A/N: I don't have the patience to reread Firestar's Quest, so forgive me if the route they take back to ThunderClan's territory is inaccurate.


Graystripe knew Cherrytail and Rockfall were feeling a bit apprehensive in leaving their home after being a part of SkyClan for so long. But he felt touched at their determination to help him find ThunderClan once more.

He straightened his shoulders and nodded swiftly to the Clan below him before bunching his muscles together and hopping off of the fallen tree and out into the area of SkyClan territory devoted to hunting. He stood tall and proud, sure of himself now that he had two Clan companions and had a firm route back to ThunderClan. Firestar and Sandstorm had followed RiverClan's river through WindClan territory and up to the gorge where they rebuilt SkyClan. He knew that this river would lead back home.

After a few moments, Cherrytail and Rockfall appeared behind, strong and prepared for the journey laid out before them. Graystripe turned to the SkyClan cats.

"Firestar and Sandstorm followed this river to get here," he explained. "I'm sure if we follow it now, we'll reach the forest Clans."

Cherrytail nodded with fortitude. She trudged on through the undergrowth, keeping as close to the river as possible.

Graystripe padded silently along with Rockfall as Cherrytail took the lead. It shouldn't have been that hard to follow a river, so he let her take the lead. He stayed behind and talked calmly to the black warrior.

"How long have you been a warrior? I know Firestar mentioned that you were a kit in SkyClan," Graystripe asked, starting some awkward conversation.

Rockfall chuckled lightly. "I've been a warrior for some moons now," he meowed. "It's been great serving SkyClan. I know you were surprised when you figured out that there were three more Clans in the gorge…"

Graystripe laughed gently. "Definitely."

Rockfall let his tail fall slightly as he glanced up at Cherrytail.

"What's wrong?" Graystripe asked him, noticing his uneasiness.

Rockfall sighed. "Cherrytail is very sad in leaving Sparrowpelt to care for Featherpaw by himself," the black tom murmured. "Featherpaw isn't even his daughter! The GroundClan queen, Puddlefoot is. When Leafstar found out that Echosong's first medicine cat apprentice, Ivoryclaw, was having kits, she demoted her. At the time, Puddlefoot was resting in SkyClan after the first battle with GroundClan. She was against Sharpstar's rule. She had had her kits in SkyClan, and gave Featherpaw to us to be Echosong's new apprentice."

Graystripe whistled. "At least everything's working out now," he mumbled. He cast a glance at Cherrytail, whose tail was parallel to the ground and shoulders hunched with concentration. "She seemed determined not to let Sparrowpelt's worries get to her."

Rockfall nodded. "That's why I'm concerned," he mewed. "She's been a warrior longer than most of us, but she's very headstrong, and won't let anything frustrate her easily. To see her frustrated this much worries me."

Graystripe couldn't deny that Cherrytail was headstrong. She seemed so guilty that it was her fault Graystripe was alarmed at the new Clans and wanted to make up for it by leaving her Clan to help him. All of a sudden, Graystripe felt a new admiration to the fiery tortoiseshell.

"We're coming up to the StreamClan border," Cherrytail called behind her shoulder. "Hopefully Batstar will let us cross safely."

"Batstar said that StreamClan's camp was in the branch of the gorge," Rockfall meowed. He turned to Graystripe. "Did Firestar follow the branch?"

At first, the grey ThunderClan deputy had no idea what Rockfall was talking about. But as he looked ahead, he saw what the two cats meant. There was a branch in the gorge where the river flowed, and a small stream cut off.

Graystripe sighed.

"I think you said Firestar followed the river," Cherrytail mewed. "I think we should avoid StreamClan's camp and head down the river."

Graystripe nodded. Why hadn't he thought of that?

Of course, Graystripe hadn't expected to travel through the grassy territory unseen. He knew a patrol would show up sooner or later, since the new Clans were very cautious with each other.

"SkyClan…" came a hiss from underneath a bramble thicket. Graystripe dropped to a crouch and hissed wordlessly.

