A/N. I recently had a great idea for a chapter, and it might seem a little confusing, but hang in there! It will all make sense later. Thanks, readers!!!

PS. I'm currently now accepting entries for a new contest that I'm hosting for this story. I need suggestions for Winterpaw's Warrior name, and the winner will receive a sneak peek of the sequel: Dark Secrets Book 2: Lies

Two pale, silvery cats huddled close together; watching intently on a small, motionless body. The wind howled around them, making the fear scent almost overwhelming in the closed space. The starless sky gave their surroundings an eerie feeling, one that was sure not to pass. The first cat, a slender she-cat, separated from the second and gently poked the motionless body's fur with her nose. Giving up hope, she stepped back and emitted a long morose sigh.

"Is he that close, Silverwind?" the second figure asked. The silver she-cat nodded, her eyes still on the body. "He's only an apprentice, though!"

"Swiftpelt, cats of all ages come to StarClan," the she-cat mewed. "Kits, elders, Warriors, and many others. Most come without a warning; others come willingly." Swiftpelt stared at the body, his face firm and eyes content.

"Does he have a choice?" the tom mewed. "Can we help somehow?" Silverwind shook her head sadly.

"He is too close to be saved now."

"It's terrible that it has to end this way," Swiftpelt mewed. "What will the other one do now? Can she possibly complete the prophecy on her own?" Silverwind sighed again.

"We can't be sure, all we know is that this cat," she flicked her tail towards the body, "is coming to join us." Swiftpelt grimaced. Both cats shifted their gazes to the small body, which was now showing signs of stars on its pelt.

"Silverwind..." Swiftpelt stared hopefully at the she-cat. Silverwind sighed.

"There is no way that we could..." the silver cat's voice trailed off. Swiftpelt sighed. The body that lay between the two cats stirred suddenly, and Silverwind sucked in a sharp breath.

"Is it time?" Swiftpelt asked. Silverwind nodded. The tom approached the body silently; no sound coming from him. Silverwind turned away.

"Winterpaw...wake up," Swiftpelt mewed hoarsly. The body stirred again and opened its eyes. "Welcome to StarClan, young one."

"W-what?" Winterpaw mewed. His eyes darted to the two cats that were staring at him with a pained expression. "I-I'm dead?!" Silverwind nodded.

"It wasn't your choice," she mewed softly. "Sunstar warned us a new cat would be arriving soon." Winterpaw shrunk back.

"W-who are you?" he asked curiously. The StarClan cats exchanged worried glances. After a pause, Silverwind stepped forward.

"That's Swiftpelt," the she-cat mewed, flicking her tail towards the tom next to her, "and I'm Silverwind." Winterpaw nodded.

"What am I doing here?" he asked. "What about RainClan...and NightClan?" Swiftpelt came up to Silverwind.

"Winterpaw, I know it's hard," Swiftpelt began. "But you must except the fact that you're....dead." Winterpaw's mind clouded with too many thoughts as he racked his brain for the right answers.

"H-how can it be?" he whispered. "I thought...I was destined to be..." Silverwind rested her tail on Winterpaw's shoulder.

"We know it's hard, young one," she whispered. "It was hard for all of us to adjust here." Winterpaw began hyperventilating. Swiftpelt's eyes clouded with pain.

"Winterpaw, we didn't decide this fate," the tom mewed. "But you have to understand, we're here to help you." Silverwind shot a exasperated glance at Swiftpelt.

"What about Rainpaw?" Winterpaw asked. "How will she cope with the weight of the prophecy on her shoulders?"

"Young Rainpaw has much to learn about herself, and her strengths," Silverwind whispered. "She will manage." Winterpaw sank to the ground, moaning.

"F-Flowerpaw," Winterpaw stuttered suddenly. "W-what about h-her?"

"Winterpaw," Swiftpelt began. "We do not have all the answers." Silverwind relaxed.

"Come," she whispered to Winterpaw. "You need to meet Sunstar." Reluctantly, Winterpaw padded after the silvery tom and she-cat, his mind still racing.

How? Was his only thought.

XXX

Silverwind trudged through the deep mist; Swiftpelt and Winterpaw following her closely. Winterpaw glanced at himself, and gasped with surprise. His pelt was now a silvery white, reflecting the starlight with a bright brilliancy. He sucked in a sharp breath, making Swiftpelt glance over his shoulder curiously. The stars now shone in the sky, revealing a dim, well hidden camp.

"Welcome to Starlight," Silverwind mewed happily.

"Starlight?" Winterpaw asked. "I thought this was StarClan?"

"It is," Swiftpelt mewed. "When too many cats came to StarClan, six leaders were elected. They came and separated StarClan into six categories. The first of the six is Moonlight," Swiftpelt mewed hastily. "Jadestar is the leader of that portion."

"The second is Dawnlight," Silverwind mewed with ease. "The leader of Dawnlight is Dewstar, and the third portion is Sunlight. Glaciarstar is the leader of that one."

"Next comes Silverlight and its leader, Tinystar," Swiftpelt mewed. "And after that comes Firelight. The leader of Firelight is Blazestar."

"The last is our home, Starlight," Silverwind mewed. "And our leader, Sunstar."

"Wow," Winterpaw breathed.

