Soft paws padded through Graystripe's dream. Fireheart appeared out of the bushes. His heart ached, remembering his friend's death at the claws of those rouges a moon ago. But instead of his old friend embracing him in a greeting the ginger tom runs over the forest.
Graystripe tries to keep up, but Fireheart seems to get further and further away. He yowls, trying to get his old friends' attention, but he just keeps running. Further along in the forest he notices a fire, and he yowls for Fireheart to get away from it. But his friend goes into the fire, and suddenly the swath dies down. Leaving ash everywhere.
Confused, he tries to scent his friend, but he finds no trace of him.
A yowl rings through his ears, "Graystripe! Graystripe wake up!"
His eyes flutter open and he heaves himself out of his nest, confused as to what his dream ment. Shaking it off, he recognizes Whitestorm as the one who woken him up.
"Are Mousefur and Longtail waiting for me?" he asks, after licking his fur.
"Yes, dawn is fast approaching."
He stretches his muscles, pushing off the tiredness he still feels.
"Then I'll go to meet them."
"Bluestar actually wanted to talk to you first. It was why I woke you up in the first place..."
"Do you know what it could be?"
Whitestorm shakes his head.
"Tell Mousefur and Longtail I'll be a moment." Graystripe mews. Quickly, and quietly he walks past the sleeping cats. He notices Brindleface sleeping next to Frostfur now that her kits are out of the nursery. He purrs at the sight, glad Brindleface has a friend now that she is back from raising kits.
Pushing himself out into the clearing, he notices how warm the air is, despite the sun not yet above the treetops. The scents of the forest chase the unease he had felt in his dream. But it still bothered him. Why had Fireheart when he entered the fire disappear along with it, leaving ash on the forest floor.
Noticing Longtail and Mousefur by the entrance of camp, he nods his head in a greeting to them as he walks towards Bluestar's den.
Entering the den he wonders what Bluestar would want so early in the day? Perhaps she was ready to reassume leader duties. However that seemed unlikely given last night how she barely touched her thrush. But hope persisted as he called a cheerful greeting through the lichen.
"Come in!" Bluestar yowls, sounding excited and more like her old self. Hope soared through his chest as he pads to where Bluestar is. However that haunted look still remains in her gaze, even if it is less noticeable.
She paces around the den, not stopping when he enters so he sticks to one of the sides of the den wall.
"Graystripe," she began without looking at him, "I need to share dreams with Starclan. I must travel to the moonstone."
"You want to go to Highstones?" he exclaims, shocked that she'd want to go, given the mental state she was in last night.
"Do you know of another Moonstone?" She retorts, impatience laced thick in her voice.
"No. But I am just shocked. You don't seem to be in the right condition for a long day of traveling."
"You'll protect me? Won't you?"
Graystripe dips his head, unease prickling his pelt, "Of course. I was just worried for your safety."
Bluestar flicks her tail, "As long as you are with me, I am safe. Besides, I need to go to the Moonstone ro speak with Starclan." She then narrows her eyes, "And you are coming with me." She states firmly, reaffirming her statement of him protecting her on the journey.
"Whitestorm can be in charge of the camp while we are gone."
More unease pricks at him and he asks, "Anyone else?"
"No."
"But Bluestar, we have been attacked this past moon twice, like you pointed out yesterday. Surely more protection can't hurt?"
"They're all traitors."
"At least let us take my apprentice. I know it's a bit early for his trip to the Moonstone, but….."
"Fine…" Bluestar drawls, "If it will make you feel more at ease." Her voice then softens, "At least I can trust you and Cloudpaw. Now we need to get traveling herbs."
"We're going now?"
"Yes!" her shoulders are bristling.
"What about the dawn pat…."
"They can leave without you. And notify your apprentice. We leave as soon as possible."
With that Bluestar whisks around and pads out of the den. Following her, his pelt can't help but prick with unease. He'd feel more safe going with at least one more warrior, but at least she'd agreed to bring Cloudpaw along. He isn't too far along in his training, but he's a fast learner. He'll be a good support if they get into a skirmish.
Bounding to where Mousefur and Longtail are, he greets them.
