As she recovered, he threw himself up and slammed his fists into the ground. The floor shuddered and opened up beneath Blood Star’s feet. She gathered her skirts and leapt onto the side of the Moonstone, then to a rock pillar. Clumps of rock rose from the crack in the ground and hovered in a ball over Cole’s head. One by one he chucked clumps of them into the air. The werecat queen was forced to jump from boulders to stalagmites as the massive missiles chased her. They kept smashing in the wall behind her, spewing dust and rubble. A stab like fire lashed across his skull. “Gah!” Gritting his teeth after the cry, Cole concentrated on flinging the boulders at his sister. He could feel that hot sensation, crueler than the typical tickling feeling, burning his brain. Even so, he felt it could not penetrate his mind. It kept flickering, like a bad TV screen. Not so fast, sis, he thought triumphantly. You’re not getting in my head today. At last Blood Star was forced off the sides of the wall. Completing a graceful somersault, she stood and punched toward him; a wave of hazy green flames spat out of her fist. An upward thrust of his fist summoned a stone wall out of the ground. It burst in front of him and shielded him from the wave of fire that washed over it. “What is the matter with you?” He could just barely hear Blood Star’s voice over the roar of that evil-looking fire. “Don’t you get it?! You’ve lost! I’ve won! You’ve lost everything!” She shifted into a wide stance and spread her arms out; stalagmites quivered, snapped and flew toward Cole. As each one shot toward him and shattered, she screeched between shots, “Why—won’t—you—give—up?!” A quick burst of Spinjitzu carried him out of the line of fire. He danced to Blood Star’s right several yards away as stalagmites crashed by his face. “I was gonna say the same thing about you!” he retorted. “I think it runs in the family!” A flying stalagmite slammed into him. The world spun as he was flung across the room and smashed against a boulder. Stone shattered and crumbled in a dust cloud around him. His head throbbed hotly. Something wet trickled down his scalp. Coughing up dust, he stumbled to his feet. His vision was swimming—all he could see was a blurry figure wearing dark blue and black coming toward him. “What did I say,” he slurred. “about trying to fight me with my own powers?” He spread out his arms and clumps of rubble gathered at his arms. He flung these at Blood Star, but his hazy vision hindered him. The missiles flew past her and sank into the ground. She raced past them and took a flying leap to Cole. He started to summon a Spinjitzu vortex. Her weight slammed into him and threw him to the ground. A coat of dust flew into his eyes and blinded him. He flinched back with a shout. “Sleep!”
An invisible, heavy weight washed over his brain. Again he resisted it, though his new blindness sent a fresh wave of panic. He could feel her kneeling on him, trying to keep him down on the floor. He thrashed and kicked wildly and managed to smash his elbow into her jaw. He could hear her teeth snap as he shoved her off of him. The dust in his eyes clung still and he felt tears overflow. Staggering to his feet, he shifted into a defensive stance and swung his head to and fro. Don’t panic, don’t panic. His breath came out in shaky gasps. Listen. Where is she? Stand still—remember what Liana taught you. Bare feet padded against stone—he heard it coming from his far left. He stood still until Blood Star’s gasping breath almost touched his ear. Then he spun around and lashed out one arm; he’d hitched a tekko-cagi claw from his belt and onto his hand. The metal claws made contact; the curved tips dug into something soft and ripped it. He yanked it back and felt satisfied to hear a loud screech. He could hear his sister stumbling away. Moving fast, he grabbed the second claw and fastened the straps. He blinked, and this time he could open his eyes a little. Tears continued to drip as he peered through the milky haze; Blood Star stood before him clutching her arm. Something red showed beneath the long, flowing sleeve of her robes. He could see her looking at him—hesitating. Thinking. Was it just him, or were the whispers from the Moonstone growing louder? Blood Star bared her teeth into a feral snarl, but the sound came out as more of choked sob. “What’s the matter, sis?” Cole snapped. Now he made no effort to hide his disdain. She wasn’t changing. She was too far gone for that. “Giving up?” “Just die!” she screamed. She wasn’t even trying to regain composure anymore. Her face was contorted with pure hatred. Claws appeared from her fingernails while fangs peered out from her mouth. With a high-pitched caterwaul she ran and threw herself at her brother. He’d hardly prepared for her weight when she crashed into him. Immediately her claws slashed at his face and he found himself stumbling back and deflecting the rapid blows raining upon him. “Die, die, die!” Blood Star wept as she clawed at his face. She kept coming, moving fast and jumping around him to keep him on his toes. Scratches stung at his wrists and jaw. With one arm up defensively, he used the other to slap one of her hands away and lunged past her guard. A shrill scream bounced off the walls as he raked his claws down the front of her torso. “I hate you!” She lurched backwards, but not for long. He advanced, but she lunged in low and slashed her claws toward his stomach. He dodged out of the way.
