SotN is going to work a little different this time. We're going to get to the plot much quicker, instead of taking sixteen chapters.

AsTheDarknessFalls: Because I thought I could improve it greatly. And I have an epic idea. :D

101Icestormxx: Haha, I can't wait either. :D

TabbyCat47: Ah, tons of people re-do their stories. Not all of them redo as much as you do, however. XDD

The gathering had gone smoothly, for the most part. Sure, there had been a bit of an...uproar when Lightstar had announced that Iceheart was his deputy, but that was to be expected. After all, the small white tom was only sixteen moons old as well as being the leader's son. Favoritism had obviously been shown.

But now they were returning home, stumbling through the darkened forest. A few of the apprentices were giggling...probably about how handsome he was, Iceheart thought, completely disregarding the fact that it was almost pitch black and...well, they couldn't see his complete and utter attractiveness in this light.

The tom next to him, a rather silent tom called Sootsplash, stopped moving. "They're here," he hissed.

"What do you-" Iceheart was cut off by a cat colliding with him, slamming the deputy into the ground. Iceheart let out a hiss, unsheathing his claws and sliding out of the other cat's grip.

The white tom bristled, facing his opponent. Great, he's at least three times my size. Well, what about that idea I had..? Iceheart wondered, searching the battlefield for Shadestorm, or Courageflame. Even that apprentice, Courageflame's son, would work.

Eventually, hiding from the large ginger tom that had attacked him in the first place, he spotted Shadestorm. "Shadestorm!" Iceheart hissed, knocking him away from the scarred black tom he was wrestling. "It's time."

Shadestorm looked at him, confusion evident in his dark blue eyes. "Plan? Iceheart, I was having fun!"

"I know," Iceheart meowed drily. "Now hurry up, we won't be free for long."

"Oh, that!" Shadestorm meowed, nodding. "Okay, go for it, I've got your back."

Iceheart narrowed his eyes and went for the nearest tree, clawing his way up the bark. Shadestorm followed him, defending him from any attackers.

With a heave, the small white deputy reached the first branch. "Can we...stop now?" Shadestorm panted, drawing himself up onto the branch to stand next to Iceheart.

He shook his head. "No. We need to go up a bit higher, so maybe it'll knock down a few others. You can stay here if you want, but beware of falling branches." With that, Iceheart continued up the tree, kicking down branches that were small enough or ready to fall down anyway. Shadestorm dodged them, pressing himself up against the bark of the elm.

Once Iceheart got to the top, he looked over the battlefield. They were losing. Badly. Gritting his teeth, he began to work on one of the main branches of the tree, one that split off into many others. I hope they stay out of the way...he thought, loosening the branch. But, even if we don't kill the rogues, they'll be scared off.

With a creak, the branch was loose. Iceheart leaped onto another before it could fall, pushing it down with his back paws. Peering through the branches after hearing the thud, he noticed Shadestorm wasn't on the branch he had been on earlier.

"This can't be good..." Iceheart muttered, leaping from branch to branch until he got to the ground. "Shadestorm?" he called, pushing past two stunned rogues that were staring ahead of them, toward the branch he'd pushed to the ground.

"Aw, these clan kitties almost killed one o' their own!" A sarcastic voice called. It was the tom Shadestorm had been fighting earlier, glee burning in his golden eyes. "But, it didn't quite kill 'im. I guess I'll have to finish this lil' kitty off."

Iceheart watched in horror as the tom sauntered up to the multitude of branches and dug an unconcious Shadestorm out of the mix.

StarClan, I'm horrible...

The black tom drew up a paw, claws unsheathed.

And in one swipe, Shadestorm was killed.

"Shadestorm," Courageflame whispered. "Shadestorm."

His brother couldn't be dead. No, it was simply impossible. His brother was not dead. He was just playing a joke, just like always did.

Once they got back to camp, Shadestorm would be completely fine. Completely fine.

The thought made Courageflame giggle. It was pretty funny, if you thought about it. Shadestorm had everyone fooled!

Oh, and Lightstar was dead. That was a bit depressing, especially since the new leader would be Iceheart.

But he did have to congratulate Iceheart on giving Shadestorm an excellent opportunity for the prank. The rogue must have been in on it, too! And the rogue was a good actor, he made it look like he had actually swiped his claws over Shadestorm's neck and made the ground get soaked with blood.

It made Courageflame wonder where they had gotten the blood, but maybe the rogue had stabbed himself in the paw.

Or, Shadestorm had very quickly bitten him! Yes, that made sense!

He couldn't wait to tell his brother he had it all figured out.

"Are you ready to get your nine lives?"

The voice seemed to echo throughout the hollow. In front of Iceheart was a large council of StarClan members. He recognized a few; Lightfoot and Crowflight and Treewhisker. He did wonder who would be giving him his nine lives...and he wondered where Bramblepaw was.

