Chapter Ten

Every breath was a labor, the smoke searing her throat as she sucked it in. The air was hot and thick, buffeting her body like strong winds as she ran. Around her the flames surged, licked hungrily at the passing cat. Each burning tongue singed her fur, filling her nose with the smells of smoke and burning fur. But she had to keep running. She didn't have a choice.

Where is he? Mythsong's subconscious was screaming, driving the dream-cat forward. Her paws moved with some sense of purpose, though she had no idea where she was going. Somewhere, in her waking mind, now pushed to the back by her dream, Mythsong answered herself, Who am I looking for?

Her paws skidded over dead leaves and she slid into the ThunderClan camp. The clearing was empty and silent, eerily so. Though beyond the barrier the fire raged, under the shadow of the steep cliff the camp was perfect. One cat stood at the center of the clearing, facing away from her. His gray pelt looked vaguely familiar, and the dream-Mythsong knew who he was. The conscious Mythsong couldn't put her paw on it.

Mythsong was suddenly very aware that she was dreaming, though she couldn't stop it. She had the disorienting sensation that she was seeing the scene from two perspectives at once: from her own eyes standing firmly on the ground and from a point just above her.

"We have to go!" Mythsong screamed, taking a step towards the smaller cat. He swung around to face her, his blue eyes meeting her identical ones. A chill shot through Mythsong's body as though someone had dripped ice water down her back.

It was Racepaw.

Stars pooled at his feet, dancing around his paws like falling snow as he stepped slowly towards her. Pinpoints of lights shone in his pelt, shimmering as he moved. His face looked older than she remembered and his eyes shone with infinite wisdom, but the same familiar smile split his face.

"I've missed you, Mythsong." her brother purred, stopping a tail-length in front of her. Then his face fell and his eyes took on a faraway look. "The new shall rip the old asunder and threaten all we know. Before peace is restored ghost must fade to myth, or the forest will burn."

Just then the flames poured in, engulfing the camp and swirling in front of Mythsong's vision. She let out a terrified scream before they closed over her head, smothering her in hot blackness.

Mythsong's eyes flew open, but the feeling of being smothered persisted. Panicking, she gave a muffled screech and thrashed wildly. Whatever it was suffocating her, it shifted slightly and gave a groan. Mythsong's fear evaporated, leaving irritation in its place. She wriggled her muzzle free of the stuffy fur and yowled, "Wiseowl, you big furball, get off me!"

"Hu-wha?" Was the answer she got from the senior warrior. He twisted his head around to look at her, blinking blearily, but made no move to get up. Growling ill-temperedly Mythsong gave a great heave and threw him off, sending him tumbling over on top of Grassfur.

The other warrior gave an angry grunt and pushed Wiseowl back towards Mythsong. "What's going on, why are you throwing runts at me?" The comment, out of context, would have been harsh, but Grassfur's eyes glittered with amusement. He may have been the most senior warrior without Ambereye, but he still had a sense of humor about him.

"Who are you calling runt, you old fleabag?" Wiseowl growled playfully, righting himself and swatting a paw at Grassfur. "I'm a warrior; I've been a warrior for a long time!"

"Not as long as me, young'un." the pale ginger tom ducked away from his paw and tossed a bit of moss at Wiseowl. He ducked and it hit Mythsong squarely on the nose.

Feeling she had to get involved now, Mythsong pounced onto Wiseowl's back and buried her teeth lightly in his scruff. He screeched and rolled over into Ambereye's empty nest. Grassfur sat back and laughed, watching the wrestling warriors contentedly.

A black and ginger head stuck itself into the den, green eyes taking in the scene with some distain. "If you all are done acting like kits," Magicnight mewed, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Falconstar just called a meeting." The slightest trace of a grin touched her lips as she withdrew her head.

Mythsong and Wiseowl untangled their limbs and shook the fur from their pelts, blushing under the laughing eyes of Grassfur. The three padded out into the clearing after Magicnight and found their spaces around Highledge, where Falconstar was waiting patiently.

"I have called this meeting," Falconstar began once they were all assembled, "To remind you that ThunderClan is still as strong as ever. True, many of us lost family and friends to this…GhostClan. But we who have remained are stronger for it. We must not have doubts, and we must not let their choice get in the way of our judgement.

"Just like any other Clan, GhostClan are our rivals. They are young, but they are strong and determined. If we are to stand against them we must remain just as strong, and show that they haven't weakened our spirit. We are still ThunderClan, and we have always persevered.

"That being said, I want to make one thing very clear." Falcongaze's expression grew dark and a shiver passed through the assembled cats. "Everyone here must be true to ThunderClan. Any more of these uprisings will not be looked upon favorably. So while I say we are still a united Clan, we must each be committed to this fact."

