Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on Oct 23, 2021 15:15:03 GMT -5
What are your thoughts on how she acted when it came to her relationship with Graystripe? Not whether you think she was right or not, but specifically how she acted.
Here's when Leopardfur tries to discourage her:
After they argue whether Graystripe was involved in poisoning RiverClan or not, Silverstream makes this comment.
Then here's when Silverstream tells Leopardstar she's expecting.
Fireheart:
And here's her response when she reveals she's expecting kits:
And then Crookedstar:
What do you think?
Here's when Leopardfur tries to discourage her:
“How did you know I was meeting him?”
“I’ve seen you together.”
“You spied on me?”
“I watched you.” Leopardfur wasn’t going to apologize for keeping an eye on her Clanmates.
Silverstreamlooked away. “I love him.”
“He’s our enemy.”
“He’s not my enemy.”
Leopardfur’s breath caught in her throat. She suddenly realized why Silverstreamhad come to the medicine den after Whiteclaw had died. I heard that Graystripe tried to save
Whiteclaw. Silverstream hadn’t wanted to find out what had happened to her Clanmate. She’d wanted to defend the cat she loved! “How long has this been going on?” she demanded.
“That’s my business.” Silverstream pushed her way from the grass. Ripples arced across the pools as a frog fled into the water. Leopardfur didn’t care. She could catch a frog for Birdsong later. Right now, she had to try to reason with Silverstream.
“It’s the Clan’s business.” Leopardfur followed her. “Don’t you realize you’re breaking the warrior code by seeing him?”
“It’s not harming anyone,” Silverstream snapped.
“It will if it goes on.”
“How?” Silverstream glowered at her. “How can loving a cat harm anyone?”
Leopardfur pressed on. “What will Crookedstar say when he finds out?”
Silverstream glanced at her paws. “Who cares?”
“I care,” Leopardfur mewed. “I don’t want him or you to get hurt.”
“No cat’s going to get hurt!”
“Do you really believe that?” she snapped. Silverstream didn’t answer. “Can’t you just leave me alone? I’m not going to do anything to threaten your precious Clanmates.”
Leopardfur couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “They’re your precious Clanmates too!”
“Yes! They are! And unlike you, I trust them. I don’t need to sneak around spying on them like a nosy old mother duck!”
Rage burned beneath Leopardfur’s pelt, but she forced herself to take a breath. She let her fur smooth. Anger wasn’t going to help. “I’m the Clan deputy. I need to be a nosy old mother duck. I need to know everything that’s going on so that I can help my Clanmates make the right choices and be the best warriors they can be. That’s the only way RiverClan can thrive.”
“Do you think RiverClan won’t thrive because I love a cat from another Clan?”
“If every cat broke the warrior code, the Clan wouldn’t be a Clan.” Leopardfur stared at her. This was basic warrior training. How could she not understand? “It would be a gang of rogues, doing exactly what they pleased with no regard for anyone else.”
“But I love him!” For the first time, Silverstream’s eyes glittered with pain. “I can’t stop loving him just because the warrior code tells me to. You said you loved Frogleap. Did you stop when you decided your Clan needed you more? Did you just decide not to love him one day?” The words were tumbling out now as though she couldn’t hold them in anymore. Pity welled in Leopardfur’s chest as Silverstream went on. “I wish I could do that. I wish I could decide how to feel.”
Leopardfur padded closer. “I’ll probably always love Frogleap,” she mewed. “Every time I see him with Mosspelt, I feel jealous and I wish I didn’t. It hurts. But I know I made the right choice. I know it could never have worked.”
Fresh anger flashed in Silverstream’s eyes. “And you want me to do the same.”
“Don’t you see?” Leopardfur mewed desperately. “You have no choice. You can’t take Graystripe as a mate. He’s a ThunderClan cat.” And he killed Whiteclaw. She swallowed the words back. They wouldn’t help. “The only way to be with himis to leave RiverClan.”
Silverstream puffed out her chest. “I might do that.”
Shock pulsed in Leopardfur’s throat. “And be a rogue?”
“I’d join ThunderClan.”
“You’d join an enemy Clan?” Leopardfur stared at her in disbelief. “Think of what that would do to Crookedstar!”
“He’d get over it.”
“He’s Clan leader!” Leopardfur snapped. “How would he hold his head up after his own kit betrayed her Clan?”
“It’s not a betrayal.” Silverstream’s fur ruffled. “It’s a choice. Like you wanting to be deputy.”
