sadly.
Flightstar was on her last life.

"Dapplefur, come quick!" Shimmersky's wail came.

"I'm coming!" Dapplefur yowled, before turning back to the weak leader.

"Flightstar!" Dapplefur breathed worriedly.

"I'll be fine, Dapplefur. Shimmersky wanted to give you some... bad news." Flightstar's mew was hushed and worried.

"Bad news?" Dapplefur was alarmed at the thought.

"Shimmersky is in her den. She pelted out of here after you called back." Flightstar whispered.

Dapplefur nodded, bounding away.

"Shimmersky!" Dapplefur yelped exhaustedly, bursting into the medicine cat's den.

"Oh, Dapplefur... I'm so sorry." Shimmersky soothed, walking towards the puzzled she-cat.

"What do you mean?" Dapplefur meowed.

"Sunstream is dead..." Shimmersky whispered desparingly.

Dapplefur froze, grief welling up inside of her before she burst into tears. Her sister!

"She can't be!" Dapplefur choked out.

"I'm so sorry...." Shimmersky sounded grim.

"Nightsky!" Dapplefur wailed. "Sunstream is dead!"

"No, no, no, no!" Nightsky yowled, bursting into the den just as her sister, Dapplefur had.

"Please don't blame me... I tried, but she was too sick for me to help her. We medicine cats don't have much of a treatment for blackcough."

Dapplefur and Nightsky crouched around the body of their dead sister, Sunstream, their tears wetting the she-cat's flank.

"Call a meeting..." Nightsky whispered to Dapplefur.
The deputy nodded, slowly plodding out of the den, her white tail dragging in the dirt.

"All cats old enough to climb the tallest trees, gather beneath Highbranch for a Clan meeting..." Dapplefur called out to her Clan as she scrambled up onto Highbranch

"What's this about?" Flightstar croaked from her den.

"You'll find out." Dapplefur replied, almost spitting out the words at the sick leader.

"Alrighty, then..." Flightstar sighed.

"Sunstream..." Dapplefur could only just manage to choke out her sister's name before her throat tightened with grief.

"Dapplefur..?" It was Iceheart who spoke. Iceheart was an old warrior who was like a mother to her after Dapplefur's real mother, Lightcloud, drowned.

"Sunstream is dead!" Dapplefur wailed, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Blackcough!" A cat snarled from the crowd.

Nightsky burst into tears, her wails sounding sad and pitiful. Dapplefur felt a prick of loneliness as her sister's mate rushed to comfort the miserable queen.

"In other news..." Shinmersky murmured, padding dejectedly out of Flightstar's den.
The leader's coughing had ceased, making the Clan sound empty...

"No!" Dapplefur wailed, as if knowing what Shimmersky would say.

"Flightstar... Is... Is... D-dead..." Shimmersky wailed, crouching in front of the old leader's den.

"Flightstar!" Iceheart wailed, calling out the leader's name for the last time. It was a ceremony that JungleClan performed, calling out a leader's name after their death to announce their arrival into StarClan.

"Flightstar! Flightstar!" The Clan yowled, pain and grief clearly sounding in their voices.

"I'm so sorry, my Clan. Blackcough is not forgiving. Treatments aren't common. StormClan wouldn't even know what to do, and I doubt NightClan, DesertClan or ShimmerClan would either." Shimmersky muttered.

"Oh, my..." Iceheart sounded as if she was trying not to cry.

"Dapplestar!" Nightsky yowled, sounding proud but grief-stricken.

"Oh.." Dapplefur muttered. While she had been grieving, it had slipped her mind that she was the deputy.
I'm the worst deptuy ever, and I'll be a terrible leader...
Dapplefur's thoughts weren't doing her any favours.

"In that case... The new deputy will be Iceheart. Iceheart is in charge until I get back from MoonPool..." Dapplefur announced.

"Iceheart! Iceheart!" The Clan yowled, but it was clear they weren't up to yowling and cheering as loud as they could.

"Come on, Shimmersky." Dapplefur growled, plodding slowly towards the entrance to her camp.

"Traveling herbs!" Shimmersky yowled.
Dapplefur just shook her head.

"But..."

"No, Shimmersky. I'm not hungry, and I'm so full of grief I probably won't be until we get back. I can tell the same goes for you."
Shimmersky gave a reluctant nod, and padded along after the she-cat.

***

"Here we go..." Dapplefur whimpered, standing at the top of the cave.
Inside, the cave's winding path led to a starlit pool which, when touched, let the cat enter StarClan in their dreams.

"I hope whatever is waiting for us down there is good." Shimmersky whispered to the former deputy.

"Off we go." Dapplefur mewed sharply, heading into the tunnel.

The two she-cats traveled to the bottom before curling up beside the pool.

"Good luck." Shimmersky mewed before touching her nose to the icy water.
Dapplefur did the same, a little worried as darkness engulfed her.
After a few moments, Dapplefur wondered if StarClan didn't want her, and opened her eyes.
She gasped, watching as starry cats surrounded her.
She was only faintly aware of Shimmersky behind her.

