Thank you to Guest for the review.
In the following days of meeting with Skystar and forming plans, none of them solid yet, Graystripe did his best to keep an eye out for Swiftclaw, keep up with his warrior duties, and visit his mother and littermates. Willowpelt hadn't been happy to find out he was a part of the secret meetings too, but she knew he could take care of himself.
He had come a long way from the goofball of an apprentice he had started out as. What had changed that? ThunderClan's downfall, of course.
And of course, the dogs. Their top priority. Graystripe always brought up the rear of the patrols to watch his clanmates' backs for the dogs. Mousefur had gotten in on it and the two warriors would sometimes set up their own scouting missions to see the dogs' activities.
They were huge!
Graystripe tried to not show his fear.
Tigerclaw organized patrols after patrols while Thistlestar acted more sketchy than ever. Graystripe wore himself out by volunteering for every patrol he could. He just hoped it was worth it in the end.
As in, none of my clanmates get devoured by dogs. None of them deserve that! …although I bet the other Clans would beg to differ.
But… he had seen Raven Hope and Cinder Flower alive and well! Even little Snowkit was growing healthy and bigger everyday.
Graystripe looked at Speckletail, who was curled up beside her mate. He didn't understand why they hadn't told her yet. It's not like Thistlestar was out to get the kit. He had even tried to save him!
He padded towards the couple, making sure to be quick. He was due for a patrol with Brackenfur, Longtail, Swiftclaw, Mousefur and Bluefur. They were just waiting on the blue she-cat who was in conversation with Spottedleaf.
Speckletail lifted her head when he approached and Smallear glanced up curiously as well.
"Speckletail, may I talk to you? It's important." He wanted her to know first. She could tell Smallear later. They walked a little ways away from the other elders.
He took a deep breath then whispered, "Snowkit is alive."
Speckletail stared at him for a few seconds, bewildered. "Wha-what? How?"
"Skystar saved him. He brought the hawk down and Cloud Spots and Acorn Fur helped him with his wounds. He's with SkyClan now."
"I…really?" Her voice rose before she looked at him suspiciously. "You're sure?"
"Why would I lie about such a thing? After all, Raven Hope and Cinder Flower found sanctuary there too." Speckletail nodded her eyes glistening. "He'll be okay, Speckletail. They'll look out for him… and maybe you can see him again one day."
"Thank you, Graystripe," she meowed, sniffing away emotion before walking back to the elders, lightly.
Graystripe felt better.
He went to join his patrol, who were all finally assembled when he noticed Thistlestar emerging from his den.
"I'll lead the patrol," he growled.
"Thistlestar leading a patrol?" Mousefur muttered to Graystripe. "This should go well. Everyone watch out for talking trees!"
Bluefur shot the younger she-cat a warning look, but didn't reprimand her for being disrespectful. As if! Bluefur standing up for Thistlestar! Might as well look out for walking fish.
The morning frost was starting to melt as the sun rose over the river, though the dead leaves still crackled beneath their paws as they walked through the forest. As they went, Graystripe kept one eye on Swiftclaw, who was gazing around with determined eyes. Mousefur on his other side watched for dogs.
The ThunderClan leader paused when they reached the river. He stared across the slow moving water for a long moment, glaring at a random plant. What is going on in his mind? Actually, I probably don't wanna know.
Finally, Thistlestar turned and followed the border toward Sunningrocks, which soon came into sight. The smoothly sloped boulders seemed deserted. However, as they approached, a cat climbed to the top, silhouetted from the rising sun.
Graystripe stopped dead, noticing the glint of claws. He narrowed his eyes, peering against the sun, and recognized Leopardstar.
A few other warriors climbed the rocks. Graystripe recognized the new deputy, River Ripple, Blackclaw, Shattered Ice, Silverstream, Heavystep, Reedtail, Mallowtail, Vixenleap and Shadepelt.
"Thistlestar!" Longtail called. "RiverClan warriors!"
Thistlestar glared fiercely at the warriors and stormed forward.
"What are they doing here?" Brackenfur muttered. "Sunningrocks belong to us!"
Bluefur hushed him.
"Hello, Thistlestar," Leopardstar said, her voice confident. "How lucky I am, meeting you out here." Her mew was mocking.
