Chapter 8 (G):

Graystripe paused at the edge of the forest with the rest of the cats. Before them stretched WindClan's moorland, soggy and wet and barren. ShadowClan paced restlessly and Blackstar was growling about wanting to leave. Despite many cats growing impatient, they all hesitated at the trees. They were torn between staying and leaving. The forest is all that they had ever known.

The cats huddled in small groups. Graystripe could see the queens standing beside one another, and Squirrelpaw stayed near them with Brambleclaw. A few RiverClan apprentices shivered in the cold, whispering quietly to one another. A ShadowClan warrior whispered to his friend in a grim tone.

"I want to go home!" Applekit cried out. Her fur was damp and her tiny paws slipped on the grass.

Ferncloud wrapped her tail around the she-kit and soothed her with hushed words.

As she spoke, a new she-cat arrived. It was a tawny-colored cat that Graystripe did not recognize, though the RiverClan warriors certainly did. As growls and open hostility rippled through most of the Clan cats, RiverClan sat without much reaction. Mothwing tore away from her Clanmates and bounded towards the she-cat, followed more slowly by Hawkfrost. The rest of RiverClan hung back and watched the three of them knowingly.

The tawny she-cat greeted the two RiverClan cats warmly. She brushed muzzles with Mothwing, then touched noses in greeting with Hawkfrost before padding closer to join RiverClan at the edge of the treeline. Graystripe narrowed his eyes at the exchange. Hawkfrost and Mothwing had seemed more than just friendly with this unknown cat.

Leopardstar dipped her head slightly in the she-cat's direction, "I didn't think we'd see you again," she meowed.

"Nor I you," The loner admitted. She did not dip her head as Clan cats would when addressing a leader. She instead spoke as though she was Leopardstar's equal. "I have come to ask Hawkfrost and Mothwing to leave RiverClan and come with me. I've seen what the Twolegs are doing to your homes. It is no longer safe for them to stay with you."

Mothwing looked at her paws, as though considering the thought. Hawkfrost's tail swished slowly as he too took in the loner's words. Graystripe watched with thoughtful confusion along with the rest of the Clans. Why would this she-cat be so worried about them?

Leafpaw pushed her way through the crowd to confront Mothwing. "I know things have been tough lately." She meowed, "But you wouldn't really go, would you?"

Mothwing blinked at her friend. She said nervously, "I-I don't know…"

"Your Clan needs you," Leafpaw told her, then twisted around to speak to Hawkfrost. "You wouldn't abandon your Clanmates, would you?"

"Of course not," Hawkfrost scoffed, turning his muzzle up and away proudly.

The loner's eyes narrowed however, her voice hardening. "You want them to stay? In spite of the fact that Tigerstar was their father?"

A wave of gasps and whispers rose from the gathered cats. Graystripe saw the shocked faces of RiverClan and he realized that they had no idea that their two Clanmates were related to Tigerstar, one of the most evil warriors in Clan history. Firestar had guessed of course, while seeing Hawkfrost and Brambleclaw stand beside one another, but it seemed as though the thought had somehow never crossed RiverClan's minds.

But Graystripe was surprised by a different aspect of her words. Was this cat, this loner, Hawkfrost and Mothwing's mother? Had Tigerstar broken the warrior code to take a mate outside of the four Clans? A bitter amusement rose in Graystripe. Well, at least she wasn't a kittypet.

A silence stretched before the Clans and Graystripe focused again on what was happening. RiverClan was learning the truth about Mothwing and Hawkfrost, and so were the rest of the Clans. Now here was this she-cat, asking two incredibly important members of RiverClan to leave and follow her instead. But because of the new information, RiverClan was looking at the duo with newly discovered distrust instead of beckoning them to stay.

That wasn't okay. They had never distrusted the duo in the past, at least from what Graystripe had seen. Hawkfrost and Mothwing had done nothing to deserve this scrutiny. They had not chosen to be Tigerstar's children any more than Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt had, and those two had more than proven their loyalty to their Clans.

