The Clash of Stars Book 1: The Key

Chapter 12: Ghostpaw

Ghostpaw trotted after Woollypaw and Spottedpaw, all three apprentices' mentors at the head of the patrol. Squirrelwatcher had told them they'd be learning some scout-warrior cooperation techniques, but Ghostpaw wondered how they'd do anything with Spottedpaw and Woollypaw chattering like starlings the whole time.

"I heard some cats say Beesmoke was demoted after the Gathering," Spottedpaw was saying, their eyes wide.

"I wonder who replaced him," Woollypaw added. "I heard that he was Gryphonstar's deputy for moons."

Sootcry, Spottedpaw's mentor, flicked their tail. "Who knows, with how much FlashClan keeps to themselves, up in the mountains and all."

Ghostpaw was hardly listening. He stared at his paws as he walked along, brows furrowed. The new moon was soon approaching; he'd have to figure out how to get to the Hearth unspotted by then. He wondered if Thornpaw would seek him out if he didn't make it on time, or if the cleric would be cross. Thornpaw had seemed polite enough, but Ghostpaw had heard that apparently Thornpaw could be as rude and as rigid to the warrior code as EchoClan's deputy, Shadowtalon.

"Ghostpaw, what do you think?"

Ghostpaw jolted to attention, realizing that Woollypaw and Spottedpaw were both watching him with expectant expressions. Spottedpaw flicked their tail, tilting their head.

Woollypaw snickered, meowing, "He's been scatterbrained since the day of the Gathering. I guess even a cool fox-cry like him is still shaken from seein' one!"

Ghostpaw's fur prickled with irritation. "No I'm not, I'm just thinking," he protested.

Woollypaw frowned and shot him a weird look. "It's okay, Ghostpaw," he said. "No one's going to think you're silly for being scared of a fox."

Spottedpaw nodded in agreement. "Foxes are dangerous!"

Ghostpaw began to bite a snarky retort at Woollypaw, only to be interrupted by Squirrelwatcher. The yellow molly had come to a sudden stop, raising her tail for silence.

Blazefang's eyes narrowed. "What's wrong, Squirrelwatcher?" she hissed.

Sootcry suddenly stiffened. "No, I scent it as well."

Squirrelwatcher crouched, ears flattened, and made a quick, chittering noise into the forest. A squirrel poked its head from the bushes, nodding at her command and disappearing ahead of the patrol. As its bushy tail twitched out of sight, Ghostpaw too caught the scent and bristled.

FlashClan!

The rest of the patrol crouched behind Squirrelwatcher, and Blazefang turned to hiss at Ghostpaw, "Stay close to me. Keep Spottedpaw safe."

Ghostpaw felt a twinge of alarm — he was certain that he was underqualified for that order; he'd only been training for a moon longer than Spottedpaw, with half as much to show for it. But he knew better than to argue at a time like this.

"Woollypaw, get ready to circle around with me," Squirrelwatcher whispered. Her apprentice nodded.

Sootcry, who had been sitting crouched with their face screwed up and intent, suddenly yelped almost loudly enough to alert the intruder. "It's just one cat," they reported in a low voice, "but I recognize the scent ..." They shook their head in irritation. "I can't put a name to it."

The squirrel that had been summoned appeared from the trees and leapt onto Squirrelwatcher's head. In its tiny jaws was a small, leafy bit of bramble. Squirrelwatcher flicked her tail, and the patrol huddled around her, sniffing at the leaves. Ghostpaw dug his claws into the earth; it was drenched in FlashClan scent, like a cat had spent the afternoon scratching their back on it — just to show how little regard they had for respecting AmberClan's boundaries!