Leopardfur snorted. “It’s nothing like me wanting to become deputy. I did that for the good of our Clan. You’re only thinking of yourself!”
“What’s wrong with that!”
“You’re a warrior.” Leopardfur suddenly felt weary. Silverstream couldn’t mean these things. She was a good cat. She was loyal and smart. If she weren’t caught up in a storm of emotions, she’d never say this.
They stood in silence for a moment, as though both of them realized that they’d gone as far as they could. Then Silverstream spoke.
“Will you tell any cat?” Her mew was trembling now. “About me and Graystripe?”
Leopardfur didn’t move. Giving away Silverstream’s secret would do nothing but cause upset in the Clan. Cats would take sides. Some would turn on the young she-cat, which could drive her away from RiverClan for good. Wasn’t that what Leopardfur was trying to avoid? And Crookedstar would be put in an impossible position. He couldn’t defend her, and it would break his heart to confront her. What if he was forced to exile his own daughter? “I won’t tell,” she
mewed.
Relief showed in Silverstream’s wide blue eyes. “Thank you.”
“But you have to promise to stop seeing him.”
Silverstream stiffened. “I can’t do that! I love him. And he loves me.”
Though she knew this romance was wrong, Leopardfur’s heart ached with sympathy for the young warrior. “Whatever you choose will break your heart,” she mewed softly. “But you need to decide whether you want to break your father’s heart as well.” She felt bad using guilt to persuade Silverstream, but it was true. And how else could she convince her that if she continued her relationship with Graystripe, she would only damage herself and her Clan?
“Please don’t tell him,” Silverstream mewed helplessly. “Not yet. Give me a chance to sort this out for myself.”
“I’ve seen you together.”
“You spied on me?”
“I watched you.” Leopardfur wasn’t going to apologize for keeping an eye on her Clanmates.
Silverstreamlooked away. “I love him.”
“He’s our enemy.”
“He’s not my enemy.”
Leopardfur’s breath caught in her throat. She suddenly realized why Silverstreamhad come to the medicine den after Whiteclaw had died. I heard that Graystripe tried to save
Whiteclaw. Silverstream hadn’t wanted to find out what had happened to her Clanmate. She’d wanted to defend the cat she loved! “How long has this been going on?” she demanded.
“That’s my business.” Silverstream pushed her way from the grass. Ripples arced across the pools as a frog fled into the water. Leopardfur didn’t care. She could catch a frog for Birdsong later. Right now, she had to try to reason with Silverstream.
“It’s the Clan’s business.” Leopardfur followed her. “Don’t you realize you’re breaking the warrior code by seeing him?”
“It’s not harming anyone,” Silverstream snapped.
“It will if it goes on.”
“How?” Silverstream glowered at her. “How can loving a cat harm anyone?”
Leopardfur pressed on. “What will Crookedstar say when he finds out?”
Silverstream glanced at her paws. “Who cares?”
“I care,” Leopardfur mewed. “I don’t want him or you to get hurt.”
“No cat’s going to get hurt!”
“Do you really believe that?” she snapped. Silverstream didn’t answer. “Can’t you just leave me alone? I’m not going to do anything to threaten your precious Clanmates.”
Leopardfur couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “They’re your precious Clanmates too!”
“Yes! They are! And unlike you, I trust them. I don’t need to sneak around spying on them like a nosy old mother duck!”
Rage burned beneath Leopardfur’s pelt, but she forced herself to take a breath. She let her fur smooth. Anger wasn’t going to help. “I’m the Clan deputy. I need to be a nosy old mother duck. I need to know everything that’s going on so that I can help my Clanmates make the right choices and be the best warriors they can be. That’s the only way RiverClan can thrive.”
“Do you think RiverClan won’t thrive because I love a cat from another Clan?”
“If every cat broke the warrior code, the Clan wouldn’t be a Clan.” Leopardfur stared at her. This was basic warrior training. How could she not understand? “It would be a gang of rogues, doing exactly what they pleased with no regard for anyone else.”
“But I love him!” For the first time, Silverstream’s eyes glittered with pain. “I can’t stop loving him just because the warrior code tells me to. You said you loved Frogleap. Did you stop when you decided your Clan needed you more? Did you just decide not to love him one day?” The words were tumbling out now as though she couldn’t hold them in anymore. Pity welled in Leopardfur’s chest as Silverstream went on. “I wish I could do that. I wish I could decide how to feel.”