Squirrelpaw spoke up now, from where she stood beside Brambleclaw. "Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt have proved time and time again that they are loyal to their Clans! Why should Mothwing or Hawkfrost be looked at any differently?"

Graystripe felt a flare of pride for the young she-cat. Though she was not his own daughter, she felt very close to it. He had watched her grow from a young kit, newly born in the nursery, to the hot-headed and outspoken she-cat she was today. He saw Sandstorm proudly looking at the apprentice beside him, and he could only wonder what Firestar might have felt if he could have heard her now.

He raised his voice in agreement. Though these were not ThunderClan matters, he knew better than to let another cat be wrongfully scrutinized by Tigerstar's doing. "Hawkfrost and Mothwing deserve to live here as much as any other cat." He began, and heads swiveled to look at him. "They weren't raised by Tigerstar, they were raised by RiverClan. There should be no doubt that they'll make loyal warriors." He tipped his head to Mothwing, "Or medicine cat."

There were some whispers at his words and Leopardstar lashed her tail. But thankfully the RiverClan leader seemed appreciative of his input, rather than angry. "ThunderClan is right. RiverClan needs all our warriors for the journey ahead of us. We certainly need our medicine cat too."

"But they're Tigerstar's kits!" Dawnflower hissed and glared outright at the leader.

"So what?" Squirrelpaw challenged. "That doesn't mean they can't be loyal! None of you doubted their loyalty until right now."

"Hawkfrost is one of our best warriors," Stormfur agreed. "And without Mothwing, we'll have no medicine cat."

Leopardstar turned to the pair. "Will you stay?" She asked.

"Of course," Hawkfrost answered at once, his eyes glinting at his Clan as though challenging them to speak against his words. "I would never desert my Clan."

Mothwing glanced at her mother, her ears twitching. "I have to stay with my Clan too," she mewed. "I'm their medicine cat now. They need me."

The tawny she-cat stiffened at their words, but nodded still. "You are lucky to have these cats, Leopardstar," she told the leader. "I wish you well on your journey." She brushed her pelt against her kits', then turned and padded back into the forest.

The littermates returned to their Clanmates' sides and there was a short moment of regrouping before the three Clans began to move. They padded along the border until WindClan came into sight. The WindClan cats were weary and extremely thin, but they stood as the others approached. The three Clans met the forth in silent acknowledgment.

"We're ready."

Tallstar's voice rang out among all four Clans. They were quiet, standing at the top of the hill with the rain falling around them. Each cat stood quietly as they took in the sight below. The once expansive moorland that would follow them all the way to the Thunderpath was now torn and muddy. The earth was bare and broken and ugly.

"Are there monsters?" Leopardstar asked, not able to take her eyes off of the scene before them. They had all traveled the length of the moorland in the past and remembered the beauty it had once held.

"Too many," Tallstar growled.

The cats began to set off down the hillside. Very soon, they reached the sucking mud and began to struggle. Graystripe's long fur was already weighed down by the soaking rain and the mud wasn't helping. In just heartbeats, he had mud beginning to clump in his belly fur. Each pawstep in the mud felt like a struggle, and he almost regretted leaving the shelter of the trees. But this was the only way to get to Highstones, he knew, and staying in the forest was no longer an option. Thankfully Cinderpelt's herbs seemed to have some effect on him, for he had enough energy to push on despite his soreness.

Graystripe was so focused on getting his paws to move forward that he was dimly aware of his surroundings. Cloudtail was beside him carrying Birchkit, the white warrior was struggling with his muddied long fur as well. Squirrelpaw, with her short legs, was finding it hard to keep up and Brambleclaw padded alongside her supportively. A WindClan elder lost his footing and slid sideways down the slope with a startled yowl, but his Clanmates helped him stand upright once more.

As the group struggled onwards, he heard Squirrelpaw gasp behind him, "How will we get past?" He looked up and saw what had surprised her. Huge yellow monsters dotted the horizon with Twolegs swarming around them. Now that he saw them, the stench of their fumes became obvious.

Tallstar, who had begun to lag behind in his weakened state, called ahead, "This is the safest place to get past!"

