7

Slightstar begins her first official clan meeting as PhoenixClan’s new leader.

She hesitates, unsure of herself, but the other cats all support and encourage her.

As she announces Smallpaw and Blazepaw’s new relationship together, she notices Dazzlepaw has a strange look on her face.

Trying to move past this, she starts to announce Daisykit’s new apprentice name, but is stopped when she notices strange cats in the distance, approaching their territory.

Slightstar leaps forward to protect the kits and demands to know who these cats are, her heart still full of fear from the last run-in with rogue cats.

After a tense moment of silence, the pretty black molly cat speaks up, introducing herself as Dahliafade.

She explains that she, her sister Sheepsong , Sheepsong’s kittypet mate Archibald , and their two kits Brightpaw and Avalanchepaw , have come to this place from another clan looking for a place to stay.

Slightstar is a bit taken aback, unaware that other clans existed at all, but hearing that they just want shelter and don’t immediately want to fight puts her at ease.

She decides to welcome them all to their group, and she appoints Dahliafade as the new deputy.

Finally, she is able to give Daisykit her new name, Daisypaw, and she appoints Dahliafade as her mentor. She also officially names Archibald as Avalanchepaw’s mentor, and Sheepsong as Brightpaw’s mentor.

Daisypaw, though initially intensely invested in her apprenticeship, now stares wide-eyed at Brightpaw.