Leopardfur padded closer. “I’ll probably always love Frogleap,” she mewed. “Every time I see him with Mosspelt, I feel jealous and I wish I didn’t. It hurts. But I know I made the right choice. I know it could never have worked.”
Fresh anger flashed in Silverstream’s eyes. “And you want me to do the same.”
“Don’t you see?” Leopardfur mewed desperately. “You have no choice. You can’t take Graystripe as a mate. He’s a ThunderClan cat.” And he killed Whiteclaw. She swallowed the words back. They wouldn’t help. “The only way to be with himis to leave RiverClan.”
Silverstream puffed out her chest. “I might do that.”
Shock pulsed in Leopardfur’s throat. “And be a rogue?”
“I’d join ThunderClan.”
“You’d join an enemy Clan?” Leopardfur stared at her in disbelief. “Think of what that would do to Crookedstar!”
“He’d get over it.”
“He’s Clan leader!” Leopardfur snapped. “How would he hold his head up after his own kit betrayed her Clan?”
“It’s not a betrayal.” Silverstream’s fur ruffled. “It’s a choice. Like you wanting to be deputy.”
Leopardfur snorted. “It’s nothing like me wanting to become deputy. I did that for the good of our Clan. You’re only thinking of yourself!”
“What’s wrong with that!”
“You’re a warrior.” Leopardfur suddenly felt weary. Silverstream couldn’t mean these things. She was a good cat. She was loyal and smart. If she weren’t caught up in a storm of emotions, she’d never say this.
They stood in silence for a moment, as though both of them realized that they’d gone as far as they could. Then Silverstream spoke.
“Will you tell any cat?” Her mew was trembling now. “About me and Graystripe?”
Leopardfur didn’t move. Giving away Silverstream’s secret would do nothing but cause upset in the Clan. Cats would take sides. Some would turn on the young she-cat, which could drive her away from RiverClan for good. Wasn’t that what Leopardfur was trying to avoid? And Crookedstar would be put in an impossible position. He couldn’t defend her, and it would break his heart to confront her. What if he was forced to exile his own daughter? “I won’t tell,” she
mewed.
Relief showed in Silverstream’s wide blue eyes. “Thank you.”
“But you have to promise to stop seeing him.”
Silverstream stiffened. “I can’t do that! I love him. And he loves me.”
Though she knew this romance was wrong, Leopardfur’s heart ached with sympathy for the young warrior. “Whatever you choose will break your heart,” she mewed softly. “But you need to decide whether you want to break your father’s heart as well.” She felt bad using guilt to persuade Silverstream, but it was true. And how else could she convince her that if she continued her relationship with Graystripe, she would only damage herself and her Clan?
“Please don’t tell him,” Silverstream mewed helplessly. “Not yet. Give me a chance to sort this out for myself.”
After they argue whether Graystripe was involved in poisoning RiverClan or not, Silverstream makes this comment.
“You’re just obsessed,” Silverstream growled. “Why can’t you just keep your muzzle out of my affairs?”
“Because they are endangering the Clan!”
“That’s not true!”
“Birdsong is dead,” Leopardfur reminded her. “And if ThunderClan is responsible—” She paused. “If Graystripe is responsible, then you need to decide whose side you’re really on.”
“Because they are endangering the Clan!”
“That’s not true!”
“Birdsong is dead,” Leopardfur reminded her. “And if ThunderClan is responsible—” She paused. “If Graystripe is responsible, then you need to decide whose side you’re really on.”
Then here's when Silverstream tells Leopardstar she's expecting.
“It’ll be easier for you if he doesn’t come anymore,” Leopardfur urged gently. “It’s time you started to get over him.”
Silverstream stiffened. “I don’t want to get over him!” Her anger took Leopardfur by surprise. “I’m having his kits!”
Leopardfur felt the cold breeze reach through her pelt. “What?” She stared at Silverstream. This couldn’t be true! “You can’t be!”
“Yes, I can,” Silverstream told her. She stared at Leopardfur. No shame showed in her eyes. “I’m having them
and I’m glad.”
“How could you!” Leopardfur bristled with alarm. “Don’t you know the trouble this will cause! You might drag your Clan into a fight.”
“Don’t be silly,” Silverstream told her. “When I have these kits, the truth will be between me and Graystripe.”
“How can you be so dumb?” Leopardfur snapped.
“These kits will be half-ThunderClan. Where are you going to raise them? What if Graystripe claims them?”
