Graystripe's flanks heave as he fights for breath, and his cheek stings where claws have raked across it. As he staggers to his feet, Brightpaw takes a couple of steps back.

"I haven't hurt you, have i?" the ginger and white apprentice asks anxiously.

"No, I'm fine," He gasps, "Did Whitestorm teach you that move because I never saw it coming. Well done."

Trying not to limp, he pads across the clearing in the training hollow to where Swiftpaw, Thornpaw and Cloudpaw are watching. He has been assessing the apprentices, as they have all done well this past moon in their training despite the extra demand of working alongside the Riverclan cats in strengthening their camp despite only having little growth to work with to camouflage the camp and the threat of the lingering dog scent on their territory. They have all held their own against him and he couldn't be more proud of a group of apprentices.

"I'm glad you're all on my side. I would not want to meet any of you in battle on the enemy side. I have spoken with your mentors and they all think you are ready to be warriors." He meows.

Brightpaw, Swiftpaw and Thornpaw exchange excited glances. Meanwhile his apprentice Cloudpaw tries to look nonchalant, but there is a gleam of excitement in his eyes like the other apprentices.

"Okay you can hunt on your way back to camp, and see to it that the elders and queens are fed. Then you can eat."

"How much longer are we supposed to stay in Riverclan camp with the camp being rebuilt. I'm tired of eating fish." Swiftpaw mews.

"As long as it takes. But don't worry, some Thunderclan cats are already staying in camp. Like Bluestar and me. So it shouldn't be long before now. And be careful about that dog scent, we still haven't tracked it down, and it's been eating prey as well." He reminds them.

The four apprentices then scamper off heading into the little undergrowth there is. He purrs at their antics, wishing he could be as carefree as them. But with his responsibilities as deputy weighing down on him, and him worried about his kits, constantly traveling back and forth, well he simply does not have the time.

He turns around in the other direction heading back towards camp. He wishes Crookedstar could be here with them, but he passed away a half-moon ago with Leopardfur assuming her place as Riverclan leader. Despite their rocky past he and Leopardstar for the rest of the moon, along with her deputy Stonefur have worked well together. Bluestar has been more distant and has let the majority of the decisions fall on him. Looking at the few leaves on the trees, some of them are turning red and gold. It will get harder not easier when leaf-bare comes, but because of Riverclan's much needed help they have been thriving and getting their tasks done with few warriors being overstretched.

Some of Riverclan's warriors along with a few Thunderclan are staying in the reinforced dens. Mainly Heavystep, and his apprentice Dawnpaw, Mistyfoot, Shadepelt in Riverclan, along with Bluestar, him, Sandstorm, and Longtail. The other warriors and apprentices come and go between the camps.

He slips quietly into the camp and stands for a moment near the entrance, looking around. Darkstripe who is helping Dustpelt repatch the warriors den is working alongside the younger apprentices Fernpaw and Ashpaw. Heavystep and his apprentice Dawnpaw are working on patching up the barrier along with Brackenfur and Longtail. The other warriors are working on the other dens except for Bluestar's.

Graystripe enters her den to tell her the good news of the apprentices assessment. The clan leader is seated outside her den in a patch of sunshine, and he hopes that she might be feeling like her old self. But her tired eyes betray that she still has that clouded look in her gaze as she blinks up at him. A fresh piece of prey lays beside her half-eaten.

"Well, Graystripe, what can I do for you?" She meows as he comes closer.

"I've got good news," he mews cheerfully, despite her bad mood. "I have assessed all four apprentices and they are ready to be made warriors."

"The older apprentices?" Bluestar mews in confusion, "That would be Brackenpaw and Cinderpaw?"

His heart sinks, he was hoping his news would make their leader have some spark in their eyes about clan life. But now she's so distant she cannot remember who are apprentices.

"No," Graystripe begins painterly, "Bluestar, they're Swiftpaw, Cloudpaw, Brightpaw and Thornpaw."

The Thunderclan leader shifts a little. "That's who I meant." She snaps. "And you want them to be warriors? Just….just remind me who their mentors are, will you?"

"I'm Cloudpaw's mentor, the others are Longtail…"

"Longtail," Bluestar interrupts, "Ah yes… One of Tigerclaw's friends. Why did we give him an apprentice, we can't trust him."

"Longtail chose to stay in Thunderclan when Tigerstar left. He has also proven himself to be loyal to us over and over again. Besides….."

