The Clash of Stars Book 1: The Key

Chapter 17: Ghostpaw

Ghostpaw padded into the camp entrance, his paws dragging. Spottedpaw trotted by his side, not nearly as tired out as he was from the training session they'd just had with their mentors. Ghostpaw had managed to beat Spottedpaw during battle practice, but that didn't feel like much to brag about, especially when the other apprentice had managed to best him just about every other time.

Tail flicking with frustration, Ghostpaw couldn't help thinking that he would've performed even a little bit better had he not been so preoccupied thinking about Thornpaw. He'd be leaving to meet the cleric in just a couple more days, and the deadline loomed over him more than the mountains.

As they entered camp, Sootcry bounded away from the group to where Cedarwhisper was eating by the Hollow Oak, under which Mousestar made his den and held Clan meetings. Sootcry began chatting with Cedarwhisper as the deputy groomed their fur.

At the same moment Woollypaw padded up to join Spottedpaw and Ghostpaw. "Those two, huh?" he meowed, sticking out his tongue teasingly. "They're always so mushy about it."

Spottedpaw nudged him, their nose scrunching up with laughter. "Come on! It's sweet!"

Woollypaw nudged them back. "Well, if you think it's sweet ... "

Ghostpaw bit back a groan. Spottedpaw was his friend too, but the last thing he wanted was to listen to his littermate flirting with them. He sighed with relief when Patchpaw and Mallowpaw came trudging out of a new den, made of woven brambles. Both apprentices looked tired and annoyed. At the front of the bramble den was one of the warriors, Adderfreckle. Ghostpaw had watched Adderfreckle painstakingly build the den with Deerwind's help, and Ghostpaw half-wondered if Adderfreckle was insisting on guarding the den itself, or the prisoner inside. Either way, Adderfreckle and Deerwind's apprentices were the youngest, so the duty of seeing to Beesmoke fell to them.

Woollypaw seemed to share Ghostpaw's thoughts on that. "Glad we aren't them," he remarked. "Beesmoke seemed like a whiny lump of fur when we caught him."

"It was enough for me," Spottedpaw agreed.

As the two continued speaking, Ghostpaw clawed at the sandy ground, trying to think of a way to bring up his impending leave to Woollypaw. It was just a few days away, and every night the waning moon filled him with more anxiety as to how he'd go about it.

Just as he was about to open his mouth and address Woollypaw, Sootcry jerked their head upwards, ears pricked. At the same moment, Chirpdawn and one of the senior warriors, Thicketthorn, padded into the camp. Following behind them were Yelloweyes and Graypetal, the latter of the two looking especially ragged.

Sootcry looked excited to see their friend and stood to meet the two BlossomClan cats, but faltered when they saw the look on Graypetal's face. Cedarwhisper touched their nose to Sootcry's ear, the two hurrying over to the patrol. Mousestar emerged from his den, leaping after Cedarwhisper, huge ears twitching with worry.

"What brings you here?" the AmberClan leader asked. "Is everything okay in BlossomClan?"

"Has the garden gotten worse?" Cedarwhisper added, drawing Sootcry closer with their tail.

But Yelloweyes shook her head. "Nothing about that," the deputy reported. "The garden is coming along, no better or worse."

Mousestar paused, studying them. Then his ears flattened. "What's happened?"

"It's Peonystar," Graypetal choked out. "She and our daughter, Wolfpaw — they're gone. They fell into the ravine."

By now most of AmberClan was clustered around, listening with anticipation. At Graypetal's words, a gasp swept through the crowd. Mousestar's eyes widened, and Sootcry flinched, as if the courier's words could pull them into the gorge, too.