Chapter 13 (G):

Graystripe was grateful when the hunting patrols were sorted and he was finally allowed to walk away from the meeting. Unfortunately, his responsibilities didn't stop there. Though the Clans had finally found a chance to rest, Graystripe was still looking after the cats around him. He spoke with the queens and elders, watched after kits, went out on hunting patrols, and spoke with the other leaders. He even made time to check in with Tallstar, who seemed to appreciate his concern.

He balanced all of this for two more days, occasionally looking out across the lake as he waited for the exploratory patrol to return home. He was sharing some words with Dustpelt and Thornclaw when Brambleclaw and the others finally arrived.

"Oh, they're back," Thornclaw had caught sight of them first, looking over Graystripe's shoulder at the treeline.

"What?" Graystripe looked behind him, spotting the patrol emerging from the undergrowth. He felt relieved to see that they all appeared in good health and spirits. Nothing too bad had happened during their adventure.

It seemed as though Blackstar had spotted their arrival too, for he was leaping onto the tree stump and calling the cats together at once. "Cats of all Clans! Gather around!"

It was early morning on the third day since they'd left, so many of the cats weren't awake yet. There were yawns and stretching from all around as the four Clans came to gather in the morning light. Mudclaw pushed his way through his Clanmates and joined Blackstar on the stump, forcing Leopardstar to sit on the ground again. Graystripe padded over to join them, taking up his normal spot across from Leopardstar.

Leopardstar nodded to the arriving patrol, "How did it go?" she asked, "Did you run into any trouble?"

"Nothing we couldn't handle," Brambleclaw replied. He glanced at Squirrelpaw and Garystripe knew something had happened while they were gone.

"Brambleclaw," Graystripe began, "Why don't you tell us what you have found?"

"Of course," Brambleclaw said. He wove his way through the crowd to join Blackstar and Mudclaw atop the stump. It was a tight squeeze, and his flank brushed against Blackstar's as he shuffled around to face the cats below. The ShadowClan leader drew away with a hiss but Brambleclaw paid him no attention. The tabby warrior hesitated in front of the four Clans, looking almost at a loss for words.

Dustpelt was still standing beside Thornclaw, and his voice rose impatiently. "Get on with it, Brambleclaw! Tell us what you found."

Brambleclaw still seemed to be gathering his thoughts, not yet ready to speak. A twinge of worry entered Graystripe's stomach. Had the lake not been the right home for them? He had thought that the five of them had looked in fairly good spirits. He couldn't help but wonder if they were trying to hide something from the Clans.

But Brambleclaw shared good news. He described a landscape that was perfect for each of the Clans, held prey, and had places that would make for good camps. There may be a concern of Twolegs during greenleaf, he admitted, but was otherwise optimistic of their new home. There was some talk of borders, as spurred on by Blackstar, but Brambleclaw preferred for each of the four representatives to discuss these with their Clan leaders independently about that.

As he dropped down from the stump, the rest of the cats seemed to take this as a dismissal too. They broke up into smaller groups, talking and whispering with one another as they imagined with a mixture of excitement and bitterness about the new territories before them.

Graystripe nodded neutrally to the other leaders before joining his Clanmates to listen as Squirrelpaw told them all of her findings. She described to them a big stone hollow with enough space to make dens in and even have a training area.

"Is this hollow empty?" Dustpelt asked. Ferncloud was crouched near him with Birchkit too, the young tom too excited to sit still for long. "It would be just like you, Squirrelpaw, to expect us to camp in a badger's set."

Squirrelpaw's tail curled up indignantly. "Dustpelt, I promise I'll eat any badgers you find in there. Foxes, too. We didn't scent anything like that."

"I think it sounds great." Brightheart stepped up to Squirrelpaw and pressed her muzzle against the younger warrior's side. "How did you find it?"

"I… well, I fell into it," Squirrelpaw admitted.

Cloudtail let out a snort of laughter. "Why doesn't that surprise me?"

