Discussion: Do leaders get to keep their 9 Lives?

It was just something that came to mind and I'm not sure if it was ever mentioned in the books or not but what happens if a leader chooses to step down instead of being leader throughout their 9 lives? Do they forfeit and lose the remaining extra lives and live as a regular warrior or are they allowed to keep the since they were the leader and the life's were Starclan's blessing? Any ideas?

Well in Bluestar's prophecy, Pinestar stepped down from being leader to become a kittypet, and Sunstar didn't recieve the lives Pinestar still had.

I think the leader is allowed to keep the nine lives, because if you remember in the first arc Brokenstar had his multiple lives when he was a prisoner, after he stepped down from leader

I actually don't remember that very well. I might need my memory refreshed a bit.

To expand on what Streamfur and Torrentheart said, I think they are allowed to keep their lives, but it's worth noting that Pinestar only had one life left when he stepped down, so when Sunstar got his eight lives, he was only missing one on account for Pinestar. In a case where a leader still had five or more lives when they stepped down, I think it might depend on the choice of deputy or how peaceful the clans are at the time. StarClan may choose to give them nine lives in a time of great need, and vice versa.

Would I recieve all 9 lives since Brightstar has to step down because of her injury? Or would I still recieve only 8 because she is still alive?

This whole thing seems very confusing. I never really thought about it when I was younger and actively reading the series

Streamstar wrote:Well in Bluestar's prophecy, Pinestar stepped down from being leader to become a kittypet, and Sunstar didn't recieve the lives Pinestar still had.

Oh, that's why he died so early.
Poor Sunstar, he was a great leader )=

I'm actually really not see who sun star was.

Did you not read Bluestar's Prophecy? Sunfall was Pinestar's deputy. He became leader after Pinestar went off to become a kittypet.

I don't think I ever actually made it to that one.

Sunstar was leader before Bluestar.
I think that the new leader would generally get all 9 lives, unless the former leader became a kittypet or something. It's not that clear, though.