"Finally ready to go Graystripe? I promised Swiftpaw we could work on his battle moves…." Longtail comments, worrying about disappointing his apprentice apparent in his mew. Guilt strikes through him about Brackenfur, but he pushes it down.
"Actually Bluestar wants to go to the Moonstone. So you'll have to lead the patrol without me."
"Who else is going with you?" Longtail asks, worried.
"Just me and my apprentice…"
Mousefur laughs, "You think Cloudpaw and you can protect Bluestar on your own?"
"Graystripe is a capable warrior and Cloudpaw is quickly catching up to the older apprentices. And they're traveling to the Moonstone, they'll look less like a raiding party if they're spotted by Windclan." Longtail mews, defending him.
"But Tigerclaw is still out there." Mousefur points out.
Graystripe meows, "I know. But…" does he really have to say it… "Bluestar doesn't want any cat else to join us…."
"Why not? Tigerclaw poses a real threat, that mouse-hearted traitor nearly destroyed us all," Mousefur growls. He flinches a bit at Mousefur's words, but calmly replies, "I don't know." But he does know. Oh if only Fireheart were here. He'd know what to do.
"I think I understand. All of us were blinded to his true nature, except you and Fireheart. She must not trust us, or at the very least me and Darkstripe."
Mousefur lashes her tail, "That's a load of horse apples. Of course Bluestar trusts us."
"She chose Graystripe as deputy despite most cats thinking Whitestorm would become it." Longtail points out. He then stammers, "Not that you haven't been a great deputy, Graystripe…"
"It's okay, I understand. It was a surprise to me too. Anyways, why don't you both take Thornpaw and Swiftpaw on patrol too. I'll be back by tomorrow."
He then heads off to the apprentices' den. Peeking inside he purrs when he sees Cloudpaw sleeping close to Brightpaw. His heart aches as he remembers the fond memories of him and Fireheart sleeping close to one another.
Poking the apprentice he mews, "Cloudpaw, wake up."
"Five more minutes," grumbles the sleepy white tom.
"Can't. Bluestar wants us to come with her to Highstones."
That catches his apprentice's attention as Cloudpaw's eyes open wide and he sits up. "Really? Does that mean I can speak to Fireheart?"
"If Starclan allows it. But yes."
Joy sparkles in his blue eyes. "When are we leaving?"
"After we get traveling herbs, right away."
Cloudpaw's nose wrinkles in disgust. "Do we have to eat gross herbs?"
Graystripe chuckles, "Yes. It helps us keep up our strength so we can travel all day without stopping to hunt."
"Does that mean we won't hunt at all?"
"No it just means until we get to the Moonstone, we can't stop to eat. Normally Bluestar doesn't eat traveling herbs, but….."
He remembers on their journey to the Highstones when he was an apprentice Bluestar didn't eat anything, not even a parcel of herbs. He sighs, he wishes Fireheart were with him. Or even Ravenpaw. But he seemed to be so happy at the barn, he probably wouldn't want to come back.
"But what?" Cloudpaw asks, breaking him out of thoughts.
"Well….Even though she's recovered physically, her mind hasn't healed fully from the whole ordeal yet."
"Why?"
Graystripe shrugs, "To that I do not know…. Now let's get some traveling herbs."
He and Cloudpaw exit the den and head over to the Medicine den.
"I suppose you two will want some traveling herbs too?" remarks Yellowfang as they both emerge from the tunnel.
Graystripe nods.
Cinderpelt limps out of the den in the split rock and Graystripe's heartache returns. She was Fireheart's apprentice before the accident that made her leg have a permanent injury. Though she seemed to be happy as a Medicine cat, Fireheart should have been able to train her to be a warrior, but instead he trained Brackenfur all because he was spending all his time with Silverstream. Once again he wishes he could take it all back, and spend some of his time training Brackenfur and just hanging out with his friend.
Yellowfang's cross mew breaks him from his thoughts, "You must know that by now!"
Cinderpelt's ear twitches in shame and she lowers her head, "I thought I knew, but then I wasn't sure. I just thought I would check."
Yellowfang snorts and heaves herself to her paws and heads over to the foot of the rock where piles of leaves were lying about in rows. Glancing at Bluestar, he notices that she stopped pacing, and is sniffing the air warily. Unease prickles through him again. Would it really be right for Bluestar to speak to their ancestors while her state of mind isn't stable?
