Moon of Shadows

"Graystripe, my den please," Firestar calmly called across the clearing of the Thunder Clan camp to the front of the warrior's den, where a grey long haired tom sat calmly with a pale tabby she-cat. Leaving the vole he was eating and mewing a goodbye to the she-cat, he walked over to the ginger tom, Firestar.

"You wanted a word with me?" he continued. "Is it really important? I have some important duties, can it wait?"

Graystripe had a look of desperation in his eyes, and there was something strange and awkward about his expression that made Firestar's fur tingle.

"Okay, come in, quickly," Firestar said impatiently as he padded inside, beckoning Graystripe through the lichen curtain which marked the den entrance.

"Well, what do you have to say?" Firestar asked the ThunderClan deputy. There was interest but a slight harshness in his voice. After a short pause, Graystripe trembled. He shifted a little closer to Firestar. Firestar stood up and walked up to him, giving him a comforting lick on the head before settling down next to his best friend.

"Graystripe, you can share this with me. I'm not asking as your leader. I'm asking as your friend. I can see it's troubling you. Come on."

There was a little more silence. Then Graystripe finally whispered a mere, shaky, quiet mew:

"You know we've been friends, for a really long time?"

"Well done! You spoke! And uh, yeah?"

"I got very close to you quite quickly. Before that, I hated you. To be honest I felt like hanging around with Sandstorm and Dustpelt when we were all apprentices. I hated the idea of you being a kittypet. I felt sorry for Ravenpaw and I was very angry at Bluestar for her awful decision." Firestar tensed a little. It was mainly at Graystripe's words and at the mention of the former clan leader Bluestar.

"Go on," he managed to say.

"But even though you weren't kitted in ThunderClan, and you asked so many questions. I didn't really have any friends except Ravenpaw, and he was really jumpy. So I started befriending you. I saw your true personality. Your heart shone bright. You were a ThunderClan apprentice, not a kittypet! I saw so much in you, and

I realized. We weren't just friends. When we became warriors, we had a deep bond. Not much in common, but still great friends. But it was much, much more than friends. It-" Graystripe's words were suddenly cut off. Firestar's eyes were brimming with concern and slight fear.

"Just say it Graystripe, you can tell me."

"B-but," Graystripe stammered, "No I can't!" Without warning, he bounded out of the den to end the conversation. He approached the warrior's den and frantically hurried inside. Sandstorm, who was lying outside, curiously followed with concern, before glancing back at the leader's den, where Firestar slowly emerged, a look of confusion on his face.

Look after Graystripe. The message his eyes seemed to give. Sandstorm shot a sympathetic glance at Firestar, and then continued walking into the den to comfort Graystripe.

Later on, Firestar was tangled up in thoughts. "What did he want? Firestar wondered. It seemed urgent, yet he couldn't share it with me. I wonder? While lost in thought staring at the warrior's den, his gaze slowly turned towards the fresh kill pile. With a grumble from his belly, Firestar remembered how hungry he was.

"Would you like some fresh kill?"

Startled, Firestar turned his head to the sound of the voice. What? Tigerstar? How- Firestar calmed when he realized it was Brambleclaw, Tigerstar's son, showing a curious expression.

"Oh! Sorry, Brambleclaw. Just bring it to my den, thanks. A vole would be nice."

"Okay, but are you alright? You look quite sleepy."

"I'm fine thankyou, just get me the vole and that will be all."

Brambleclaw went back to his cheery state and bounded to the pile, finding a nice plump, juicy vole, which he carried into the den and set down as Firestar walked in.

"Thanks," he meowed. "Could you please fetch me Sandstorm? I could do with some company. She's looking after Graystripe, but just tell her that I want Graystripe to go see Cinderpelt in her den. He looked distressed, and she'd know what to do."

"Yes Firestar."

Firestar knew something was troubling Graystripe. He always shared anything that was on his mind to Firestar, they had been best friends since Firestar joined the clan as Firepaw. Or maybe a little bit after that, apparently. This was a very strange matter, and Firestar was determined to get to the bottom of it. But did that mean losing his friendship with Graystripe, or worse, the trust of his entire clan?