Ghostface awoke to an empty den. Sunlight poured into the entrance. It was a different den than the one he had stayed in before. It smelled of warriors, at least five of them. He sat up and gazed around. He could hear the cats bustling about outside. It must be past sunhigh. Did he want to go out there? He wasn't sure. He didn't know why, but he felt at fault for all that had happened. Would they blame him for endangering their lives? Would they shun him? The more he thought about it, the more nervous he got. He had just arrived here and this happens. Was he cursed?
Suddenly Mossclaw poked his head in. "Oh, good. You're awake."
"How are you? And Mottledsong and Thunderpaw?" Ghostface asked, remaining seated.
"I'm fine, Mottledsong is fine, and Thunderpaw is with Shrubfoot. She seems really sick. Almost drowning and all that traveling and fighting yesterday really took her down. Shrubfoot says she might also be coming down with greencough." Mossclaw said, looking down.
"Can I visit her?" Ghostface asked, twitching his tail and shuffling his paws in the sand, feeling guilty for the apprentices state. Mossclaw seemed to notice because he padded in and sat by Ghostface.
"It's no ones fault. She'll be fine. If I know Shrubfoot, Thunderpaw will be healed in no time. No one can see her right now because we're not sure if her cough is contagious. And besides, Barkstar wants to see you."
"Me? Why?" Ghostface asked, starting to get nervous.
"Don't ask me." And with that, the tortoise shell warrior stood and walked out.
With a sigh, Ghostface glanced down at his pelt. It was plastered with grayish mud, though it was hard to notice because of the color of his coat. He groomed himself quickly, getting most of the mud out and then stepped out of the den.
A couple of the warriors stared at him as he passed, and some of the elders who sat basking in the sun began muttering amongst themselves. He broke into a hurried jog. When he reached Barkstar's den entrance, he called out, "B-Barkstar?"
Suddenly Mottledsong stepped out of the den and, avoiding his gaze, jogged smoothly past.
"Come in."
Ghostface obeyed and stepped inside. It was a long, warm tunnel with soft sand and moss. At the end on a thick bed of moss was Barkstar. He gazed at him intently, his pure brown coat shining.
"Lay down." Once again, Ghostface obeyed, neatly settling down with his paws tucked. He didn't look directly at the leader. Instead he stared at the rocky walls.
"So, I've been told you saved one of my warriors, then battled bravely and saved one of my apprentices." Barkstar said.
"Oh… No, it was all Mossclaw and Mot--" Ghostface began, but the tom cut him off.
"They both told me you were strong and courageous."
"Oh… Thank you." There was an awkward pause. Ghostface looked down at the sand.
"Why did you come here?" Barkstar asked.
"My clan died off. Clan of Sta— I mean, StarClan spoke to me and told me this is where my destiny lies."
"I know that much already, Ghostface. But tell me what StarClan said to you."
"All they said was that this is where I was meant to be. They saved me from the plague for this. They cleansed me. They took the plague off of my pelt when I shared tongues with Darkest Corner of a Cave in the MoonFalls, so that I would not spread it to others. Then they told me to go."
"Darkest Corner of a Cave?" Barkstar muttered out loud, looking as if he recognized the name.
"Yeah, he was my old leader, who also died of the plague. No one knows how the plague arrived, but just before Darkest Corner of a cave died, he said that StarClan had told him that it was our own fault, we had become complacent, and that… that one of us was to survive and start anew, bringing the tribe lineage with him. Apparently I am that cat."
"What did your clan say about Highstar? Did they consider him just lost… or what?"
"He was just considered lost, but StarClan has spoken to me, and I know the truth. They sent him to this clan."
"But… why GrassClan?" Barkstar said, looking off into the distance.
Ghostface couldn't think of an answer, so he sat in silence while his leader continued to stare, unblinking, lost in thought.
"Perhaps… we are short on warriors... or…" He paused for a minute longer and then, turning his attention back to Ghostface, said, "But I ramble. Thank you for sharing this with me Ghostface. I am glad you are now apart of the clan. Tomorrow is a full moon, so there will be a gathering."
"A what?" Ghostface said.
"Where the four clans of the area, GrassClan, MarshClan, HillsClan and WoodClan gather for one night of peace and talking. It will be held at the peace hills. I want you to come."
Ghostface looked appalled, thinking of how strange this was. Back at his tribe, they never met, for it was only they, The Tribe of Stones and their rival, The Tribe of Wind.
Seeing the look on his face, Barkstar chuckled. "Mossclaw will explain it all to you tomorrow. He is to show you the rest of our territory. And make sure he steers clear of the stream."
Ghostface nodded.
"Thank you Ghostface." With a flick of his tail, he dismissed Ghostface.
Ghostface padded out and gazed out at the camp. There were only a few cats around, and Mossclaw was nowhere to be seen. Feeling awkward and alone, Ghostface laid down in the warm sun. One of the cats, a pretty golden female padded over to him. "Hey, It's Ghostface, right?"
He nodded dumbly. She continued, "Want to come share some fresh kill over there with me and Stormflower?" Again, he nodded and followed her to where a blue queen was laying with her kits, who were in a fierce mock battle.
Finding his voice, he asked, "What are your names?"
"I'm Prairieheart, and this is Stormflower." Prairieheart said, smiling and settling down on the ground.
Doing the same, Ghostface said, "Nice to meet you. I haven't met too many cats in this clan yet…"
"Don't worry. You will. Especially when they hear that you dove into the stream and then fought at Marshclan!" Stormflower said.
"Who told you about that?" Ghostface asked, looking down in embarrassment.
"Mottledsong. And Mossclaw. Although he claimed to have carried all of you out of the river at once and then battled all of the Marshclan cats, plus a badger, while you scurried away. Thankfully though, Mottledsong set him straight." The two females began to giggle.
"Mossclaw will say anything to impress anyone!"
"Especially you, Prairieheart!"
"Oh, stop it, Stormflower. He'd try to impress a tick if it were pretty enough."
Ghostface looked away. Suddenly Mossclaw padded into the camp entrance, his ears perked at the sound of his name.
He dashed over to them. "Stormflower, Prairieheart. Are you telling Ghostface all about me?" Mossclaw, although reserved before and serious, was now smiling disarmingly at the two she-cats. Ghostface, for some reason, felt slightly tense. Prairieheart batted her eyelashes and laughed, but Stormflower just shook her head and swatted at Mossclaw.
"Not quite." Ghostface said to the tom, a cautious smile playing on his lips.