“He’d never do that!”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure.”
Was Silverstream really that naive? “How will you explain the kits to your Clanmates?” Leopardfur thoughts
were spinning. “You have no mate.”
“I have Graystripe.”
“You have no RiverClan mate!” How did Silverstream think this was going to play out? “Do you think your Clanmates will be happy to raise ThunderClan kits? Do you think ThunderClan will let you? We could end up at war over them!”
“Who would go to war over kits?” Silverstream snapped. “They’re mine and Graystripe’s. Our Clans have nothing to do with them.”
Leopardfur stared at her. How had Crookedstar raised such a mouse-brain? “Don’t tell anyone you’re expecting,” she growled.
“They’re going to notice,” Silverstream retorted.
“Then don’t say who the father is.”
“I’m not denying my relationship with Graystripe!” Silverstream’s hackles lifted. “I love him. What don’t you understand about that?” Her lip curled. “Oh, I forgot. You think being deputy is more important than love.”
“Isn’t it?” Leopardfur wanted to claw the silly young warrior’s muzzle. Her words brought back a memory of Frogleap’s death, and a fresh tear in her heart. But she pushed the feeling down, measuring her next words. “Fine.” She steadied her breath. “I want you to end your relationship with Graystripe. Tell him you will never see him again.”
“No!” Silverstream glared at her. “I can’t do that.”
“Then take yourself to ThunderClan,” Leopardfur snapped. “Throw yourself on the mercy of those fox-hearts. See how welcome they make you.” She couldn’t imagine ThunderClan taking the silver tabby in. Why would they? Silverstream clearly couldn’t be trusted, even by the Clan she’d been raised in. “Perhaps ThunderClan likes half-Clan kits.”
“Okay.” Silverstream narrowed her eyes. “I will.” Leopardfur froze as Silverstream went on. “And I’ll tell Crookedstar whose kits they are. I’ll tell him I love Gray—”
“No!” Leopardfur cut in. Didn’t Silverstream realize she’d be exiled forever? RiverClan would have to throw her out. ThunderClan would never take her in. She’d become a rogue. I can’t let that happen! She stopped her tail from trembling. “Okay,” she mewed. “I won’t tell anyone. You can sort it out in your own way. Just don’t say anything to Crookedstar.” She stared pleadingly at Silverstream. “Keep quiet for as long as you can.” Perhaps she could find a way around it. Perhaps, if she broke the news gently enough to Crookedstar, and carefully prepared their Clanmates, Silverstream would be allowed to stay. But what about the kits? Would Graystripe let RiverClan raise them? Would Bluestar? Her heart was pounding. She’d been right all along to choose being deputy over love. Look at the trouble cats caused when they let their hearts make decisions.
Silverstream stiffened. “I don’t want to get over him!” Her anger took Leopardfur by surprise. “I’m having his kits!”
Leopardfur felt the cold breeze reach through her pelt. “What?” She stared at Silverstream. This couldn’t be true! “You can’t be!”
“Yes, I can,” Silverstream told her. She stared at Leopardfur. No shame showed in her eyes. “I’m having them
and I’m glad.”
“How could you!” Leopardfur bristled with alarm. “Don’t you know the trouble this will cause! You might drag your Clan into a fight.”
“Don’t be silly,” Silverstream told her. “When I have these kits, the truth will be between me and Graystripe.”
“How can you be so dumb?” Leopardfur snapped.
“These kits will be half-ThunderClan. Where are you going to raise them? What if Graystripe claims them?”
“He’d never do that!”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure.”
Was Silverstream really that naive? “How will you explain the kits to your Clanmates?” Leopardfur thoughts
were spinning. “You have no mate.”
“I have Graystripe.”
“You have no RiverClan mate!” How did Silverstream think this was going to play out? “Do you think your Clanmates will be happy to raise ThunderClan kits? Do you think ThunderClan will let you? We could end up at war over them!”
“Who would go to war over kits?” Silverstream snapped. “They’re mine and Graystripe’s. Our Clans have nothing to do with them.”
Leopardfur stared at her. How had Crookedstar raised such a mouse-brain? “Don’t tell anyone you’re expecting,” she growled.
“They’re going to notice,” Silverstream retorted.
“Then don’t say who the father is.”
“I’m not denying my relationship with Graystripe!” Silverstream’s hackles lifted. “I love him. What don’t you understand about that?” Her lip curled. “Oh, I forgot. You think being deputy is more important than love.”
