It was dark by now as the cats hissed angrily around them. Their eyes glinted in the night, flashing yellow.
"Let's rip them to shreds and leave them for the crows!" said Talltree, hissing and wiping the blood out of her eyes that dripped from her face.
"Talltree! You know what that would cause." Said the dark brown tom with dark stripes in a warning tone. "We can't afford a war with Grassclan right now."
"Reedstripe is right. We should just take them back to camp as prisoners." Said the golden she-cat.
"And show them where our camp is?" said Rubythroat angrily, "We can't do that, Finchclaw."
"Let's chase them out of our territory." Reedstripe said, glaring at Ghostface and Thunderpaw.
"If we could run we would've already." Ghostface said, lashing his tail. Beside him, he felt the apprentice shake. "We need a medicine cat. Thunderpaw is sick. I'm telling you, we got swept down the stream last night!"
"Why should we help you, after you just slashed Talltree in the face?" Reedstripe said, continuing his angry glare.
"She was about to murder us!"
"You attacked first!"
"You could've just let us leave your territory, but you didn't quite have that in mind, now did you?"
"You didn't exactly explain yourself!"
"That's enough!" said Finchclaw loudly, snapping the toms out of their argument, "It was a poorly handled situation, but this apprentice is sick. The least we can do is get Mudwhisker and Leekstar here, and then escort them back to their territory."
"Alright." Reedstripe said reluctantly, "I'll go get them." He turned and ran down a trail, disappearing in the dark of night behind a clump of reeds and bushes.
After a moment, Rubythroat asked, "What's your name, loner?"
"I'm not a loner." Ghostface said, digging his claws into the earth. "I'm part of Grassclan now. My name is Ghostface."
"Ghostface?" Rubythroat said, a chuckle entering his throat. Finchclaw and Talltree snickered.
"Do you have a problem with my name?"
"You aren't from around here are you? Did you come from the two-leg place to the west? Or perhaps the farms to the north of Grassclan?"
"I'm Grassclan now--" Said Ghostface through clenched teeth, but he was interrupted by Reedstripe who returned with two more cats. A break in the clouds let some of the moon's light to shine down, allowing Ghostface to see the new cats more clearly. One was a dusty brown tom carrying some strong smelling herbs in a leaf and the other was a fierce looking she-cat with striking green eyes and a cream pelt with dark points.
"Leekstar, Mudwhisker." Said Talltree, "These are the Grassclan cats. The apprentice is sick."
Immediately the dusty brown medicine cat went to work. Thunderpaw opened her mouth for him and let him inspect her and her injuries.
Leekstar stepped forward and addressed Ghostface, "Who are you, and how did you come onto my territory?"
"I'm Ghostface. We got swept down the stream last night and were trying to get home, but then we were attacked. Now Thunderpaw is even weaker."
"As I said before," Finchclaw said pointedly, flashing a glare at Ghostface, "It was a poorly handled situation on both parts. I suggested that we treat the apprentice and then send them back to their territory."
"Yes. Where are the other two cats?" Leekstar said inquiringly.
"They left and went back to Grassclan. Swampfur chased after them."
"And there were no serious injuries?"
"Talltree got scratched in the face, but there's nothing that can't be forgiven."
"Good. Finchclaw, Mudwhisker and I will escort you back to your camp." Leekstar said to Ghostface.
Ghostface nodded and turned back to Thunderpaw, who was nibbling some leaves while Mudwhisker smeared a clay poultice on some of her scratches.
"There, she's eating a catnip mixture to help stop her cough and prevent it from furthering, and this marigold poultice is to prevent infection because it would be hard for her to fight one off when she's so weak. Make sure to tell your medicine cat that." Mudwhisker said, cleaning his paws in the grass.
"Are you fit to walk?" Ghostface asked her.
"Yeah." Thunderpaw stood.
Rubythroat, Reedstripe and Talltree turned and padded back to their territory. Leekstar took the lead and headed towards the Grassclan border. Ghostface walked beside Thunderpaw, supporting her, with Mudwhisker also by her side and Finchclaw taking the rear.
It seemed a slow journey, especially at night. The moon only shone occasionally. After what seemed hours the scent of Grassclan was all around them as the terrain slowly changed from spongy marsh to meadows.
"There, we're now in Grassclan." Leekstar said. A thin orange line appeared to the east, signaling the approach of dawn.
Suddenly off in the distance, they all heard a patrol. Ghostface gave a yowl to let them know where they were. In no time the patrol came crashing towards them. It consisted of Mottledsong, Mossclaw, Barkstar, Shadedpelt and Coldpelt.
"What's going on here?" Barkstar asked, stepping forward. "Were you returning these cats to us?"
"Yes." Leekstar said, stepping forwards to address the Grassclan leader.
"Why did you have them in the first place? Mottledsong and Mossclaw told me that you were about to kill them when they left for help." Barkstar seemed annoyed, but relieved that they were being returned.
"Well we didn't, and here they are. Good-bye Barkstar." The Marshclan cats disappeared without another word.
"Well… I'm extremely curious, but you both look dead on your feet so we'll just head back to camp and you can tell me later." Barkstar said to them sympathetically.
Ghostface nodded gratefully and they all padded back to camp just as the morning sun began to creep higher.