As he and Brackenfur lead the apprentices back through their territory, he remains alert for the signs of the mysterious evil in the forest. Graystripe sees nothing, which makes him even more unnerved and uncomfortable. The evil, or the dog, whatever it is has disappeared which again makes him uncomfortable and scared for the safety of his kits, Tawnypaw, Bramblepaw, their mother, Sandstorm, and the rest of Thunderclan. What could fade into the forest after wreaking havoc on two young cats making it seem like it has never been there?

He decides he needs to talk to Brightspirit about the evil, but the sun is setting and he knows the young she-cat is still recovering from her horrible experience. Cats are still being hunted, though, even if this 'pack' has retreated for the moment and he needs to do something about it before another cat is killed or scarred like Brightspirit. And they'll be exhausted no doubt after training Snowpaw, who needs extra attention.

Early the next morning, Graystripe emerges from the den and into the clearing to find the Dawn Patrol getting ready to leave. Sandstorm, Longtail, along with his kits, Featherpaw and Stormpaw are waiting beside the Entrance to the gorse tunnel, while Dustpelt calls his own apprentice.

Bounding towards them he purrs, "You're first dawn patrol. Are you excited?"

Featherpaw bounces on her paws, "Yeah! It will be great. We'll be ready for any Shadowclan attack!"

Her brother on the other paw yawns. "I don't get why we have to wake up so early." Stormpaw complains.

"Because all apprentice training is still being sped up. We have to be on the outlook for Shadowclan and what killed Swiftpaw and injured Brightspirit."

Featherpaw growls, "I will shred anything that gets in our way."

Longtail chuckles, "I know you will. But you haven't had any battle training yet. So leave the fighting, if any fighting happened to the older cats."

Featherpaw flattens her ears, but nods her head in agreement to her mentor's order. Dustpelt and Ashpaw join them, and Sandstorm mews, "Well we should get going."

"Good luck to all of you. May Starclan light your path."

The patrol murmurs the same greeting to him, before they head out of the gorse tunnel to patrol the border of Shadowclan. Which is near Snakerocks. He is worried for his kit's safety, but they are now apprentices, and he cannot coddle them all the time for they are now discovering who they are, and most warriors are independent. And he has responsibilities he needs to tend to, making him too busy to coddle them anyway.

Padding across the clearing to Cinderpelt's den, he sees Brightspirit is seated in a patch of sunlight, Cloudtail gently washing her with Snowpaw sitting beside them. His attention is drawn towards a butterfly flying about. The wounds on Brightspirit's body are healing cleanly, and he ginger-and-white fur is beginning to grow back. As he approaches Graystripe thinks the young cat is almost fully healed, until she lifts her head. For the first time he sees the damaged side of her face without its covering of cobwebs.

Freshly healed scars are stretched across Brightspirit's cheek, bare flesh where no fur will ever grow. Her eye is gone, and her ear is reduced to a few shreds. Anger burns deep in his belly, somehow they must drive the evil out of the forest.

Brightspirit lets out a faint whimper as he approaches, shrinking closer to Cloudtail.

"It's okay. It's only Graystripe." Cloudtail mews softly to the young she-cat. Looking up at his former mentor, he explains, "You came up on her blind side. She's scared when cats do that, but she's getting better everyday."

"That's right," Cinderpelt agrees, emerging from her den. Limping over to Graystripe so she can speak to him without Brightspirit overhearing she continues, "To be honest, there's not much I can do for her. She just needs time to get strong."

"That's good. I came here to talk to her if that's alright."

"It should be. Have you and Bluestar decided…."

"Cloudtail and her will train together along with Snowpaw. Brightspirit is a warrior now. But I think she should stay with the elders until she gets more used to….. Her condition. We don't need any of our rowdy clanmates scaring her while she's still getting used to this."

"So that's official? I thought you and Bluestar weren't being serious. But I am glad you are. The clan needs all the warriors we can get, with the threat of Shadowclan looming over our heads. And these cats deserve to be warriors." A hint of longing is in her mew.

"Do you wish things were different?"

"No. I am glad I became a Medicine cat. I wouldn't change a thing. Though sometimes I do wonder what it would have been like. Hunting beside and training beside Fireheart and my brother."

"I'm sure we all have things we wonder about."

"Like Silverstream and Fireheart."

"Yeah. But I can't worry about what could have been, when I have cats in the present to care about."

"Sandstorm, Featherpaw and Stormpaw?"

Graystripe draws his ears back in embarrassment and turns his face away from the Medicine cat at the mention of Sandstorm. He does like the she-cat, might even care for her the same way he did Silverstream. She has been closest to him through this whole ordeal and he can always confide in her whenever something is troubling him.

Cinderpelt clears her throat, "Anyways, you wanted to ask Brightspirit something."

"Yes."

Turning to her and Cloudtail he mews, "Brightspirit. I would like to talk to you about something if that's alright."

The young she-cat turns her ravaged face towards him.

"Would like to stay with the elders, until you get stronger. I know you're not an elder, but it would be more quiet there. Cloudtail you could keep her company there, she seems more relaxed with you around. And once you get stronger, Cloudtail will train you alongside his apprentice, Snowpaw."

"I guess I can… And you want me to train alongside Snowpaw?"

"Snowpaw is deaf in both his ears. His sight is still good, and since you have lost hearing in one of your ears, I figured you and Cloudtail would make good mentors for him. For if you can figure out how to fight and hunt with one ear missing, then you can figure out how to fight and hunt with two ears unable to hear. It will take a lot of work but I believe in you two."

She looks at Cloudtail who gives her a reassuring look.

"Then I'll do it."

Graystripe purrs, "You two will be excellent. I know it. And once you get stronger you can move into the warriors den if you so choose."

"Thanks Graystripe."

"You're welcome, both of you, and Brightspirit…." he hesitates, "Do you remember anything about what…. did this do you?"

Brightspirit's confidence gaze wavers and she shrinks more into Cloudtail. "I don't remember." she whimpers. "I'm sorry Graystripe. I don't remember.

"It's alright. You don't have to think about it too hard right now. But if you remember anything, tell me right away." He is disappointed but he understands the young-she cat does not want to remember something so horrible and wretched.

Cloudtail growls, "I'll tell you one thing. When we find out who did this to her, I'll make crowfood of them. I promise you that."

Author's Note: Sorry for not publishing anything yesterday( for this fic and for Fractured Sun and for Legendary Defenders: Kwamis and Lions Next Gen), I just learned that a childhood family I spent a long time with their mother died in a car accident. It hit me hard yesterday to where the only things I got finished where the names for future arcs for this AU(as Fireheart dying changes a whole lot of things in future arcs and I want to expand on that). I rekindled my friendship with her kids in Grade 11 and 12 and spent some time talking to their mother when I was out of highschool about my problems and aspirations so I was still pretty close to them before moving to Mexico four months ago. Making the news hit me more hard than I imagined yesterday Anyways sorry for the downer news, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.

~Leafbranch