"The leaders are divided equally between toms and she-cats. Dewstar, Sunstar, and Jadestar are she-cats," Swiftpelt mewed. "Glaciarstar, Blazestar, and Tinystar are all toms."

"Welcome to your new home," Silverwind mewed. Winterpaw's first thought was that it was all ice, and then he realized that most of it was crystal, reflecting the stars. The camp seemed to be carved out of a giant crystal mountain. The dens were large and spacious, and they all contained room for many cats. A river ran through the middle of the camp, and Winterpaw watched as some young kits splashed in the water.

"Well, we need to see Sunstar right away," Swiftpelt mewed. "Then we can decide your mentor."

"My...mentor?" Winterpaw asked. Silverwind nodded happily.

"If you come as an apprentice, it is the leader's responsibility to find you a new mentor. It is the same with kits also." As she spoke, the three of them trudged deeper into the Starlight camp. The cats there welcomed them genially; their faces happy and carefree. Swiftpelt smiled slightly at Winterpaw's awed expression.

"This isn't the half of it, young one," he mewed. "It's a full moon tonight." Silverwind reacted immedietly by glancing up at the moon. It shined fully on her, and she glisted, now exposed to light.

"Do the Starlight cats always do that?" Winterpaw asked. "Do we always shine?"

"Yes," Swiftpelt mewed. "That's exactly how we knew that you were a Starlight cat."

"This might not be so bad after all," Winterpaw whispered to himself. The three cats came to a large cliff, and at the base was the entrance of a den. It was covered mostly by many strands of silver lichen that reflected also when exposed to light. Taking a deep breath, Winterpaw followed the two cats into the den.

"Ah," a silky voice mewed from inside. "Welcome, Winterpaw."

"S-Sunstar?" Winterpaw asked. As if the she-cat had been called, she approached Winterpaw. Winterpaw gasped. She was...he struggled for a word. Beautiful. Her pelt was a creamy silver, one that would enchant any living cat. Her eyes were a pale blue, and they rejoiced at the sight of Winterpaw.

"Welcome, young one," she mewed. Swiftpelt smirked. He obviously knew how Winterpaw was feeling. Sunstar returned her happy gaze to Silverwind and Swiftpelt, who bowed their heads when she looked at them.

"There is a Gathering tonight," she mewed. "I want you both to come, along with Winterpaw."

"A Gathering?" Winterpaw asked, stunned. "There are Gatherings in StarClan?"

"Why wouldn't there be?" Sunstar mewed. "We also need a mentor for you, young Winterpaw."

"I'll be a small Warrior, that's for sure," Winterpaw mewed sulkily. Sunstar smiled.

"You will continue to grow until you receive your Warrior name," she mewed evasively. "It has always been like that."

"Have you lived in peace forever?" Winterpaw asked. Sunstar's expression changed.

"No, we have three enemy clans. Darklight, Bloodlight, and Blacklight." Silverlight gazed worriedly at Sunstar. "The leader of Darklight is Shadowstar, the leader of Bloodlight is Greystar, and the leader of Blacklight is," Sunstar paused, before spitting the name, "Tigerstar!" Winterpaw winced.

"H-have there been many attacks?" he asked. Sunstar thought for a moment, and then shook her head.

"They are all dormant for the moment," she whispered. "Thankfully."

"How does a cat get sorted for each...clan?" Winterpaw asked.

"It depends on your traits," Silverwind mewed hastily.

"The brave go to Firelight; the humble to Dawnlight; the skillful to Silverlight; the peaceful to Moonlight; the quick-witted and evasive to Sunlight; and the truthful to Starlight," Sunstar mewed. "Now, you live among the truthful."

"What about the...bad clans?" Winterpaw asked. Sunstar grimaced.

"Those prone to losing their tempers go to Darklight; the death-seeking to Bloodlight; and the power-hungry to Blacklight," she whispered, grimacing.

"It is important that you are sorted correctly," Swiftpelt mewed. "If a cat was wrongly sorted...things could end badly."

"Let's put it this way," Silverwind mewed. "Say a Moonlight cat accidentally got sent to Bloodlight. What do you suppose will happen?"

"Moonlight is peace, and Bloodlight is war-like," Swiftpelt mewed grimly. "Exact opposites."

"If you are banished from a clan, you must leave forever. You leave and walk among the ancestors of...kittypets and loners," Sunstar mewed. Winterpaw shivered at the thought. "That is why it is critical that you obey all those that have come before you."

"Winterpaw," Silverlight mewed cautiously. "We don't want you to have to be banished. You must obey all of your elders, do you understand?" Winterpaw nodded without a second thought.

"At the Gatherings, all the clans come and meet," Sunstar explained. "And by all of them...I mean all of them."

"Including the bad clans?" Winterpaw asked, devastated. Sunstar nodded.

"It is important that you keep your mouth closed, Winterpaw," the she-cat mewed. "Gatherings are usually calm and just, but with one simple mew, it could change to chaos." Winterpaw gulped, and nodded.

"We need you to behave yourself, Winterpaw," Swiftpelt mewed warningly. "The new cats are always prone to weakness when they attend Gatherings."

"I won't say anything unless told to," Winterpaw swore solemnly. Sunstar relaxed, and purred.

"Do you have any more questions?" she asked. Winterpaw shook his head.

"Excellent," Silverwind mewed. "Let's head out."

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