Twilight is thickening the shadows under the trees by the time Graystar and Cinderpelt slip down the ravine toward the camp entrance. They had slept in the barn with Barley and Ravenpaw until the sun was well above the horizon, and feasted again on plump mice before they set off for their own territory.

Though Graystar is tired, some of the horror of his dream is fading, mostly because of the help of the company he spent time with earlier, and he is looking forward to seeing his clanmates again, especially Sandstorm.

At first the new leader emerges unnoticed from the gorse tunnel with Cinderpelt. Whitestorm and Brackenfur are sitting together near the nettle patch, finishing off some fresh-kill, while three of the apprentices wrestle playfully outside their den. Graystar picks out the mottled tortoiseshell and white pelt of his own apprentice, Tawnypaw, and reminds himself to get her back onto a strict training schedule as soon as he can. There was no reason why leadership duties should prevent him from mentoring the young cat—after all, Bluestar had been a diligent mentor to Fireheart and some other apprentices.

He is padding over to Longtail, seeing him near the apprentices den watching the three apprentices wrestle, when he hears his name yowled loudly, and turns to see Ashpaw racing across the clearing from the elders' den. The apprentice's gray fur is bristling with excitement.

"Graystripe—no, Graystar You're back!" His noisy greeting alerts the rest of the clan and soon they are pressing around Graystar, calling him by his new name and welcoming him home. He wants to give himself up to the uncomplicated enjoyment of their warm fur pressed against his, but he can not ignore the awe in their eyes as they gaze at him. He feels a sharp pang in his heart as he is reminded yet again of the new distance between himself and the rest of his Clan.

"Did you really see StarClan?" asks Fernpaw, her eyes wide.

"I really did," Graystar replies gently to the older apprenitce. "But I'm not allowed to say anything about the ceremony."

Fernpaw doesn't look too disappointed. Her eyes brimming with admiration, she turns to Dustpelt and meows, "I bet he's going to be a great leader!"

"He'd better be," replies Dustpelt; his love for Fernpaw will not let him argue with her, even though Graystar is well aware that he has never been Dustpelt's favorite cat. But the brown-coated warrior gives him a nod of respect, and he knows that Dustpelt's loyalty to the warrior code and the clan will ensure his support.

"It's good to see you back," meows Sandstorm, shouldering through the warriors to reach Graystar's side. At least she seems to not have that same awe in her pale green eyes like the others as he presses his muzzle to hers.

"You look like a fox that's been dead for a moon. Was it tough?"

"It was," Graystar murmurs, just for Sandstorm's ears.

Owlpaw, Cloudtail and Brightspirit murmur their congratulations when Sandstorm backs away. Those his gaze warmly lingers on her.

As the welcoming cats begin to disperse, he catches the eye of Longtail, who had greeted him and then backed off a pace or two, waiting to speak.

"How are things in camp?" Graystar asks. "Was there any trouble while I was away?" "Not a thing," the pale warrior reports. "We've patrolled the whole territory, and there's no sign of dogs or of ShadowClan."

"Good," He mews, proud of his friend.

Glancing at the well-stocked fresh-kill pile, he adds, "I see some cats have been hunting."

"Sandstorm took a patrol out, and Mousefur and Brackenfur put the apprentices to work," replies Longtail. "Tawnypaw is a skillful hunter. I lost count of how much prey she brought in along with the other apprentices."

"Good," Graystar repeats. His pleasure in hearing his apprentice is doing well along with the seven apprentices.

Cinderpelt comes up to him again.

"I'm off to my den," she meows. "Call me if you want anything. Have you remembered that you need to appoint a deputy before moonhigh?"

Graystar nods, looking at Longtail. Other duties have been more urgent, but now he is ready to make this decision. Several of the clan are pacing among the ferns at the edge, obviously waiting for the announcement, despite dispersing after they welcomed him and his new title.

He springs up onto the Highrock and yowls, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting."

His summons is still ringing in the air when more cats begin to appear, slipping from the shelter of their dens or padding into the light from the sun that is slowly fading from the shadows at the edge of camp.