“I hate you!” She leapt for him again, this time aiming for his eyes. He only threw one arm up to block the blows just in time. Her claws on her other hand raked down his bicep. He jumped to the side and swung a punch, but she escaped it deftly. “I—!” Her words were cut off when Cole finally landed a punch; square in the face, one that threw her off her feet. With a cry she tumbled onto the ground. “The feeling’s mutual,” he grunted, flexing his scratched arm. Much like her half-brother, Blood Star would not give up. Again she threw herself at Cole, and again he fought back as ferociously as she did. More lacerations decorated their arms, faces, and torsos. The claws hacked wildly at one another, glinting wickedly in the Moonstone’s unearthly light. Something within the Moonstone flickered. Its light seemed to glow brighter, as if a creature within the stone were breathing life into it. The strange whispers increased in number and volume. Cole and Blood Star fought continually before the Moonstone, almost dancing in a circle around one another. Metal rang against claws; teeth snapped at flesh; fists met bone, and both hateful gazes met each other through the blue haze. Roots of Earth, roots of birth, To prove one’s love, to prove one’s worth… Blood Star’s demeanor seemed to switch constantly between pure rage and some twisted grief. Cole could feel it all in every scratch, in every bruise and in every bite with which she adorned his body. There was no more room for compassion now. He got revenge for every mark she left with him; his metal claws flashed like silver fire. The orange glow of his Spinjitzu contrasted strangely with the pale blue glow of the cavern. Brother One: his test comes from his roots, his earth… Cole was done running; done running from the death of his mother, done running from his father, and now he was done running from his half-sister. No more. Brother Two: between two worlds, mangled trust… Eagle Talon did not have to be stuck between two worlds now. He was gone, free to walk among the stars with his ancestors. He was free. Sister only: a broken, scattered heart that bleeds… Black Blood, now Blood Star, wept and screamed her turmoil to the cavern walls, as if they would pay any heed. She’d faced the horror of the monster she’d become, and yet she still chose bloodshed over redemption. She knew what she was and she embraced it. To save two worlds, all must rebirth And decide where they stand, for Our deeds determine us as much as we determine our deeds. Brother and sister both fought for the honor of their ancestors and the safekeeping of their worlds. They screamed their rage and defiance at one another as Kohuru’s prophecy unfolded.
Claws caught on Cole’s shoulder-pad. Blood Star used it to pull herself closer to him, but she was met with a slash at her face. He yanked himself free and used Spinjitzu to spin himself away. He landed between several spindly stalactites. Something wet was dripping down his eye and he blinked it away. Blood Star stood like a phantom in the Moonstone’s light. With small, deft movements of her hands, she made a small circular motion, and a ball of shimmering energy appeared. She chanted a foreign incantation. Rolling his hands into fists, Cole slammed them into the pair of stalagmites standing next to him; with protesting groans they snapped in half out of the ground and hovered in the air. With a might heave he angled them so that they hovered horizontally, with the tips pointed straight at Blood Star. With a loud grunt he heaved the first one forward. The missile flew toward Blood Star. She was ready. A crescent moon-shaped sweep of her arm summoned a shimmering force field. The missile bounced against it and shattered. “Ee-ugh!” Cole shot the second stalagmite; it flew straight over Blood Star’s head, missing her entirely. “You’re not quite as good as you think you are, brother!” With a sneer she spat at him. Cole met her gaze grimly. “Wanna bet?” With a small, careful flick of his wrist, he’d used his powers to turn the flying missile around in mid-air. The stalagmite that had flown past Blood Star now circled back and shot straight for her. Something about his expression gave her pause—but not soon enough. The stalagmite hit her square in the back and penetrated. The blow knocked her off her feet. A dark, wet smear followed her tumble on the ground. When she slid to a stop her neck was bent at an awkward angle. He’d stopped her instantly. Cole's head swam and he bent over with his hands on his knees, resisting the urge to be sick. Don’t just stand there! he screamed at himself. You know she’s not staying down for long! He started toward her, but his legs were shaking too badly. C’mon, dummy! Finish it! Blood Star’s body jerked and spasmed in place. A strange light glowed harshly from the wound in her stomach, along with every other scratch he’d. Her wounds were healing. The light poured from her gaping mouth, her glazed eyes, and from the crescent moon shape on her forehead. Finish it now! With trembling limbs, Cole gripped his tekko-cagi claws and raced for Blood Star. He knelt over her just as a loud, drawn-out gasp escaped her lips. The stalagmite seemed to fall away and crumble from her body. Her skin felt hot, as if she were on fire. With a raspy cry, he plunged his metal claws toward her throat. One wiry, clawed hand snatched him by the wrist. He found himself staring into the empty, glowing eyes of a creature literally back from the dead.