"Welcome, Dapplefur." A russet tom mewed, stepping up to touch his nose to her ear.
Dapplefur filled with joy.
"Flamefur!" She breathed, the fishy scent of her father surrounding her.

"Ah, my kit... I am proud of you. Oh, Dapplefur... With this life, I give you strength. Even when you think you can't pull your Clan up out of the ashes, believe you can. We, StarClan, will always be with you." Flamefur touched his nose to Dapplefur's ear at once and a surge of power ran through her as she received her first life.
The she-cat struggled to stay on her paws as the life flowed through her.

"Thank you, father." Dapplefur murmured to her father, burying her muzzle into his shoulder before stepping back.

"I am always with you, my kit." Flamefur whispered.
A white she-cat with black and brown spots stepped up.

"Lightcloud!" Dapplefur breathed, padding up to her mother.

"Oh, Dapplefur... I'm so proud of my little she-kit." Lightcloud murmured.

"With this life, I give you a mother's love for her kits. Care for each and every member of your Clan as if they were your own, Dapplefur." Lightcloud mewed, stepping forward to touch noses with her kit.

The life was powerful, and the jolt made Dapplefur lurch forward.

"Thank you, mother." Dapplefur croaked, still startled from the shock.

"I am with you... Dapplefur." Lightcloud whispered as she stepped back into the starry ranks.

A orange-russet she-cat stepped out, and again Dapplefur filled with grief.

"I'm so sorry, Sunstream..."
Sunstream shook her head, the long fur that hung the top of her forehead swishing.

"Do not be sorry. There was nothing you could do, Dapplefur." Sunstream mewed gently.

"Okay..." Dapplefur whispered.

"With this life, I give you trust. Trust your Clanmates to do what you need them to." Sunstream reached forward, resting her head on Dapplefur's.

Dapplefur's legs screamed with pain as she struggled to stay on her paws.

"Good-bye..." Dapplefur murmured to her sister, longing to bring her back to JungleClan with her.

"No. This is not good-bye." Sunstream vowed. "I am always with you, through good and bad."

Dapplefur sighed wistfully as her dead sister stepped back into the starry ranks.

A regal-looking blue tom appeared, and Dapplefur gasped.

"Larkstar!" She yowled.
Larkstar was her half-brother, a kit from Flamefur's older litter.
This was before Flamefur left ShimmerClan and joined JungleClan.
Larkstar was quite older than her, and his last life had been lost due to his old age.

"It is good to see you, sister. I have waited to see you here, getting your lives."

"T-thank you." Dapplefur replied excitedly.

"With this life, I give you mentoring. Use it to guide the younger generation of JungleClan." Larkstar rested his head on Dapplefur's, the powerful life surging through her.

"Bye..." Dapplefur murmured as Larkstar backed away.

"Hey! Dapplefur!" A white tom called, padding up to her.

"Hey Whitepelt!"

Whitepelt had been the medicine cat when Dapplefur was a kit, who mentored Shimmersky.

"You'll make a wonderful leader..." Whitepelt trailed off.

"I hope so..." Dapplefur didn't sound too hopeful right about now.

"Don't fret, my friend. With this life, I give you calmness. Never fear anything. Be confident and do not find yourself stressed." Whitepelt touched his nose to Dapplefur's ear.

Dapplefur winced as she rocked on her paws.

"I have always missed such a good friend like you, Dapplefur."

"Really? I... I'm honored, Whitepelt." Dapplefur croaked.

Whitepelt shook his head, smiling as a new cat stepped forward.
It was Larkstar's mother, Flamefur's old mate.

"Streamsong!" She called. Streamsong had visited her in her dreams before.

"Dapplefur... Oh, how I have longed to meet you."
"Me? Why would you want to meet me? I'm not extrodinary. I'm just another leader...." Dapplefur didn't finish.

"You are my kit in a way, too." Streamsong purred.

Dapplefur's paws tingled with happiness.
"With this life, I give you love. Use it to care for the cats closest to you, and never deny the feeling. Your heart will guide you the right way, always." Streamsong touched her nose to Dapplefur's.

The life was calming and peaceful, lulling Dapplefur into a calm state.

"Good bye, Dapplefur." Streamsong was gone.

"Dapplekit..." An old, familiar voice rasped.

"Alderpelt!" Dapplefur wailed. Lightcloud's father had been one of her greatest friends as a kit.
His death during her apprenticeship had felt like a death blow.

"Ah... It is truly good to see you, Dapplefur." Alderpelt smiled.

Dapplefur felt her ear tips grow hot.
Alderpelt had always joked about how Dapplekit pestered him, but to hear Alderpelt being nice felt special.

"With this life, I give you respect. Don't forget about the former warriors. They've seen more than you have, and can help you greatly."
Alderpelt touched his nose to Dapplefur's shoulder.

After the shock, Dapplefur watched Alderpelt step away.

"Dapplefur!" Dapplefur felt her spirits rise.
"Lakepaw!" Dapplefur yowled.
Lakepaw had been her training buddy, and when greencough had killed him, she'd barely left her nest for a moon.