"The pleasure is all mine," Thistlestar sneered back, just as mocking. "Sunningrocks belongs to ThunderClan! You have five seconds to get off or we'll rip you apart!"
"My, my, calm yourself." Leopardstar smirked at the older leader, who was foaming a bit at the mouth and looked downright crazy. If Graystripe had a cat look at him like that, he would have been running in the other direction.
River Ripple stepped forward and announced in his ever calm voice," Sunningrocks actually belongs to RiverClan. It always has."
"Yes! ThunderClan is just bossy and steals it from us all the time!" Reedtail hissed. Blackclaw and Heavystep jeered in agreement. Shattered Ice was surprisingly calm and quiet, but his green eyes flared with anger and readiness to fight.
Graystripe felt fury rise into his throat. How arrogant! Leopardstar couldn't just stroll onto Sunningrocks and ask for ThunderClan's land.
He whipped around wondering who to send for help. He should probably keep Swiftclaw here so he could watch him. Maybe Brackenfur. He knew his former apprentice wouldn't mind. He always obeyed. And there would be many battles he could fight in the future.
But Bluefur was already yowling, "Swiftclaw, go! Get help!"
"But I want to fight!" Swiftclaw protested, looking upset that he was being sent away as if they could spare him.
And then Graystripe understood his desire to find dogs and fight them. He felt overshadowed. And it seemed many didn't feel as he was needed for many important things. He wanted to prove himself. Needed to.
But it was too late as the black and white tom turned and ran back to camp at Bluefur's urging.
Graystripe turned and noticed Leopardstar's eyes following the young warrior. "Tell Thistlestar that Swiftclaw went to get help," Graystripe whispered to Longtail. They needed to stall for as long as possible.
"What do you say, Thistlestar?" Leopardstar challenged. "Will you give RiverClan our land back?"
"No." Graystripe almost laughed at how deadpan Thistlestar's answer had been. "ATTACK!"
Leopardstar's eyes widened as Thistlestar launched himself up at her. The two leaders crashed to the ground, clawing and spitting. Thistlestar being bigger easily pinned her, showing no mercy as he ripped at her fur.
Vixenleap immediately raced to her leader's aide.
Blackclaw tackled Graystripe in that moment, but Graystripe was also bigger than his opponent and used his mass to his advantage, pushing the RiverClan warrior off and raking his pelt with his claws.
The black tom screeched in pain and backed off.
Graystripe spun around, looking for anyone who needed help. He spotted Longtail under a mass of fighting warriors. Before Graystripe could move, Shadepelt jumped at him. He managed to avoid the slashing of her claws and the RiverClan warrior fell awkwardly.
Shadepelt scrambled to her paws and the two became a wrestling ball of fur. Graystripe jabbed at the slender she-cat as she slipped around him. Just as he was beating her away, another cat crashed into him.
He twisted around to see Silverstream and froze. He shook his head. She was an enemy warrior! He shoved her off and slashed out at her. She leaned back, looking hesitant before she lunged at him.
ThunderClan was hopelessly outnumbered. By the time Swiftclaw returned with help, the whole patrol would be dead!
Graystripe tried to scramble away from the two she-cats, struggling for breath. Suddenly, Shadepelt was ripped off of him. He threw Silverstream off and hopped up to see Brackenfur dragging Shadepelt by her tail Shadepelt tried to claw at the younger warrior, but he was too out of reach.
Graystripe jabbed and slashed at Silverstream as his former apprentice took care of her clanmate. Soon the two she-cats gave up and scrambled away.
Graystripe nodded at Brackenfur in thanks and threw himself into the mass of battle, going to help Longtail, who now had Mousefur by his side. They were surrounded by Mallowtail, Reedtail, Shattered Ice and Blackclaw.
River Ripple was fighting by Leopardstar taking on Thistlestar, whose muzzle was coated with blood. Leopardstar looked desperate and exhausted but she didn't give ground against the ruthless leader.
Before Graystripe could reach his clanmates, another figure raced past him. Graystripe skidded to a halt, recognizing Brightpelt, who leaped to her brother's aid.
Swiftclaw had returned with backup!
Whitestorm, Stonefur, Mistyfoot, Fernpaw and Ashpaw joined the fray, beating back the wave of cats, surrounding Longtail and Mousefur.
Longtail had staggered to his paws, Mousefur helping him. Blood trickled from a gash above his eye and there was a long slash down his flank. Despite his injuries, he followed Mousefur back into the battle.