“The Son of the First already tried that,” she giggled. “The departed are on my side, Cole. Think you can do that seven more times?” Before he could free himself, she shot her head forward. He jerked his head back in time to avoid her getting him by the throat. Instead her fangs sank into his collarbone. Cole’s scream rang like something out of a nightmare. He thrashed in place and raked his claws down the side of her face. She released him, only to pick him up by the collar of his gi. With a surge of her supernatural powers, she threw him. He felt himself slam into the massive pillars of the Moonstone—his head snapped back painfully and he saw stars. With a groan he sank to the ground. The whispers from the Moonstone increased to a frantic chant, though their words remained indecipherable. Cole’s head throbbed, as did his mangled shoulder. Something red trickled down his eye. Chest heaving, he struggled onto his hands and knees. Blood Star was but a dark figure stalking from the shadows. His throat burned. His neck ached from the strain of looking up. Letting his eyes fall to the ground, he saw a dark pool collecting between his hands. It dripped from one arm and his bitten shoulder. The entire world seemed to be flickering and fading away. Or was he the one fading away…? “Mouse-brain! Get up!” A voice, strange yet familiar, barked over his head. “You’re so close!” Something seemed to take his hand and urge him to stand. It felt warm, yet empty, as if he were clutching open air. Chest heaving, Cole raised his head. A familiar face looked down at him, wearing an expression of mingled desperation and joy. His entire figure seemed to have faded through like a ghost’s, but it glowed in the same light the Moonstone did. Tiny stars seemed to gather around his face. “Eagle— Eagle Talon…?” Cole rasped in astonishment. “Am I dead?” “Not yet.” His half-brother looked at him with a grim smile. “Now get off your lazy rear and finish this.” “We’ll help you.” A new voice to his left made his heart throb. He looked to see the ghostly figure of Liana hovering beside him, her figure as hazy as Talon’s. She was looking straight into his eyes. She could see. His throat clenched. “L— Liana…” She replied in a voice that sounded distant and ringed with silver. “We’re with you. Hang in there, please, for just a little longer…” Out of the corner of his eye, Cole caught movement. “Don’t get distracted, mouse-brain!” Eagle Talon snapped. “We can’t do this ourselves!” Cole managed to raise his arms up just as Blood Star slashed forward. He flinched from the sting on his arms, but drew himself up and faced his half-sister. If she saw the spirits at Cole’s side, she paid no heed to them. Her face had twisted into a demented grin. “Your friends shall never find your corpse—not all of it, anyway!” With an insane cackle she lunged herself at him again.
Sidestepping her attack, he pivoted on one foot and kicked out; the blow caught her in the shoulder and sent her reeling. It gave him time to recover, but his head swam and he coughed again. Warm hands gripped both his shoulders—Talon’s grip felt tight with desperation while Liana’s shook with hope. No words were needed. Cole inhaled sharply—a warm, fiery sensation seeped from their hands to his shoulders, and from there it spread to his core and down his arms. At this surge of newfound strength, he felt his powers aroused with more energy than he’d ever felt before. A jagged pattern ran down his arms and glowed an unearthly orange. He felt the scar on his forehead light up as well, burning hot and cold at the same time. Blood Star seemed to take no heed of the orange glow breaking from Cole’s flesh. Her eyes danced with unleashed madness and her fanged mouth was agape in that same crazed cackle. With a wild screech she got on all fours and lunged for him. Cole met her screech with a defiant battle roar. He reared up and slammed his fists into the ground. A resounding boom echoed throughout the chamber. The massive walls, ceiling, and even the stalagmites and stalactites shuddered. A great tremor shook the cavern. Even the Moonstone, through all its greatness and power, quivered in fear. The floor heaved like a rising tide. The ceiling groaned in mourning as great cracks spread and tore it apart, raining dust and debris. Each curve and corner of the walls seemed to thrash and turn on one another. The ancient cave tore itself apart. Stopping, Blood Star stood in the rain of debris and watched in dismay as the Moonstone shattered against the weight of tumbling boulders. She turned her rage to Cole. “No!” She lunged for him, but he was ready. Standing his ground, he ducked low beneath her swings meant to slash his face to ribbons. Before she could recover, he jumped around her, wrapping one arm around her neck and tightening. “You’ve made your choice,” he grunted. “Now it’s time to pay the price.” He yanked her off her feet and forced them both to stand beneath a massive stalactite. Its point was aimed directly for Blood Star and Cole’s heads. Blood Star stiffened in shock against him, then barked a dry laugh. “Haven’t you learned? One measly stone shan’t end me for good.” “I’m just curious,” he grunted savagely. “Can you come back to life if you don’t have a body to come back to?” Claws dug into his wounded stomach. Pain took his breath away, but he only held onto her all the harder. With her arms pinned behind her back and his arm wrapped around her neck, she was left immobile. With a ear-splitting crack, the stalactite broke free from the ceiling and plummeted.
