Chapter 7(: Enjoy!
A chilly breeze greeted Graystripe as he exited the warrior's den the next morning, sending a shiver down his spine. Leaf-fall was definitely here, and Leaf-bare was on its way. Feeling his stomach grumble, Graystripe padded over to the fresh-kill pile, selecting a plump fish for his breakfast. Noticing the fresh-kill pile was getting low, he made a note to go hunting soon—after taking another juicy-looking fish to Shadefrost.
He took the two fish to the nursery, hoping to share a meal with Shadefrost, only to pad in and find Leopardstar and Shadefrost sharing tongues and purring in hushed voices as they watched Redkit, Willowkit, and Rushkit play.
"You can never have Sunningrocks!" Redkit squeaked, fluffing up his red-brown brown fur. Willowkit hissed mock-defiance, lunging at her brother and tumbling over and over with him on the nursery floor. Rushkit yelped, jumping out of their way as they tumbled along, and Leopardstar wrapped her tail protectively around her smallest kit, pulling him close against her side. From there, the small tortoiseshell spat crossly at his siblings, tossing his head up as he tucked himself between Leopardstar's front paws.
"Graystripe!" Shadefrost mewed suddenly, just noticing her mate. Graystripe slid forward to drop the two fish in front of her and Leopardstar, carefully dodging the tangle of limbs and fur that was Redkit and Willowkit.
Leopardstar mewed a greeting, then flicked her tail at the fish. "For us, I presume?"
Graystripe sighed, rolling his eyes. "No, I thought I might just bring them into the nursery and eat them in front of you."
Shadefrost's whiskers twitched and she cuffed him playfully over the ear. "Thanks, Graystripe." She purred. "They look great."
Graystripe pressed his muzzle against her cheek, purring as he crouched beside her, watching the kits while she and Leopardstar tucked into their meals. Leopardstar got half-way through her's before she gave Rushkit and encouraging mew. "Try some, Rushkit." She urged the small kit. He sniffed it, wrinkling his nose a little.
"It's really good." Shadefrost added, taking another bite to prove her point. Rushkit seemed to think about it a little more, before taking a tiny bite out of the fresh-kill. He chewed it thoughtfully, before quickly diving in for another bite. Both Shadefrost and Leopardstar broke into purrs. Distracted from their play-fight, Redkit and Willowkit stopped, looking curiously at the meal their brother was having without them. The blue gray she-kit scampered forward, crouching close to Rushkit.
"How does it taste?" She asked, tilting her head. Rushkit mumbled something through a mouthful, which urged Willowkit to take a tentative bite, then Redkit. Shadefrost sighed as she finished her own, watching the kits fondly.
"Oh, Graystripe…" She meowed, pressing close against him, twining their tails together. "I can't wait." Graystripe licked her ear a few times, allowing himself to share her excitement for a moment, before his stomach growled, reminding him of how hungry he had been.
"Well," he sighed, "I'm off to go hunting. The fresh-kill pile is getting pretty low. As he got up to leave, Leopardstar called him back, and he paused at the entrance.
"I want you to go to the gathering tonight." She told him, flicking her tail. "As well as Stormpaw and Featherpaw. Can you let them know?"
Graystripe purred, glowing with pride. "Of course!"
Emerging from the nursery, Graystripe stretched, pausing to give himself a quick wash before looking for his children. He found both of them eating outside the apprentice den, sharing a water vole. Eager to share the good news, he joined them, mewing a greeting as he sat down in front of them, tucking his tail around his paws.
"I've got good news!" He told them, getting both of their attention as they looked up at him with bright eyes. "You're both going to the gathering tonight!" The apprentices exchanged an excited glance, and Featherpaw leaped to her paws.
"Really?!" She squeaked, almost as excited as she had been to become an apprentice.
"Yes, really." He purred, giving them both a lick between the ears.
"Good, it'll be a good experience for them."
Graystripe turned to see Stonefur and Mistyfoot strolling towards them, their blue-gray pelts shining in the sun.
"Come on, Stormpaw. We're working on battle training today." Stonefur mewed, beckoning his apprentice with a flick of his tail. Stormpaw took one last bite and jumped to his paws, swiping his tongue around his jaws before answering, "Yes, Stonefur!"