Graystripe stepped forward and ran his tail soothingly along the she-cat's spine. "You did great finding it, Squirrelpaw. I'm sure it's as great as you say it is. When we have the chance I'll-"

"Cats of all Clans!" A yowl interrupted him. Graystripe turned to see that Cinderpelt had climbed onto the stump. She signaled with her tail for silence, and the excited voices gradually died away. "Before we separate and go into our own territories," she began, "we must decide where we're going to hold the next Gathering. StarClan will expect us to meet together when full moon comes."

"But where?" asked Russetfur. "Did the patrols find anywhere like Fourtrees?"

The gathered cats looked to those who had explored the lake. Brambleclaw was the one who spoke. He told them, "We didn't find any place that looked fit for Gatherings. But we didn't have enough time to explore everywhere either."

"StarClan will show us a place," Littlecloud spoke up from where he was sitting beside Russetfur and Blackstar. "They might have shown us already."

Mothwing sprang to her paws, her blue eyes shining. She began to describe the island close to the shore of the lake. "It's safe, sheltered, and not too far away. Perfect for Gatherings," she finished.

"But we'd have to swim to get there!" The protest came from Mousefur. "I'm not swimming in that lake every full moon, not if StarClan themselves come down and beg me."

"And what about the elders?" croaked Runningnose, the former ShadowClan medicine cat. A chorus of agreement rose up.

Graystripe looked around at all of the cats yowling their thoughts and had to agree with them. Though Mothwing had had a good idea of where to host the Gatherings, he doubted that every cat could reach the island. Couldn't they just all agree to meet here, on this hillside, for the first Gathering?

Hawkfrost padded over to stand next to Mothwing. Dipping his head politely to Cinderpelt, he meowed, "May I suggest that I take a patrol of RiverClan cats to explore the island more fully? If the Clans can't use it for Gatherings, it sounds like the ideal place for the RiverClan camp."

There was a short spat between Stormfur and Hawkfrost. Stormfur insisted that he had found a better camp during their exploration and that the island wasn't right for RiverClan but Hawkfrost refused to accept it.

Stormfur's lip curled at Hawkfrost's words, but Leopardstar was already ending the argument. "Enough of this. I trust that Stormfur has considered where RiverClan's home will be with caution. That being said, it doesn't hurt to keep exploring. Hawkfrost, you can take a patrol to the island if you wish," Leopardstar flicked her tail to the warrior. "We'll make a decision about where to site the camp when you come back."

"Of course, Leopardstar," Hawkfrost meowed, dipping his head. "I'll pick some other cats and leave as soon as we are ready." He stepped back and was instantly surrounded by his Clanmates, all clamoring to come with him to the island.

Cinderpelt called for silence again. "So," she meowed, "where shall we meet for the next Gathering?"

Graystripe hesitated to say his own suggestion, but it didn't matter because Blackstar seemed to have come to the same conclusion. "We'll have to meet here, on the hillside again." The ShadowClan leader decided. Mudclaw began to protest, but Blackstar ignored him and added. "We've been here for two days and nights now, and we haven't had so much as a sniff of a Twoleg. We will be safe for another night."

Mudclaw lashed his tail but didn't say much else. The ShadowClan leader dismissed the cats below him and the crows began to slip back into their small groups, discussing the new events.

Graystripe called Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw to the side with a couple of senior warriors to discuss their new territory. He asked Brackenfur to take over organizing hunting patrols while they talked and the golden warrior agreed, more than happy to have a task.

As Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw expanded on what they had discovered, Graystripe found himself a little disappointed by what little they had to say. Dustpelt voiced his doubt too, but the duo insisted that the territory was full of prey and that the camp would be well guarded. Squirrelpaw looked a little offended by her mentor's disbelief. Brambleclaw and her were soon pulled away however, to go and speak with the other cats who had been part of the patrol and Graystripe was left once again to tend to his responsibilities.