The impact threw Cole off his feet. Blood Star fell free from his arms. The glow from his body enveloped him tightly in its violent light. The stalactite crumbled to pieces, as did the rest of the ceiling. He felt himself being tossed mercilessly against a thundering tide of boulders—he might as well have been stranded in a stormy sea. Everywhere he felt his body being pierced and bruised. Something hit his head multiple times and stars overtook his vision. He felt the south end of the chamber cave in on itself. The sound of crumbling stone rumbled like thunder in his ears. Barely awake, he felt the sense of the landslide carrying him out of the shattered wall of the mountain. He was enveloped in darkness, tossed and crushed like a hapless rag-doll. His vision flickered while his head throbbed, threatening to render him unconscious. He fought the sensation, feeding on the energy still coursing through his veins. Then—light. Moonlight, peering through the layer of dirt and rocks in which Cole was buried. The landslide spat him out of the mountain and down a dark valley. The hills themselves seemed to groan in protest against the disturbance. The flood slowed. The tumbling rocks and debris quieted, though his trap threatened to drag him beneath the earth and bury him for good. The silence that followed felt sudden and strange. All that could be heard was a winter breeze’s whistle. With a mighty heave Cole pulled himself out of the dirt, shoving past boulders. The world looked dark and the landscape seemed fuzzy. His ribs throbbed. One leg was burning painfully, and he wondered if it was broken. He tried to cry out but coughed instead. A voice moaned weakly to his right. Uncaring of his own wounds, Cole shoved himself through the debris. He reached a twisted shape half-buried beneath boulders. He couldn’t see the lower half of her body. A narrow stalactite, larger than the last one, could be seen protruding cruelly through the middle of the thing. One arm was gone. Her eyes, mouth, and the moon shape on her forehead were glowing bright blue again. Blood Star’s chest heaved with a fresh gasp as she returned to the world of the living. While the glow faded from her eyes, she turned her head and glared up at Cole. A shaky rasp could be heard. “You…” Whatever she was going to say was cut off with a gurgle. She spasmed and writhed in place, unable to move. Then she stilled with a sigh. Cole sank to his knees. His stomach lurched when Blood Star awoke again, eyes glowing once more. A strangled scream of agony broke into the night sky. “I hate you! I—!” Her words cut off with a gurgle. Her remaining hand scrabbled pathetically against her earthy prison, leaving red smears against the rocks.
Almost impassively Cole watched his half-sister use up her spare lives. He counted silently. Seven, six, five, four… Again and again her eyes would flicker closed and she’d stop screaming. Then her eyes would come to life again with that glow and her body would writhe back into motion. He lost count of how many times the unearthly glow in her body flickered away. He almost didn’t notice when she came back to life again—not until her crazed cackle interrupted her anguished screams. “You’re like me! You’re just like me,” she screeched with that crazed grin. “You’ll do anything to protect what you love! To get even with your enemy!” His anger felt so strained and tired now. All he could do was spit red at her. “I’m nothing like you.” Something small and sharp sank into his chest. The breath was driven out of him in one gasp. He looked down to see a shimmering green knife protruding between his leather breastplate. It glinted in the moonlight, tiny and taunting, before evaporating into thin air. “Only a creature with a sense of sacrifice and a drive like mine could best me,” his sister giggled as the last of her nine lives faded away. “See you in the Departed Realm, brother.” Cole tried to breathe, but instead he choked. The full moon hovering in the sky seemed to shrink. All the world spun away into darkness. As he felt himself fade away, his final thought was, I did it. It’s over.
* * *
The cave shuddered. The sound of rumbling shook the walls, eliciting a shower of dust. Everyone stiffened, awaiting disaster. “What’s that?” Misako whispered. No one responded. Skylor bent over Kai as if to shield him, but the shaking sensation faded away. After several moments, silence reigned once more. “That felt… enormous.” Nya shared a worried look with Matilda. “Could that be—?” “Cole. We don’t know what happened to him and Liana.” With a loud grunt, the witch pushed herself to her feet and limped toward the narrow tunnel entrance. A pale blue glow sparked from the palm of her blistered hand, lighting the way. “I’ll find them.” Hesitating, Nya cast a glance at Kai before deciding. “I’ll come with you.” “So shall I. They could need our help,” Misako added. For the first time Kai seemed to take note of their surroundings. “Hey… where the heck are we? What’s going on?” Gently Skylor pulled herself away from him. “Hold still. I’ll bring you along.” He started to push himself up. “No sweat, I can walk by myself— gah!” He winced and fell back with a low moan. Using the element of Gravity, Skylor levitated Kai vertically so that he would not be forced to walk. They trailed slowly behind the others, taking care of Kai’s still-fresh wounds. He protested at first, but they died away as they followed the women down a narrow, bleak tunnel. Eventually he demanded, “Where are we? What is this place?”