"And we'll be going hunting." Mistyfoot added to Featherpaw, who nodded energetically. "Would you like to join us, Graystripe?"
The gray warrior purred. "Sure. I was planning on hunting anyways." Mistyfoot dipped her head. "Let's go then."
Soon, Graystripe found himself perched by the river, scanning the crystal clear water for fish. Featherpaw sat beside him, one silver paw raised in preparation. Behind them, Mistyfoot crouched still as a stone in the reeds, her blue eyes locked on to a small vole scurrying amongst the roots of a large willow. Already, Featherpaw had caught more than enough to feed the elders and queens, and between Graystripe and Mistyfoot, they could at least feed all of the warriors.
Graystripe hardly noticed that Mistyfoot joined them at the riverside until she spoke, her voice low and worried. "You know, don't you…?" She mewed, gazing across the river at the silhouette of the Sunningrocks. "That Leopardstar is planning to take Sunningrocks back from ThunderClan, as payment for us helping them during the fire."
Mistyfoot had been a close friend of Silverstream's, and one of the first to befriend Graystripe when he had joined RiverClan. It was apparent that she still worried about his close friendship with Fireheart and the other ThunderClan warriors.
Graystripe flicked his tail lightly across her shoulder, giving her a reassuring look. "I know." He meowed. "And I'm ready. When Leaf-bare comes, we'll need the extra prey—especially if Shadefrost's kits come soon." Mistyfoot's blue eyes widened slightly, before she purred, pressing her muzzle against Graystripe's thick-furred shoulder.
"No cat could ask for a more loyal warrior, Graystripe. I'm glad you came to stay with Stormpaw and Featherpaw."
Featherpaw purred as well, pressing against Graystripe's side, and Graystripe blinked gratefully at Mistyfoot. "Thanks." He mewed, feeling choked up. "That… That means a lot to me." Mistyfoot gave him a nod, before ducking her head to clean her chest fur.
"Now," she went on more briskly, much more like the Mistyfoot Graystripe knew. "We've got a clan to feed!"
Graystripe and Featherpaw meowed energetic agreements, and soon lost themselves in the duty of hunting for their clan.
As the moon rose into the sky, Graystripe couldn't help but to feel his paws tingle in excitement. His first Gathering as a RiverClan warrior! Beside him, Featherpaw and Mistyfoot crouched, peering over the ledge into Fourtrees. They were the last Clan to arrive, consisting of a strong patrol made up of Leopardstar, Stonefur, Mistyfoot, Blackclaw, Loudbelly, Graystripe, Featherpaw, Stormpaw, and their medicine cat, Mudfur. Shadefrost was left at camp to tend to the kits, and Heavystep and Mosspelt to defend the camp.
With a flick of her tail, Leopardstar signaled for them to continue on, and RiverClan rushed into the clearing, Leopardstar at their head. They split up once they were among the other cats, Graystripe instinctively searching for Fireheart. He spotted his flame colored friend speaking with the WindClan warrior Onewhisker, who both cats had befriended when they had rescued WindClan and brought them home.
"Fireheart!" He called, bounding over and touching noses with his old friend. "And this can't be Gorsekit?!" His amber eyes widened in shock as he looked over the ginger and white WindClan tom, noting how much he had grown.
"Gorsepaw now," Onewhisker corrected. "My apprentice." His chest was puffed out with pride, and Graystripe mewed a warm congratulations. "That's great, Onewhisker."
Fireheart's eyes widened as he seemed to spot something just beyond Graystripe's shoulder. "And that can't be Stormkit and Featherkit!" He exclaimed, causing Graystripe to turn and see his kits approaching them shyly. A purr erupted from the RiverClan warrior's chest.
"Stormpaw and Featherpaw, now." He beckoned them forward with his tail. "Stormpaw, Featherpaw, this is a good friend of mine, Fireheart. And another good friend, Onewhisker, and his apprentice Gorsepaw."
Featherpaw mewed a shy greeting, and Stormpaw stepped forward to sniff the WindClan apprentice curiously.
"They really have grown…" Fireheart commented softly, gazing at the two apprentices. "You're right though, she looks just like Silverstream."