“Isn’t it?” Leopardfur wanted to claw the silly young warrior’s muzzle. Her words brought back a memory of Frogleap’s death, and a fresh tear in her heart. But she pushed the feeling down, measuring her next words. “Fine.” She steadied her breath. “I want you to end your relationship with Graystripe. Tell him you will never see him again.”
“No!” Silverstream glared at her. “I can’t do that.”
“Then take yourself to ThunderClan,” Leopardfur snapped. “Throw yourself on the mercy of those fox-hearts. See how welcome they make you.” She couldn’t imagine ThunderClan taking the silver tabby in. Why would they? Silverstream clearly couldn’t be trusted, even by the Clan she’d been raised in. “Perhaps ThunderClan likes half-Clan kits.”
“Okay.” Silverstream narrowed her eyes. “I will.” Leopardfur froze as Silverstream went on. “And I’ll tell Crookedstar whose kits they are. I’ll tell him I love Gray—”
“No!” Leopardfur cut in. Didn’t Silverstream realize she’d be exiled forever? RiverClan would have to throw her out. ThunderClan would never take her in. She’d become a rogue. I can’t let that happen! She stopped her tail from trembling. “Okay,” she mewed. “I won’t tell anyone. You can sort it out in your own way. Just don’t say anything to Crookedstar.” She stared pleadingly at Silverstream. “Keep quiet for as long as you can.” Perhaps she could find a way around it. Perhaps, if she broke the news gently enough to Crookedstar, and carefully prepared their Clanmates, Silverstream would be allowed to stay. But what about the kits? Would Graystripe let RiverClan raise them? Would Bluestar? Her heart was pounding. She’d been right all along to choose being deputy over love. Look at the trouble cats caused when they let their hearts make decisions.
Fireheart:
Silverstream stared at him, her tail twitching. “What are you doing here?”
“I was looking for you,” he whispered, painfully aware he was in enemy territory.
Silverstream flicked her ears in alarm. “Is Graystripe okay? Has his cough gotten worse?”
Fireheart was irritated by her concern. He didn’t want to know how much this she-cat cared for his best friend. “He’s fine!” he growled, his caution swept away by anger. “But he won’t be if he carries on meeting you!”
Silverstream bristled. “I won’t let anything bad happen to Graystripe!”
“Oh, really?” Fireheart snorted. “And what could you do to protect him?”
“I am a Clan leader’s daughter,” meowed Silverstream.
“Does that give you the power to control your father’s warriors? You’re hardly more than an apprentice!”
“Like you!” she hissed indignantly.
“Yes, that’s true,” Fireheart admitted. “And that’s why I’m not sure I could protect Graystripe from thebanger of his own Clan—or yours—if they find out you’re seeing each other.”
Silverstream tried to glare at him, but her eyes were clouded with emotion. “I can’t stop seeing him,” she meowed. Her voice softened to a whisper. “I love him.”
“But the tension between our Clans is bad enough already!” Fireheart was too angry to feel any sympathy. “We know RiverClan is hunting in our territory…”
The defiant gleam returned to Silverstream’s eyes. “If ThunderClan understood why, they wouldn’t begrudge what we catch there!”
“Why?” Fireheart flashed back at her.
“My Clan is hungry. Our kits cry because their mothers have no milk. The elders are dying for lack of decent prey.”
Fireheart stared, taken aback. “But you’ve got the river!” he protested. Every cat knew that RiverClan enjoyed the best hunting of all—fish from the river, as well as woodland prey in the fields beyond.
“It’s not enough. Twolegs have taken over our territory downstream. They built a camp there all greenleaf and stayed as long as the fish were plentiful. By the time they went, the fishing was scarce. And the damage they’ve done to the forest means that even woodland prey is harder to find.”
Fireheart felt a pang of pity in spite of his anger. He could guess how serious this must be for RiverClan. They were used to their rich diet of fish, and grew fat on it every greenleaf so that they could endure the harsh moons of leaf-bare. He stared at the she-cat with new eyes. She wasn’t slim, he realized—she was skinny. As her wet coat clung to her, he could see her ribs. Suddenly he understood Crookedstar’s hostility to Bluestar’s plan at the Gathering. “That’s why you didn’t want WindClan to come home!”
“Rabbits run on the moorlands all year round,” Silverstream explained. “They were our only hope of making it through leaf-bare without losing kits.” She shook her head slowly before lifting her gaze back to Fireheart.
