As the sun started to set, Fritz stepped into the elders' den. Much to his surprise, there were only four cats there, two of them bundled up together. The one that had to be Graystripe was isolated.

Everyone was resting silently, and as he opened his eyes after forcing them shut, a grey figure appeared in front of Brackenfur.

"What do you want?" he mewed. He was ignored. The sleek pelt walked up to a snoring Graystripe and it clawed gently on the ground to make the grass rustle.

Graystripe opened his eyes immediately and stared back at the stranger in befuddlement. Then, he sighed.

"Oh, it's you. From last night."

"Yes, I'm sorry to have interrupted then."

"You catch me in a better mood now." stretching his eyelids, smacking his lips "What was your name again?"

"Fritz."

"What brings you here, Fritz? Is Bramblestar concerned about something?"

"I had a long chat with Bramblestar just now, and as we spoke, something was brought up more and more, and it's Firestar."

Fritz saw the yellow eyes glimmer.

"And why is that?"

"He was the previous Clan leader, after all, but I learned that the cat who knows him the best here is you."

"You speak as if he were here."

Immaculate image, of the one life that is worth more than a grim sign, one cannot make out any destiny that isn't obstreperous and disastrous, reaching up to the impenetrable skies, crashing and spitting as it dissolves into dust, it's what he deserves, it's what we deserve for trying to stop him. Courageous rage. Courageous rage.

"It's not my intention. But well, how did you meet him?"

Graystripe gave a hearty giggle. Is he for real?

"It does not make me any more special for knowing him first, he was sent to us by a prophecy, a prophecy made cat. But I feel the great honour of having met him as a kittypet, a clueless, adorable, laughable kittypet!" He kept giggling. "I found him! I found him and that convinced Bluestar of taking him in. We weren't ready! Him, even less so!"

"He knew about his prophecy?"

"Only after he saved us. Bluestar, then Clan leader, went mad, and she refused to act as such. He had to take responsibility. He was her deputy, she chose him because she trusted no other cat, and named him without a...correctly timed ceremony. It was believed that tragedies befell on the Clan because of that, but that...that can be argued. And as a deputy, he lead us in a great attack against the big menace, a cat called Tigerstar. He got kicked out from here for being sort of suspicious. He looked like Bramblestar, big and burly, the broadest shoulders, tangled fur. Once he was an outcast, he looked like the purest embodiment of evil. He mentored me, actually. No, he was deputy, and he ordered me around. He trained one of my friends. Lionheart should have been deputy…"

"So Firestar…"

Graystripe only stared back awaiting the kittypet's finished comment. He nodded:

"Oh! Firestar planned an attack. He was Fireheart back then. Tigerstar had lured dogs into the old forest, and Fireheart managed to lure those into the river, and they drowned. With our help, but it was his idea. Bluestar even appeared to help us, completely unaware of the plan. She saved Fireheart in one last sacrifice. Without her, that would've been his end."

"You grew up with him in ThunderClan."

"Yes! Except when I was in RiverClan."

Fritz tilted his head. "Really?"

"I was never accepted as a RiverClan cat, but I lived with them for some time. That didn't make Fireheart happy. He didn't like it one bit. He told me not to. But I resisted, and had two beautiful kits there. I had to be there for them. And he was very comprehensive about it, he…" his mew got stuck in his throat "as much as he disapproved, he let me do it. He knew it'd be trouble." he sniffled, as his words were struggling to come out "It didn't seem wrong at all. But we lost her. And even if I meant so much trouble, he let me come back. He didn't have to…"

Graystripe buried his face in his front legs, and suppressed, hurtful meows were heard.

Fritz drew closer to him:

"Graystripe!"

"Why was I so…? Yes, I saved his life, but I pretended to be mad anyway! I was so wrong!"

"Kittypet!" Brackenfur hissed.

"It was an accident! I don't even remember his name, but he slipped!"

"Stand back, kittypet! Get out of here! Leave now!" Brackenfur yowled at the top of his lungs.

The lanky outsider was murmuring to his mentor's ear. He couldn't make out what he was saying.

"Graystripe, you are here, and that is all that matters now. You earned your forgiveness, you proved to be loyal and brave the moment you were given the chance. It's all right."

"I wish I could thank him again." Graystripe mumbled dryly.

I hear you, dear friend. As a grey cat, your muzzle turned white. You had so many adventures, that they don't fit in your head. You stand in front of Brackenfur, your apprentice, who you don't recognize. You don't know how to read or write. And I don't understand. You're abandoning this world without regret. You express so much love when you can't see me. It is not only me that waits for you.

"I admit I did not expect this conversation to take this turn. So you may choose, whether I should leave you alone, for now—"

"Speak louder, will you? If you do have any business to do, you shouldn't sound as if you had a vole in your gullet! If not, then scram! Tell Bramblestar we don't want you here."

"...or stay with you, in silent company."

Graystripe gulped and set his huge eyes on him.

"You are kind." he told him. "But it'd be better if you gave me some space."

Fritz dipped his head at the grey elder. He turned around and padded without hurry towards the entrance. He felt Brackenfur's glance on him, but he didn't turn back; not until he heard Graystripe's mew:

"You didn't do anything. Don't worry. It's not your fault."

Fritz tried to make eye contact from afar, as Graystripe held his head up, and for a moment pondered if he should take it personally.

Songs will be sung in your name when you join us. You will be welcome