Onewhisker gave Graystripe a nudge. "And that tom looks an awful lot like another big gray cat I know." He teased, causing Graystripe to purr in laughter. Their quiet amusement was cut short by a loud yowl from the Great Rock, silencing all conversation as the leaders called for the gathering to start. Fireheart cast Graystripe a puzzled glance, noticing Leopardstar taking Crookedstar's usual place on the Great Rock.
"Where's Crookedstar…?" He whispered quietly, as many of the warriors around were asking their RiverClan neighbors.
"You'll see." Graystripe answered, motioning with his ears that Leopardstar was getting ready to speak.
"Welcome!" She called, stepping forward to speak first. "I come bearing sad news." She bowed her head in a moment of refreshed grief before continuing. "Crookedstar was taken from us two nights ago by green-cough, and walks with StarClan now. I went yesterday to speak with StarClan and have received my name and nine lives." Tallstar nodded thoughtfully, and Graystripe assumed that a WindClan patrol had probably caught them on their way, so naturally Tallstar would have already known. Tigerstar narrowed his amber eyes thoughtfully, and Graystripe felt his fur crawl. Whatever you have to offer her… He thought bitterly. We don't want it!
"Congratulations." Bluestar meowed, dipping her head. Leopardstar dipped her own head in return, then turned back to addressing the other cats.
"Stonefur is the new deputy," she continued, "though RiverClan has concerns…"
"So does ThunderClan." Bluestar cut her off, stepping forward, her tail bristling. "WindClan has been stealing prey from ThunderClan!"
Graystripe shot Fireheart a startled glance. "What?" But Fireheart looked just as surprised, his green eyes stretched wide. Onewhisker yowled a protest from beside them, leaping to his paws and glaring up at Bluestar. The four leaders fell into a heated debate, before Tigerstar stepped forward. "I'm sure, Bluestar, that WindClan would not lie to you about stealing prey, but it is true that prey has been scarce."
Bluestar glared icily at Tigerstar, and Graystripe braced himself for the Thunderclan leader to attack the huge tabby. Leopardstar however, stepped between them, speaking again.
"That is enough." She called, bringing the Gathering to peace again. "We wouldn't want to anger our warrior ancestors, now would we?" Bluestar said nothing, but Tigerstar dipped his head and stepped back. "On the topic of scarce prey," She added mildly, flashing Bluestar a look veiled with threat. "RiverClan grows strong as well, and may soon find themselves in need of more hunting grounds…"
Bluestar hardly seemed to notice, waiting for her to finish before spitting a threat at Tallstar and leaping from the Great Rock. "This Gathering is over!" She called, and Graystripe felt anxiety pricking at his pelt. Was Bluestar even going to bother defending her borders? Fireheart looked troubled, and mewed a hasty farewell before joining his leader as she headed for ThunderClan territory, a patrol of her warriors around her. Stonefur shouldered his way through the crowd towards him, and Graystripe stood to meet him.
"Are you ready, Graystripe? Leopardstar is ready to leave."
"Coming, Stonefur." He answered, meowing "Goodbye" to Onewhisker and Gorsepaw before calling to Stormpaw and Featherpaw and following his deputy to where Leopardstar was waiting at the edge of RiverClan territory.
"Let's go." She called, gathering her warriors about her with a flick of her tail. When they reached the camp, she called them together with yowl, not even bothering to leap onto the Rock Ledge.
"RiverClan!" She began, her tail lashing. "ThunderClan still owes us for our refuge during the fire." Yowls of agreement greeted her words, and Graystripe watched her intently. "Right now, Bluestar is focused on the ide she has the WindClan has been stealing prey from ThunderClan. Sunningrocks will be unguarded, and should she attack, her Clan will be weak!" More yowls of agreement echoed this statement, and Graystripe's ears pricked. This could be his true chance to prove his loyalty… "We will attack in 3 days!"
And here we have Chapter 7(: To samredlamb7, I just may have found a way to work in 2 of your suggestions for Graystripe's kits, and Cap'n Jade Sparrow, one will be Graystripe and Shadefrost's, and the other (your favorite, cough cough) can be either Mistyfoot's or Mosspelt's, it's up to you(: Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! Lots of love~!
