Midnightpaw woke in a strange place. She felt sand beneath her paws, and a huge expanse of churning water stretched in front of her. Around her, her friends stirred and woke, as well.

"Welcome, Midnightpaw, Lavenderpaw, Sunpaw, and Foxpaw."

Midnightpaw stood upright. In front of her stood a huge number of cats, starlight glistening in their fur. The cat who had spoken was an elegant golden she-cat with brilliant blue eyes. On her left, a young cream she-cat smiled warmly at them. On her right, a dark gray she-cat was glaring, and to the dark gray cat's left, a lavender she-cat watched them. Midnightpaw got the feeling the lavender cat was judging her.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I am Swiftstar," the golden she-cat meowed. "Leader of SwiftClan."

"You're−you−you're Swiftstar?" Midnightpaw asked. "The first leader of SwiftClan?"

"I am," Swiftstar purred.

"And you−you're Fearless," Midnightpaw said, nodding to the cream cat. "You're Reputation, and you're Folklore."

"Correct," Swiftstar agreed, dipping her head. "But can we get on with it?"

"Sorry−get on with what?" Foxpaw asked.

"Your warrior ceremonies."

"What?" Midnightpaw asked, startled. "But we've only been apprentices for a few moons!"

"You've all shown yourselves more than capable of handling yourselves," Swiftstar pointed out. "Midnightpaw, step forward."

Midnightpaw did so, feeling slightly dizzy.

"You have shown excellent qualities of leadership and bravery. Your warrior name shall be Midnightrain." (A/N: Yes, I know it looks like Midnight Train. But I promise you, it was meant to be Midnight Rain. Like the song.)

She touched her nose to Midnightrain's forehead. Around them, the StarClan cats called out, "Midnightrain! Midnightrain!" Midnightrain saw Goldrush in the crowd, eyes shining with pride.

"Foxpaw, step forward."

Midnightrain stepped back and watched her sister.

"You have shown great strength and persistence. Your warrior name shall be Foxhunt."

Midnightrain lifted her muzzle to the sky and called, "Foxhunt! Foxhunt!" With the rest of the StarClan cats.

"Sunpaw, step forward."

Sunpaw moved forward nervously.

"You have shown amazing loyalty and good judgement. Your warrior name will be Sunshine."

Midnightrain purred. "Sunshine!" she called. "Sunshine!"

That name suits him, she thought. He is kind of...sunshiney.

In the crowd, Midnightrain saw Longlive's eyes narrow for a second and she felt a twinge of pity for her friend. His mother had always wanted him to have a 'strong' name, like Sunclaw or Sunfang or Sunfire. But he wasn't a Sunclaw or a Sunfang or a Sunfire, and he never would be.

"Lavenderpaw, step forward."

Lavenderpaw did so.

"You have shown outstanding medicine skills and compassion. Your warrior name shall be Lavenderhaze."

"Lavenderhaze!" the cats of StarClan yowled. "Lavenderhaze!"

"Good luck," Swiftstar said. "Midnightrain−before you go─"

Suddenly, Midnightrain couldn't hear the cheers anymore. She was still on sand, and the water in front of her, but she realized this place was slightly different. Rocks lined the sand, leading up to a scraggly forest of pine trees that looked somehow more twisted than the ones in StarClan.

"Where am I?" she asked no one in particular. "What is this place?"

"This is your home."

Midnightrain jumped and looked around for the voice. Swiftstar sat beside her, staring out at the water.

"No, it's not," Midnightrain protested. "The Twolegplace is my home."

"Yes, but this is the home of your kits," Swiftstar told her. "And their kits, and their kit's kits, and so on and so forth."

"You're telling me to move here. Just tell the others...that we have to leave? To here? This place with rocks and sand and water?"

"I know it's strange," Swiftstar mewed. "But this place is called a beach. You are meant to live here, I promise you."

"Are you sure?" Midnightrain asked. "I don't like to question you, Swiftstar. But..."

"I understand," Swiftstar sighed. "Let me show you something."

Suddenly, other cats appeared around then. Cats milled around, protected by the water and by the walls of rocks on all sides. Midnightrain spotted a tortoiseshell she-cat play-fighting an orange-and-white tom. She spotted Lavenderhaze purring softly and showing a young blue apprentice how to make an herb poultice.

Midnightrain glanced around. She spotted Foxhunt organizing patrols and Sunshine sharing a mouse with an older Snowkit. Jewelkit and Blankkit entered the camp, each carrying a mouse in their jaws.

With a start, Midnightrain saw herself perched atop a pile of rocks, gazing over the camp contentedly.

"It's perfect," she whispered. "This is really what's going to happen?

"Yes," Swiftstar purred. "But, Midnightrain−I should warn you...it will come only after great suffering."

"What does that mean?" Midnightrain asked.

"I will show you."

Midnightrain felt claws in her pelt. She yowled in pain and turned to face her attacker, but there was no cat there. She saw flashes of blood and storms. Waves crashed around her.

She jolted back to reality with a gasp.

Swiftstar gazed at her sadly. "Be careful, Midnightrain. Follow the setting sun."

"I−I will," Midnightrain stammered. "But−wait, can you tell me─?"

She awoke in the Moonstream cave, gasping and shivering.

"Midnightrain?" Sunshine asked concernedly. "Are you alright?"

Midnightrain didn't answer, trying to catch her breath.

"Midnightrain?" Lavenderhaze asked.

"I'm good," Midnightrain said. "We have to go."

"What?" Sunshine asked.

"I talked to Swiftstar," Midnightrain began.

­­­"You talked to Swiftstar?" Lavenderhaze demanded, eyes wide. "That's, like...what!"

"Yeah," she said. "We have to leave. Please, trust me on this. There's a better place for us."

"Midnightstar?" Blankkit asked in a small voice. "What's happening?"

Midnightrain blinked. "What did you call me?"

"Midnightstar," Blankkit said. "Aren't you our leader now?"

"Um...no, I'm not," Midnightrain admitted. "I'm sorry. StarClan didn't grant me nine lives. I'm not a leader. I'm Midnightrain now. We're all warriors."

"What do you mean, you're not a leader?" Sunshine asked. "Maybe you don't have nine lives or a leader's name, but you are our leader!"

Midnightrain blinked. "Um...what?"

"You are!" Sunshine said. "Seriously!"

Foxhunt and Lavenderhaze shared a glance, then Foxhunt called, "Midnightrain!"
Sunshine and Lavenderhaze took up the chant. "Midnightrain! Midnightrain!"

Even the kits joined in. Midnightrain swallowed, throat tight with emotion. "Thanks," she whispered. In a louder voice, she said, "If I'm a leader, I need a deputy." She looked at her sister. "Foxhunt, step forward."

Foxhunt looked surprised, but stepped forward.

"I say these words in front of my warrior ancestors, that they may hear and approve my choice," Midnightrain announced. "Foxhunt will be the new deputy of SwiftClan."

"Foxhunt!" Blankkit squeaked. "Foxhunt!"
After a second, the others joined in. "Foxhunt! Foxhunt!"

Foxhunt looked overjoyed. Her head lifted and her eyes shone. Midnightrain intervened before anyone got too excited.

"So," She said. "We're in agreement? We need to leave?"

"We'll follow you," Lavenderhaze said. "Do you think we need to leave?"

"Yes," Midnightrain said firmly. "Swiftstar said to follow the setting sun."

"Well, the sun is rising now," Foxhunt said. "So...?"

"We go in the opposite direction," Midnightrain said. "Let's go."

Together, all seven of them left the cave and started to walk away from the sun.