Dawn light filtered through the trees when Graystripe slipped out of camp. He needed air and had decided to hunt alone today before he took Brackenpaw out.
He crunched through the snow. He paused beside an oak tree, looking for something to hunt. Suddenly, he heard the sounds of someone moving through the undergrowth.
He peered around the oak tree, and saw two cats. The first was the tom, who had saved him, River something. The second was a black-and-white she-cat he had never seen.
Graystripe knew he should chase them out or he would face consequences, but he couldn't bring himself to. The river cat had saved him! He would be dead right now if it hadn't been for him.
He decided to back away, hoping not to cause trouble, but when he whipped around he came face-to-face with a black tom.
The tom narrowed his eyes. Graystripe spun around to get away, but the tom came crashing after him.
Graystripe dodged around bushes and ferns, but couldn't get the tom to leave him alone. Suddenly, a dark shape tackled the tom and started slicing its claws down the tom's belly, who screeched in agony.
"Wait, Darkstripe! Don't kill him!" Graystripe yowled, but it was too late as the tom was losing blood. Darkstripe stepped back and the two brothers watched him bleed to death, staining the snow red. "No…" Graystripe whispered sadly.
River Ripple emerged from behind a tree, along with his companion. River Ripple fixed Darkstripe with a cold glare.
The dark tabby was unfazed. "Anyone who attacks my brother gets more than a warning!" he spat. Graystripe knew it had just been an excuse to kill for approval. When was the last time Darkstripe had even talked to him. Most cats didn't even know they were brothers!
"You can't keep doing this!" River Ripple hissed.
"Thistlestar does what he likes," Darkstripe growled. "And ThunderClan is the supreme clan, so there!"
Graystripe looked between the two toms while the black-and-white she-cat hung back also glaring at Darkstripe.
"There's no need for…" Graystripe started. "He wasn't…" he looked at the dead body and gulped feeling bile rise in his mouth.
River Ripple watched him closely. "Carry on, young one," he said. "I'm interested to know what you have to say."
"Don't talk to him!" Darkstripe spat. "If you've got a problem with our clan's way, you bring it to Tigerclaw or Thistlestar, fish-face!"
Graystripe's mouth dropped open and he stared at his brother, but Darkstripe was already shunting him away.
The young warrior didn't dare look back.
But if he had he would have only seen sympathy from River Ripple and pity from the she-cat.
Brindleface watched as Spottedleaf once more checked over Tulipkit and Elderkit. Ashkit and Fernkit were outside with her sister being distracted and she was grateful for it.
"We need catmint," Spottedleaf muttered and turned to check on Mistlekit, who Speckletail kept grooming and nudging as if that would help her.
She looked up when Dustpelt entered and set a mouse down in front of her. "Sorry, this is all I could find."
"It's okay," she weakly purred.
Dustpelt shifted his paws. He had never been close to any of his littermates, so he just sat there and watched the kits.
Finally he said, "Things can only get better…right?"
Brindleface wasn't so sure so she didn't say anything.
Gray Wing sat outside the warrior's den, watching his kits play in the snow for the first time. Turtle Tail was asleep in the nursery. Their excited squeals sounded through the clearing as they flung snow and chased each other.
Gray Wing began to doze off, under the shelter of the log he was in that hid him from the cold. Then, he heard scampering and opened one eye to see Sparrow Fur coming toward him, hopping through the snow with difficulty.
"Dad, come play with us!" she begged.
Gray Wing yawned, standing up. "Alright. What are you playing?"
"Owl Eyes is a fox," Sparrow Fur explained. "And we have to dodge when he attacks us."
Gray Wing smiled. "Sounds like fun." And a great way for training.
Owl Eyes was racing toward Pebble Heart, mocking the growl of a fox. "I'm a fox!" he yowled. "I'm gonna eat you!"
"No!" Pebble Heart screeched. He dived out of the way just as Owl Eyes was about to pounce on him.
Owl Eyes spun around and jumped at Sparrow Fur instead. His sister waited until the last moment before darting out of the way.
Owl Eyes whipped around to face Gray Wing. "I'm the meanest fox in the forest!"
Gray Wing crouched and meowed. "And I'm an even bigger fox!"
Owl Eyes shank back. "So scary!" he said, trying to keep down his laughter. He jumped away as Gray Wing charged him.
"You're fast!" Gray Wing praised. "A real fox wouldn't stand a chance."
He whirled to attack Sparrow Fur. But just as he charged forward, he felt a sharp pain in his lungs. With a gasp, he fell to a crouch, chest heaving.
The three kits crowded around him, eyes round with fear as he scrambled at the snowy ground.
"Get back!" Turtle Tail's voice rang out as she slipped out of the nursery. "Give Gray Wing some air!" A moment later she was nudging the kits aside. "Is it your breathing again?"
Unable to speak, Gray Wing just nodded.
"I think Gray Wing needs coltsfoot," Pebble Heart mewed thoughtfully. "Should I go see if Cloud Spots has some?"
"How do you know what coltsfoot is?" Turtle Tail asked, puzzled.
"Dappled Pelt told me," the tom-kit replied.
Turtle Tail looked surprised, but nodded. Pebble Heart darted off.
Owl Eyes and Sparrow Fur were getting closer again. "Please get better," Owl Eyes murmured.
Gray Wing's breathing was starting to even out. He rested his tail on his son's back. "I'll be okay. I promise."
"Yeah, you're the best father!" Sparrow Fur added and Gray Wing nudged her reassuringly.
Pebble Heart returned with a bunch of coltsfoot leaves. Cloud Spots followed, gesturing for the kits to step back. "Leave Gray Wing in peace now," he said. "I'll look after him."
"Yes, it's time for your nap," Turtle Tail said. "You can play again later."
