Author's Note:

Hello and welcome to Chapter Five of Breaking Boundaries!

I'm sorry for the long delay. I've been really busy with school lately. Hopefully I have a bit more time coming up soon.

I won't be able to upload anything over Spring Break though, as my family is going on a cruise, with no data or Wifi or anything. We have a suite though so I'm hyped up for it.

I also just read the new Warriors book for the new series, and I really like it! The books have been fresh ever since they got away from the Three and Firestar.

Yet another Light POV coming up here.

Anyways, on to the story!

Chapter Five:

"However," Rowanstar added, causing Light to stop her mental celebration, staring nervously at the leader. She sincerely hoped that this wouldn't end up badly for her, "We have had an issue or two with rogues in the past."

"I promise I will do nothing to hurt the Clan Rowanstar!" Light blurted, quickly becoming embarrassed at her outburst. Her pelt prickling, she looked down at the ground, hoping that things were still good for her. She didn't know what she would do if she was forced out of the Clan. She raised her head cautiously, only to see the leader staring at her intently. She struggled, but managed to hold his gaze.

Rowanstar sighed, "You certainly seem innocent enough. Why are you all alone, without a guardian? How did it happen? If you can tell me of course." Light flinched at the question, briefly shutting her eyes. She wished she could be here with her sister. It'd make things so much easier.

She felt as if now would be the time. The time to tell the truth. Or at least a lot of it.

"I...I had a mother and father, along with a sister. We were born outside of the Clans, but our parents were former warriors," Light began, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke, "We were on a journey back to the Clan they were from, but on the way, the leader of ThunderClan ambushed us and killed our mother. Our father took us and ran away, and we lived peacefully for moons until a badger attacked us. Then...I wandered here..." She sighed as she finished the story. She had purposely changed parts of her story, trying to avoid mentioning that her sister was alive and that her parents had been from ThunderClan. That was for her and her sister, and no one else.

Rowanstar's eyes widened slightly as she finished her story. He cleared his breath softly before murmuring, "You've been through too much for a cat of such a young age..." He stared at her calmly, his gaze now full of a confidence that would appear to come from being the leader. "Now what is your name?"

Light took a second to gather herself before looking up at him with the strongest gaze she could muster, proudly raising her muzzle and mewing, "My name is Light." No matter what had been taken from her, she still had herself. She puffed her chest out slightly, trying to make herself seem big. She wanted that good first impression.

"Well then Light," He mewed, "Let Thistletail take you to the other apprentices. I think that you just might be a good addition for us." Light had to quickly stifle a purr from escaping her.

"So does that mean I'm really in?" She asked, growing increasingly hopeful.

"Yes," Rowanstar replied, "I'll be assigning you to work with some of the apprentices over the next little while. If you appear worth training, then I shall assign you your own mentor. Make sure the other apprentices wake you tomorrow. Wouldn't want to leave a bad first impression, now would you?" Light grinned, shaking her head.

Light felt a tail at her shoulder. She looked behind her to see Thistletail, giving a small smile, "Come on, Light. Let's introduce you to your new Clanmates." She nodded, her tail lifted up in the air, displaying her pleasure at being accepted. Perhaps the void left in her could be partially filled...

She shook the thought away as they left the den. She had to focus on the now, and that now was integrating herself with her new denmates. Thistletail, calmly walked her over to a group of younger cats, who quickly stared at her suspiciously. Light was glad to see that Birdpaw was within the group, watching her as well, but with less suspicion than the others.

"Well," Thistletail began somewhat awkwardly, "I'd like all of you to meet Light. She'll probably be with us for a long time. Don't pester her too much. She's been through a lot." Then the older cat abruptly slipped away, leaving Light alone with the group.

She saw that including Birdpaw, there were four apprentices. One was another tabby-brown cat, just like Birdpaw. However, the cat was a tom. The other two apprentices were she-cats, one snowy-pelted, and one who was a grey tabby. The grey she-cat in particular seemed skeptical of the whole situation.

Feeling shy, Light awkwardly dipped her head to the apprentices, murmuring, "Hello." They stared at her for a few more seconds, before Birdpaw got up and padded over to her, nudging her.

"So you convinced the great and wise Rowanstar to allow you in?" Birdpaw exclaimed in mock awe, her eyes twinkling, "I guess you must be more powerful than I thought!" She exaggerated a dip of her head, her nose lightly smacking the floor, "I'm not worthy!"

This caused the other apprentices to giggle, and Light felt better already. "So I know Birdpaw," Light mewed to the other three apprentices, "But if I may ask, what are your names?"

"My name is Eaglepaw!" Exclaimed the tom who looked like Birdpaw, "Birdpaw is my sister, if you couldn't tell." Light nodded to him, acknowledging him.

The white she-cat grinned and said, "I'm Cloudpaw, and this cat here," she mewed, pointing with her tail at the grey tabby, "Is my sister Aspenpaw! Don't worry, we won't bite! Sit down!"

And so she did, settling down next to Birdpaw and Eaglepaw, relishing the comfort of being with friendly cats. Understandably, the cats asked her questions. She answered some, yet deflected others. However, the one thing that felt off was that Aspenpaw hadn't said a word. Light shot a glance or two at her, but all she saw was a bit of a wary expression in her eyes. Was she worried about her being bad?

Eventually, Light decided to ask her a question, calmly mewing, "So Aspenpaw, any interesting stories you can tell me?" She smiled, hoping to appear as friendly and genuine as possible. However, she gasped as Aspenpaw's expression changed drastically. She appeared...Depressed...

Suddenly, she got up and ran out of camp, leaving Light dumbfounded. Cloudpaw got up, shooting Light an apologetic glance before running after her sister. Light frowned, mewing, "What did I say wrong?"

"Light," Eaglepaw murmured, "Aspenpaw hasn't spoken a single word since their parents died in a battle back when we were all a moon or so." He sighed, adding, "Don't beat yourself up over it. You didn't know..."

Light's eyes widened, staring at where the mute she-cat had been sitting. Had the war really done this to them? Lost families and traumatized kits?

She could only hope that her sister was okay.

A/N:

There we go! Light's met all of the other current apprentices. First impressions?

Just an early note on Aspenpaw, she is quite the sensitive little kitty, if you couldn't guess.

Will Ginger be okay? Will Light? Either way, we can rest assured that we know our next POV will be Ginger. However, soon there will be a pair of cats added to the POVs. Who could they be?

Remember to R&R!