Graystar makes his way thoughtfully back into the camp. Glancing around, he catches sight of Darkstripe gulping down a piece of fresh-kill beside the nettle patch. Mousefur, Goldenflower, and Frostfur are eating close by, but Graystar notices that they had all turned their backs on Darkstripe and were not looking at him. Cloudtail must have already begun to spread the news of what had happened in the ravine. Frostfur and Goldenflower in particular, who have both raised kits of their own, would be horrified by the very suspicion that a lan warrior would murder a kit. It is a good sign, he realizes, if they seemed to believe Cloudtail's version of events. It shows that his friend and former apprentice despite having kittypet roots is a respected warrior in the clan.
Graystar is heading towards Sandstorm when movement by the warriors' den catches his eye.
Brackenfur is just emerging from between the branches, gazing wildly around. He spots Darkstripe, takes a step toward him, and then veers away to join Graystar.
"I've just heard!" he gasps. "Graystar, I'm sorry. He got away from me. This is all my fault!" "Steady." Graystar lets his tail rest a moment on the agitated young warrior's shoulder, gesturing for calm. "Tell me what happened."
Brackenfur takes a couple of gulping breaths, struggling for self-control.
"Darkstripe said he was going out to hunt," he begins. "I went with him, but when we got into the forest he said he had to make dirt. He went behind a bush and I waited for him. He was taking a long time, so I went to look—and he'd gone!"
His eyes stretch wide with dismay.
"If Sorrelkit dies, I'll never forgive myself."
"Sorrelkit won't die," Graystar reassures him, though he is not certain that it is the truth. The kit is still very ill. And now there is something else to worry about. Brackenfur's story shows that Darkstripe had realized he was being watched. He had gotten rid of his guard very neatly. He must have had a reason, Graystar reflects. What had the dark tabby meant to do, and why had he tried to kill Sorrelkit?
"What do you want me to do now?" Brackenfur asks miserably.
"Stop blaming yourself, to begin with," Graystar replies. "Darkstripe was bound to let us know where his loyalties lie sooner or later. It's only a coincidence that it happened on your watch of him. Why don't you take the apprentices out for training, along with their mentors. Perhaps some battle training will lighten them up from the depressing mood of camp. I'll stay here and keep an hear out for news of Sorrelkit"
Except for his anxiety over Sorrelkit, Graystar isn't sorry that Darkstripe has shown his true self in a way that no cat can ignore. Although he has hoped to keep the dark warrior in the clan, where he can watch him for signs of treachery, now he knows that Darkstripe will never be loyal, to him or to Thunderclan, and there can be no place for a cat who would poison a defenseless kit. Let him go to Tigerstar, where he belongs, Graystar thinks.
Brackenfur gives a nod of understanding and hurries across to the nettle patch, and rounds up the apprentices along with their mentors. Sandstorm being among them. He wishes he can go with them, alleviate some of the tension he feels by training with them. But he has to stay and watch Darkstripe as well as be here for when Sorrelkit wakes up. The cats of ThunderClan are making their feelings very clear about the dark tabby warrior. Dustpelt had been Darkstripe's apprentice, and now he doesn't even want to speak to his former mentor.
Graystar picks out a magpie from the fresh-kill pile and takes it over to the nettle patch. Trying to not feel uneasy about the whole situation.
"Graystar," Fernpaw asks nervously, after she padded up to him, "what's going to happen about…about Darkstripe? If he did that to Sorrelkit, I don't want him as my mentor."
"If he did that to Sorrelkit, he won't be your mentor," he promises.
"So who's going to mentor Fernpaw then?" Dustpelt asks Graystar, taking it for granted that Darkstripe is guilty.
"I could manage her as well as Ashpaw," he suggests hopefully. Fernpaw brightens but he shakes his head.
"Not a chance, Dustpelt. You wouldn't be nearly tough enough with her given your clear affection for her."
Dustpelt's eyes spark with annoyance; then he nods sheepishly. "I suppose you're right."
"Don't worry," Graystar promises. "I'll make sure she gets a good mentor."
As he settles to eat his magpie he thinks of who would be a good mentor to Fernpaw. A lot of the warriors already have apprentices, Sandstorm, Longtail, Brackenfur, and Dustplet including himself. Frostfur is already mentoring Owlpaw… Whitestorm would be a good choice, he's already mentored an apprentice and has the experience necessary.
Frostfur then comes up to him. "Graystar," she mews, dipping her head. "I think Owlpaw is ready to be a warrior. She has been great in training, and despite still having more to learn she is a full grown she-cat. I can still help her adjust, but I think she doesn't need to train like the other apprentices anymore."
"Really?" The white she-cat nods, "Yes. She's as good as Cloudtail and Fireheart, despite having been a kittypet like them. Her hunting in particular is on point."
"Then we'll do an assessment of her hunting, with me and you watching her tomorrow."
"Thanks Graystar. I'll tell her right away. By the way, even though Snowpaw is a little behind, Brightspirit and Cloudtail have been good mentors to him. You made a good choice with them co-mentoring him. Brightspirit has even improved in hunting and fighting as well with the new moves Cloudtail and her made."
He purrs, "I'm glad to hear it."
Frostfur then turns and gathers Owlpaw to leave with Brackenfur and the rest of the apprentices. The training hollow will be crowded, but at least it will get the apprentices minds off of Sorrelkit, and Brackenfur too.
As he eats his magpie he notices the sun is starting to dip down. The short days of leaf-bare are coming. After finishing his meals he licks the remains off his whiskers and begins to groom himself. Mid-groom he notices Whitestorm coming out of Cinderpelt's den.
Stopping, he stands up and pads to him to meet the white warrior. Whitestorm looks around and then catches him. The white tom meets him halfway in the clearing.
Graystar mews, "Whitestorm, would you like to be Fernpaw's mentor if Cloudtail's tale is true?"
Whitestorm nods, "Yes, I would be honored to train the young she-cat."
He adds, "I looked in on Sorrelkit just now. She is starting to wake up. Cinderpelt thinks she'll recover."
"That's great news!" Graystar purrs.
Whitestorm, he remembers, is Sorrelkit's father.
"Do you think she's fit yet to tell us what happened?"
"You'll have to ask Cinderpelt," the white warrior replies. "Go now if you like."
Graystar thanks him and hurries toward the medicine cat's den.
Cinderpelt meets him at the mouth of the fern tunnel.
"I was coming to look for you," she meows.
After hearing Whitestorm's good news, he is surprised to see the depth of anxiety in her eyes.
"Sorrelkit is awake," she continues. "She's going to be fine. But you need to hear the story she has to tell."