Graystripe's Vow/Chapter 14

==Chapter description==
:Graystripe leads ThunderClan to Fourtrees for a Gathering, lamenting silently that he wished it was Firestar doing so instead. Beside him, he notes Cinderpelt and the Clan's strongest warriors with Brambleclaw trailing behind them. The deputy silently admires the young tom's dedication and considers him a valuable ThunderClan warrior. However, the ThunderClan patrol radiate tension as they pad along, all silently wishing for Firestar's presence, a sentiment that Graystripe shares with them. He remains on edge, wary of BloodClan watching them in the forest. Cinderpelt tries to reassure him, reminding him they can't do much at the moment about them. While he agrees with her, the tom still wants to defend his home.
:Soon, the ThunderClan patrol arrive at the Fourtrees' hollow just as WindClan stream in. Graystripe joins the Clan leaders on the Great Rock and hears whispers of shock from cats below, knowing they were expecting to see Firestar not him. Leopardstar comments on the ginger tom's absence, leaving Graystripe to recall his foolish lie he had told the rival leader. He goes along with the lie of Firestar having greencough, stating that he remained sick but was slowly improving. The RiverClan leader eyes him but greets Tallstar before pushing the point any further. Graystripe reflects on his role as acting leader, finding it strange as he becomes distracted by the view and his kits that he spots below him. He keeps his eyes on them as Blackstar begins the Gathering, reporting that ShadowClan is healing from Tigerstar's reign. Tallstar then steps forward and quickly reports on WindClan's wellbeing before letting Leopardstar begin her own recount of RiverClan's state. She reports they are well and that Mistyfoot had led a patrol to chase a fox away. As she finishes, she indicates for Graystripe to step forward. 
:He steadies himself from a panic as he reports that ThunderClan had been well, save for a small bout of greencough which Cinderpelt had quickly gotten in control of. However, the other Clan leaders soon ask after Firestar's absence, and Graystripe continues to lie to hide the truth. As Blackstar begins questioning Firestar's loyalties due to his kittypet blood, Graystripe changes the subject and announces that Cloudtail and Brightheart had welcomed their first kit. Tallstar congratulates them before then shifting to the topic of BloodClan. Despite wanting to avoid the topic, it relieves Graystripe as he knows he won't have to talk about Firestar anymore. The acting leader reports that they had sighted them since an earlier skirmish. Tallstar and Leopardstar also conclude they hadn't scented anything new and Blackstar draws the Gathering to an end. Graystripe, however, worries that he had made ThunderClan seem weak due to the threat of BloodClan on their territory. He wonders if the other Clans would captialize on their issue and take territory for themselves.
:Down from the Great Rock the tom looks for his Clanmates, but instead Feathertail and Stormfur greet him. He feels terrible as he lies to them about Firestar, wondering if Stormfur mistrusts him because of it. Graystripe tells him though that Firestar should be back at the next Gathering. Satisfied with the answer, Stormfur takes off, leaving Feathertail with her father. He asks if she's happy in RiverClan to which she replies that she is and Graystripe tells her if she ever wanted to join ThunderClan she has a right to do so. Feathertail thanks him for the offer, but says she should try and find her place within RiverClan. She takes her leave, following behind Stormfur as Graystripe watches them both leave. As Graystripe leaves, his thoughts drift to BloodClan and he wonders if they're out there watching him.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Trivia==
*This chapter aligns with part two of A Shadow in RiverClan.
==Notes and references==
Category:Super Edition arc
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:Graystripe's Vow