The Clash of Stars Book 1: The Key

Chapter 8: Ghostpaw

Ghostpaw followed close behind Blazefang as the AmberClan patrol gathered to leave camp. He'd made his way back as fast as he could, thoughts of the StarClan cat whirling in his mind. As glad as he was to be trusted with such a responsibility, he couldn't help the worry now nagging at him, once the adrenaline had worn off. Had he been too uncouth to the molly? What if she was having second thoughts about choosing him? What if —

He bit back a yelp as he felt Blazefang nudge him, and looked over to see the dark ginger molly giving him a concerned look. "Are you okay?" she asked. "You've looked all over the place since you came back from your walk." She leaned closer as she added, "You know, if there's anything wrong, you can — " She froze as her muzzle drew closer to his, and then gave a sniff. "What happened in the woods?"

Ghostpaw felt his blood run cold as he stared up at his mentor. "Wh-what do you mean?" he mewed, taking a step back. Could she scent the StarClan cat on him? Did StarClan cats carry a scent?

"You smell like fox!" Blazefang remarked. At fox, several cats, once pacing in anticipation for their departure, froze and turned to look at the two. "Ghostpaw, what happened? Is there a fox in the territory?"

Ghostpaw's stomach less dropped, as much as it hung from the edge of a cliff for several long, desperate moments, and then slowly and agonizingly fell into a fast-rushing river at the bottom of the world's deepest gorge. He felt panic grip his lungs as he blurted out, "No, no, it's gone now, it won't bother us!" He winced as he spoke. How in the name of StarClan was he meant to explain that? He should have crossed through a couple streams before he came back, but he'd been too preoccupied and anxious to return!

Blazefang narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean it's gone?" she retorted. "Did you fight it off single-pawed? Or did you run off and lead it back to our camp?"

From the group of murmuring cats, a dark brown tabby cat pushed through to the front, green eyes narrowed with worry. "Ghostpaw, if the Clan's in danger, we need to know," Cedarwhisper, the AmberClan deputy, said, although more mild than Blazefang had been. "We can't leave the camp unattended if there's a threat."

"It's safe, I swear!" Ghostpaw promised, trying not to wince in front of half the Clan. "It's called off! It won't bother us when it's been told not to!" What a stupid way to phrase it, but how else could he? He couldn't exactly tell them a StarClan cat had saved him, could he? But he didn't want the Clan fearful of a prowling fox that was nonexistent.

The group fell silent. The cleric, a young brown and white tom named Rabbitflicker, pricked his ears in surprise. He stepped through the group, meeting Ghostpaw's gaze carefully. "You spoke to it?" the cleric murmured.

"I — it's not — " Ghostpaw started.

"Ghostpaw, just earlier today you were complaining that you couldn't speak to any animals!" Blazefang cried. "Were you pulling my tail for some sympathy?" Any anger or annoyance she'd shown was replaced with amused purring.

Ghostpaw blinked. "Well, I couldn't then, I told you — "

He lurched forward with a cry of surprise as Woollypaw nudged him, eyes gleaming. "My own brother, a fox-cry!" he crowed. "You just had to show me up, huh?"

Excited murmurs rose from the Clan, and Ghostpaw felt a strange tingling in his paws. He didn't exactly want to lie to them, but what if this was the best outcome? After all, he wasn't lying to them; they'd just assumed it. And, it wasn't completely a lie. The fox was a non-threat. It wasn't as if the Clan was dealing with foxes all the time, anyways. Maybe he could hold out and keep this up long enough until he found out his real Voice; with Woollypaw as his brother, maybe it ran in the family! Maybe he had a Voice just as cool as Woollypaw's.