"Cherrytail?"

The tortoiseshell she-cat crept forward until she nosed the StreamClan patrol out of the thicket. A flame-coloured tom that reminded Graystripe very much of his leader stepped out of the brambles and touched noses with Cherrytail.

"Hello, Flamestone," Cherrytail mewed warmly. Three more cats padded out behind Flamestone: two warriors and an apprentice.

Cherrytail blinked at the dark grey she-cat and brown tabby tom. "Hello, Twilighteye, Hawkflight" she meowed.

"I don't get a hello?" the small, dark ginger apprentice mewed. He was large for an apprentice, and Graystripe suspected that he'd be made a warrior soon.

Cherrytail chuckled. "Hello, Foxpaw," she meowed. "Last time I saw you, you were just beginning your training. How's your mother doing as a medicine cat?"

Graystripe's ears twitched. Mother? Medicine cat?

"She's doing great!" Foxpaw mewed cheerily. He turned to Flamestone. "Isn't she?"

Flamestone nodded, his green eyes glowing in pride. "Your mother's doing fine." Graystripe also noticed sorrow in the ginger warrior's eyes, and he guessed that he was Foxpaw's father.

That meant he was the medicine cat's mate.

"Hold the prey," Graystripe interrupted the reunion, stepping in front of Flamestone and Cherrytail. "Are you Foxpaw's father?"

Flamestone nodded in puzzlement. "Yes…"

"And what's your medicine cat's name?"

"Missingfoot," Twilighteye meowed.

"Missingfoot. She's your mate?" Graystripe asked Flamestone.

The ginger warrior dipped his head in embarrassment.

"Great StarClan!" Graystripe exclaimed. How many more ways could these cats break the warrior code? "Are you all mouse-brains? Medicine cats can't have mates or kits!"

Flamestone shot Graystripe a stern look. "StreamClan couldn't just pull a cat out of the air without kits! Almost every cat in the Ground Rogues had kits. Missingfoot was the only cat willing to take on the role of a medicine cat." Flamestone paused and sighed. "Don't worry. We're no longer mates."

Graystripe's hackles lowered, and he felt sympathy for the ginger tom. It must've been hard trying to stop loving Missingfoot so she could be a medicine cat.

"What are you doing here anyway?" Twilighteye asked. "You shouldn't be on StreamClan territory."

Rockfall stepped up to answer. "Graystripe, as you know, is a ThunderClan cat. We're going to find his home."

Flamestone nodded to the grey deputy. "Good luck," he meowed. "May StarClan go with you."

Graystripe nodded to the StreamClan patrol and the cats set off again, down the bend in the gorge and following the river.


"Are you sure we're going the right way?"

Graystripe looked up from the undergrowth and glanced at Rockfall, whose tail was trailing in the earth as he padded along wearily.

"Graystripe, we've been following the river for some time now," Cherrytail added. "I think we're coming up on Tangle's den sometime soon."

"Tangle?" Graystripe echoed.

"A crazy tabby Firestar tried to convince to join SkyClan," Rockfall meowed. "He lives near Leafstar's old den when she was a rogue."

Graystripe kept his senses alert for any cat-scent besides the SkyClan cats, but he didn't smell anything. "Are you sure Tangle is still here?"

"He was kind of old when Firestar met him," Cherrytail put in. "He could've moved, or even died."

Graystripe nodded and trudged on.

"Graystripe…" Cherrytail stammered. "Do you think we could stop and rest for a while? Maybe we could hunt."

Graystripe stopped and blinked at the two exhausted-looking SkyClan cats. He was so confident in finding ThunderClan again that he had been full to the brim with adrenaline. He never stopped to think that the others would be tired.

"Er, sure," he mumbled, stopping and sniffing the air. "Rockfall, how tire are you?"

The black warrior laughed without trying to stop. "Okay, I'll let you and Cherrytail hunt alone."

Graystripe felt his ears burn with embarrassment. He glanced at Cherrytail, who was looking down, a soft purr rising from her throat.