"Y-yeah. I think I'm ready," Iceheart replied, taking a deep breath.

There was a movement among the StarClan cats, and soon a small, calico she-cat pushed her way to the front. "Bramblepaw!" Iceheart blurted out, unable to keep himself from keeping silent.

The she-cat sent a dazzling smile his way. "Hey, Ice. I'm here to give you your first life," she meowed lightly, flicking her tail tip back and forth. She padded closer to him, green eyes narrowing into slits. "With this life, I give you ferocity to defend your clan."

As soon as she touched noses with him, he felt the stabbing pain. He let the pain envelop him, for it seemed so...Bramblepaw. There was an essence of the she-cat he'd grown up with in the life; he'd overheard his father saying her warrior name would probably be Bramblerage.

As soon as Bramblepaw drew back another familiar cat padded toward him. It was the sleek black-and-white tom that had been his mentor and deputy before him, Swiftclaw. "Hello, my apprentice. Staying out of trouble, I hope?" the tom purred. "Don't answer that, I know you haven't. With this life, I give you tact. Use it – and when I say use it, I mean use it – to keep your clan on good terms with the others."

The pain of this life was more controlled, instead of the seemingly random points of pain Bramblepaw's life had. A layer of pain seemed to lay over him, eventually sinking into his skin. "This isn't so bad," he muttered.

Swiftclaw padded back quickly, and Shadestorm took his place. "Wow, just joined StarClan and already giving leaders their nine lives. Didn't even get the chance to groom the bits of tree out of my fur," he meowed, grinning. "Anyway, with this life I give you experience. Use it to make good decisions that benefit the clan."

The feeling that came with this one was...different, to put it nicely. It seemed light, but then...underneath the pleasantry it was dark, foreboding, and all-around creepy. It must be true, that a the feeling that comes with a life reflects the cat giving the life...

Next came Strikeheart's late mate and the mother of Kestrelkit and Fawnkit. Sunheart. Iceheart used to have a crush on the she-cat – she was Bramblepaw's sister, but didn't share the energy that her sister had – but she'd never liked him. "Hello, Iceheart," she meowed, her green eyes, so much like Bramblepaw's, sparkling. "With this life I give you love. Use it well." There was no explanation for the last part.

There was no pain in this life. It was simply bliss.

"I don't see why I need to give a life, I barely know the cat," a voice growled. Midnightlight. Iceheart guessed, and, looking up, realized he was right. The slim black she-cat padded toward him, sighing. "With this life I give you sanity, 'cause StarClan knows we need a bit around here."

It was a bit like Bramblepaw's, Iceheart mused. Out of control pain, stabbing at random parts of his body. The main target seemed to be his brain.

As soon as the life was over, a dark gray she-cat was standing in front of him. "Hello, Iceheart," she meowed quietly.

"But – you're deaf – you've never been able to pronounce my name."

"Do you think I'd be deaf in StarClan?" Quietpaw asked, tilting her head to the side. "I think not. With this life, I give you silence. Sometimes you must listen, and not speak."

Iceheart's tongue felt heavy, and he felt a wave of sadness wash over him. He could understand why; the young she-cat had killed herself a moon into her apprenticeship because of extreme teasing. Her brother was no help, always moping around himself.

As soon as the life was lifted, he looked at her. "I'm sorry-"

"Listen, do not speak," she reminded.

The next cat that came was much brighter – in pelt color and personality. "Hi Iceheart! You've grown up, haven't you?" It was Stormylight, the elder that had so often given him advice on she-cats and told him stories of his own exploits. "With this life, I give you ignorance. It helps sometimes." He gave Iceheart a wink and touched noses with him.

It was so playful it was almost revolting. There was no seriousness, simply light, fluffy happiness. There was bliss in ignorance.

The next to cats padded up together. It was his mother, Darkflash of MoonClan and his father, Lightstar, former leader of IceClan. "I shall give you your next life," his mother meowed. "With this life I give you perseverance, to make it through the hardest times."

The main component in this life was pounding fear, but hiding under that was the undying will to go on. Must be what she felt, sneaking out to see my father.

"Iceheart, you were named after the first leader of IceClan-"

"That's me!" A gray-and-white tom called from the front of the group of StarClan cats. The bright ginger she-cat next to him smacked him with her paw. "Sorry!"

"As I was saying, you were named after the first leader of IceClan. With this life, I give you memory. Remember the past mistakes of other leaders and do your best to avoid them," Lightstar dipped his head to touch noses with his son, leaving him with an extremely paralyzing life. "Do your best, my son."

"And we name you Icestar, new leader of IceClan!" the gray-and-white cat yowled. "Icestar! Icestar!"

Much longer than the original, no?