Lightkit stretched her wings, stepping out of the nursery. Shards of sunlight sliced through the roof, leaving golden dapples all across the floor. She watched the warriors getting ready for the first patrols, content.

Jaypaw and Dapplepaw were sitting in the sun, sharing tongues, while their father, Lionwhisker, picked up three mice from the fresh-kill pile, carrying them over to the two apprentices. Lionwhisker absolutely adored his kits, and Lightkit had not once in her entire life heard him say anything bad about them.

Applepaw padded up to the three cats, chatting away. Lightkit came over to join them, sitting with her tail curled around her paws.

"Slipstream is probably the grumpiest mentor to ever exist!" Applepaw mewed, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah, right after Slashfur," Jaypaw purred "He doesn't even let me ask questions, sometimes!"

Lightkit only half listened, her mind drifting elsewhere. She saw Blazeglow coming into camp, followed by Sparkstar and Flamewisp, their tails high and their jaws laden with prey. They dropped their haul onto the fresh-kill pile, making it full to the bursting.

A butterfly fluttered lazily overhead, flashing beautiful golden wings that matched Lightkit's ones perfectly. Just as she was about the reach out and catch it, Lightkit heard a strange rustling from the entrance to the camp.

Lightkit pricked her ears, straining to hear what the strange noise was. No one else in the camp seemed to notice it, until a dirty, dark grey she-cat stormed in, ears flat and fur fluffed. Sparkstar whirled around, hissing at the strange cat. She looked like she was only just old enough to have been an apprentice.

Sparkstar advanced toward the little she-cat, baring her teeth menacingly. Just as the leader was about to spring onto the rogue, Echopaw rushed forward.

"Ace!" she yowled, happiness sparking in her eyes.

"Echo!" The rogue cat yowled back, covering Echopaw's face in affectionate licks.

Sparkstar looked at the two cats, her head cocked in confusion.

"This is my sister, Ace," Echopaw explained to Sparkstar "We lost each other when the fox was chasing us."

Ace nodded vigorously, like she was trying to please Sparkstar. Then she mewed something that Lightkit wasn't expecting. "Can I please join this...group?"

Sparkstar's eyes narrowed in thought, her nose crinkling. Then her tail-tip started twitching, to and fro. She lowered her head a little, the fur spiking on her back.

"No." came the clear answer.

Ace's whole posture changed, her shoulders sagging, her tail drooping and her head hanging.

"Sorry for bothering you." she mumbled as she padded slowly out of camp. Lightkit wished she could follow her, and try to show her the other Clans.

She rushed up to Ace just as the dark grey cat was about to step outside.

"Wait!" she yowled. Ace stopped and turned around, looking intently at Lightkit. Lightkit closed her eyes, and whispered "Please let Ace find another Clan that will accept her."

Ace looked at her thankfully, but without hope, turning back to the tunnel to leave. Then, there was a bright flash that enveloped the two of them, sucking them in and blinding them. Ace yowled something that Lightkit couldn't make out, before everything went black.

                                       * * *

The strange light dumped them just outside the RiverClan camp, disappearing as swiftly as it had appeared. Just as Lightkit and Ace started to pick themselves up, Hurricanestar, the RiverClan leader, padded out. He turned his head and saw the two cats, then instantly ran up to them.

"Are you two OK?" he asked, concern showing in his blue eyes.

"Yes, we're fine," Lightkit mewed "We were just wondering if Ace could join RiverClan."

Ace shifted her paws awkwardly, looking very uncomfortable in the presence of the RiverClan leader.

"Why, of course!" Hurricanestar replied, turning to face Ace "Let's get you a mentor and make you an apprentice."

Ace stared at the tom, her eyes wide with happiness. Hurricanestar led them into the camp, where a few of the RiverClan cats were basking in the sunlight.

Hurricanestar leaped up to a branch hanging out from an old oak tree and yowled "Let all cats old enough to swim gather to hear my words!"

Cats from all around the clearing settled beneath the branch, watching intently as Hurricanestar's gaze turned to Ace.

"We have a new cat joining RiverClan today," Hurricanestar yowled "Her name is Ace, and she needs to become an apprentice." He turned toward the dark grey she-cat and meowed "Ace, from this day forward, until you have received your warrior name, you will be known as Stormpaw. Your mentor will be Mottledwish, and I hope that she passes on all she knows to you." Hurricanestar paused, then turned to Mottledwish. "Mottledwish, you are ready to take on your first apprentice. You have received excellent training, and I expect that you will pass on your bravery and kindness to Stormpaw."

Mottledwish padded up to Stormpaw, and they touched noses, with Stormpaw still looking confused about what was going on.

The Clan yowled at the top of its lungs, chanting Stormpaw's new name. She seemed to glow with pride as the RiverClan cats greeted her and showed her around.

When the noise had died down and the meeting had broken up, Hurricanestar padded over to Lightkit and mewed "We'd best get you home."

Lightkit nodded, excited to go back home and tell Echopaw about her sister. She followed Hurricanestar out onto the riverbank, and fluffed her wings happily all the way back to ThunderClan.