Skylor walked carefully behind him with her arms stretched out. She could feel the energy pulsing from her hands. “We’re in… a huge system of tunnels and caves.” She felt herself faltering as she tried to explain. “Those cat-things who kidnapped and banished us. This is where they live. Today—or, maybe yesterday—they tried to attack Ninjago City. We chased them all the way back here.” He snorted. “Figures. As soon as my back’s turned, new villains show up, too scared to fight me like a man.” “Shh! Would you zip it?!” Matilda’s voice hissed irritably ahead of them. “We don’t know what we’re getting ourselves into!” “Yeesh,” Kai muttered quietly. “Who’s this grouch?” “She’s… a friend.” “Like how Dareth’s a friend?” “A little more helpful than that.” Skylor shrugged. She didn’t care all that much. All she cared about right now was the fact that Kai was alive and safe with them. The group slowed. A strange pale light glimmered up ahead. It came from a narrow crevice in the wall, just wide and tall enough for a person to slip through. “Stay back.” Matilda approached the entrance. “This is where the tremors came from. I’ll tell you if it’s clear.” As the ratty figure vanished beyond the crevice, Kai voiced more hushed questions. “What’s happening right now? Is everyone OK?” Sighing, Skylor tried to recap all the major things she could remember. “Well… the thing is, Sky Pelt and Little Leaf helped us get some Moon Tribe warriors on our side, but Blood Star—the evil cat queen—somehow got her hands on all the ancient moonstones and used them to visit the tribe’s… dead people, I think? Anyway, they gave her nine lives, which means she has to be killed nine times before she really dies. So things got really bad. She’s kinda gone crazy ever since she found out Cole is her long-lost brother. Or half-brother. I can’t remember. And she’s a cat sorcerer and she’s got all these other cat sorcerers helping all the cat-people, but it’s OK because we have Matilda. I mean, she’s not a cat-sorcerer, she’s human, but she does turn into a cat sometimes, so that’s confusing. Oh, and Cole’s blind girlfriend might be an Elemental Master! That’s pretty cool. So yeah.” Kai stared stupidly at her. “Cole has a girlfriend?” “That’s what bothers you about all this?” “Shh!” Nya flashed them a tired glare. “We’re kinda in the middle of something here!” Everyone hushed when Matilda limped into view. There was a dark look in her eyes that chilled the atmosphere. “Good news: Moonstone’s in there,” she grunted. Misako started forward but the witch grabbed her arm. “Bad news: so’s Lloyd.” Her voice quieted. “You may want to wait out here.” Misako’s voice shook. “I’m going to my son.” She brushed past Matilda and slipped into the entrance. The witch followed. “Wh— what’s wrong with Lloyd?” Kai’s voice shook. Skylor wondered if this was too much shock for him to process. “It’s good that we know where he is, right?”
She shared a look with Nya. Without a word the water ninja followed the older women, leaving Skylor and Kai in the dark. “Some… awful things have been going on, Kai.” Skylor wished she knew the best way to break the news to him. “We’ve lost a lot of friends in the past several hours.” “What happened to Lloyd?” Hovering in mid-air, Kai looked like a drifting ghoul in the shadows, bloodshot eyes staring accusingly at her. Gulping, she responded in a whisper. “Lloyd… he’s gone.” “That old lady just said he’s in there.” “No. I mean… he’s dead. Blood Star killed him. I’m sorry.” Kai could only stare at her, uncomprehending. Then his eyes started to glaze over, and she wondered if he was about to pass out again. A muffled sob bounced off the walls. His red-rimmed eyes flickered back to the cave entrance. “I want to see him.” “Kai, I’m so sorry. I don’t think—” “Please.” He looked back wearily at her and his voice shook. “I want to see for myself.” Skylor didn’t know what to do. She felt heavy and slow and she wondered if she were still stuck in the Dark Sleep. How else could this grisly nightmare be explained? Slowly she tugged Kai’s levitating body through the crevice and into the cavern. She barely felt her arms burning from the strain as she took in the scene. The Moonstone towered over everyone’s heads as it glittered a pale blue, lighting up the cave. A strange, slow-moving rain of stars seemed to drift down from a hazy cloud hovering above them. Meanwhile the cave itself looked disturbed and cracked open in places, as if a giant hand had come and crumpled it up like a piece of paper before trying to smooth it out. Across the cavern, beyond the Moonstone, the wall seemed to have collapsed in a landslide. The skinny figure of Matilda could be seen standing before the Moonstone, seeming to distance herself from the rest of the group. At the righthand side of the cavern crouched Misako, with Nya standing over her. Misako’s shoulders shook as she buried her face in her hands. Kai and Skylor approached. Though the strange light danced on the walls in a disorienting fashion, she could see just enough of Lloyd and Little Leaf. She immediately wished she hadn’t looked. Beside her Kai choked back a groan of horror. Unable to continue levitating him, Skylor dropped to her knees and slowly allowed the power of gravity to fade from her grasp. Kai sank with her gently and she helped him sit in a position without disturbing his wounds. He hardly seemed to register what she was doing. His eyes remained desperately on Lloyd’s lifeless figure, as if that would will him back to life. Skylor remembered that Lloyd had been like Kai’s little brother to him. The only sound in the unearthly cave was Misako’s muffled weeping. Matilda kept her back turned. Nya’s head was bowed. The strange little stars continued to drift from the cloud, undeterred by tragedy.