Two huge monsters thundered by. Their paws churned the earth and threw splattering mud into the air. Behind them lay a rocky outcrop, which stuck cleanly out of the mud.

"If we can make it that far, we'll be safe for a while," Mudclaw said, looking to the rocks as well. "The Twoleg monsters can't climb those."

But the Twolegs can. Graystripe did not speak his thoughts aloud. His heart pounded at the thought of braving the monsters and Twolegs. All he could see were more dead cats or his Clanmates being taken by the Twolegs to become kittypets. He found it hard to keep his fur laying flat. As terrifying as it was, this was their only chance. They had to take it.

"We can wait for the monsters to pass." He meowed for all to hear. "Then we'll run for the rocks." The cats crouched low as the monsters resumed on their path. As soon as the muddy stretch was clear, Graystripe gave a yowl and the cats bounded forward.

Graystripe stumbled through the mud after them. He gritted his teeth against his pain, his shoulder screaming out in protest. Dustpelt was at his side suddenly, helping him push onward and yowling at him to hurry. Together they reached the rock and Dustpelt shoved Graystripe up it first. He scrambled to his paws on the stone and backed up to let the other cats climb up too. Brambleclaw was helping pull Squirrelpaw onto the ledge, and Crowpaw was holding a kit out for Onewhisker to grab.

But there were still cats struggling in the mud. He could see Tawnypelt trying to free a RiverClan apprentice that was sinking to his shoulders. He knew at once that Leopardstar and Blackstar had given their calls later than he had.

A yowling Twoleg caught his attention however, and he whipped around to see the creature running unsteadily towards them with waving arms. The monsters turned at the call, and the yellow creatures thundered towards the cats.

"We have to help them!" Brambleclaw gasped. Before Graystripe could respond, the tabby was already leaping down from the rocks and many cats sprang to follow. Graystripe leaped down as well, but his leg buckled under him in an explosion of fresh pain as he landed and he slid clumsily in the mud. He looked up to see that Stormfur and Squirrelpaw had shot past him to help instead. Burning with frustration at not being able to help, Graystripe climbed back to safety instead. There was no point in putting himself in danger too if he wasn't strong enough to do any good.

He crouched and watched as Brambleclaw grasped the struggling RiverClan apprentice by their scruff and hauled them from the mud. Stormfur was doing the same with another apprentice and Squirrelpaw was helping lead them towards the rocks.

"My kit!" Dawnflower screeched as her young son fled blindly into the path of a monster. Crowpaw was already diving for the kit. "I'll get him!" He yowled as he sprang. In just a couple of heartbeats, Crowpaw was returning to safety with the kit mewling in his jaws.

"Someone help Nightwing!" He shouted through a mouthful of fur as he spotted the tired ShadowClan warrior lagging behind the others. Squirrelpaw doubled back at his cry and helped support the she-cat as they limped towards the rocks. They reached the outcrop together, where they collapsed panting.

"Is everyone okay?" Leopardstar's voice rose above the noise, but few cats responded. They were all staring with horror at the monsters that rumbled past where they had been struggling just a moment before.

"Are you okay, Graystripe?" Cinderpelt was beside him, using her nose to sense the pain in his shoulder. "Do you need more herbs? I have a few pawfuls left."

"No," he waved her off with his tail. He forced himself to stand up and take in the cats around him. Dawnflower was smoothing her fearful kits with fierce licks, and Tallstar had collapsed once more. Blackstar looked too winded to speak, and Shrewpaw was trembling beside his brother, but no one looked hurt or missing.

The Clans rested against the rocks for a long moment. No one wanted to brave the next stretch of muddy land. Eventually though, it was Tallstar who spoke up.

"We must travel as one group." He meowed. "Or else one of us will fall behind."

Blackstar did not agree though. "We will not travel as one group." His voice was firm and demanding. "We each have a cat who has traveled this journey. We can each travel alone."

