Gray One

The Gray One was the leader of the Riverhead tribe of watervoles. Although he seemed friendly, he was prone to be devious and tricky. One of the greatest ambitions in his life was to gain the Leafwood.

When Song, Dann, and Dippler were led to the Riverheads by Burble, the Gray One immediately took note of the fact that Song was holding the Leafwood. As the travellers were looking for a boat to carry them down the river, the Gray One offered to trade the Leafwood for his boat.

However, the Gray One's boat was old, and Dippler would not allow Song to trade the Leafwood for anything but the Swallow. Although the Swallow belonged to the entire Riverhead tribe and not just the chief, he agreed in hopes of taking the Learwood by force.

However, the travellers got away in the Swallow, taking Burble and the Leafwood with them as well. It is later mentioned that Burble becomes the chief of the Riverhead tribe. It is possible, although unlikely, that the transfer of leadership between the two without conflict, based on the ownership of the Leafwood. However, it seems more likely that the Gray One died earlier; however, we were not told of his death.