#leopardstar was always looking for any opportunity to get rid of graystripe

[warriors-rewritten-chaos]

Post Arc 1 Interlude- Graystripe's Heartbreak

An original segment following Graystripe's thoughts and adventures after the fight against Scourge and The Coven of Blood. The battle's won, nothing can go wrong now! Right?

Graystripe couldn't believe it. They had done it. The Coven of Blood had been driven from the forest after Firestar had killed Scourge, TigerClan was no more, and peace would return to the forest. He walked with Firestar and Sandstorm the whole way back to ThunderClan, his tail entwined with theirs, feeling happier than he had in moons.

When they reached camp and told those who hadn't gone the news of what had happened, there were cries of celebration and joy and the air filled with excited chatter. Firestar leapt onto the Highrock and his voice cut like a claw through all the noise, giving way to quiet as the Leader spoke. Graystripe felt a sense of pride and joy seeing the tom he loved (loved! the thought still made him giddy) so confident and bright.

"Cats of ThunderClan! And, uh, RiverClan as well!" Mistyfoot gave the young Leader a small nod of gratitude for the inclusion of their small group. "I trust that you all know of our victory against TigerClan and over The Coven of Blood." Firestar continued on, interrupted by raucous cheers that he patiently waited to die down before continuing his address.

"However, as with all battles, there are casualties. And one of the casualties today... was our Deputy, Whitestorm. Whitestorm was many things to many cats. He was a trusted clanmate, an incredible Warrior, a wise mentor, a loving mate and father, and a faithful friend. I believe it isn't an exaggeration to say that he will be deeply mourned by everyone in attendance today. Now, though, it is my duty as your Leader to choose a cat who will take up his mantle as Deputy. Not to replace him, but to continue his hard work for the sake of ThunderClan's continued prosperity."

"And with that, I would like to introduce the cat who I believe is the most qualified to accomplish this feat. I present ThunderClan's new Deputy, Frostfur." The Senior Warrior's temporary absence from the crowd had gone unnoticed until she reappeared at that moment, stepping up beside Firestar and dipping her head to the assembly. The camp erupted into near-deafening cheers of her name, the loudest voices unsurprisingly being those of her daughters. Cinderspark was literally jumping up and down with joy, while Brightheart shed a few tears of pride for her mother's accomplishment.

"I am deeply honored to have received this role, and will do my best in service of my Clan to honor Whitestorm's memory."

Firestar then went on to announce a few retirements- Speckletail and Dapplelight were joining the Elders, while Beestripe was changing her role to Builder due to strain on her joints making her Scout duties too painful and difficult for her to continue with at her age. When the meeting was adjourned, Graystripe was startled by Mistyfoot flicking her tail against his side to grab his attention. "We need to talk. Now" she said in a grave voice. He was confused but went along, guiding her slightly outside of the camp into the forest.

"Here should be fine," he told her as they looked around to check if they were truly alone. "Now, what did you need to talk to me about?"

"You're in love with Firestar and Sandstorm."

"How did you know?!" Graystripe exclaimed, fur bristling slightly with embarrassment. 'I thought did a good job of hiding it; how could she have noticed?!'

"Literally any cat with functional eyes can see that you are. When Firestar gave the address you spent the entire time looking at him as though he'd hung the moon in the sky. And not to mention that display heading back from the battle."

He sighed, lowering his head in defeat. "Okay, yes, I am. But why does that-" "You know Stars-damned well why that matters right now." Mistyfoot said sternly, cutting him off.

"Graystripe, you joined RiverClan after your kits were born. You're a RiverClan Warrior now, not a ThunderClan one. You cannot live with a paw in both Clans, no matter how much you may want to. You need to make a choice: stay with your kits in RiverClan, or see if ThunderClan will take you back. Make a choice now, before you ruin your life." And with that, she turned and walked back to camp as though their discussion had never happened.

For his part, Graystripe just stood there, feeling as though he'd been struck. He hadn't even considered the eventuality that he and the others would have to return to RiverClan. That is, if Leopardstar would even take them back. He wasn't sure whether she truly had supported Tigerstar's stance on killing half-Clan cats or if she'd just gone along with it to appease him. She was very difficult to read.

