Quickly he leads Bluestar through the rough terrain of the moor, hoping that their warrior ancestors would help them not run into any patrols. If a Windclan patrol stopped them from going to Highstones, it could make the wound in Bluestar's mind reopen. And she is just starting to recover, being out in the forest was good for her. With them weaving through the sea of heather, he also hopes Bluestar would also be cautious and keep her head and tail down. Cloudpaw did exactly as he did, keeping low to the ground, which made him thankful that Cloudpaw respected him. He's come a long way from he spoiled kit he was a quatermoon ago.

The sun reached its highest point as they neared a swathe of gorse that he recognized they were getting closer to the heart of Windclan territory. They had a ways to go before the slope that led them to the Twoleg farm where Ravenpaw is. Unease and worry pricked at his pelt as he silently led his leader and Cloudpaw through Windclan's territory. But a hot breeze was coming towards him, as sifiling as breath from a sick cat, which would definitely lead a patrol to them as it carried their scent on the wind.

Bluestar signals to get into the gorse and he is about to plunge in, when he hears an angry growl sound behind him. He spins around, recognizing the cats as Mudclaw, Webpaw, Runningbrook and Tornear. They were cats he had grown to respect on the journey with Windclan back to their territories. But malice replaced the respect and friendship they had known together.

"Intruders… Why are you here?" the dark tabby Mudclaw hisses, his amber eyes in slits.

"We were traveling to the Moonstone, as is tradition for apprentices with my clan leader who wanted…"

"You're on our land," growls Mudclaw. Runningbrook chastises him, "They're traveling to the Moonstone with their leader. They pose no harm."

Mudclaw hisses at Runningbrook, "You seriously defending them? They took in Brokentail!"

"But Graystripe led us home! Along with Fireheart. He and his apprentice should travel to the Moonstone with their leader."

"Runningbrook you can't be serious. He's Thunderclan and they took in Brokentail! The cat who caused our misfortune."

Runningbrook lashes her tail, "That is a decision his leader made, that does not reflect all of Thunderclan. Besides Tallstar revere's Fireheart and Graystripe as heroes, most of the clan does. Is it really right to deny him passage?"

"Maybe not, but his leader sure." Mudclaw mews, anger still in his voice.

He can only hope Bluestar made it far away from here. Suddenly she comes out and mews, hackles raised, "Starclan gives us safe passage."

"Bluestar you denied your right to Starclan the moment you took Brokentail in!" hisses Mudclaw. His head then turns toward Graystripe, "I will let him pass since he has done a great service to Windclan, but you I cannot since you chose to take Brokentail as your prisoner!"

"But we are both…"

"Leave! Without Graystripe and his apprentice. They may continue their journey, but you must return home. Starclan wouldn't commune with some cat like you anyway." Mudclaw growls.

Graystripe smiles, hoping Bluestar doesn't notice his worry, "It's okay Bluestar, I'll talk to Starclan for you. Come on Cloudpaw, there's a friend I want you to meet."

Not wanting to anger the Windclan cats he does as they say, and continues onward. He looks back a couple of times to see Bluestar's walking away, her tail dragging in the Earth.

"Does Windclan really hate Brokentail that much?" Cloudpaw asks once they are out of earshot of the Windclan warriors.

He nods. "Yes. Brokentail, back when he was leader of Shadowclan, drove them out. It wasn't until Fireheart and I brought them back that they returned home as they believed Brokentail would just drive them out again."

"I never knew that."

"It happened before you were brought into the forest as a kit."

"Still, how could a clan leader be so greedy?"

"Well Shadowclan's territory in the stories anyway is pretty prey-poor territory. Before the Thunderpath was built their territory was right next to ours and they used to steal prey all the time. Usually during leaf-bare. But the Thunderpath keeps them from crossing into our territory nowadays."

"So he was doing it to feed his clan?"

Graystripe shakes his head, "Not likely since it happened during the greenleaf Fireheart and I were made apprentices when the forest is prey-rich. His excuse at the gathering was because in newleaf they were blessed with lots of kits to feed. But the Shadowclan forest has always supported them so I wonder why it was different that time, or if he believed Shadowclan should have a share of all the land because they are the 'greatest' whatever that means."

Heading toward the twoleg barn, Cloudpaw meows, "Why are we going to a barn? Is there prey there? I'm starving."

He purrs, "Yes there is. But there's also an old friend I haven't visited since leaf-bare. He'll want to hear of….Fireheart's death."

"Who is he?"

"You'll see when we get there."

They make their way to the barn. The sun still burns high in the sky, so they have time to eat and rest before their visit to the Moonstone. It has to be dark and close to moon high in order for them to visit Starclan's hunting grounds.

Entering the barn Cloudpaw gasps, "Twolegs built this den?"

"Yes. It's their barn, but they don't mind Barley and Ravenpaw much as they catch mice and stay mostly out of their way. Or at least that's how I…"

"Graystripe? Graystripe is that you?" asks Ravenpaw, as the black cat bounds up to him. They touch noses together and Ravenpaw pulls back, "And who is this?"

"This is Cloudpaw, Fireheart's kin, my apprentice."

"I didn't think I would see you again so soon and with an apprentice of your own. What brought you here?"

" Bluestar wanted to commune with Starclan but we ran into some complications but they allowed us through because of me and Fireheart brought them back home. My apprentice was hungry so before we traveled to the Moonstone we thought we could hunt here before Moonrise."

"Of course you can."

"And there's another reason. Tigerclaw has been exiled and I've taken his place as deputy and during the battle, Fireheart…..He di.….he was killed by the rogues who were helping him."

Ravenpaw's green eyes fill with horror and sorrow, tears spilling out. "No, that can't be true…It can't be true."

Graystripe puts his head around Ravenpaw's neck, his own tears falling down his cheeks, "I wish it wasn't but it was."

They both mourn their friend's death together for a few moments.

"Ravenpaw what's going on? Why is there a white cat hunting in my barn….." He then stops, noticing their grief filled embrace.

"Oh Graystripe…. What happened?"

Leaving the embrace he tells Barely what happened. How Fireheart had died.

"Oh that's, that's awful. Fireheart was a good cat." Barely mews, not sure what else to say.

"Well you're welcome to stay as long as you like."

"Thanks, Barely. But once me and Cloudpaw have rested, we need to travel to the Moonstone."

"Ah, he's already doing that tradition. Must be a fine apprentice."

Graystripe nods, "He is."

"Well I'll leave you to it." Barely dips his head and leaves them alone.

"I can't believe he's dead."

"I'll see him tonight, I'm sure of it along with Cloudpaw."

Ravenpaw nods, wiping his paw on muzzle trying to wipe away the tears, "When you see him, tell him I miss our friendship."

"Will do."

The black cat then butts his head against Graystripe, "You should go hunt. You must be exhausted."

He nods and heads off to hunt for prey in the barn. Moonrise is only a few hours away and he wonders if Fireheart will visit him and Cloudpaw or not.

Author's Note: Okay so I had Graystripe move past the patrol of Windclan warriors, because who just ups and forgets what some kind thing someone did for them. Certainly not Windclan warriors who owe their lives to Fireheart and Graystripe for bringing them back and at least one cat would have at least allowed Fireheart to pass in cannon. And there's this pesky warrior code rule that a leader's word is law and so some cats in Windclan should be smart enough to figure out that maybe not all Thunderclan cats, including their saviors, agreed with Bluestar's decision. Especially not their saviors who risked their lived to bring them home. And even though Mudclaw is prickly he was only ever mad at Onestar and Tallstar. Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.

~Leafbranch