“This is all just another dream, isn’t it.” Mumbling, Kai sank further against Skylor; head on her shoulder, as if he’d lost all strength. “This isn’t the Ninjago I know.” Feeling cold all over, she wrapped one arm across him in a careful half-hug. “Maybe we’ll wake up soon.” Perhaps Nya heard the stricken tone of her brother’s voice. Or perhaps that long silence became too much for her. Whatever the case, she suddenly burst out, “That’s it!” Everyone looked up as she stalked past Matilda and approached the Moonstone. Before anyone could stop her, she gave the mineral pillars a big kick. “Wake up in there, you stupid dead cat-people! You’ve got some explaining to do!” “Nya, don’t—!” Matilda started. Seemingly deaf with anger, Nya kicked the Moonstone again. The low thud rang off the walls. “No, I’m sick and tired of this! Is this what you wanted, huh? Half your people dead, after they’ve tortured and killed a bunch of kids? Why’d you have to give Blood Star nine lives, huh?! Do you like making people suffer?” “Right, that’s enough.” Matilda snatched her by the shoulder pads and tried to pull her away. “You shan’t do anything good by—” “Oh yeah? How ‘bout we bust this thing to pieces again?! Or—!” Nya shook her off and glared at her. “All the pieces are together so that Blood Star could speak to her ancestors, right? So why not us? Why don’t we contact those jerks and give them a piece of our minds?!” She bent down to heft a large rock into her arms. With a grunt she stood and swung hard. “Take this, you psychopathic maniacs!” “Nya, no—!” Matilda shrieked. The rock crashed into one of the pillars, and there was a sickening crunch sound. When it fell away and clattered back on the ground, however, the Moonstone seemed to have sustained little damage; the only mark Nya left were a few shallow scratches and smear of dirt. “Come on, you cowards!” Now she was crying. Her tears glistened in the glow. “Come out and face us! Show yourselves!” “As you wish,” a new voice responded. Skylor gasped and nearly leapt to her feet—Kai grunted in pain when she jumped. The others gasped, too. Where the dark walls of the cave had once been empty, the transparent, pale blue images of people in ragged clothing hovered in the air. They surrounded the humans in a perfect circle. Nonetheless Skylor flexed her free hand, prepared to fight. The more she stared at the newcomers, the more details she picked up. Some of the images flickered and there’d be forked-tailed cats sitting among the audience of phantoms. Enough color was sustained in the shapes that individual hair and fur colors could be made out. However, all of their eyes glowed pure white, as if they’d each swallowed pieces of the full moon. They appeared to stand on clouds of mist and stars, all pale and tinged with palettes of blue, silver, and violet.
