The Ultimate Guide/StarClan Makes Its Choice

"There are good cats everywhere, Tigerclaw. Do not forget that. [...] The warrior code demands nothing less. But do not assume that every other cat is an enemy or unable to help you in some way. I am proud of you, my son. When I left the forest, I thought I would never see you again. But here you are, leader of ShadowClan. Perhaps not the choice I would have made, but you have traveled a hard path to get here, and you deserve your reward."

— Pinestar to Tigerclaw before giving him a life in The Ultimate Guide, page 92

The Ultimate Guide
Chapter number:	StarClan Makes Its Choice (of 19)
Page numbers:	88-97
Point of View:	Tigerclaw/Tigerstar
Chronology

Below contains in-depth information for the chapter "StarClan Makes Its Choice" of The Ultimate Guide. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter description

Tigerclaw and Runningnose are outside of the tunnel leading to the Moonstone, and Tigerclaw is excited to finally receive his nine lives. As they walk into the tunnel, Tigerclaw silently disparages the medicine cat, who tells him to touch the Moonstone with his nose. Runningnose explains that StarClan may not come to him, similar to how they did not give Nightpelt his lives, but Tigerclaw thinks that the medicine cat is foolish. He opens his eyes to find himself in a place reminiscent of ShadowClan territory, and Cedarstar greets him and reveals more StarClan cats behind him. A small she-cat named Littlebird steps forward, and Tigerclaw tells her that he will lead ShadowClan to victory and thinks that he will use his Clan to seek revenge. Images of cats with all different emotions fill his mind as Littlebird gives him a life for compassion. The next cat who steps up is Badgerfang, who is as small as a kit. Tigerclaw mentions his size, and Badgerfang states that he was forced to fight by Brokenstar, and he gives Tigerclaw a life for mentoring young cats wisely. Tigerclaw promises to make ShadowClan more powerful than ever.

Pinestar steps up, and Tigerclaw snarls that he died a kittypet. After Pinestar gives him a life, his father tells him that he should not assume every cat is worthless or an enemy. Whitetail, a small pale gray she-cat, gives him his next life for respecting all cats regardless of their size or appearance. Sedgestar, an ancient ShadowClan leader, gives him a life for pride in his Clan, and Flowerstar follows with one for being faithful to StarClan. Redscar, Flowerstar's medicine cat, tells Tigerclaw that he faked the sign that made Flowerstar leader and gives him a life for trusting his own instincts. Mossheart gives Tigerclaw his sixth life for mercy, but Tigerclaw thinks to himself that those who lose deserve to die. Last of all, Cedarstar steps up and gives him his final life for farsightedness, and Tigerclaw asks why he never received lives for strength or revenge. Cedarstar replies that he already has enough of those traits, andthe StarClan cats hail him by his new name, Tigerstar. He relishes StarClan's cheers and vows to restore ShadowClan to its former glory, and the starry cats gradually fade. Tigerstar wakes to see Runningnose, who advises him to remember what StarClan has told him. They return to ShadowClan territory, and Tigerstar whispers that he now has nine lives to make ShadowClan remember him forever.

Characters

Major

• Tigerclaw

Minor

• Runningnose
• Cedarstar
• Littlebird
• Badgerfang
• Pinestar
• Whitetail
• Sedgestar
• Flowerstar
• Redscar
• Mossheart
• Cinderfur/Poolcloud
• Tallpoppy/Archeye
• Darkflower/Hollyflower
• Dawncloud/Crowtail
• Nightstar
• Featherstorm
• Brightflower

Mentioned

• Bluestar
• Brokenstar
• Blackfoot
• Russetfur
• Boulder
• Fireheart
• Flintfang
• Brightwhisker
• Raggedstar

Trivia

• Tigerstar's leadership ceremony is also in The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition. The story remains the same, though Poolcloud, Archeye, Hollyflower, Crowtail, Featherstorm, and Brightflower appear as the ShadowClan elders at the end instead of Cinderfur, Tallpoppy, Darkflower, and Dawncloud.

Important events

Ceremonies

Tigerstar's leader ceremony
Cedarstar: I am Cedarstar. Welcome. Littlebird: Victory isn't everything. Sometimes peace brings greater rewards. I give you a life for compassion. Try to understand what is important to other cats, not just yourself, and let that guide your paws. Be strong, Tigerclaw. It takes more courage than you know to feel what other cats do. Tigerclaw: Thank you, Littlebird. Badgerfang: I am Badgerfang! Tigerclaw: Are you sure? You're the smallest warrior I've ever seen! Badgerfang: I died as Badgerpaw when I was four moons old. Brokenstar forced me and my littermates to fight in battles before we should even have become apprentices. But I fought bravely and gave my life to save my Clan. Because of that, my mentor, Flintfang, said I could choose my warrior name. Tigerclaw: Fine. So what life can you give me? Badgerfang: Be patient. Your lives will come as we wish to give them, not as you wish to receive them. I give you a life for training your young cats wisely. Train them when they are strong enough to survive their first battle, and encourage them to listen to many cats, including the elders, to learn the most from their Clanmates' histories. Tigerclaw: Pinestar! Pinestar: Yes, although that is not the name I had when I died. Tigerclaw: Because you were a kittypet. Pinestar: That was my choice for my final life. But I walk with our ancestors for tonight to give you a life for being aware of what goes on beyond Clan borders. There are good cats everywhere, Tigerclaw. Do not forget that. Tigerclaw: I will be loyal to my Clanmates above all others. Whitetail: You won't know me, Tigerclaw. My name is Whitetail. I walked in these woods long ago, before you were even dreamed of. But if we had met before, would you have noticed me, I wonder? I give you a life for understanding that size isn't everything. Strength does not always mean power, and you should respect your enemies, whatever they look like. Beware the small cats. Sedgestar: I give you a life for pride in ShadowClan, knowing they can stand alone through any challenge. ShadowClan needs no allegiances, no help from other Clans when times are hard. Your cats will always find a way to survive if you give them a chance, Tigerclaw. Flowerstar: I give you a life for placing all your faith in StarClan. Trust your warrior ancestors, let them guide you when all seems dark, and honor them with your loyalty for all your lives. Redscar: Listen to StarClan, but do not let that deafen you to your own senses. I give you a life for trusting your own instincts as well. StarClan will guide you, but only you, as leader, can steer the paws of your Clanmates. Mossheart: I give you a life for mercy, for knowing that victory can leave both cats standing. Your opponent may have been the lesser cat in this battle, but he deserves to live and have a chance to try again. Mercy brings strength, remember that. Cedarstar: I should never have appointed Raggedstar as my deputy. All this trouble goes back to that moment. If only I had known what lay ahead... I give you a life for farsightedness, for understanding what the results of your actions might be, however distant in the future. It will be the hardest and most lonely part of your duty as leader, Tigerclaw, but essential to keep your Clan safe. Do not rush into anything. Look forward, and choose the path that leads to where you would want your Clanmates to be. Tigerclaw: But Cedarstar, where are my lives for courage? For strength in battle and revenge on my enemies? Cedarstar: You bring enough courage, strength, and vengeance in yourself. It is the duty of StarClan to give you lives for what you might lack, to make your leadership fair for all the cats in your care. Tigerclaw: Thank you, Cedarstar. Cedarstar: Welcome, Tigerstar! Lead ShadowClan well with all of your lives! StarClan: Welcome, Tigerstar! Tigerstar! Tigerstar!
Reference: The Ultimate Guide, pages 90-96