"That's chamomile." Yellowfang tells Cinderpelt, as she pushes one of the leaves with a heavy paw.
"Ah I remember now," Cinderpelt mews meekly.
"You shouldn't have forgotten in the first place." scolds Yellowfang, but she isn't as cross as before. Her mew was gentle with some slight anger. "A medicine cat has no time for doubt. We must live in the present, not the past. So put your energy into the now. Your clan will need you when I am gone, and I will not be there to fix every mistake, or guide you through everything. So stop dithering and get on with it!"
Cinderpelt nods and busies herself with the task at paw.
Graystripe pads up to Yellowfang, "Is she still bothered by Silverstream?"
Yellowfang nods, "I was hoping she'd move on. We Medicine cats do all we can to save a life, but sometimes our efforts are not enough. I was lucky to have my first serious patient survive, but I could not save everyone even with the same amount of effort. Death is apart of life, and sometimes, despite everything we do, it is unavoidable."
"I already told her I do not blame her, but if she's still blaming herself, maybe….."
"Maybe what?"
"Maybe she needs a chance to prove herself, so she can stop doubting. I know this wasn't the role she wanted, but she was happy to be with you. Even if you are a grumpy she-cat sometimes."
"Watch what you say, deputy. I could easily claw your ears off."
He purrs, "I don't doubt it."
"But you do have a point. Sometimes we must prove ourselves in an area we failed in order to gain confidence. I know I didn't want to be a medicine cat, but forces were beyond my control. But after healing one of my clanmates with fierce determination, I knew I loved healing others." Yellowfang comments.
"It's the same as being a warrior. You can just feel it after your first hunt and battle. That this is what you were meant to do. I know Cinderpelt's circumstances are different, but I know she is happy with you. She chose to be a Medicine cat, she wasn't forced."
Yellowfang purrs, "She is lucky to have chosen." Before Graystripe can comment, Bluestar asks, irritated, "Are they finished?"
"Almost, Bluestar," Yellowfang tells the Thunderclan leader, when Cinderpelt doesn't respond as she is focusing on the task of preparing the herbs.
"They're finished." Cinderpelt quietly mews after a few seconds.
"Thank you." Yellowfang comments, to which Cinderpelt gives the she-cat a confused look. Yellowfang picks up one of the parcels that has the chamomile and places it in front of Bluestar.
"I don't need herbs." Bluestar mews, "It is forbidden for Clan Leaders to eat on the Journey to Highstones."
"And as your Medicine, I am telling you you are not fit for the journey. But I recognize you have some questions for our ancestors and so I will allow you to go. As long as you eat the herbs. Starclan will not be mad that need some help on this journey."
"Yes they will! They were clearly mad when they said nothing of Tigerclaw's betrayal!"
"And would you have listened? Tigerclaw was a good deputy and warrior of Thunderclan, would you really believe that he had a dark side?"
Bluestar opens her mouth to retort, but closes it.
"That's what I thought. And Starclan knew this. They knew he had a good reputation and that if they told you about his darkside you would not be so easily swayed to believe it. So eat the herbs. They'll understand."
Bluestar laps up the herbs.
Graystripe follows her lead and laps up the herbs in front of him. He hears Cloudpaw gag and eyeing his apprentice who is near the tunnel entrance he sees the white tom swallow reluctantly.
Still swallowing in an attempt to wash out the bitter taste of the herbs, Bluestar signals him and Cloudpaw to follow her. Pushing past the lichen surrounding the entrance of the tunnel to the camp he notices cats beginning to stir. Willowpelt has come out of the nursery and is standing in the warm sunshine, soaking it up with her fur. Patchpelt meanwhile is stretching his old limbs in front of the fallen oak. They both give him, Bluestar and Cloudpaw curious glances as they head towards the camp entrance. But after a bit they both return to their morning routine.
Unease encompasses him as they walk out of the camp's entrance and climb up the ravine. Will they truly be safe from Windclan? He knows they saved the cats of Windclan with Fireheart and brought them home, but they also harbored Brokenstar. And Windclan fought a battle against them for it. He looks up at the blue sky, praying to Starclan that everything will work out.