Mythsong suddenly felt her pelt grow hot as all eyes turned to her. It felt a lot like the Gathering, that uncomfortable feeling of being scrutinized and judged. Any cat could tell the others didn't trust her. Dewdrop and Sparkelpool especially looked hostile, and Flashinglight's claws slid in and out ominously.

Someone nudged her gently and Mythsong looked around at Wiseowl, who smiled encouragingly before shooting a glare at the other warriors. Next to him Grassfur was looking at their leader serenely, apparently unperturbed by the tension crackling through the clearing. Magicnight sat on her other side, her calico pelt brushing Mythsong's as she shot a scowl towards Sparklepool.

Mythsong's heart lifted a little. At least there were some cats on her side, even if Grassfur just looked a little out-of-it.

Falconstar's face broke into his usual, familiar smile. "Well now, I'll leave patrols in your capable paws, Blackfire." He gave the deputy a nod and turned into his den. At the nursery, Gustflight ordered her kits inside, then bounded up the slope after him.

Blackfire was already all business. "Wiseowl, you take Crouchpaw, Magicnight and Wingedpaw to the WindClan border. Catch some prey on the way." she was saying when Mythsong joined the little group around her. Her brow was furrowed uneasily. Very suddenly, ThunderClan was short on warriors. If average-size patrols went out, there would be no one left to defend the camp.

Sighing, Blackfire finished, "Grassfur and Mythsong, you come with me. We'll go up ShadowClan's border and patrol the new 'GhostClan' one." The black warrior flicked her tail and disappeared into the forest, Grassfur loping after her. Mythsong caught Wiseowl's eye and he shot her a quick smile, then was off with his own patrol. Mythsong scrambled after her own.

Blackfire slowed to a brisk trot when they reached ShadowClan's scent markers, leading the way along the stream. Mythsong padded along next to her mentor, feeling at peace with the world for once. Grassfur followed along on Blackfire's other side, smiling to himself. The border was quiet, and when they reached the end of the scent markers—where the land had continued unclaimed—they stopped and looked around.

"I don't smell anything." Grassfur sniffed suspiciously at a clump of bracken. "Not a hint of them. Could they be somewhere else?"

"Maybe they haven't gotten here yet." Mythsong pointed out, shrugging. Being so close to this new border was making her pelt tingle uncomfortably. "We should leave them alone."

Blackfire nodded. "Right…We wouldn't know where to set our own. As long as they don't come past the Twoleg house." She kept moving, going slower now and stopping to peer into the undergrowth every now and then. Mythsong could tell she was uncomfortably too; Ambereye had been one of Blackfire's closest friends, but she had betrayed ThunderClan. The hurt in the deputy's eyes was clear.

Grassfur stopped suddenly, his ears pricked forward. "Squirrel!" he hissed, and shot off into the bushes. Blackfire and Mythsong exchanged an amused glance before following him. They found him with the squirrel dangling from his jaws, looking pleased with himself.

"Don't move!" Five cats slithered out of the undergrowth, surrounding the ThunderClan cats. Ambereye faced Blackfire, her lip curled menacingly. Flowerspot, Swiftclaw, Fargaze and the former-RiverClan apprentice Lionpaw made up the rest of the patrol. Their tails lashed and their eyes blazed angrily. Already, they thought of themselves as one Clan.

Ambereye sniffed disdainfully. "Typical ThunderClan, wander into another Clan's territory." She jerked her head to Grassfur's squirrel. "That squirrel belongs to GhostClan."

Blackfire bared her teeth. "He chased it from ThunderClan land!" she hissed, the fur along her spine rising defensively. "And how are we supposed to know where your land even starts? You lazy fox-hearts haven't even set your boarders yet!"

"We were just about to do that now," Flowerspot's voice was soft and calm, but laced with condescending sarcasm. "If you would be so kind as to get off our land and let us do so."

Blackfire and Ambereye held each other's gaze a moment longer. The ThunderClan deputy looked about ready to claw the smug smirk off of Ambereye's face, but with a visible effort she slid her claws in and turned away. "Come on ThunderClan, let's leave these traitors to their work."

Grassfur picked up the squirrel with a pointed look at Ambereye and stalked after Blackfire. Mythsong turned to follow, pausing hesitantly to look over her shoulder. She hated the feeling of their eyes on her as she turned away. Back in ThunderClan, Ambereye would have never let a patrol attack a rival Clan's cat for an accident like this. But now…She just didn't know anymore. Ambereye was also the last cat she would have expected to betray ThunderClan. Who could tell what really went on behind her mismatched eyes?

"The next time we catch you on our land, there will be trouble." Ambereye called after their retreating forms. "Make sure Falconstar understands this."

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Another longer chapter. Can you feel the tensions running high? Ohhh yeah.

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