“Does Graystripe know all this?” he asked.
Silverstream nodded. Fireheart looked at her, perplexed for a moment. But he couldn’t let these feelings get in the way of the warrior code—and l neither could his friend. “Whatever problems your Clan has, you still have to stop seeing Graystripe.”
“No,” answered Silverstream, lifting her chin. Her eyes flashed. “How can our love do any harm?”
“I was looking for you,” he whispered, painfully aware he was in enemy territory.
Silverstream flicked her ears in alarm. “Is Graystripe okay? Has his cough gotten worse?”
Fireheart was irritated by her concern. He didn’t want to know how much this she-cat cared for his best friend. “He’s fine!” he growled, his caution swept away by anger. “But he won’t be if he carries on meeting you!”
Silverstream bristled. “I won’t let anything bad happen to Graystripe!”
“Oh, really?” Fireheart snorted. “And what could you do to protect him?”
“I am a Clan leader’s daughter,” meowed Silverstream.
“Does that give you the power to control your father’s warriors? You’re hardly more than an apprentice!”
“Like you!” she hissed indignantly.
“Yes, that’s true,” Fireheart admitted. “And that’s why I’m not sure I could protect Graystripe from thebanger of his own Clan—or yours—if they find out you’re seeing each other.”
Silverstream tried to glare at him, but her eyes were clouded with emotion. “I can’t stop seeing him,” she meowed. Her voice softened to a whisper. “I love him.”
“But the tension between our Clans is bad enough already!” Fireheart was too angry to feel any sympathy. “We know RiverClan is hunting in our territory…”
The defiant gleam returned to Silverstream’s eyes. “If ThunderClan understood why, they wouldn’t begrudge what we catch there!”
“Why?” Fireheart flashed back at her.
“My Clan is hungry. Our kits cry because their mothers have no milk. The elders are dying for lack of decent prey.”
Fireheart stared, taken aback. “But you’ve got the river!” he protested. Every cat knew that RiverClan enjoyed the best hunting of all—fish from the river, as well as woodland prey in the fields beyond.
“It’s not enough. Twolegs have taken over our territory downstream. They built a camp there all greenleaf and stayed as long as the fish were plentiful. By the time they went, the fishing was scarce. And the damage they’ve done to the forest means that even woodland prey is harder to find.”
Fireheart felt a pang of pity in spite of his anger. He could guess how serious this must be for RiverClan. They were used to their rich diet of fish, and grew fat on it every greenleaf so that they could endure the harsh moons of leaf-bare. He stared at the she-cat with new eyes. She wasn’t slim, he realized—she was skinny. As her wet coat clung to her, he could see her ribs. Suddenly he understood Crookedstar’s hostility to Bluestar’s plan at the Gathering. “That’s why you didn’t want WindClan to come home!”
“Rabbits run on the moorlands all year round,” Silverstream explained. “They were our only hope of making it through leaf-bare without losing kits.” She shook her head slowly before lifting her gaze back to Fireheart.
“Does Graystripe know all this?” he asked.
Silverstream nodded. Fireheart looked at her, perplexed for a moment. But he couldn’t let these feelings get in the way of the warrior code—and l neither could his friend. “Whatever problems your Clan has, you still have to stop seeing Graystripe.”
“No,” answered Silverstream, lifting her chin. Her eyes flashed. “How can our love do any harm?”
And here's her response when she reveals she's expecting kits:
His heart thudding, Fireheart looked from Graystripe to Silverstream. She quivered with happiness, her green eyes glowing with pride. “Your kits?” he echoed in alarm. “Are you both out of your minds? This is disastrous!”
Graystripe blinked and would not meet his friend’s eyes. “Not… not necessarily. I mean, these kits will join us together forever.”
“But you come from different Clans!” Fireheart protested. From the uneasiness in Graystripe’s expression, he guessed that his friend knew very well what difficulties the kits would cause. “You can’t ever claim these kits as your own, Graystripe. And Silverstream,” he added, turning toward the RiverClan cat, “you won’t be able to tell anyone in your Clan who the father is.”
“I don’t care,” Silverstream insisted, giving her chest fur a quick lick. “I’ll know. That’s all that matters.”
Graystripe looked as if he wasn’t too sure of that. “It’s stupid that they can’t know,” he muttered. “We haven’t done anything to be ashamed of.” He pressed himself against Silverstream’s flank and shot Fireheart a helpless glance.