"How's StarClan?" Dapplefur asked her old friend.

"Plentiful in prey, that's for sure." Lakepaw remarked.

"Good."

"With this life, I give you endless energy. Leading a Clan can be tiring, but you must push through." Lakepaw reached up to touch his nose to Dapplefur's muzzle.

Dapplefur felt the life surge through her, but her shock was the realization that the next life was her last, and Flightstar hadn't come to give her a life.

What if Flightstar doesn't want me to lead? Is that why she hasn't come yet?
Dapplefur shook her head.

Sure enough, the regal she-cat was standing before her, eyes bright and focused.

"My precious deputy... Welcome. With your final life, I give you patience. Do not feel your Clan will change overnight." Flightstar rested her head on Dapplefur's, and without thinking, Dapplefur licked her leader's shoulder as if she was becoming a new warrior.

The life was a strong one, and Dapplefur felt her knees buckle. But, she merely stumbled backwards, staying on her paws.

"Welcome to JungleClan, Dapplestar!" Flightstar yowled to the sky.

"Dapplestar! Dapplestar!" The rest of the cats cheered.
Sunstream, Flamefur, and Lightcloud cheered loudest, pride shining in their eyes and clear in their voices.

"Thank you!" Dapplestar yowled back.
Within a few blinks, Dapplestar was waking up.

"Wow.. You do this every half-moon?" Dapplestar looked over at Shimmersky.

"Mhm." The medicine cat grunted.
The two got to their paws, climbing the tunnel.
Despite her happiness, Dapplestar's grief was fresh, after seeing all her close friends and kin who had died.
"Let's go." Dapplestar mewed.
***
"Dapplestar! Come quick!" The medicine cat's sister, Goldenleaf yowled.
"Nightsky's kits have come!" Goldenleaf purred.
Dapplestar's eyes widened as she raced towards the nursery.

"Nightsky! What are their names?" Dapplestar breathed as she entered the den.
Nightsky looked up and smiled.

"This one's Breezekit." The queen mewed as her tail tip rested on a pale grey she-kit's head. The she-kit blinked open sky blue eyes. Her paws were darker grey, almost black, along with her chest, muzzle, ears, and tail tip.

"And, this little mouse righ here is Scorchkit." The tom-kit was black with grey tabby stripes, and had perfectly amber eyes, with which he stared wide-eyed up at Dapplestar.

"And, last but not least, we have this little she-kit right here." Nightsky gazed fondly at the black she-kit, who had white spots that reminded Dapplestar of Silverpelt. Her eyes were bright blue.
"Her name's Sorrelkit. Blazingfur liked that name. I wanted to name her Silverkit, but, I guess that's okay."
Dapplestar smiled.

"Hey! Aren't my kits special too, Dapplestar?" A queen demanded.
Three little kits had their heads poked out from underneath their mother's tail.

"Of course!" Dapplestar dashed over to her good friend Tallflower.

"Oh, my. They sure have gotten big. Kits seem to grow overnight!" Dapplestar gasped.

"I know! My kitting was only last sunrise!" Tallflower exclaimed.

"Dwapplestawr!" A tiny tom squeaked. He was pale grey with white spots and peircing blue eyes.

"That's Fallenkit." Tallflower purred.

"Why hello, tiny warrior. Fallenkit sure sounds like a good name for a warrior!" Dapplestar meowed warmly.

"What about mine?" A white tom squeaked. His round green eyes were filled with curiosity. "Does Fwrogkit sound like a good name fowr a wawrriowr?"

"Ooh! You both have wonderful names! I can't wait till I get to choose your warrior names." Dapplestar murmured.

"How about Leafkit?" The tiny grey and white she-kit asked. Her eyes were leaf-green like Frogkit's.

"Absolutely perfect!" Dapplestar purred.

"I'm glad you like our kits, Dapplestar." A white tom mewed from beside Tallflower. His green eyes shone with pride.

"All kits are a blessing, Hawkfeather." Dapplestar replied warmly. Hawkfeather was one of her friends.

"Hi.." A small voice muttered.
It was one of Frostgaze's kits. It was Littlekit.
"I hope the new kits are special. Just forget about me and Falconkit, you know." Five-moon-old Littlekit sighed.

"I haven't forgotten you, but you don't need to be treated delicately," Dapplestar replied.

"Stay away from my kit!" A loner's rank scent filled the den, and with a quick blow to the back of her head, Dapplestar's vison clouded.
The light shrunk to a little speck, then winked out, leaving Dapplestar in darkness.

Authour's Note
Woo, that was tough *stretches fingers* Two weeks in the making... Finally, the prologue is done XD
Anyways, chapter one coming soon!

~Breezey~

Author's Note - Months Later - Edited

Surprise! I thought I'd edit instead of re-write! Chapter 1 and 2 need some work...

Anyways, I hope you guys like the edit- not any big changed but I'm hoping it's better. I realized that this chapter had 200-something reads and changing that... Why fix something that just isn't broken?

-Breezey