Graystar sees Darkstripe stalk into the open and sit a few tail-lengths away from the rock, his tail wrapped around his paws and a scornful look in his eyes. Unobtrusively, Brackenfur follows him and takes up a position close by. Bramblepaw emerges from the apprentices' den sitting with his sister, Tawnypaw, near the edge of the gathering crowd. The eyes of both apprentices are watchful, flicking back and forth. Stormpaw and Featherpaw join them, excitement clear in both his kits eyes.

As Mousefur walks past them she snaps at Tawnypaw, and the younger she-cat turns her head away sharply, as if she and Mousefur have disagreed over something. Tawnypaw is bright and very confident, Graystar reflects from the training; he wouldn't be surprised if she offended the experienced warriors now and then. Or, his mind thinks darkly, it has to do with her heritage and he should talk to Mousefur about it. To get a clear idea. He does not want Tawnypaw or her brother to be treated poorly for something they had nothing to do with.

Sandstorm, and Longtail are sitting together near the rock, close to Cloudtail, Brightspirit and Owlpaw, and the elders all come out in a group and settle down in the center of the clearing. Graystar sees Whitestorm strolling over from the nettle patch with Cinderpelt.

Swallowing his nervousness, Graytar begins. "The time has come to appoint a new deputy."

Pausing, he feels the presence of Bluestar very close to him as he remembers the ritual words she used to speak.

"I say these words before StarClan," he continues, "that the spirits of our ancestors may hear and approve my choice."

By now all the cats have turned their faces up to him; he looks down at their eyes gleaming in the fading sunlight and can almost taste their excitement.

"Longtail will be the new deputy of ThunderClan," he announces.

For a heartbeat there is silence. Longtail is blinking up at him, a look of pleasure and surprise spreading over his face. Graystar realized that the surprise is part of what he liked so much about his friend; Longtail has never assumed that he would be the one chosen, because of his ties to Tigerstar and the fact the clan, even though they have gotten over it, still dislike him. But he will have no other cat by his side as he trusts Longtail deeply.

Slowly he rises to his paws.

"Graystar, cats of ThunderClan," he meows, "I never expected to be given this honor. I swear by StarClan that I will do all I can to serve you."

As he finishes speaking, sound gradually swells from the assembled cats, a mixture of yowls and purrs and voices calling,

"Longtail!"

All the Clan begins to press around the pale tabby warrior, congratulating him. Graystar purrs at the acceptance of his choice. For a few moments he remains on the Highrock and watches A new feeling of optimism surges through his paws, filling him with confidence and warmth.

He has his nine lives; he has the best deputy a cat could wish for; and he has a team of warriors who are ready to face anything. The threat of the pack is over: Graystar has to believe that soon they will be able to drive Tigerstar out of the forest for good.

Then, just as he is poised to leap down and offer his own good wishes to Longtail, he catches sight of Darkstripe. He alone of all the cats has not moved or spoken. He is staring up at Graystar, and his eyes burn with cold fire.

He is instantly reminded of the dreadful vision in the ceremony, the hill of bones and the tide of blood that had flowed from it. Bluestar's words ring in his ears again: Three will become one. Lion, shadow and blood will meet in battle, and blood will rule the forest.

Graystar still does not know what the prophecy means, but the words are laden with doom. There will be battle and bloodshed. And in Darkstripe's malignant stare, at him and Longtail, Graystar seems to see the first cloud that would eventually unleash the storm of war.

Author's Note: The reason I had Graystar chose a deputy so quickly, is because he already trusts Longtail. Longtail has proven himself over and over to the clan, unlike Darkstripe, and most every cat has accepted him. Expect the sometimes still lingering dislike because of Tigerstar, but other than that the clan pretty much trusts Longtail. And unlike Graystripe in cannon, has actually trained an apprentice to warriorhood, even if the apprentice died from an accident before he could be made a warrior. And he is given another apprentice to prove himself too, making him more qualified. Also Whitestorm is old and because of the battle happening soon he won't make it to really show off what he is known for. Also also, Whitestorm never expected it when in cannon he was made deputy, so he is fine being a beacon of advice if any cat needs it.

~Leafbranch.