In the early morning light Danny smiled at the satisfying clunk of axe striking wood and splitting it down the middle. Chopping firewood was one of his least favourite chores as an apprentice, then again he found all chores unpleasant. Yet who would could ever blame him, he was a stick compared to his co-apprentice Dash who never let Danny forget it. They have been studying the art of ghost hunting for five years, and for five years Dash excelled in all fields while Danny meandered through. He would have left to find an astronomer years ago to study science, or even joined a ship as a navigator; however, his father wouldn't let him go. Jack Fenton, Danny's father, lead the fight against the ghosts that besieged their small town of Amity. For several weeks the townspeople fought, suffering destruction and loss as the enemy fled. Jack lost two precious things in the fight, his wife and his daughter; Danny was all he had left.
Danny took the newly split log with the other ones he had spent most of the early morning cutting, and walked to the front of the little cabin on the edge of town which housed the ghost hunter and his apprentices. Jack was waiting there for him and smiled at his apprentice, "Good my boy, that should be enough wood for today. Now here is a list, I need you to run to the apothecary and quickly get these materials; we will need them for our ghost hunt this afternoon."
Danny nodded and took the list from his dad promising to be back shortly after. Their little cabin was not too far off: close enough that if any ghost did make into the city they would be able to arrive shortly after but far enough that the townspeople could forget about the existence of ghosts. Everyone accepted the need for ghost hunters, but they felt unwell with an emblem of war living so close.
The town streets were waking up, with travellers walking in and locals meandering to their professions. Danny smiled at the sight of soporific crowds, and carried on to the little shop near the opposite edge of town.
He arrived at the apothecary's timber home and shop soon after entering the town: the town wasn't particularly small, it was just that Danny moved well and swiftly through. He knocked twice upon the aged cedar doors and stood unmoving. The door soon creaked open and tendrils of herbal scents drew Danny in.
"Uncle Frostbite," called Danny, upon entering, when he saw no one.
"Ah. Danny, what joy brings you to my humble shop?" Spoke not an aged man, but one of youth. None in the town knew or remembered how old the white haired man was; he, as the children's rumours go, was, is and ever will be part of Amity. Though as odd as the man was, he was beloved by the town. His knowledge of medicines and plants has saved everyone in the town at least once.
"My dad… eh Master Jack has requested these draughts and tinctures, among other things."
"Danny, you need not speak so formally, here you are at home."
"Thanks. Here is the list, I would go get everything but I don't know half of these things. What's a tincture of blood blossom?"
"A tincture, simply put, is alcohol mixed with a bit of medicine and one of blood blossom severely weakens a ghost, as well will taste quite wonderful when consumed with butter biscuits," Danny only continue to stare at the man, "Worry not. I'll get everything. Stay here, and when around the distilled hemlock, look do not touch." And Frostbite faded into the back of the room. Danny nodded at his warning, he knew Frostbite dealt with more than just medicine.
"Danny, everything is as you have asked," Frostbite handed Danny the list and a bag, "Be cautious to not addle the contents, I ran out of boxes so the glass vials and ampoules share a bag and risk rupturing if handled improperly. Now go, your father is waiting."
"Can I stay a little while longer Frostbite, I don't really want to go hunting with my father yet?"
"If it is what you want then stay and perhaps learn."
"Frostbite, you know that my talents lie nowhere useful."
"I can teach more than just herb."
"It's alright, I think I'll just look and wonder."
"Wonder on what?"
"Just why my father wants me around as a ghost hunter," Danny sighed. "I'm not as skilled as Dash, not as strong, not as fast, not as brave not as. I wish my father would abandon me as an apprentice and work only with the obviously better Dash."
"All those qualities do not sum up to create a better being Danny."
"I know, I know. I've spent enough hours here to know."
"Then go and fear not inadequacies as staying here will do nothing to remedy them."
"Fine, I'll go."
"Danny boy, what took you so long? Dash and I were about to go looking for you," Jack said, greeting Danny with a hug.
"Here is what you asked for," Danny said, holding out the bag.
"Excellent." With that, Jack headed inside the cabin, "I'll be out in a bit. I just need to prepare a few more things before we go venturing off into the woods."
"So Fenton got scared at Frostbite's? Bet it took you forever to man up and go in," Dash sneered at the memory.
"That was one time Dash, and Frostbite was really scary then."
"You screamed like a baby. Just because the guy has white hair and red eyes, does not make him a ghost. He, as everyone says, suffers from rare disease."
"Ya, ya. I think Jack's coming back now."
"Excellent boys, ready for ghost hunting?" Jack bellowed to the two boys.
"Danny Fenton, you stand accused of the gravest crime: allying one's self with a ghost. How do you plead?" The town square was abuzz with whispers and rumours, 'how could Danny Fenton, son of this town's saviour fraternize with the enemy?' was the common question circulating. "I saw this child yesterday with a ghost, and now blood blossom burns him. He is no longer one of our kind, he has sold his soul to the evil ones," continued the loud voice echoing out across the town square.
"I'm innocent, please believe me," pleaded Danny, who was bound to a stake in the centre of the square.
"Then explain why the blood blossoms sting."
"I don't know."
"Very well then," the person turned to address the crowd, "our law is explicit, those who relate themselves to ghosts shall be burned. If he is innocent, than his soul shall find rest in heaven; if he has truly abandoned us, may he rot in hell." He grabbed a lit torch, and proceeded to burn the guilty.
"Wait one moment Jack Fenton," came a wry voice that pierced the murmurs of the crowd. "You know quite well that the law also states that judgement is to be handed down by me."
"I did not want to bother you when the evidence is so clear, this child has sold his soul to the ghosts and now blood blossoms burn him. We need no further evidence to sentence him to death."
"Your own son and your last child Jack, are you certain that you wish to go through with this?"
"Vlad, the moment in which blood blossoms began to burn him, he no longer was my son."
"A little severe, but considering your losses I suppose it would be understandable. However, Jack, no matter how convicted you are of his guilt; I require the whole store before judgement can be delivered.
"So be it,
"Yesterday, Danny, Dash and I were in the forest around noon to check the traps and patrol the area. It started out well, no ghost; all our anti-ghost devices were holding up and just calm. Everything went as we expected, until during our final stretch home a ghost crossed our path. It was a tall figure, a ghost I had never seen before. The ghost approached us and raised one a finger of its gauntlet at us and I was frozen. Dash probably sensed the threat, did the smart thing, and ran for help. Danny, however, was foolish and stayed behind. They talked as I fell unconscious.
"I awoke later in my cabin to see Danny, at first I was relieved and believed it all to be a dream. It was then that I saw Danny burn himself handling my collection of blood blossoms, and I after that I knew what had happened: Danny had dealings with a ghost."
"Your tale is quite believable Jack," Vlad started, "yet there is one giant whole in it all."
"Just because I didn't see anything happen, the blood blossoms burning should be enough!"
"The problem is that blood blossoms burn me as well," the crowd gasped. "Now, unless you hope to convict me of the same charges; let the boy go."