By the time that day came to an end, Graystripe was more than ready for sleep. The moon was high in the sky and Graystripe was finally settling himself in a nest of leaves among his Clanmates when, unfortunately, he was called for again. But rather than a fretful queen or a hungry elder, it was Barkface who found him.

"Graystripe," the old WindClan medicine cat said in a hushed voice. "Tallstar wants to speak with you."

A jolt of alarm shot through him. He had hardly seen Tallstar at all in the last few days. The old leader had been hidden safely from the open hillside underneath a gorse bush, where he was constantly monitored by his medicine cat and rotating warriors. Has his condition worsened?

"I'll be right there," Graystripe said and gave his chest a few licks. He hopped out of his makeshift nest and began to follow Barkface over to where Tallstar was staying. He ducked under the bush and paused there, letting his eyes adjust to the gloom.

Tallstar was alone in the small space. He looked frailer than ever now, his chest heaving with the effort of each individual breath. The faint moonlight filtering through the leaves lit his dull pelt, revealing patches of missing fur. Graystripe had to bite his tongue to stop himself from grimacing at just the effort Tallstar had to put in to lift his head off of his paws. But to his astonishment, despite the tiredness and pain that Tallstar was enduring, his eyes still shone with the power of StarClan.

"Graystripe," he croaked. "I must thank you. You have saved my Clan."

"Tallstar…" Graystripe began, not really knowing what to say or how to feel. "You should be thanking Firestar, not me."

"Nonsense," Tallstar said before he broke into a bout of wheezing coughs. His flanks convulsed with the effort and he was left panting for a long moment after. "What would Firestar have been without you by his side? You were with Firestar as WindClan returned to their home, and you were at his side every battle after that. I-" he coughed again, "I want to thank Firestar, but I also want to thank you. You have a long journey ahead of you still, and many challenges to overcome. I can sense a great change coming. I want you to know, Graystripe, that I wish you well as the leader of ThunderClan."

Graystripe flinched back at Tallstar's words. "Wait," he began hurriedly. "I'm not going to be the leader of ThunderClan. Firestar is still the leader."

Tallstar's peaceful eyes met his own with a look of calm understanding, strikingly different from the panic rising in Graystripe's chest. "Whatever choice you make, I am sure that you'll guide your Clan well."

Tallstar wheezed again and Graystripe couldn't stand there any longer. "I'll get Barkface back in here," he said and began to back out of the bush.

"No. Nothing… any medicine cat can do for me now. There's something important I have to say," Tallstar said before he could leave. "Where's Onewhisker?"

"I'll have someone find him," Graystripe promised quickly and ducked out of the den. To his dismay, the Barkface wasn't waiting outside of the bush. "Brambleclaw!" he called a little louder than necessary. He had spotted the warrior a short distance away.

Brambleclaw, having been half asleep in his nest, jumped up and spun around. A couple of other warriors lifted their heads too, blinking sleepily around before laying their heads back on their paws.

Graystripe lowered his voice a little, "Go and find Onewhisker for me. Tallstar wants to speak to him."

Brambleclaw bounded off at once. Graystripe entered the den again and waited quietly with Tallstar as Brambleclaw fetched the other two. The two of them entered the den and Brambleclaw turned to leave respectfully.

"Wait, Brambleclaw," Tallstar rasped. "Don't go. You should hear what I have to say too. I've already thanked Graystripe, but you deserve my thanks too. You journeyed a long way to find this place for us, facing dangers no cat has seen before. If StarClan allows it, I believe you will make a worthy deputy for ThunderClan."

Brambleclaw stiffened at these words, not looking at any other cat than Tallstar alone. Several emotions flickered in the dark tabby's eyes and Graystripe wondered what he was thinking of now. But Brambleclaw recovered from his shock quickly and dipped his head to the leader. "It wasn't just me. It was all of us together."