Graystripe saw Bramblclaw's pelt bristle. "But ShadowClan and RiverClan would have been hurt if it wasn't for us." He argued, pulling away from the conversation he was having with Tawnypelt and Stormfur. "We don't have to be one group, but we must stick together to survive. That is how we survived our journey, and it is how the Clans must too."

Blackstar growled at the defying warrior but turned to look at their next obstacle instead. "Is everyone ready?" He called and the cats pulled themselves to their paws. They clustered in small groups or pairs, and Graystripe realized that those who had traveled to the sun-drown-place were setting themselves on the outside of the group to keep a lookout. He was thankful for their extra eyes.

Blackstar gave the command to charge, and Graystripe called his own with Leopardstar and Mudclaw just a heartbeat behind. The cats moved through the mud swiftly but then slowed to an agonizing crawl as they neared the next cluster of working monsters. The monsters were not yet aware of the approaching cats.

But then barking filled the air, and Graystripe whipped around to see a dog streaking towards them.

"Dog!" Leopardstar gasped.

"Run!" Blackstar commanded and the cats burst into action. Graystripe yowled for them to help the kits and elders first. In his haste to help Ferncloud with her three kits, he saw Brambleclaw tear away from the group with Tawnypelt and Crowpaw behind him.

What are they doing? Graystripe watched in terror as Brambleclaw bounded towards the dog head on while Tawnypelt and Crowpaw attacked it from both sides. He only got to watch for a few heartbeats though, as the panicking cats around him jostled him back to the present. The other cats were shoving him or brushing past him in an effort to reach solid ground.

He turned with them and struggled towards the land. As he reached the barren but solid ground, he released Toadkit and turned to watch what was happening below them. The dog was chasing Tawnypelt now as Brambleclaw had jumped out of reach of the snapping jaws. Crowpaw streaked by however, and grabbed the dog's attention by bounding dangerously close.

The dog changed targets and Crowpaw spun on his hind legs in an effort to bring the dog close to the Twolegs. A Twoleg reached out and snagged the dog by its collar. The dog barked and growled as the Twolegs tried to restrain it, but Crowpaw was able to race away swiftly and rejoin Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt as they returned to their Clanmates.

Squirrelpaw and Stormfur were helping the last elders make it to the top of the rise that Graystripe stood upon, and to his relief he saw that all of the cats had made it safely and that no cat had gotten seriously hurt. He turned and weaved his way among the cats until he was standing at the edge of the group.

"Where do we go next?" He heard a panting ShadowClan warrior ask.

"We need to keep moving. The Twolegs can still see us here." A RiverClan she-cat agreed.

He looked outward at where the next part of their journey would take them, and he knew at once where he wanted to go. Ravenpaw's barn stuck out among the barren stretch of land, and Graystripe thought greedily of the warm shelter and the plump mice. The barn would be a haven for the four Clans, a place to rest and recover before continuing. And Ravenpaw and Barley would be there, friendly and welcoming after all of the hostility that the four Clans had faced. His paws itched to set off again.

I'm not too happy with this chapter, but there wasn't much I could do to fix it. I both wanted to skip and include Sasha's scene, but in the end left it in. Even if this story isn't going to be focusing on Squirrelflight/Brambleclaw's point of view, Hawkfrost and Mothwing are still important cats and this is an important realization to the Clans. To make up for the short chapter that this was, I went back and added an allegiances section before the prologue. (The only thing this messes up is that all of the reviews are off by a chapter now, but oh well.) I felt that I should because I'll be updating the allegiances as I go. Eventually, around chapter 24 or so I'll be posting the second allegiances. I also relabeled the chapters on the drop-down list so that it is easier to see POVs.

Brownieboy- I plan on giving Firestar his own challenges when returning to ThunderClan. Graystripe will also have unique challenges while leading ThunderClan. I've had my stories in the past where I follow the plotline chapter by chapter, but I really want to challenge myself and not do that. They are not the same cat, so they will not make the same choices and won't meet the same characters. I have about 24 chapters written already. I won't give away anything too big, but I will say that there is a big enough change coming that we'll need a new allegiances list!

Thank you all for reading. Don't forget to leave your thoughts in the reviews!