Shimmerpaw padded at the back of the patrol, which was led by Rippleheart and consisted of Specklewish, Silverclaw, and Dragonfang. They were making their way along the DarkClan border, remarking it. It had been about a moon and Fernpaw had settled into the Clan. She seemed to warm up to everyone now, but Bluestripe was the cat she trusted most, of course. The young apprentice seemed to like Shimmerpaw a little more as well. Besides sharing a den, Fernpaw would always offer to share prey with Shimmerpaw, and they would often find themselves talking outside the apprentices' den.

Silverclaw was just coming back from setting a scent marker when Rippleheart pricked his ears. "DarkClan patrol, heading this way," he warned. The patrol quickly formed up, stepping back from the border as the DarkClan patrol appeared. Shadowstar himself was in the lead followed by Scourgefang, Firewing, Patchfrost, and Graypaw.

Rippleheart dipped his head. "Greetings Shadowstar."

Shadowstar bared his teeth. "Rippleheart. There had better be no LightClan scent on our side of the border."

Silverclaw's and Dragonfang's fur rose but Rippleheart raised his tail. "We're just remarking the border. Nothing to worry about."

"We'll be the judge of that," Firewing meowed, stepping forward to inspect the border. She sniffed for a moment before looking back up. "Everything seems fine, Shadowstar."

Shadowstar nodded. "Good. It'd better stay that way."

"Of course," Rippleheart dipped his head. "We must continue. Until next time." He flicked his tail and began to lead the patrol off. Shadowstar led his patrol in the opposite direction. Shimmerpaw began to follow but she felt a cat's cold gaze on her back. Looking over her shoulder, she spotted Scourgefang staring at her. She felt unease prick underneath her pelt but she did her best to hide it.

"Scourgefang! Come on!" Shadowstar called, his patrol having stopped just a little ways off. Rippleheart's patrol stopped as well, staring back at Scourgefang.

Scourgefang didn't move, however. He just continued to study Shimmerpaw through narrowed eyes, making the apprentice feel even more uncomfortable. "You'd better go. Don't want to keep your patrol waiting," Shimmerpaw meowed, hoping to urge Scourgefang along.

Scourgefang's eyes narrowed even further. Rippleheart came to Shimmerpaw's side. "Everything alright?" he asked.

Shimmerpaw was about to nod and say that everything was fine when Scourgefang finally spoke, "Are you afraid of me, little Jedi?"

Shimmerpaw blinked in surprise. Dragonfang ran over to Shimmerpaw's other side, baring his teeth. "Was that a threat, fox-dung?" he challenged.

Scourgefang glared at the tom but didn't move. "I wasn't talking to you. Unless this apprentice can't speak for herself."

"Scourgefang," Shadowstar growled, a warning in his voice.

"That's quite enough. It's time you left," Rippleheart added, fixing a hard gaze on Scourgefang. The Sith just continued to stare at Shimmerpaw, awaiting her response.

Shimmerpaw reached out with the force, trying to figure out what Scourgefang was getting at. She expected to find hostility there, but instead she only sensed curiosity. He's not threatening me. He's asking a genuine question. But for what purpose?

Taking a deep breath, Shimmerpaw held her head high and met Scourgefang's gaze calmly. "No, I'm not afraid of you. There's no reason for me to fear you."

Scourgefang blinked with surprise before smiling. "Well said, young Jedi."

"If you're quite finished," Shadowstar growled, padding to Scourgefang's side.

"I believe I am," Scourgefang meowed, glancing at his leader before looking at Rippleheart. "I wish to join LightClan."

"What?!" Patchfrost pushed his way forward, glaring at Scourgefang. "Are you out of your mind? You're a Sith! You belong in DarkClan!"

Scourgefang glared at him. "I belong wherever I choose."

"Why should we let you join? How do we know we can trust you?" Silverclaw questioned, her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"I don't care whether you trust me or not. The trust of only one matters to me. I only wish to see nothing bad happen to the Clans," Scourgefang answered, meeting her stare.

Shimmerpaw sensed something stir inside Scourgefang. Is that...fear? Scourgefang is afraid of something? But what? What is he not telling us?

"Rippleheart, we can't seriously let him just switch Clans, can we?" Dragonfang demanded.

Rippleheart studied Scourgefang a moment longer before flicking his tail. "Specklewish, take Dragonfang and Silverclaw and finish marking the border. Shimmerpaw and I will take Scourgefang back to camp to see Shinestar. He can discuss this matter with her."

"You can't be serious?" Dragonfang exclaimed in shock.

"Hush now! Rippleheart knows what he's doing," Specklewish meowed. "Now move along. The border won't remark itself." Dragonfang and Silverclaw reluctantly padded away. Specklewish flashed a concerned look at Shimmerpaw before following them.