"That doesn't mean we can trust him." His leader snorts. "We can't trust any of them. They're traitors and they'll train more traitors. I won't make warriors out of any of their apprentices! Only Cloudpaw."

"But…."

"No buts Graystripe. Cloudpaw has proven himself to be a fine warrior we can rely on. And you trained him along with Fireheart before you. He will not be a traitor unlike the rest of them. Where is Cloudpaw."

"He's at the Riverclan camp."

"Then tomorrow we will hold his warrior ceremony when he comes back to rebuild camp."

Graystripe dips his head, sadness welling in his chest. Is his leader serious? The clan needs more warriors, and Brightpaw, Thornpaw and Swiftpaw have all proved their worth. They are great young cats and deserve to be granted the same respect as Cloudpaw even if Bluestar thinks their mentors are traitors. And Longtail, Mousefur and Whitestorm aren't traitors, but he sighs, Bluestar only thinks that because they were blinded to Tigerstar's true nature.

Walking to where Longtail is working he signals for the pale tabby to come with him. Silently he leads his friend out of camp and into the forest. Stopping a few foxlengths away from camp he mews, "I'm sorry but…."

"But Swiftpaw will not be made a warrior."

He pricks his ears in surprise.

"How did you…"

"Know? I was Tigerstar's friend. The clan hasn't accepted me wholly. I still get some glares and suspicious glances from them, the only friends I have are you and Sandstorm and my apprentice. And Bluestar can't trust me because I was friends with that mangy traitor! It's why she won't trust my apprentice, Swiftpaw, either. Because I trained him and am associated with him!"

Graystripe leans his head on Longtail's shoulder, "She also doesn't trust the other apprentices. She isn't making them warriors either. Only Cloudpaw. It's so stupid, Whitestorm and Mousefur are noble cats, their only fault wasn't being aware of Tigerstar's true nature."

"Bluestar doesn't trust any of us except you and your apprentice and….." Longtail mutters miserably.

"I wish it weren't true but it is." He meows interrupting his friend.

"Really?! But Whitestorm is so close to her… I thought it was only the rest…. "

"Yes. She doesn't even trust Whitestorm enough to make Brightpaw a warrior. It's stupid they all deserve to be warriors. They've been working so hard to rebuild camp and travel back and forth between the territory whilst also hunting and patrolling the borders. They are practically warriors already. I wish Fireheart were here, perhaps he would know what to do."

"But you are here now. You've been an amazing deputy to us. You stood up for our kits when Bluestar would have us leave the safety of the Riverclan camp. You made excellent friends in me, and maybe something more in Sandstorm. You're accepting of Tigerstar and Goldenflower's kits despite the rest of the clan hating them for no reason other than they are related to that fox-heart. And even though we haven't figured out about the dog and how to drive it out, you've been reminding every cat to keep an eye out. You may not have deserved this position but you have grown into it making Thunderclan proud."

He looks up at the sky, "You're right. But still I wonder if things would have been different if Fireheart had lived beyond the rogue battle. If things would have been better or worse."(Definitely worse Graystripe, as Fireheart not speaking up against Bluestar adequately led to the death of Snowkit, Riverclan wanting to reclaim Sunningrocks because of a debt Thunderclan owes them instead of uniting against Tigerstar, Windclan also not taking the threat of Tigerstar seriously because no cat knows the dark leader's past, Riverclan allying themselves with Tigerstar and Bloodclan resulting in the death of Stonefur, and the traumatization of Feathertail and Stormfur and because of that letting Feathertail when she learns about Hawkpaw's father to cause her to be distant despite being close to the apprentice, allowing his negative traits to show through. Anyway, back to the story.)

"Well, we can't know for certain. But we are here right now. Living in this world, and so far we are doing pretty good. All the clans know of Tigerstar's treachery and will not side with him. Riverclan is helping us to strengthen camp…."

He purrs, "You're right Longtail. We have done well for ourselves. The clans are united against Tigerstar and Riverclan, despite their feud against us is helping us."

"Though…." He returns to his gaze to the sky, the sun dipping down in the sky, "Bluestar is still unwell and three apprentices who are ready to be warriors are denied that right. There's still that dog scent that has been lingering in the forest which isn't natural. Yet we've had no time to look into it as we've been busy rebuilding camp and making sure Tigerstar doesn't surprise us."

Longtail nods, "Yes. But I have faith that they will become warriors even if it takes a little longer than expected."