As Rockfall disappeared behind some clumps of bracken, Cherrytail padded up to Graystripe. "Let's go," she mewed, and the two set off in the forested area.

Not long after, Graystripe and Cherrytail returned, fresh-kill in their jaws. Graystripe had caught a water vole for himself, while Cherrytail had showed off her fishing skills and caught a fish from the river.

"Where's Rockfall?" Cherrytail asked, setting down her fish.

"Probably still hunting," Graystripe suggested. He tucked into his water vole without hesitation, watching out of the corner of his eye as Cherrytail nervously nibbled on her fish. "I'm sure he's fine," Graystripe added with a reassuring flick of his tail on her ear. "We weren't gone that long."

Cherrytail nodded and chewed thoughtfully on her fresh-kill.

Graystripe…

Graystripe looked up. The familiar voice made his ears prickle with anticipation and eagerness.

…Silverstream?

Guilt suddenly pricked at Graystripe's senses. He glanced at Cherrytail beside him, looking fondly at him. "What?" she asked.

"Nothing," he replied, gazing around in wonder. Was Silverstream angry with him for wanting to be with another cat?

Graystripe, look out for the lost warrior, Silverstream's voice whispered. He's troubled…

"Silverstream!" Graystripe mewed aloud. He got to his paws and looked around wildly.

"Graystripe!"

Cherrytail was on her feet as well. "Graystripe, what's wrong?"

Graystripe looked at the tortoiseshell she-cat. There was genuine concern in her pale eyes as she gazed at him. Guilt pricked him again, and he quickly shoved Silverstream's words out of his head. He could never forget her, but her words were too cold to listen to again.

"Nothing," he assured Cherrytail, resting his tail on her flank. "Just, er…daydreaming."

As he settled back down to munch on his food, Cherrytail brought up the question he was afraid she'd ask.

"Who's Silverstream?"

"Er…" Graystripe stuttered. "She was a RiverClan cat back in the forest."

"Was?"

Graystripe sighed. He didn't know how to tell Cherrytail about his deceased mate, but he had to face the fact that he'd have to eventually. "Might as well tell you now…" He inhaled deeply and gazed into Cherrytail's golden eyes with his own amber eyes. "Cherrytail, Silverstream was my mate. She died giving birth to my kits, Stormfur and Feathertail. Feathertail is dead, but Stormfur is still alive in RiverClan."

Cherrytail's expression was unreadable, and Graystripe only feared the worst. After a few moments, her golden eyes started to cloud with uncertainty, and hurt.

"Cherrytail, I—"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Cherrytail interrupted, her voice shaky with melancholy. "You could've said that you had kits. Some friend you are!"

"Cherrytail!" Graystripe yowled as the she-cat got to her paws and stormed off through the undergrowth. "Cherrytail, wait!" Graystripe hurried up to her, catching her before she disappeared again. "Cherrytail, I didn't want to tell you because I thought you'd think different of me."

"Well, I think different of you now!" Cherrytail snapped, leering at him from behind a fern frond. "I can't believe you wouldn't tell me of your children!"

"Cherrytail, Silverstream is dead now!" But as Graystripe spoke the words, he could almost feel the brush of his beautiful mate's silver fur on his flank, comforting him. "I have to move on don't I?" The words rushed out of him, and he instantly regretted saying them, because Silverstream's wonder scent vanished immediately.

Cherrytail wasn't bought. She scowled angrily and trudged back to her fish, lashing her tail in hints of frustration.

"Graystripe! Cherrytail!" Graystripe's ears pricked as he heard Rockfall's voice calling through the crisp newleaf air. He hurried back to the small clearing beside the river where Cherrytail finished eating. Rockfall burst into the clearing, dropping a few pieces of fresh-kill on the ground in a rush.

"What is it?" Graystripe asked, since Cherrytail was clearly at a loss for words at the moment.

Rockfall panted heavily. "It's the gorge," he meowed. "It just ends!"