Chapter 2-Exploring New Surroundings

Graystripe awoke to the morning sun streaking his eyes. He opened his eyes and saw Autumn was gone. By his other side was an above ground hole with little pellets in it (bowl and cat food). Graystripe was drawn by the scent of it.

"That food it for you." Said a voice. When Graystripe turn around he saw Autumn. "It doesn't taste as bad as it looks. I've been eating it my whole life. Kyle said that it had all the nutrients a cat needs to survive in it. Try it." Graystripe cautiously took a nibble at the food. It tasted of nothing he had hunted before, although it did remind him of a rabbit.

"I guess it isn't that bad, but where can I hunt?"

"You can't"

"What?"

"We are only allowed outside until the fence. We can't get over the fence, besides nothing ever comes in there anyway. Birds know not to and rabbits are too fast."

"What about mice?"

"The neighborhood is mouse-free. The exterminators made sure of it."

"Great." Graystripe sighed and decided to change the subject, "So, Autumn, have you been a kittypet your whole life?"

"Kittypet?"

"A cat who live with Twolegs."

"Twolegs, you mean the Palepelts? Yeah."

"Palepelts, I guess. Where I come from we call them Twolegs."

"So, Winter, where do you come from?"

"Ok, first of all, I already have a name. It's Graystripe. I came from the forest."

"There was a forest where we used to live before we moved."

"I think that's the one. The Twol...I mean Palepelts were destroying it and my clan was dying."

"Your clan?"

"Thunderclan. I've lived with them since I was a kit. I was trained to hunt prey and fight enemies and obey the warrior code."

"Warrior code? I think I remember Princess talking about a 'warrior code' before."

'Princess, Firestar's sister?"

"Firestar...I remember that name. Yes."

"Firestar is leader of my clan."

"Princess also told me that he used to be a house cat."

"He did. His name was Rusty."

"Rusty? That was my owners' old cat."

"I know. He mentioned seeing you once before."

"Anyway, tall me more about this 'warrior code' and your 'clan life.'" Graystripe told Autumn all about his old life. Graystripe and Autumn talked for many hours. Graystripe told her all about his apprenticeship and friendship with Firestar and how many times they got in and out of fatal situations. Graystripe also found out a little about Autumn. Apparently her mother is Princess, so she is Cloudtail's sister. "Your life sounds very exciting Win...I mean Graystripe. Being deputy and all. I've never met Firestar but the way you describe him, he sounds like a true friend."

"He is."

"I want you to meet one of my good friends. He told me that he helped a few cats from the forest earlier this season. I want you to meet Purdy."

"Alright," Autumn showed Graystripe where Purdy lived.

"We will have to wait until he come out though." Stated Autumn.

"Why?"

"I told you, we can't get over this fence."

"Yeah we can. Watch," Graystripe bunched his muscles and jumped on top of the fence with ease.

"How do you do that?"

"I guess it comes from pouncing on prey and enemies all the time. Listen...just crouch down real low, and put all your energy into using your hind legs to spring up."

"Are you sure it will work?"

"Almost positive.

"Almost?"

"We'll this is your first try so don't expect to get up here right away. Just follow my instructions."

"Ok Graystripe, I trust you." Autumn did exactly what Graystripe told her but when she jumped she came up a little short. Graystripe quickly grabbed her scruff and pulled her up to the top of the fence. "Thanks." Autumn gave Graystripe a quick lick on his ear. Graystripe and Autumn jumped to the other side and walked across to street to Purdy's house. "Hey Purdy."

"Hey Autumn, how's your friend?"

"This is Graystripe. Your remember those cats your were showing around earlier this season."

"Oh yeah, that old badger told them to go home through the mountains instead of letting me take then through here."

"Well, Graystripe knows them."

"Graystripe, did they get home ok?"

"On of the travelers, Feathertail, she died protecting the Tribes in the mountains. Feathertail was my daughter. Brambleclaw and Squirrelpaw said that she is respected in both Starclan and the Tribe of Endless Sleep, the Tribes ancestors."

"Oh, well they should have taken my way."

"It was her destiny, Purdy."

"I don't believe in that stuff."

"Well I do."

"Wait..." Autumn interrupted, "...you said Feathertail was your daughter. But how?"

"Well, after I became a warrior, I met a Riverclan queen and I fell in love with her."

"And her name?"

"Her name was Silverstream. She was Crookedstar's daughter. Crookedstar was the old leader of Riverclan. When I found out she was pregnant I was overjoyed. One day she was coming to find me but when she crossed the river separating our territory, she went into labor. She died giving birth. Feathertail and Stormfur were her kits. I miss her so much. She was the she-cat for me."

"Graystripe, stop dwelling on the past and look at what you've got in front of you."

"What? My friends and what's left of my family is back in a destroyed forest. Unless they moved, in that case, I have no idea where they are."

"You've got me! You've got a family here! You've got Kyle, Hannah, and Lisa."

"I know. I just miss everyone so much."

"It's understandable Graystripe. Just don't ignore what you've got right now."

"I know. I still miss it all. Hunting with my friends, sleeping under the watchful eyes of Starclan, running into battle with my clan."

"You can find everything to suit you here. Come on, how about you show me how to catch rabbit in our yard."

Graystripe smiled, "Alright. Now...rabbits are very fast..." he started, "Oh yeah! We'll see you later Purdy."

"See ya later!"

"Right! Ok, as I was saying, Rabbit are very fast and have very acute hearing, so you need to get as close as possible so it doesn't have a chance to get away. Even the clans' fastest runner, couldn't outrun a rabbit." Graystripe and Autumn spent the rest of the day chasing rabbits together.

"Oh...I almost forget to tell you," Autumn stated, "In about two seasons, we are going to the lake! There is a forest full of prey there and a gigantic lake. I'm sure you'll feel right at home there. Lisa likes to ride the horses threw the forest and swim in the lake. We always stay at a cottage in the middle of the woods."

"I can't wait!"

"Graystripe?"

"Yeah?"

"About Silverstream...did...well do you think she was 'the one' for you?"

"Yeah."

"Do you think that there could be more the one for you?"

"Maybe."

"Well I was just wondering."

"Uh...ok."

"And, uh sorry for being mean when we first met. I was a being a dog."

"A what?"

"A dog. You know big teeth, never shut up?"

"No, I know what a dog is, we, well my clan actually had to get rid of a pack of them before. It was before Firestar became leader, but I will tell you about that later. Why would you compare yourself to a dog? Dogs are mean and ugly."

"I was being mean."

"But not ugly."

"You think I'm pretty?"

"No."

"Oh."

"I think you're beautiful."

"Thanks Graystripe. You're handsome too."

"Thanks Autumn." Graystripe let out a little chuckle.

"What?"

"Nothing. It's just...I was remembering Firestar and Sandstorm. They love each other and have two kits of their own. Leafpaw and Squirrelpaw. When Sandstorm had her kits, I kind of envied her and Firestar because she didn't die like Silverstream."

"We'll if you really believe in Starclan then you know that she and Feathertail are watching over you right."

"Yeah but..."

"Autumn! Winter!"

"We had better go. They'll lock us out if we don't"

"Yeah." Graystripe hung his tail and head down. He looked at the moon rising and it reminded him of how Silverstream looked like the moon when her pelt was wet.

"Graystripe!"

"Coming." Graystripe went inside and fell asleep in his bed. He was soon over come by a dream.