Onewhisker had been holding onto a bundle of water-soaked moss, which he placed beside Tallstar's head. The dying leader feebly licked up a few drops, then raised his head again. "Before I go to StarClan, there is something I must do." His voice was stronger now. "Graystripe, Onewhisker, listen. Mudclaw is a brave warrior, but he is not the right cat to lead WindClan. In these last moons we have learned that the future of our Clans lies in friendship. I want no rivalry between WindClan and ThunderClan after I am gone. We must have no enemies. But this will not happen if Mudclaw rules the Clan."

Graystripe shifted uncomfortably at these words and he felt Onewhisker glance at him. He looked back and held his gaze evenly. He couldn't help but feel as though Tallstar's wish wouldn't be granted. He knew that settling borders between the Clans would be a rocky time for them all. But Graystripe made a promise to himself just then that he'd try his best to avoid any conflicts, not just for ThunderClan but for Tallstar's dying wish too.

"I can still choose the cat who will lead WindClan after me," Tallstar rasped. "From this moment Mudclaw is no longer deputy of WindClan." Three pairs of eyes stared at him in astonishment. "I say these words… before StarClan," Tallstar gasped out. "WindClan must have… a new deputy. Onewhisker, you must lead the Clan when I am gone."

Graystripe and Brambleclaw shared a swift, startled glance. These were not the right words to appoint a deputy with, even though it was clearly what Tallstar intended. Would StarClan accept Onewhisker as the leader of WindClan if he had not been appointed as deputy in the way demanded by the warrior code?

Brambleclaw opened his mouth to say something, but Onewhisker cut in. "Tallstar, no." The warrior sounded horrified, but Tallstar took no notice.

His glittering, star-filled gaze traveled from his new deputy to Graystripe and then to Brambleclaw. "I am grateful to have brought the Clan this far," he murmured. "Onewhisker, treat our friends well when you lead our Clan. Remember everything ThunderClan has done for us."

"Tallstar, I'll do my best, but…" Onewhisker stretched out a paw to touch his leader's shoulder, but Tallstar's head had slipped down into the leaves. His breathing became quick and shallow.

Graystripe's breath caught in his throat as a soft breeze touched fur. His ear twitched as he heard faint pawsteps. He held very still as something brushed his pelt. In Tallstar's eyes were reflected something starlit, something that none of the others present could see. It suddenly felt as if the tiny den was packed full, with sleek-furred flanks sweeping against him on every side.

There was a rustling outside the den and suddenly the gorse bush was empty once more. The presence of StarClan had gone, leaving Graystripe, Onewhisker, and Brambleclaw speechless.

Barkface entered the den with a packet of leaf-wrapped herbs. He squeezed his way between the cats and settled beside his leader. "Cinderpelt gave me these." He broke off, staring at his leader. "Tallstar?" he asked, sounding shocked.

Onewhisker crouched down and pushed his nose into Tallstar's fur. The WindClan leader's black-and-white flank had stopped rising and falling now, stilled forever with the departure of Tallstar's spirit.

"He's gone," Graystripe whispered. He dipped his head low with respect. Tallstar had not been his leader, but he had been a noble cat and nothing would be the same now that he was dead.

"He walks with StarClan now," Barkface agreed.

There was a long stretch of silence as the four of them grieved for the lost leader. Onewhisker looked lost as he stood there, and the warrior was the first to break the silence. "What now?" he asked. "Do… Do I tell WindClan what has happened?" He raised his head now, eyes filled with a chaos of grief and confusion. "I can't do this," he pleaded to them all. "I can't take over as leader!"

Graystripe felt a rush of sympathy as he realized that he and Onewhisker were in the same situation now. The both of them were forced to lead their Clans and neither one of them felt ready or just in doing so. It had happened so suddenly for both of them, leaving them in this position without warning. It was a terrifying situation in both cases.

Before he could really decide on doing so, he reached out and set his tail on Onewhisker's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Onewhisker. I understand how you feel," he told him, "But you have to tell WindClan. Tallstar wanted you to be deputy instead of Mudclaw. It was his last wish."