"Shadowstar, what do we do?" Firewing asked.

"Is he even allowed to switch Clans?" Graypaw added.

Shadowstar glared at Scourgefang. "It's been done before. I just didn't expect one of my loyal warriors to turn on me."

"This is bigger than you know, Shadowstar," Scourgefang meowed. Shimmerpaw narrowed her eyes. He is hiding something. But what would be so important that the leader wouldn't know?

"Very well," Shadowstar finally relented. "You are free to join LightClan. But don't come crawling back if they turn you away. You are not one of my warriors." Shadowstar turned and led the rest of his patrol away, leaving just Shimmerpaw, Rippleheart, and Scourgefang.

"Come along, then," Rippleheart turned and began trotting back to camp. Scourgefang followed and Shimmerpaw padded behind him. She kept a close eye on him, not knowing what he was trying to do.

Once they reached camp, Rippleheart turned to Shimmerpaw. "Stay with him. I'll get Shinestar." The deputy padded off, leaving Shimmerpaw and Scourgefang sitting in the center of camp. Shimmerpaw felt several cats staring at them, and she could feel the hostility directed at Scourgefang. Shimmerpaw ignored all the gazes, keeping herself calm.

Rippleheart soon returned with Shinestar. Several cats moved a little closer to hear the conversation.

"Rippleheart tells me you wish to join LightClan, Scourgefang," Shinestar meowed. "It's an interesting request, especially for a Sith. After the confrontation I heard about at the border, I want to know why I should let you join."

"I realize how odd of a request it is, but I know what's coming, and this is the only way to save both Clans from what's coming," Scourgefang replied, his gaze revealing nothing. He then glanced at Shimmerpaw. "And to address what happened at the border, this young apprentice handled herself just fine. I can see her doing great things in the future."

Shimmerpaw blinked with surprise at the compliment. Why does he seem so fixated on me? What does he know that I don't? That not even Shinestar or Shadowstar knows?

Shinestar glanced at Shimmerpaw before looking at Scourgefang. "I see. So you wanted to see if she was strong enough."

Scourgefang nodded. "I did. This young Jedi did not disappoint."

"Maybe you should take less interest in her," Nightcloud growled, taking a step forward. Shimmerpaw wanted to run over to her father's side when she felt the surge of protectiveness coming from him but she forced herself to remain where she was.

Shinestar continued to study Scourgefang, the Clan waiting anxiously for their leader's decision. Finally, Shinestar nodded. "Very well, Scourgefang. You may join LightClan. But you must realize that you will have to work hard to gain your new Clanmates' trust. And if you put a paw wrong, you will be driven out. Are we clear?"

"Crystal," Scourgefang answered, his eyes narrowed.

Shinestar nodded before climbing up into the Talltree. There was no need for her to call the Clan together, as they were all already gathered. "Cats of LightClan, as I'm sure you heard, Scourgefang is now part of our Clan."

Several cats yowled in outrage.

"He's a Sith!"

"How can we trust him?"

"He's spying for DarkClan!"

Shinestar raised her tail and gradually the shouts fell silent. "I know you have your concerns, but as far as I can tell Scourgefang shows no malicious intent. I expect you to treat him like you would any Clanmate, as he is yours now. That is all."

The Clan dispersed as Shinestar leaped down from the tree. Most cats still cast suspicious glances at Scourgefang, and every cat avoided him. Shimmerpaw dipped her head to Scourgefang before heading over to the apprentices' den where Fernpaw sat glaring at the Sith. Shimmerpaw could sense a deep hatred in the young apprentice. "You ok?" she asked.

"Fine, but I don't trust him," Fernpaw answered, keeping her gaze fixed on Scourgefang. "He's got to be up to no good. You can't seriously believe he's not up to something, do you?"

Shimmerpaw hesitated, looking back at Scourgefang for a moment. "Well, I honestly don't know what to think about it all. But Scourgefang doesn't seem to have any bad intent. None that I can detect anyway."

"So you're saying we should trust him?" Fernpaw asked in shock.

"I'm saying we should give him a chance," Shimmerpaw corrected. "He came here for a reason, yes. But I don't think he has any bad intentions towards us. He knows something that we don't."

"Something we don't?" Fernpaw echoed. "But what?"

Shimmerpaw studied Scourgefang for a moment. The Sith turned and locked gazes with her. Shimmerpaw's eyes widened before she shook her head and looked away. "I don't know, but hopefully we'll figure it out with time."

Here's chapter 7! I was trying to figure out the best way to bring Scourgefang into LightClan, and I honestly couldn't think of a better way than this. Hope you all enjoyed! Please R&R :)