Graystripe's Vow/Chapter 18

==Chapter description==
:Graystripe follows Cinderpelt along the WindClan border, still tasting the traveling herbs on his tongue. It is night, and Graystripe keeps glancing around anxiously for eyes watching him from the darkness. But then he scolds himself, thinking that he is protecting the other Clans by warning them about BloodClan. Graystripe begins to wonder what message StarClan will give Cinderpelt, trying to recall when he has seen Firestar accompany his medicine cat to the Moonstone, but cannot. Graystripe notes that he misses the flame-colored ThunderClan leader, and wants him back. By the time Graystripe reaches the Moonstone, his legs are aching. Graystripe and Cinderpelt arrive at the foot of Mothermouth. Cinderpelt turns to him and reminds him not to go inside, and then dips her head and tells him to sleep while she is away. Cinderpelt trots away into the darkness. After she leaves, Graystripe begins to feel overwhelmed by the weight of importance the place holds, and, shivering, backs away and settles on a flat stone beside the path. Graystripe becomes more anxious as he notes that he is an easy target for BloodClan right now, thinking back to his meeting with Gremlin. He sympathizes for her, and concludes that he can trust the patch-furred she-cat. 
:The night wears on as Graystripe restlessly waits for Cinderpelt to return. He debates in his mind whether he can trust Gremlin, or whether the Clan might fall apart while Firestar is away. Closing his eyes, sleep envelopes him and Graystripe finds himself stretched out on the foot of Sunningrocks. Firestar appears beside him, and he compliments Graystripe on handling the responsibility of the Clan so well. Graystripe doubts this, but Firestar prods him with his nose teasingly, further complimenting him, saying that he knows that Graystripe will be an excellent leader. Graystripe feels a surge of terror as he contemplates how he will manage to deal with Gremlin and the BloodClan cats. Glancing back, he recoils in horror as he realizes his friend has turned into a one-eyed she-cat with scars and tabby fur, recognizing her as Fury. The BloodClan leader reaches for him, her claws outstretched. 
:Cinderpelt yowls at him to wake up, and Graystripe forces his eyes open, realizing that he had fallen asleep at Mothermouth. He asks her eagerly what StarClan told her, noticing that the medicine cat looks uneasy. Cinderpelt murmurs that there are more cats in StarClan nowadays, and that she will never get used to seeing Yellowfang there. Graystripe reminisces about the snappy old medicine cat, who had been Cinderpelt's mentor, and how she died from the fire that swept through the ThunderClan camp. Cinderpelt then shakes her head, saying that she will just have to get used to losing Clanmates, but Graystripe rests his tail-tip on her shoulder and asks her if StarClan told her anything else. When Cinderpelt says she is not sure, he mutters that he should not be surprised. The medicine cat responds that StarClan said a three-headed snake splits down three different paths, and that Graystripe needs to beware its bite. Graystripe's pelt bushes in alarm as Cinderpelt tells him he needs to make his own decision, and that she will support him in whatever he chooses. Shaken, Graystripe dips his head to the ThunderClan to the medicine cat, thanking her. But Graystripe feels disappointed and wishes StarClan could help him in some way, noting that the burden lies squarely on his shoulders, and wishes Firestar would come back.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Important events==
===Other===
*Cinderpelt is given the "Three-headed snake" prophecy from StarClan.
==Notes and references==
Category:Graystripe's Vow
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:Super Edition arc