StarClan's Blessing (Stormpelt's 9 Lives Ceremony)

Stormpelt silently walked through the snow, matching his pace with Appleheart's. Last time he walked through leafbare snow, he'd been a normal warrior patrolling the territory and hunting with his mate. Now he was making a journey to become leader of ThunderClan. When he was named deputy, he never expected to become leader; Hemlockstar had nine lives ahead of him and a special destiny from StarClan. Why would Stormpelt even hope to outlive him? He shuddered at the brutality of Hemlockstar's death. The news of the patrol had shook him at his core. If a cat like Hemlockstar could have his life ripped from him so easily; what hope did the rest of them have? Death had always been a constant in the Clans, but the last few moons had shown him how personally devastating it could truly be. Hemlockstar wasn't exactly his best friend, but they'd worked hard together to do right by ThunderClan, an it had barely been a moon since Icefur had been killed. Stormpelt didn't know how much more death his heart could take. As the next leader of ThunderClan, he would have much more responsibility for the lives of his clan mates. What would he do when faced with life or death decisions?

Stormpelt was already dreading the pressure. His job as deputy had been hard enough in the past moon. He'd thrown himself into it, always thinking about patrols and threats, always listening to Hemlockstar and brainstorming solutions to problems, but he never really wanted to do any of it. He didn't have much of a choice, though. ThunderClan needed a deputy, and now it needed a leader. At least his duties gave him a distraction from the thoughts that were always clawing at his mind. Still, in the depths of his heart, Stormpelt longed to be an ordinary warrior again, with little responsibility and without the burden of heartache.

Stormpelt turned his thoughts to the Moonpool. He had always believed in StarClan and found comfort in the idea that his old friends were guiding him from the stars. Some days, it was only his faith that Icefur was watching over him that got him up and out of his nest to face the day. However, it was one thing to say a prayer to StarClan on a hard day, but another thing entirely to meet them face-to-face to receive nine lives and become a Clan leader. He didn't want to admit it to Appleheart, but the thought of meeting his ancestors was intimidating. Some cats seemed born to receive omens and walk among the stars, but he'd never been anything special like that. He tried to push his anxieties away, telling himself that his warrior ancestors wouldn't do anything to harm him.

Appleheart's voice broke through his thoughts. The she-cat betrayed little emotion with her question, though it seemed like she was expecting him to answer positively. And perhaps as ThunderClan's leader, he owed it to her to keep it together. At the same time, he was feeling more scared and alone than ever, with the biggest responsibility of his life impending. How was he supposed to be holding up?

"All things considered, I suppose I am," Stormpelt said. "I wish we didn't need to make this journey, though." As he continued walking, he tried to think of a way to ask Appleheart about what to expect. As a medicine cat, she would have insight into the ways of StarClan. He couldn't think of anything to say that wouldn't give away his anxieties, so he kept his mouth shut. He followed Appleheart up a well worn path, realizing that he would soon be at the Moonpool. Something in his spirit shifted as continued along the path, and an odd calmness started to come over him. Even though he was still anxious and unhappy, he felt like perhaps he was meant to be here, and that was enough for this moment.

(No worries; sorry it took me awhile to reply! As far as the title, in the tradition of stealing song lyrics, maybe "But heartache pales in comparison to love" would fit?)