Chapter 8: Greyleaf

When Greyleaf entered the ThunderClan camp, she immediately brought her prey - two squirrels and five mice - to the fresh-kill pile. She then headed towards the nursery to say hello to her mother, realizing she hadn't visited the light grey she-cat since becoming a warrior.

The two were close, as they should be. They were of almost exact copies of one another and they shared similar temperaments. Though, Greyleaf had received more of a defiant and short-fused nature from her father, while Featherstorm was quite mellow.

The younger she-cat often came to see her mother on her free time, and they often chatted, shared tongues, and watched the kits - Greyleaf's younger siblings - together.

Greyleaf knew she could trust her mother. Featherstorm had always been supportive of her. The older grey she-cat was forever the calm in the storm, just as much as Leopardheart was the steel behind the action.

The spotted tom, sadly, had never been close to his daughter.

The new warrior ducked through the reinforced thorn tunnel and into the dark, warm nursery. Immediately Volekit, Squirrelkit and Sandkit pounced on her. Their brown, grey, and light-brown pelts squirming over her. Greyleaf gasped dramatically and flopped to the ground.

"You have defeated me, mighty warriors," She rasped. "I will now die!"

Greyleaf sagged her head to the floor and held her breath long enough for the three kits to fall for the facade. They whimpered and drew close to her.

"Gotcha!" Greyleaf yowled as she gently, but swiftly, caught their tails with her paw.

The kits mewed in surprise and ran to the protection of their mother.

"Hello Greyleaf," Featherstorm welcomed in her light, soft voice.

"Hi mother," The younger she-cat meowed, waving her tail in greeting, "Where are the other queens?" She looked around the dimly lit den,.

"They're outside with their kits," Featherstorm replied, sighing with contentment as she licked Volekit's brown head.

The little tom narrowed his green eyes in annoyance and thrashed his spotted tail from side to side.

Greyleaf smiled at this and pressed her muzzle into her mother's flank, so Featherstorm quit her licking started to groom her eldest daughter's fur.

Volekit's shot off as soon as he had the chance, tumbling right into his grey sister, spots pummeling into stripes as they fell in a heap. Sandkit took her chance, and pounced on her siblings, striped light-brown legs missing their mark and causing her to trip.

Greyleaf purred with laughter as the kits played and her mother's rough tongue straightened the knots in her fur. I could stay like this forever. She thought, wishing to be a kit again, with no cares in the world.

They sat like this for a while before a faint rustling notified them that a visitor was entering the nursery.

Greyleaf reluctantly removed herself from her comfortable position to greet the newcomer. She was surprised to see that her father, Leopardheart, was standing at the entrance.

"Uh- hi Leopardheart," Greyleaf managed to mew, pausing to think of what she could say next. The mood turned awkward. "Um- How was it like to supervise the clan today?"

She waited for her father to drone on about how his day went and how he had high hopes for her, as he usually did. Leopardheart had always wanted to be deputy, and now that he was, he wanted his eldest kit to accomplish the task as well one day.

His usual droning never came. Instead, he asked, "How do you like being a warrior?"

Does he really want to hear about my day? He never wants to hear about MY day! Greyleaf almost gaped, having been caught of guard by the question.

"Um- well, It was okay. I hunted with Bramblepelt and Blackpaw, and then we ran into a ShadowClan patrol lead by Pinestar! Blackpaw actually tried to attack him! It was really mouse-brained! He could have started a border fight, or even a war with ShadowClan!" Greyleaf raved angrily, slashing her tail in the air.

Leopardheart nodded, but replied wholeheartedly, "Blackpaw was only trying to protect you. I like him. He would be a good mate to you."

Greyleaf couldn't believe what she was hearing. She turned to Featherstorm for backup and saw her mother nodding.

"B-b-b-" Greyleaf tried to retaliate, but she couldn't find the words.

The two parents shared one of those looks. The looks that tell you that they know something you don't.

"I know it's sudden," Featherstorm tried to soothe, voice even softer and eyes warm, "But we both think you should consider him as a potential mate. It would make me feel better to know that someone will protect you."

The grey she-cat and the brown tom looked at each other again, and Greyleaf knew then that they weren't going to back down their claim. Something had happened to make them feel this way, but what?

Greyleaf nodded stiffly. She couldn't argue if both of her parents had the same point.

