The forest was as silent as a feather, The sun's warm golden rays shined through the canopy of leaves that blocked the blue abyss known as the sky. The small rays of light gently touched the forest floor turning whatever it touched into a pale amber. But one ray in peculiar shined not on the forest floor, But threaded it's way though the sharp thickets of a Bramble bush to laid on the grey tabby pelt of a single cat.

Greystone opened a single amber eye as he felt slight warmness settle at the tip of his ear,He gave it a small flick before looking around him. Only a few of his clan mates remained in the warriors den curled up in their own dens with their flanks slowly rising and falling with each breath they took. Greystone gave a small groan as he got to his paws and stretched. In the corner of his eye, Greystone spotted a dark ginger paw.

"Morning,Redfoot." Greystone greeted the calico warrior as he stretched out displaying his dark ginger namesakes.

"Morning, Greystone...Had a good rest?" Redfoot asked as the two toms walked out of the warriors den. Greeting the warm breeze that ruffled their already bedraggled fur.

"Yeah...But it was rather hard to fall asleep with Nightheart and Bluecloud whispering all night." Greystone meowed with a smirk as he spotted the young couple cuddled up with their tails intertwined and their whiskers brushing as they shared a shrew together. The two have been mates since 2 moons after their warrior ceremony and even a son whose now a apprentice. To say that they're were each others halves was a understatement!

"I will admit that it's hard to fall asleep when you're hearing 'I love you's.' and "You complete me.' but they're mates and deserve to show their affection to each other." Redfoot purred, Flicking his ginger and black striped tail with a small grin. His eyes flickered to the right before looking back at Greystone.

Greystone gave a small purr of his own, He didn't have to look to know that Redfoot just looked at Goldenfall. A Kind and motherly pale ginger clan mate that he had trained with as apprentices.

"Speaking of affection, Are you ever going to tell her?" Greystone meowed quietly tilting his head to Goldenfall as she happily chatted with her sister Russetear. A smile on her face as Russetear laughed at one of her jokes.

"W-What? Goldenfall's only a close friend!" Redfoot meowed sternly with a small frown.

"Sure...And you weren't blabbering to me about her 'Beautiful fur that looks like the sun kissed it' or 'Great personality.' when we were apprentices." Greystone meowed rolling his eyes as he recalled all the times that Redpaw came to him to talk about how much he loves Goldenpaw and how he's going to confess to her when they became warriors.

"That was when I was apprentice! And besides she probably likes Sparrowtalon or Alderstrike." Redfoot mumbled flicking his tail sadly.

Greystone was about to reply when a loud cry of "All cats old enough to hunt gather underneath the big oak for a clan meeting.

Greystone sat next to Redfoot and Mossypelt and looked up to see Sandstar, The current leader of Forestclan perched on top of the thickest branch of the tall Oak tree that grew in the middle of Forestclan's camp. The tom's long light ginger fur looked neatly groomed, His chin held up high as he looked down at his clan with serious green eyes. Even if he was the youngest leader ever in Forestclan at 26 moons, Sandstar had a calm and in control personality that made as great a leader as Vixenstar.

"I called this meeting to discuss the health of Hawktail."

Greystone didn't have to look around to known that all his clan mates now looked at Sandstar with pricked ears and anxious eyes. Hawktail, Sandstar's deputy is a favorite among the clan. He was known for his easy solutions to problems and his social skills. Even a bitter tom like Mousefang respected him!

"I'm sad to say that Hawktail has passed from Blackcough."

Loud gasp and meows resonated after Sandstar's statement. All of which were asking the same questions, 'What happened?", "How could Hawktail die?" and most importantly "Whose going to be the new deputy?"

Sandstar silenced the crowed with a single flick of his tail before meowing, "I'm as shocked as and sadden as all of you. Hawktail was fine deputy and would have been a fine leader but I most continue tradition and call forth a new deputy."

Greystone ran through the possible cats that would make good deputies. Nightheart's as calm and collected as Sandstar but is rather overprotective and takes insults too seriously.

Russetear makes good choices and knows how to keep a secret but she can be a bit...Hyper like all the curiosity and kit like things that she had in her younger moons stayed with her.

Finally, There was Aldersrike. The tom's very dedicated to Forestclan and reliable.

"The new deputy will be Greystone!"

Greystone's eyes snapped up in shock as he heard his name be called. He looked around him to make sure he heard correctly and were greeted with surprised faces all expect Redfoot who gave him a look between 'worried and Happy.'

'But I've only been a warrior for 5 moons and I never had a apprentice!' Greystone thought in slight panic as he thought about his new rank.