Soon the ThunderClan warriors drove the RiverClan warriors back across the river. Ashpaw yowled taunts at them, blue eyes glowing triumphantly.
Graystripe grinned in relief and turned to thank Swiftclaw for coming back in time, but the black and white warrior had padded away, head down.
Graystripe frowned and made to follow, but Mousefur and Brackenfur padded over to him.
"We did it!" Brackenfur purred.
"ThunderClan takes another victory," Mousefur purred then frowned at Thistlestar. "If only it was under a real leader."
Graystripe nervously twitched his whiskers, looking towards Thistlestar, but he hadn't heard.
"Back to camp!" The gray and white tom yowled.
They all silently made their way back to camp. Spottedleaf rushed forward as they appeared and Tigerclaw lopped up with the warriors who had remained behind.
Tigerclaw, to Graystripe's surprise, went around praising them all, but Graystripe noticed Swiftclaw slowly walking to the warriors den, even brushing off Brightpelt's gentle words.
The ginger and white she-cat frowned before she went to join Brackenfur, who was being fussed over by Frostfur as usual.
Graystripe started after the young warrior, but he nearly tripped over Bramblekit and Tawnykit.
"Didja win?" Bramblekit meowed.
"Yes," Graystripe purred. "We did."
Tawnykit's eyes shined and she turned to nudge her brother. "Let's go tell grandma and grandpa!"
She dashed away and Bramblekit scampered after his tortoiseshell sister.
Graystripe turned to the warrior's den. Now to check on Swiftclaw. He hurried away as Spottedleaf started towards him. He didn't need any more distractions.
Skystar's words rang in his ears. If he wanted to protect his clanmates he had to be there for them.
He shoved his head into the warriors den.
Swiftclaw was curled up in his nest. Graystripe crept over and settled beside him. The young cat twitched an ear before looking up with a frown.
"What?"
"What's wrong? We won Sunningrocks thanks to your speed."
"Yeah… but I was sent away like an apprentice…"
"Bluefur was only thinking logically. She knew you were the fastest and sent you. Had it been anyone else," Graystripe leaned forward. "We would have been crowfood."
Swiftclaw smiled a bit at his mischievous expression. Then it fell and he meowed, "you don't understand. When I first became a warrior, Thistlestar said I was special. And he always made me do important stuff and talked with me…"
"So… this is about Thistlestar's approval? You know how you sound right now, right?" Graystripe mewed sternly. "We're talking about our leader who caused so much harm… yet we did nothing so far to stop it. Did you feel accomplished stealing Turtle Tail's kits only to realize it cost them their mother's life?"
Swiftclaw flinched, guilt welling in his amber eyes. "I was just… following my leader's orders."
Graystripe sighed deeply. "Yes. It seems that's always been our excuse. But sometimes you have to realize that not every cat is fit to be a leader. Brokenstar was kicked out because he wasn't a good cat."
Swiftclaw nodded. "I just… wanted to be appreciated. But nowadays I feel kinda lonely. And unimportant. That's why I want to find the dogs and get rid of them. Then the Clan will think I'm a great warrior again!"
Graystripe breathed in and then out. "Listen, you don't need to prove anything. You're an amazing warrior and your job is to protect the Clan. But that doesn't mean being reckless. If something happened to you… we'd miss you. It's okay to be scared. You don't have to risk your life for things like that… just fight for what's right."
Swiftclaw lifted his head and looked at him with wide eyes. "Yeah. Yeah, okay. I'm… sorry."
"Don't be. Promise me you won't go looking for dogs?"
"I promise."
"Tell ya what?" Graystripe stood to his paws. "If we come up with a plan to get rid of the dogs… I'll let ya know."
Swiftclaw smiled.
"I'm … gonna tell them the truth. Who their real father is," Bluefur decided out of nowhere. She was in Spottedleaf's den as the medicine cat treated her wounds. She had waited last like she always did.
Spottedleaf looked up, eyes wide. "But… you've kept it a secret for so long!"
"And Thistlestar's known for a while somehow!" Bluefur shot back. Spottedleaf silently gasped. "So if someone like him knows already… they need to know."
Bluefur closed her eyes, ignoring the fear rising within her.
"They need to be ready for any trouble in the future."