"StarClan has lighted our path to show us that it is now time to follow Ghostface to where those sick shall be healed." Shrubfoot said, not taking her eyes away from the odd arrangement of clouds. The cats were now quiet. "But all of us cannot go. To travel in too large numbers is risky. Only the sickest must go." A small gasp came from the crowd.
"Now?" Ghostface called up, looking up also.
Shrubfoot nodded and Sunflake, HillsClan's medicine cat said, "Now is the time."
"Go if you want, but you will all be led to your deaths!" Longstar screeched. He leapt down from the hill and jogged off to his territory. Some of the cats followed him, the others looked unsure. After a moment, Hummingwing spoke up.
"Longstar, I'm not going. We are all sick, and this is the only way." A couple of cats stood beside him, but the rest followed their stubborn and angry leader out of the gathering place. Fawnshadow looked down at her paws and he could see that the remaining HillsClan cats were tense.
"The sickest cats please come forward!" Barkstar called. Slowly cats came towards his hill. Among them were Pinepaw, Milkpaw, Coldpelt, Mottledsong, Shadedpelt, Rabbittail and Mudear. Soon most of the clearing was surrounding Barkstar's hill.
"I will not be going." Barkstar said, dipping his head to Ghostface. Ghostface looked shocked. "But we can't risk losing you, Barkstar! You must go, you are just as sick as the rest of these cats!" The brown leader's ribs were sticking out from his thin, dull coat, but he shook his head.
"I have a territory to protect. I must lead the cats that remain in the forest. Longstar is now a threat, and StarClan has chosen you to lead, not me."
Ghostface looked at him for several more moments, then nodded. His legs and tail felt heavy as if weighted down by a TigerClan cat.
The other leaders nodded. "We won't be going either. Our remaining cats need us here."
He could see that all of the medicine cats had remained sitting where they were.
"We will stay here, these cats need our help, and your cats have the help of StarClan." Shrubfoot said, nodding to him. Ghostface felt more alone now. How could he help these cats without medicine cats?
"I'm coming." Fawnshadow said beside him. Ghostface's tail wrapped around hers gratefully. The cats were all quiet now and Ghostface looked up again. The moonlit path of clouds was still there, though the line was now distorted by the wind whipping the clouds.
"It is time you left, Ghostface." Sunflake said.
Shrubfoot nodded, "May StarClan continue to light your path."
Barkstar touched his shoulder before leaving, and soon the cats that were staying left back to their territories. Ghostface stood up and addressed the cats.
"You all heard Shrubfoot, StarClan will be with us every step of the way. It won't be easy but I know the way." He stared out at all of the cats, trying to act brave and calm but inside he hoped he would remember the way. He hadn't exactly paid attention when he had stumbled upon GrassClan territory; it was with Highstar and Darkest Corner's dreams that he had made it. He padded forward, "We must stay out of HillsClan territory, so we must go over the Boulder Rock place and then follow the two-leg dirt road out of the clan territories for tonight, then we will rest."
The cats looked scared by his plan but they stood up and Ghostface started to jog off. Fawnshadow turned and brought up the rear. After a couple of minutes Ghostface looked back and saw that the cats were struggling already. Mottledsong caught up to him, panting slightly. "Ghostface, we're sick. We can't run the whole way." Ghostface nodded and his heart seemed to grow heavier. How long would it take to get there? He slowed and when they reached the other side of the boulder rock place he had to help the weakest cats scramble down.
They continued on like that, slow but constant and when they reached the two-leg gravel road the moon was still shining bright in the sky. Ghostface ran ahead to check for monsters but none came. The gravel was hard and most of the cats walked to the side where the grass was. When they reached the edge of the territories, Ghostface paused, slightly nervous. Crossing the scent line would mean they couldn't turn back. He looked up again and was surprised to see that the moon was low and far off to the east he could see the sky beginning to tinge lighter. Fawnshadow padded up next to him. He closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of standing next to her and then padded forward across the scent mark. Soon all the cats were across and they continued until they reached a sandy hollow bordered thickly by dense vegetation.
"We rest here." Ghostface said, looking over the cats. The cats settled down without question. Turning to Fawnshadow he said, "Fawnshadow, this isn't going to be easy."
He looked down, waiting for a response before he realized that she was already asleep. He wrapped his tail around hers and lay down also.