Starkit yawned and stretched in the warm sunlight filtering through the canopy of branches that was the nursery as she woke up. She closed her eyes, still tired. But she could not sleep through this day, as it was one of the most important days in a clan cat's life.

"Starkit, it's time to get up!" said Dawnheart; her eyes shining. "Today is your big day!"

"Wha-?" said Starkit, arching her back in the warm light. Then the she-kit remembered what day it was. She sat up quickly.

"It's our ceremony!' she squealed excitedly. Today was the day she and her sisters were becoming apprentices!

"Wake up Redkit, Lakekit!" she said breathlessly, nudging her ginger and brown spotted sisters in turn." It's our ceremony!"

They were both awake at moment's notice, and ran outside with Starkit, tumbling over each other's tails and landing in a heap on the ground. Their mother ran after her kits and nudged them back inside the nursery.

"You can't go out there looking like this!" Dawnheart said, but her eyes betrayed what she was really thinking.

"It'll be fine, mum, you just watch us," said Lakekit, "And besides, if we aren't made apprentices, Sandstorm will claw Bramblestar's ears off!" Her littermates laughed at the reference to Sandstorm's soft spot for them.

"Some cats just can't accept that you aren't clan-born, though" she said, sighing. "I barely made into the Thunderclan. Some of the other kittypets used to say that this clan took in cats like us, but I guess a new leader changed that"

Starkit scowled. She didn't like being told that. Just because her Mom was a used to be kittypet and her dad was unknown to the Clan didn't mean she was not equal to the other cats!

Outside, Bramblestar called the Clan meeting.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here below the Highledge for a Clan meeting"

"Hurry!" Dawnheart gave her kits a last grooming and ran after them into the clearing. Redkit, Lakekit, and Starkit run up to the Highledge and climbed up the boulders until they stood next to the brown tabby tom.

"Today is an important day for the Clan. Thornclaw, Blossomfall, come up onto the Highledge." Why is he only calling two cats? There are three of us! Does Bramblestar think one of us isn't fit to be an apprentice? thought Starkit. She looked at her siblings anxiously.

Starkit noticed that Bramblestar had paused and the whole clan was looking at her.

"Sorry!" she whispered to Bramblestar. He just laughed softly and said, "Its okay." He then looked up again and beckoned Lakekit forward with his tail.

"From this day forward, you shall be known as Lakepaw. Thornclaw, you are a brave and quick-thinking cat who is very loyal to his clan, and I hope that you pass this on to your apprentice." Lakepaw bounded forward to touch noses with his new mentor. They then stepped to the side of the Highledge.

"Redkit, come forward. You too, Blossomfall." Bramblestar looked down at Redkit. "From this day on, this kit shall be known as Redpaw. Blossomfall, you are a courageous and caring cat, and I hope that you teach everything you can to this apprentice." Blossomfall touched noses with Redpaw, and they too stepped back.

"And now for Starkit." Said the tabby tom." It is my pleasure to announce that you shall be my apprentice, because you have proven to be a strong cat with a brave heart. From this day on, you shall be known as Starpaw." He leaned forward and touched noses with her.

Bramblestar whispered in her ear as they pulled away.

"You'll be the best apprentice there has ever been, Starpaw. I know it." It seemed like something a normal mentor would say, but Starpaw saw the serious gleam in his eyes.

The clan was silent, and then yowled the new apprentice's names.

"Starpaw, Redpaw, Lakepaw!"

After everyone had a chance to call the new apprentices by their names, Jayfeather beckoned Starpaw over with his tail. She walked over, confused.

"Um, hi?" said the new apprentice. Jayfeather gazed into her green eyes and started to speak.

"I am very proud of you, Starpaw, but I have a more important thing to tell you today."

What could be more important than my ceremony? thought Starpaw.

"You are a part of a prophecy from Starclan. Bramblestar knows this, that's why he is mentoring you himself." He paused. "The prophecy says that Stars will emerge from the darkness and defeat the tiger's claws and holly's leaves. I don't know who the tiger and holly are, but it is up to you to save the clan." Jayfeather looked at her once more with his sightless eyes, and then whisked away to the medicine cat's den.

Starpaw sat down, shocked. What could the prophecy possibly mean?