But Mistyfoot had been right when she'd said he needed to make a choice. And he knew what that choice needed to be. What it had to be. If he left RiverClan, Willowpaw and Featherpaw would be left without any parent to care for them. And while their aunts would no doubt do their best in his stead (StarClan knows Smallsplash and Breezeripple were nothing but loving to their niblings despite whatever they may have thought of the kits' father) he couldn't leave them alone. He couldn't abandon his family a second time.

No matter how badly it hurt to leave Firestar and Sandstorm. But he knew in his heart that they would support his choice too. They would understand. They always did. He began to solemnly head back towards camp when he was bowled over by Featherpaw, who immediately began to playfully bite his ears with a shout of "in an enemy territory, never let your guard down!". No doubt wisdom instilled in her by her mentor. He felt teeth dig into his tail and caught a glimpse of Willowpaw tugging on it with a small smile on his face. Graystripe just laughed as he shook them off with ease. They were already nearly twice the size of the other RiverClan apprentices at this point, but their father was still bigger than them.

"You're getting so good at this! But you still can't beat your dad! Take this!" He exclaimed, leaping and pinning the two down under his weight and roughly nuzzling them until they were all laughing and purring.

Yes, he knew this was the right choice. Even though he would still be leaving cats he loved behind no matter what.

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The very next day, Thornclaw came into camp followed by a small platoon of RiverClan Warriors, and Graystripe knew immediately that this was it. Mistyfoot immediately joined the group, and Featherpaw and Willowpaw quickly followed after saying goodbye to their grandmother, aunt, and uncles (which was a weird sentence to say considering that Rainpaw, Sootpaw, and Sorrelpaw were only a few moons older than their niece and nephew). His mother and siblings went up to him after, looking at him with sadness in their eyes.

"You're all really leaving?" Sootpaw asked, ears and whiskers drooping. "Why can't you and Willowpaw and Featherpaw just stay in ThunderClan?"

"Leopardstar tried to kill you guys! She'll probably do it for real next time! Just stay here with us!" Rainpaw exclaimed before Brightheart stepped in and forcibly herded her apprentice away. Graystripe could still hear his brother arguing with her as they left.

Sorrelpaw didn't even try to stop her older brother from leaving. She just rested her head in Graystripe's shoulder, burying her face in his fur. He could feel the tears beginning to soak his fur as she whispered "I'll miss you" before stepping away to follow after Sootpaw as he left as well. Leaving Graystripe face to face with his mother.

Willowmoon nuzzled his head gently, the way she had when he was a kit in the Nursery, even though now she had to lean up pretty far to do so. "I'm so proud of you" she murmured gently. "I want you to know that. We all are." Graystripe began to cry in earnest now, nuzzling his mother back. "I love you, mom." "I love you too, sweetheart."

And she pulled away, leaving him with the last cats he needed to say goodbye to. Firestar looked as though he wanted to embrace him, but seemed to decide not to, given the RiverClan cats still present and waiting for Graystripe to join them. "I love you, I always will" he whispered quietly, so that none but the three of them could hear. Sandstorm just flicked him with her tail, a gesture of casual faux-irritation to hide her own grief and sadness. "Take care of yourself, you mouse-brain." They left too, and now Graystripe was out of time.

He slowly joined Mistyfoot and his children at the edge of the camp. Mistyfoot dipped her head in farewell, and they all turned and left. Graystripe was the last to follow.

He couldn't bring himself to say anything during the trek back to RiverClan. Mistyfoot, Willowpaw, and Featherpaw were talking plenty, catching up on what exactly had happened in their absence and how the Clan was doing things after Tigerstar's death. Graystripe just kept telling himself that this was necessary and that he needed to do this as they reached the entrance to the RiverClan camp. Leopardstar was waiting there alongside Blackclaw. 'He's probably her new Deputy' he thought to himself. He also noted that she seemed more well-fed then she typically did, but he couldn't bring himself to care about that either.

"Follow me" Leopardstar told them in an emotionless tone as she guided Graystripe, Mistyfoot, Willowpaw, and Featherpaw to the Streamspire, presumably to announce their return to the Clan. Once all of them were perched atop the rock, she began to speak.

"Cats of RiverClan, gather by the river for a Clan meeting. As you know, we were recently forced by a violent intruder to do horrible things. Things such as driving out our own Warriors and apprentices who assisted us all in our times of need and who were invaluable members of our Clan. Tigerstar had them punished solely for the mistakes of their parents."

'Tigerstar wasn't the only one who wanted us gone. Who do you think you're fooling, you liar?' Graystripe thought bitterly as Leopardstar continued to speak.