Once she had herded their kits away, Gray Wing looked at Cloud Spots weakly. "Tell me the truth," he said. "Am I going to get better?"
Cloud Spots rolled his eyes. "This is just what happens when you swallow ash and smoke," he said. "You'll be better once you cough it all up."
"Um…"
Both toms looked over to see Pebble Heart had snuck back. "Can I help at all?" he asked.
Cloud Spots paused before replying. "Okay," he said. "Smash up these leaves into a pulp so Gray Wing can eat it."
Pebble Heart got to work eagerly, smashing the leaves up before letting Gray Wing swallow the pulp. Almost at once Gray Wing felt air returning to his lungs. He relaxed and sat up.
Cloud Spots nodded. "You should take it easy for the next moon," he ordered. "Afterwards, you'll be strong again."
Gray Wing murmured his thanks and nuzzled his son before slowly taking him back to the nursery to his mother and littermates.
A yowl sounded from outside the camp, making Graystripe turn toward the tunnel. Swiftpaw exploded into the clearing.
"Tigerclaw needs someone to fetch Skystar."
"What? Why?"
"I dunno! He just sent me with this message!" Swiftpaw snapped impatiently and then lowered his mew. "Something about...discussing Thunder's position in the Clan.
"Where's Thistlestar?"
"Already on his way!"
Cinderpaw appeared. Mousefur was sick now, too, so Graystripe had taken over her training as well. "I can help!"
"No," Swiftpaw said, puffing his chest arrogantly. "You're too young to go into another Clan's territory. Besides, Thistlestar would want Graystripe to get Skystar."
"Fine. Whatever." Graystripe hurried out of camp and high-tailed it to SkyClan's camp. When he burst into their camp every cat turned with a hiss, eyes flashing with hostility. Graystripe sighed in relief when Gray Wing appeared. The deputy was always fair.
"What's wrong?"
"I dunno. Thistlestar wants to meet Skystar," he explained between pants.
"What? Is it about Thunder?"
Graystripe nodded.
"I'm coming."
Skystar appeared, eyes determined. "I need to know exactly what has become of my son. And ThunderClan can't push us around forever." Graystripe flinched as a white-patched brown tabby apprentice stepped forward.
"It's dangerous, dad!" He protested.
Skystar turned to him. "Air Leap, they have your brother. Besides, they'll think we're cowards if we back out!" He turned to Graystripe. "Take me to him."
Graystripe nodded and turned to leave. He swore he saw a familiar cat out of the corner of his eye, but didn't chance another look. This was too urgent.
He raced through the trees and through his territory with the SkyClan leader behind him and burst out, skidding to a halt beside the Thunderpath. He looked desperately up and down the verge and spotted a charred ash tree. Tigerclaw was standing by it with Thistlestar, their backs turned to them.
Skystar shouldered past him and stalked across the path just as a young gray cat crashed through the bushes onto the path as well.
Graystripe gasped, "Cinderpaw!" Catching the attention of the ThunderClan deputy and leader.
A monster sped towards them at that moment and the two pushed themselves away from the verge but young Cinderpaw was too slow. Skystar leaped for her to push her out of harm's way, but it was too late and they both got trampled.
Graystripe leaped back getting snow to the face. After he cleared it off, he raced over. Skystar lay still, but Graystripe knew he was just losing a life. Unless that had been his last. But Cinderpaw…
She was still breathing, but her leg…it looked horrible! All flattened and bloody.
"No. Cinderpaw," he dropped to his paws and lay his head on her. There was no way her leg would heal properly. It just looked too broken.
He didn't notice Thistlestar's satisfied smirk which was pinned on the other Clan leader near the two young cats.
"This isn't good!" Ravenpaw frantically meowed.
"Why?" Jackdaw's Cry asked. He, Hawk Swoop, Jagged Peak, Fire Heart and Ravenpaw were in a corner of camp talking after Graystripe and Skystar had left.
"Because…" he trailed off and looked at Fire Heart.
"Don't worry, you can trust them," the ginger tom assured.
"Okay…Thistlestar and Tigerclaw might not like Skystar."
"Tell us something new," Jackdaw's Cry scoffed.
"So…" Ravenpaw began. "The Thunderpath…Skystar…"
"Oh, no," Jagged Peak whispered when they all understood where he was going.
"Well," Hawk Swoop began softly. "Skystar's in trouble."
Just then, said cat stumbled back into camp, blue eyes hot with rage. Everyone jumped to their paws.
"Dad?" Air Leap called worriedly.
"He tried to murder me! He took one of my lives!" Skystar growled. "And they said Thunder came to them willingly!"
The clan gasped.
Ravenpaw gave his companions a wide-eyed "I told you so" look.
Graystripe hadn't stuck around to make sure Skystar would be okay. What if he blamed him when he woke up? He wasn't the one who chose such a dangerous place to meet! What had Thistlestar and Tigerclaw been thinking?
Instead, he had dragged Cinderpaw all the way back to camp, wondering how he would explain this to Mousefur? Frostfur?
When he entered camp, Frostfur's wail echoed around the clearing as Spottedleaf hurried over to the apprentice. Brackenpaw, Thornpaw and Brightpaw peeked out of the apprentice's den with horror while Swiftpaw just scoffed and rolled his eyes.
He really had a bad influence being Longtail's apprentice, who was close to Tigerclaw.
Thunder, meanwhile, peeked around the other apprentices, looking worried before he hesitantly trailed towards them. He flinched when Frostfur glared at him as if blaming him. After all, the meeting had been about him.
Graystripe stepped forward to the young tom, but Thunder just turned and slunk away back to the den. Thornpaw moved out of the way as if he had a disease and Swiftpaw muttered something loudly to him that made Thunder flinch.
Maybe he should follow Thunder's lead and sleep off these horrible nightmares happening all around him.