"May I be excused? I need to think," Greyleaf croaked, her mouth feeling like paste.

Featherstorm quickly replied, "Of course my kit, you have a lot to think about."

Their daughter left, her mind thinking all about Blackpaw's strange behavior and what her parents had told her.

Did he know about this?


The day had passed quickly, and by now, it was past sundown. The luminescent moon glowed brightly on the horizon, its light creating a path that led out of the thorn tunnel and into the lush, GreenLeaf forest.

Greyleaf was still stunned by what her parents had proposed, and she had been wandering, zombie-like, about the camp for hours.

I need some fresh air, she thought, A nighttime walk doesn't sound too bad right now.

As she headed for the thorn tunnel exit, following the strange trail, Blackpaw caught her at the entrance, stopping her with a paw.

"Where are you going?" He asked, his green eyes easily read as protective.

Greyleaf was slightly aggravated that someone, especially Blackpaw, had tried to stop her.

"Getting some fresh air," She replied swiftly, her fur beginning to spike.

Blackpaw's eyes lit up. "Can I come with you?"

That's the last thing I need right now!

"No! I want to go alone." Greyleaf snapped, lashing her tail

She stalked away, leaving Blackpaw's hurt expression behind her.

As she left, guilt seeded itself in her heart, squeezing it with the force of a badger. She turned back with a remorseful look. I'll apologize when I get back, she decided, continuing on with her stroll.

While Greyleaf pondered about her parents had said, she let her paws go where they wished. Oddly enough, they decided to follow along the trail of moonlight, it's twisting track meandering through the woods. At the end of the path, she found herself at the place that she encountered the ShadowClan patrol.

The light-grey she-cat sat down and closed her eyes, embracing the calm of the night. She loved to take time alone with only her thoughts for company. It was a great way for her to get her mind off of the stress of clan life.

Greyleaf took in a deep breath of the night air and stiffened.

She wasn't alone.

A ShadowClan cat was nearby, the air was full of the stench of it. "Fox dung!" She swore, leaping to her feet.

She looked across the border. A pair of fiery amber eyes gazed upon her, but they did not look hostile. They looked, expecting.

"Who are you? Show yourself," Greyleaf demanded, crouching in a defensive stance, claws unsheathed and glinting in the moonlight.

To her amazement, the Shadowclan leader, Pinestar, emerged from the shadows.

Greyleaf hissed, convinced that this was a trick and that others were waiting to pounce on her from the shadows. She scented again, but all she could smell was the dark brown tom and herself.

Pinestar laughed, his voice strangely affectionate. As if he were here with a clan member who had just told him a joke, and not a warrior from a rival group.

For some unknown reason, Greyleaf felt that he wouldn't harm her. The feeling was like a warmth in her toes, stretching up her legs and into her heart. She felt like she knew this cat, but from where?

The Thunderclan cat straightened her stance but kept her guard up. Gut feeling were rarely the only things to rely on.

Her eyes scanned the trees for any eavesdroppers, and she scented the air again, just in case. They were still the only one's there.

"Why are you here?" She asked warily, claws still unsheathed.

His intense eyes found hers, and he replied smoothly, "I came here looking for you." Greyleaf opened her mouth to ask another question, but Pinestar cut her off. "Lets continue our conversation elsewhere. I know a place. Stay on your side of the border, though."

What does he mean by that? A voice inside her head told her that she should leave, but curiosity overruled instinct. And against her better judgment, she followed him.

The she-cat stayed across the border on their way, watching the strange leader's pelt slip skillfully through the darkness on the other side.

What does he want? Why did I follow him? These thoughts flared through her mind as she traveled along the path that Pinestar lead.

Greyleaf couldn't help but notice the way Pinestar moved, and it wasn't the way she would usually look at a ShadowClan cat. She should have noticed how he favored his right side and how she could take advantage of that in a fight, but, instead, she noticed how his powerful muscles rippled, how his stride was constant, and the patterned lines of his tabby pelt. He mesmerized Greyleaf, but she would never admit it.

Eventually, the long trail took her mind off of Pinestar, and on to how in Starclan she was going to get away with this?

Eventually, they were far away from the clan's territories, and they came to a stop at an old twoleg den. It was crumbling in places, and the roof was practically nonexistent, with only a few battered planks still in place.

"So," Greyleaf, turning to the queer tom, asked, "Why did you come looking for me?"