Ghosts of the Clans

Chapter 3

Good-bye, Thistlepaw. You died bravely saving Gorsetail- who was saving me.

The young apprentice lay in the clearing of the WindClan camp, lifeless. For the past few days, Barkface and his new apprentice, Kestrelpaw, had worked hard to save her life, but infection had set in. The medicine cats had also been unable to stop the bleeding. Finally, she had died one night, and it was the vigil now.

Gorsetail lay next to her sister's body, her pale blue eyes shadowed with grief. A pang of guilt shook Antkit. Thistlepaw died because of me.

After they had gotten the gray-and-white she-cat back to camp, Tallstar had scolded Antkit sternly, and even delayed his apprentice ceremony by a half-moon! Willowclaw had been very upset, and the other kits were scornful. Antkit could still remember Breezekit's stinging words, "I bet you'll be stuck in the nursery forever, being the whiny kit you are!" His mother, Nightcloud, had cuffed him over the ear, but Antkit could see in her amber eyes that she too thought so.

Now, Willowclaw called him back into the nursery. "I know that the other kits haven't slept yet, but-" Suddenly, all of Antkit's frustration spilled out of him as he interrupted his mother. "But they don't want me with them! I know that, Willowclaw. But I did cause Thistlepaw's death, didn't I?" he finished bitterly, working his claws on the bracken.

The gray she-cat looked shocked and nuzzled him affectionately. "No, Antkit. No cat thinks that. It was because of the badger, not you." "But they do! And if I hadn't snuck out of camp in the first place, Thistlepaw might still be alive, and perhaps be having her warrior ceremony!" Willowclaw opened her mouth to protest, but Antkit turned away and burrowed into his nest, curling his tail over his paws.

"Antkit." Opening his eyes, he saw a gray-and-white tom looming over him. "Who... who are you?" he squeaked. "Little kit, my name is Thistleclaw. I've seen you being bullied by the other kits, and I can assist you with warrior skills." Still trembling, Antkit whispered, "I'll think about it. But where is this?"

Thistleclaw drew back his lips in a grin. "The Place of No Stars, where the strongest thrive."