Everyone stared at the audience in mingled awe and suspicion. Misako leaned over Lloyd’s body, as if suspecting the phantoms would take him away from her. Instinctively Skylor pulled Kai closer to herself, ignoring his pained grunt. Nya, however, did not jump into a defensive stance. Her eyes were wide with recognition. “Mist— Mist Rise!” The shape of the muscular man who’d answered responded with a gentle smile. “Hello, Daughter of Water.” Her gaze roved over him up and down incredulously. “Are— are you…?” “Dead? Yes, I suppose. But I feel fine. Wonderful, actually.” He chuckled. “Makes me wonder why I ever feared death.” “What— what are you doing here…?” Nya gestured vaguely to the circle of spirits. “What is this?” “You’re the mouse-brain who summoned us!” Cheerfully a younger man peered over Mist Rise’s shoulder. By his voice Skylor thought she recognized Loud Bird. He wore a crooked grin, as if death were the funniest joke in the world. “We worked hard to persuade our elders to answer your call, what with you being ‘the enemy’ and all.” The human figure of Spark Pelt appeared beside Mist Rise, looking just as content as his companions did. “We pointed out you are some of the heroes who are in fact saving our tribe.” Several people among the circle rolled their eyes or glared at the humans. Skylor thought she recognized a few she’d killed in the previous battles. She avoided eye contact. Nya’s anger seemed to have faded at the appearance of Mist Rise, but she still held herself stiffly. “Why— why did you cats— you people have to give Blood Star nine lives?” She threw her hands up in exasperation. “Couldn’t you see she was crazy?!” Mist Rise and Loud Bird glanced uncomfortably at the other spirits. Most of the figures seemed to look at a tall, grizzled-haired old man with a long beard. The tall spirit approached Nya slowly. As he did, his body flashed white and he transformed into a large nekomata. His pale fur looked to have been once a fiery ginger color while stars trailed from his paws as he walked. A glowing crescent moon-shape stood out on his forehead. “I am Ember Star, first leader of the Tribe of the Moon as you know it,” he rumbled in a booming voice that seemed as deep as the ocean. “I was the first mortal to receive the gift of nine lives.” “So you’re the smart aleck behind the nine lives thing,” Nya said dryly. “Nya, shut up,” Matilda snapped. “I’m mad!” Nya snapped back, eyes flashing. “So many people could have been saved if they’d just refused to give Blood Star her nine lives! They’re obviously on her side—!” The small spirit of Violet Swift popped up behind the boys. She blurted, “It’s more complicated than that!” Her eyes widened as she shot Ember Star a guilty expression. “I… apologize for interrupting—”
A low rumble shook the cave, and Skylor realized the spirit was purring softly. “No apology necessary. You have courage.” He turned back to Nya. “Long ago the spirits of our ancestors made a vow when the gift of nine lives was created: to always grant it to the leader of the tribe whenever times were desperate. It was made so that each leader would have time to learn and share insight and wisdom, and to lead the tribe for seasons upon seasons. “When I was given that gift, my abilities of empathy and wisdom heightened; I felt the pain of my friends and enemies more easily, and thus I learned to make fewer brash decisions that could cause unnecessary grief.” “We could not refuse Black Blood,” another spirit, an old woman, spoke up. “It would have meant breaking our vow. That and…” She heaved a wheezy sigh. “And some of us hoped the gift’s powers would grant her some much-needed wisdom and empathy as it did for Ember Star.” Nya was lost for words. Unable to find anything else to condemn the spirits for, she stared at her feet. “Are you satisfied, Daughter of Water?” An old man wheezed. Gritting her teeth, Nya raised her head and shouted, “No, as a matter of fact, I’m not! If you have the ability to bring people back to life, then— then—” She jabbed a finger to Lloyd’s body. “Then bring him back!” “Nya!” Matilda snatched her by the shoulders and jerked her back, though doing so clearly hurt her hands. “That’s enough! You’re lucky you haven’t been struck down where you stand.” Most of the spirits snarled and muttered angrily at Nya’s demands. Ember Star, on the other hand, looked sympathetic. “I am sorry, little one. We cannot give the gift like that.” “Then to Little Leaf! Please! It’s not fair!” Her face twisted darkly. “Why should Black Blood live while Lloyd and Little Leaf die?!” More grumbling came from the other Moon Tribe spirits. Ember Star did not reply, only giving Nya an enigmatic look. Mist Rise shared a strange glance with some of the younger spirits as well. “Nya… all of you,” he murmured, approaching so that he hovered nearly over their heads. “Black Bl— Blood Star has passed away.” Matilda released Nya, looking confused. “Wh—? That’s impossible… We just saw her—” “She met the end of her mortal journey just a few minutes ago.” Mist Rise sounded as if he were trying not to sound pleased. “It seems she used up her gift much sooner than was expected.” Matilda, Nya, and Misako shared astonished stares, as if asking one another whether they knew the news to be true. “I have no idea what’s going on,” Kai muttered sulkily. Skylor’s mind whirled as frantically as if she were back in battle. Almost unconsciously she murmured, “If Blood Star is dead… then the tribe is leaderless.” “Whoa, you figured that out by yourself?” Loud Bird said cheerfully. “Then could you give the nine lives to them? Lloyd, and— Little Leaf?”