"Therefore, I have fetched them from ThunderClan and will also be granting one of them a new mentor due to Stonefur's tragic passing." She stressed the last two words as Blackclaw and a few other warriors hissed at the mention of half-Clan cats being allowed to return. "And," she continued to the crowd's nervous excitement, "I will also be naming a permanent Deputy. Blackclaw, come up onto the Streamspire."

Blackclaw ascended the large stone with a victorious smirk on his face.

'Fantastic. The worst cat in the Clan is being named Deputy. This feels just like when Bluestar nominated Tigerclaw all over again.'

"Blackclaw, you have been an incredible Warrior with years in service to your Clan. Therefore... I give Featherpaw to you as an apprentice."

Graystripe's stomach dropped and he saw Featherpaw shrink back slightly in horror. Blackclaw had made no secret that he despised the newly revealed half-Clan cats during the time they were prisoners in the camp. 'I can't let this happen' he thought, mind racing. 'He'll hurt her!'

"No!" He exclaimed, jumping between his daughter and Blackclaw before he even thought about what he was doing.

"What do you think you're doing, Graystripe?" snarled Blackclaw as he slid out his claws and bared his fangs. "Are you disobeying your Clan Leader? Again?"

"Stop this at once." Leopardstar's cold voice boomed from behind them. "Graystripe, stand down. Blackclaw will be Featherpaw's new mentor. You have no right to question my decisions on this matter."

"No right?!" Graystripe yowled in rage as he turned to face her. "I am her father! Blackclaw went above and beyond Tigerstar's orders to harm us when we were prisoners, and if you make him Featherpaw's mentor he'll do worse! I won't let you do this!"

The assembled Clan sat in stunned silence as Leopardstar advanced on Graystripe, ears folded back and eyes narrowed. Then, just when Graystripe thought she was about to spring at him to attack, she paused and turned back to the crowd.

She gave a heavy sigh and shook her head slowly in what seemed to be sadness, though her eyes held nothing but cold anger and thinly-veiled distain. "Graystripe, when you begged to join RiverClan, I had hoped that you would live up to the expectations of a good Warrior. That is what Stormstar asked of you, what all of us asked of you. But, while you have been here, you have been nothing but a liability. I have given you chance after chance, but you have failed each time. Though it pains me greatly to do so, your insubordination has left me no choice. Graystripe, I hereby exile you from RiverClan forever. Go wherever you wish, but you will never be welcome in this territory again."

Graystripe felt his heart turn to stone as the assembled cats started shouting in a clamor of voices. 'No. She can't do this. She can't!'

Willowpaw and Featherpaw cried out in horror and tried to run to him, but were blocked by Leopardstar and Blackclaw. Graystripe turned to Mistyfoot, desperate for any aid, but she just looked at him with a sad but resolute gaze. 'I can't help you', she was probably saying. 'No matter how much I wish that I could'. Voleclaw and a few other Warriors began to ascend the Streamspire and grabbed ahold of Graystripe, dragging him to the earth below and towards the entrance to the camp.

Distantly, he heard Featherpaw and Willowpaw desperately crying out for him, telling them to stop, begging Leopardstar to stop this, but she gave no such command and despite his attempts to reach them he was forced back again and again. It was only when the mob began to claw at him hard enough to draw blood and shove him over the border hard enough to hurt that his energy gave out.

He looked up at the angry, spiteful, or indifferent faces of the cats waiting to make sure he truly left, wondering if any of them would change their minds, or if this was just a cruel joke, but as they just stood there staring at him, he finally realized that this was real. There was no going back. He would never see his children again. He turned and mutely trudged away, tears rolling down his face as he listened numbly to the jeers of the Warriors shouting after him. He didn't pay any attention to where he was going. He just kept walking aimlessly, hoping that a bolt of lightning would strike him, or a dog would crush him in its jaws, or that the ground would open wide and swallow him whole.

He wanted to die. He had nothing left to live for. He was truly alone.

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Graystripe walked for what was probably weeks, only ever stopping when he literally passed out from exhaustion. His paws were definitely bleeding. His pelt was a mess with tangles and thorns. He looked, smelled, and felt dead.

He didn't even remember when it was that he entered ThunderClan territory. He didn't notice. It was only when he woke up in the Medicine Den with Yellowfang, Firestar, Sandstorm, and his mother crowded around him that he realized where he was.