Graystripe's Decision

Prologue

               Silverstream sat alone on the top of a grassy hill that overlooked a beautiful meadow. 

               She could hardly remember a time when she hadn't been lonely since she joined StarClan. No one would speak to her, some wouldnt even look at her. Was he truly worth this? After all, he abandoned her for a spoiled kittypet. 

               Silverstream used to believe fiercely that yes, it was worth the deception to her Clanmates and the possibility of being an outcast. She remembered the pride and unrestrained joy in his eyes as she delivered the news that she was expecting his kits. She also remembered the terrible sorrow and grief in his eyes as she lay dying before him. She'd watched from StarClan as he rested his head on her motionless body, wailing her name out of grief. He'd lovingly buried her by Sunningrocks, knowing it was one of her favorite places to visit. Also knowing it belonged in reality to both RiverClan and ThunderClan and deciding to place her on her own territory as well as his. 

               Silverstream thought she had it worse. She'd been sentenced to wander StarClan alone until she was joined by him. Her own father, Crookedstar, had scarcely even spoken to her on the numerous times she'd sought to find him. 

               But Graystripe could watch their kits grow to be strong, beautiful warriors to be proud of. He could find another mate and move on, and continue the life of a Clan cat. 

               In reality, Silverstream had been mostly pleased when Feathertail died. It meant she finally had company. 

               But although Feathertail would speak with her on her rare visits to StarClan, she spent most of her time on the other side of the border. The border between the Tribe of Endless Hunting and StarClan. Silverstream had made the mistake of asking why she spent so much time with the Tribe's ancestors instead of her own Clanmates and her mother. Feathertail replied, "It's the place where I'm closest to Crowfeather." 

               Her daughter had made the same mistake that she had. Silverstream knew now that Firestar had been right. Her relationship with Graystripe had caused nothing but pain and misery for both of them. It was true, nothing good came out of meeting with cats from another Clan.

               She had watched his capture by Twolegs in the old forest. She'd watch him escape with the help of that-that stupid, spoiled, fat, ugly kittypet, Millie. She'd watched him admit to Millie that he loved her, and that night, Silverstream had wanted to die. She felt like her heart was growing heavier, melting slowly, and at the same time being slowly torn to shreds.

               He'd broken the promise he'd whispered to her, too soft for any cat but her to hear right before she died. The promise to love her and only her forever. And her last words that she was never sure he heard were, "It has always been that way for me. 

               Silverstream had withdrawn herself from interaction with other cats, at least the few that'd speak to her, even more since the day Millie's kits were born. The only cat that ever tried to find her was Feathertail. 

               "Hi!" Feathertail's called at that moment from behind her

               Feathertail's voice called at that moment from behind her. Silverstream sighed happily. She hadn't seen Feathertail since the start of the battle with the Dark Forest, and she had begun to grow worried."Feathertail!" she exclaimed. "You should've visited me after the end of the battle! I was afraid you were dead!" 

               Feathertail shook her head. "I'm not, but someone else is," she informed her. "That's what I came to tell you." 

               "Spottedleaf?" Silverstream asked. "Everyone, even me, has heard about her tragic death."

               "Not Spottedleaf," Feathertail responded. "Silverstream, Graystripe is dead."