The Clash of Stars Book 1: The Key

Chapter 27: Ghostpaw

"What was that?"

"Do you think it was a Twoleg?"

"No, they always had flatter faces in the stories! This one had a muzzle!"

"It's been years since we saw one, maybe they changed — ?" one cat offered in a tentative tone.

"Honestly, Newtskip!" came a reproachful mew.

Ghostpaw stood, paralyzed between Thornpaw and Wildpaw, staring at the space where the creature had disappeared, Beesmoke curled up in its arms like a kit. How had he escaped so easily? Or perhaps he hadn't — perhaps whatever the Twoleg had in store for Beesmoke was a fate worse than whatever the Clans would do.

Mousestar leapt onto a low branch of the Dryhollow, blue gaze sweeping over the cats below. "Is every cat accounted for?" he called. He cast a forlorn glance towards Mallowpaw and Adderfreckle's bodies. Then, to Ghostpaw's horror, he turned to where three other bodies were being carried to the center of the clearing, now that the chaos had ended. A senior warrior and scout respectively, Thicketthorn and Brackensmoke, and one of the elders Ghostpaw had spoken to just a few days before — Junipertalon. Mousestar sighed, and added, "Is any other cat injured?"

Ghostpaw could hardly bear to keep watching. He started to turn away, but Blazefang's voice drew his attention back. His mentor was padding towards Mousestar, Squirrelwatcher by her side. Woollypaw's mentor looked less grouchy than normal, worry rounding her eyes.

"Ghostpaw is still missing, and now Squirrelwatcher says that Woollypaw went missing just before Beesmoke came back," Blazefang reported, her voice shaking.

Cedarwhisper leapt into camp from the bushes, making Ghostpaw jump. The deputy hadn't seen the apprentices, but was still too close for comfort. "I'll organize search patrols once we have everything else in order," they said.

Chirpdawn emerged from where she'd been comforting the remaining two elders in the mouth of the elder's den. "I can take care of things, if you'd like to take care of that patrol now," she meowed smoothly, giving the deputy a curt nod.

Cedarwhisper stiffened, looking how Ghostpaw imagined he looked when he couldn't tell if Woollypaw was playing a trick. "You can lead the patrol if you'd prefer," they replied, fur slowly bristling along their neck.

Chirpdawn held their gaze. "I have to stay in camp," she stated, impassive. "The elders are rattled." She narrowed her eyes, as though challenging Cedarwhisper to argue a second time.

Cedarwhisper stared at her for a long moment and then took a couple steps back. "Fine," they said, an edge to their tone. They paused, searching the camp until their gaze seemed to fall on their mate. The brown tabby shot Sootcry a glance, and the two padded out of camp, Cedarwhisper's tail flicking with irritation.

Something about the way the deputy had said Fine filled Ghostpaw with a feeling of foreboding. Guilt gnawed at his stomach; the quarrel had been his fault.

Well, partially, he added to himself. There was no need for Chirpdawn to antagonize Cedarwhisper like that.

Ghostpaw felt a nip at his leg and, biting back a yelp, yanked his head out of the brambles. Thornpaw and Wildpaw were waiting, the former's eyes narrowing with impatience.

"We have to go," the cleric said.

Ghostpaw stared at them. Did they seriously expect him to just leave after witnessing this? "Woollypaw's still missing," he said pointedly. "A fox attacked my Clan, and now the deputy's out looking for me. I can't just go. I have to help."