Barkface's eyes stretched wide at this. "He said what?" He demanded and Graystripe recalled that the medicine cat hadn't been present during Tallstar's death.

Onewhisker's ears flattened as Graystripe relayed to Barkface what had just occurred. The medicine cat looked troubled. "I can understand what he said was a shock," he mewed to Onewhisker, "but you can't do anything about it. If that's what Tallstar wanted, it means that you're Clan leader in the sight of StarClan. Do you think they would give nine lives to Mudclaw now, knowing that Tallstar changed his mind?"

"Mudclaw!" Onewhisker stared at the other cats in dismay. "What am I going to say to him?"

"You still have time to figure that out," Graystripe said. "And I'll be there too. I can stand on the stump with you and help explain what happened." He fought to keep the regret out of his voice. He really didn't want to stand on that stump and give an announcement like he was a Clan leader too. But he couldn't help but feel sympathy towards Onewhisker. He didn't want the tom to go through the panic that he had.

"Would you?" Onewhisker's eyes showed his relief. "I'm not sure how they are going to take this."

"Well take a moment and plan what you're going to say first." Graystripe turned to Brambleclaw now, "You can go now. We'll be out soon to make the announcement."

Brambleclaw left and Onewhisker shared some words with Barkface quietly. They crouched together and spoke, discussing anxiously what would soon happen. Graystripe stayed near the entrance of the gorse bush, ears twitching as he listened to a cat walk past outside. Eventually, Barkface decided that they couldn't put it off any longer.

He nudged Onewhisker to leave the den and Graystripe followed the warrior out. They shared a look and Graystripe led the way to the tree stump a short distance away. He leaped onto it, then glanced down and beckoned Onewhisker up too. Onewhisker hesitated.

"Your Clanmates should see you standing here," He urged him. "You're going to be WindClan's leader now, not an ordinary warrior."

Onewhisker gave Brambleclaw, who was standing nearby, a doubtful look, then jumped up to stand beside Graystripe.

Graystripe took a breath, nervousness wriggling in his stomach, then called, "Cats of all Clans! We have an announcement to make!"

All around the clearing, cats began to stir in their makeshift nests. Eyes that gleamed in the moonlight blinked back at him in confusion. Graystripe summoned them again and slowly the cats slipped out of their makeshift dens and crept forward until they surrounded the stump.

Graystripe's nervousness grew as he stood before the gathering cats. It was just him and Onewhisker atop the tree stump, neither of them true leaders. He privately wished that he had let Onewhisker deal with this alone, perhaps speak with his Clan in private about it. But he knew that it was best to deal with in public so that there was as little confusion as possible, and that meant calling a meeting.

"Well?" Dustpelt grumbled from where he was crouched beside Ferncloud. His eyes were still clouded with sleep. "What is it?"

Graystripe's mouth felt dry. But a swift glance at Onewhisker beside him told him that the warrior was unfit to speak. He swallowed uncomfortably, then turned the cats below them and announced, "Tallstar is dead."

It wasn't nearly as gracefully announced as it could have been. It took him a great effort to not shy away from the cats as several voices rose from the crowd.

"Tallstar is dead!" exclaimed Tornear. "He became leader before I was born. What will happen to WindClan without him?"

Beside him, his apprentice, Owlpaw, bowed his head. The young cat was too overcome to speak. Mosspelt, a RiverClan queen, touched the apprentice on his shoulder with the tip of her tail. She murmured, "He was a noble cat. He will be welcomed by StarClan, and walk with the best of them." From somewhere near the back a single voice rose up in a wail of grief.

"He joined StarClan just a moment ago." Graystripe rose his voice for all to hear. His heart was pounding in his ears. "I was there when it happened, and so was Onewhisker. He said that-"

He broke off as a mottled brown warrior thrust his way forward and halted at the foot of the stump. "What's that?" he demanded, his eyes flashing anger. "Tallstar is dead? Why did no cat tell me?"

It was Mudclaw.

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