Dead silence was the response. Skylor looked to see the Moon Tribe spirits were exchanging shocked expressions with one another. Many glared at her as if what she said was blasphemous. Meanwhile Matilda was shaking her head with a quiet groan. “It does not work that way, Daughter of Amber,” Ember Star said gently. “He or she who is granted the gift of nine lives is the sworn leader and protector of the Tribe of the Moon. The leader uses those lives as they wish, but they are given only if the cat makes the vows to spend the rest of their days leading the tribe.” “In other words,” the grumpy old lady behind him said. “The Son of the First would have to vow to lead the Tribe of the Moon for the rest of his life. And I doubt the tribe would accept him.” Nya looked sickened with indecision. Skylor continued jumping in for her. “What about Little Leaf?” “Little—?” The old spirit scoffed. “She’s a kit! She has not even earned her full name!” To everyone’s surprise Mist Rise snapped, “She might as well have! She’s shown great courage under the threat of death many times over. She was the first of us to resist Blood Star’s tyranny and to seek after the help of the Sons and Daughters—our most unlikely yet truest allies.” He paused, then changed his tone to sound more respectful. “Nothing shall be the same when the sun rises on this mountain tomorrow. The Tribe of the Moon needs a strong leader with a kind heart.” The old lady bared her teeth at him. “The tribe shall collapse under such foolishness.” “It’s collapsing already, no thanks to you guys,” Nya muttered bitterly. The spirit’s glowing eyes narrowed dangerously. Yet Ember Star butted the lady’s shoulder gently. “I believe this is the best option yet.” The spirits shared a long look. The lady cast a glance at the rest of the circle. While many lashed their tails agitatedly and muttered with their companions in low tones, no one protested. It seemed they had no better choice in deciding the fate of their descendants. “Let us wake her, at least,” Ember Star said. “We shall ask if she will accept the gift.” “Please,” a new voice said. “Let me.” The audience fell silent. One of the cats, a gray tabby, transformed into a human woman. Her shape was transparent but tawny blond traces could be seen in her wavy hair, streaked with gray. The woman approached the bodies. Reluctantly Misako moved away from Lloyd, although the spirit seemed to only have eyes for the remains of Little Leaf. Skylor thought the spirit’s face looked sorrowful, and the way she bent over Little Leaf seemed tender. The spirit reached a hand out and laid it upon the girl’s head. “Awake, my daughter.”
For several moments, nothing happened. Matilda stood by Misako almost protectively. Nya stood twisting the ends of her belt apprehensively. Skylor could feel Kai holding his breath against her. Though they had little idea of what was going on, everything from the cave to the Moonstone to the strange spirits sent shivers down Skylor’s back. She wasn’t sure if she should be in awe of these spirits, terrified or angry. There was no physical movement, but something pale and wispy slowly rose from Little Leaf’s body. Silently it hovered and shaped itself into something that looked like human Little Leaf. No… it was Little Leaf. She blinked slowly as if she’d just been awoken from a long nap. Yawning, she surveyed her surroundings. “Uhh… hello. What’s going—?” Her eyes found the spirit kneeling before her. Her eyes widened in astonishment. “M— Mama?” The spirit’s lip quivered and she nodded. “Yes. It’s me. Silver Mist.” “Mama!” With thrilled squeal Little Leaf threw herself into Silver Mist’s arms. Her purr echoed happily. “I— I can’t believe it! I thought I’d never get to see you again! Not— not until—!” Realization ripped the newfound joy away from her. Little Leaf tore herself away with a gasp. “Until… I died…” Her glowing eyes flickered to her hands, and she seemed to see her transparent body for the first time. “Oh…” she mumbled faintly. “Oh… I— I died, didn’t I?” “Shh, shh, my darling…” Silver Mist’s voice shook as she pulled Little Leaf back into her embrace. “Yes. You died a brave and honorable death. I am so proud of you.” “Died…” Little Leaf mumbled. “Yes… I died— Lloyd!” She jerked up and stared pleadingly at her mother. “Did Lloyd escape? Is he OK? Did everyone win? Is— is…” Her voice trailed off. Silver Mist was looking at her sadly. Little Leaf spun around. Her eyes flickered from Matilda to Misako to Lloyd’s lifeless form. Her face crumpled. “Oh.” Her words came out sounding quiet and small. “Oh…” She buried her face into her hands. “I— he’s gone, too…” Silver Mist bent over her daughter again with soothing murmurs. The ring of spirits bowed their heads in respectful silence. Skylor wasn’t sure if the respect was for Little Leaf’s grief or for Lloyd’s death. “I failed. I failed Lloyd. And everyone else,” Little Leaf whimpered. “I— I wanted to be around to help. I wanted to stay and help the tribe go back to what it was…” “There was nothing—” Nya’s voice interrupted Silver Mist desperately. “Leaf, it wasn’t your fault!” She approached the two spirits, ignoring the warning growls from the others. “You’ve helped us so much, even when things got really bad. You— you gave your life trying to save Lloyd. That’s more than I can say for myself.” Her voice broke bitterly, but she pressed on. “But… Leaf. Blood Star is dead. If you accept the spirits’ gift of nine lives… you could come back.”