“I know that’s what you feel,” Fireheart agreed heavily. “But it’s no good, Graystripe; you know it isn’t. These will be RiverClan kits.” His heart sank at the thought of the trouble this could cause in the future. When these kits grew to be warriors, Graystripe might have to fight against them! He would be torn between loyalty to his blood kin, and loyalty to his Clan and the warrior code. Fireheart could not see any way for him to keep faith with both.
Had it been the same with Mistyfoot and Stonefur? he wondered. Had their ThunderClan parents ever had to fight against them? He remembered Oakheart, trying to defend them from ThunderClan attack; how had the RiverClan warrior explained that to them? It was an impossible situation, and now it would all begin again with a new set of kits.
But Fireheart knew it was pointless to say this now. Glancing up and down the line of bushes in case any cat was approaching, he meowed, “It’s time we were going. It must be sunhigh. They’ll miss us back at
camp.”
Graystripe touched his nose gently to Silverstream’s. “Fireheart’s right,” he murmured. “We must go. And don’t worry,” he added. “They’ll be the most beautiful kits in the forest.”
Silverstream’s eyes narrowed with affection, and her voice came in a deep purr. “I know. We’ll find a way to get through this.” She stood watching as Fireheart and Graystripe left the bushes and padded down the slope toward the flooded river. Graystripe kept looking back, as if he could hardly bear to leave her.
Graystripe blinked and would not meet his friend’s eyes. “Not… not necessarily. I mean, these kits will join us together forever.”
“But you come from different Clans!” Fireheart protested. From the uneasiness in Graystripe’s expression, he guessed that his friend knew very well what difficulties the kits would cause. “You can’t ever claim these kits as your own, Graystripe. And Silverstream,” he added, turning toward the RiverClan cat, “you won’t be able to tell anyone in your Clan who the father is.”
“I don’t care,” Silverstream insisted, giving her chest fur a quick lick. “I’ll know. That’s all that matters.”
Graystripe looked as if he wasn’t too sure of that. “It’s stupid that they can’t know,” he muttered. “We haven’t done anything to be ashamed of.” He pressed himself against Silverstream’s flank and shot Fireheart a helpless glance.
“I know that’s what you feel,” Fireheart agreed heavily. “But it’s no good, Graystripe; you know it isn’t. These will be RiverClan kits.” His heart sank at the thought of the trouble this could cause in the future. When these kits grew to be warriors, Graystripe might have to fight against them! He would be torn between loyalty to his blood kin, and loyalty to his Clan and the warrior code. Fireheart could not see any way for him to keep faith with both.
Had it been the same with Mistyfoot and Stonefur? he wondered. Had their ThunderClan parents ever had to fight against them? He remembered Oakheart, trying to defend them from ThunderClan attack; how had the RiverClan warrior explained that to them? It was an impossible situation, and now it would all begin again with a new set of kits.
But Fireheart knew it was pointless to say this now. Glancing up and down the line of bushes in case any cat was approaching, he meowed, “It’s time we were going. It must be sunhigh. They’ll miss us back at
camp.”
Graystripe touched his nose gently to Silverstream’s. “Fireheart’s right,” he murmured. “We must go. And don’t worry,” he added. “They’ll be the most beautiful kits in the forest.”
Silverstream’s eyes narrowed with affection, and her voice came in a deep purr. “I know. We’ll find a way to get through this.” She stood watching as Fireheart and Graystripe left the bushes and padded down the slope toward the flooded river. Graystripe kept looking back, as if he could hardly bear to leave her.
And then Crookedstar:
Crookedstar: “Silverstream, your heart should lie with your Clan! I thought I taught you that!”
Silverstream: “You're obsessed with Clan loyalty. If you could see beyond your nose, you'd realize... there's a lot more to life than what we've got in one little Clan.
Graystripe is a great and worthy warrior. If the warrior code can't deal with this... then maybe the warrior code needs to change.
I know you're worried because you love me. And I love you too. I'll always be your daughter. But you have to let me choose my own future.”
Silverstream: “You're obsessed with Clan loyalty. If you could see beyond your nose, you'd realize... there's a lot more to life than what we've got in one little Clan.
Graystripe is a great and worthy warrior. If the warrior code can't deal with this... then maybe the warrior code needs to change.
I know you're worried because you love me. And I love you too. I'll always be your daughter. But you have to let me choose my own future.”
What do you think?