Chapter 14

"What happened?" Ghostface said.

The black and white she-cat looked at him for a moment then said, "I just received a prophecy."

"What did you see?"

Shrubfoot looked around and then said, "There were cats—many, many cats—all dying, sick. Their pelts were ragged and patched, their skin covered in horrible festering rashes." She closed her eyes and shuddered. "The air was thick with disease, spread more by coughing and pus and cats throwing up."

Ghostface was horror struck as what she described formed in his mind. Shrubfoot continued, "But… The cats were from all the clans and… they were all headed together in one direction, dying yet determined. And then… A cat I'd never seen before spoke to me, "'Only I the land of stones where the wind howls at the place that moon falls and the spirits reside can the pelts of the tainted be clean again. Ailing, broken, battered and dying must go, led by the pale remnants of high.'"

"Oh no." Ghostface's face was filled with horror. "That disease sounds just like the plague of my old tribe!"

The medicine cat looked up. "But the prophecy… We've got to find out what it means or else the clans will all die like your tribe!"

Ghostface took a few deep breaths, trying not to panic over the strange vision. "Okay… What in StarClan above could this mean?"

"I don't know, why would I receive a prophecy in the middle of the day? I've never heard of the land of stones… where the wind howls. Nor have I heard of where the moon falls."

Her words seemed familiar to Ghostface. He paused and thought. "Where the Moon falls… Moon falls… Moonfalls! I know that place! It was the old place where my tribe went to speak to Clan of Stars!"

Shrubfoot looked at him, slightly confused. "But what about the land of stones where the wind howls?"

"My tribe was called the Tribe of Stones, our rival tribe was the Tribe of Wind. Moonfalls is located between the two territories."

"Then moonfalls is where the spirits reside and the pelts of the tainted must be the sick cats!" Shrubfoot said, her eyes widening.

"Yes, and you said ailing, broken, battered and dying… That's four… so that must mean all four of the clans!"

Shrubfoot nodded. "So the cats must be lead to the territories of the Tribe of Stones and the Tribe of Wind to the Moonfalls to be saved from the disease…"

Ghostface said, his brows furrowed in concentration. "But who is the pale remnants of high?"

"Hmm… high… perhaps…that is Highstar? Then if Highstar is that then his remnants must be his descendants, which are you and Mottledsong. And you are the pale pelted one. Ghostface, you are to lead the cats!"

Ghostface shook his head and stared at the medicine cat. "No. What are you talking about? I can't—"

Shrubfoot sprang up. "It all makes sense!"

"Shrubfoot, this can't be true!"

"What are you talking about? Starclan practically drew it on a mouse and tossed it at us!"

"But I'm just a regular cat who joined the clan!"

Shrubfoot looked at him for a long moment, then touched his shoulder with her nose. "I don't know. Starclan has it's reasons though. But don't tell any cats. I'm going to take a trip to the Motherground to visit the Moonstream."

Ghostface nodded. They sat for a moment in silence, then Shrubfoot pushed the pile of herbs she had been gathering towards him. "Here. Eat this."

Ghostface nodded and bent down to eat the pile. It had a strong scent, though it wasn't unpleasant. He gulped down the leaves and then stood. Shrubfoot was busy preparing other piles.

"Travelling herbs. Bleh. I should leave tonight and I may make it before moonhigh. Could you go fetch Barkstar?"

The pale warrior nodded and padded out of the den. The sun was just beginning to sink. He didn't know where the Motherground was but he had a feeling she would have to travel fast to make it. He bumped into Barkstar just as the brown leader was leaving his den. "Shrubfoot needs to see you. Now."

Barkstar nodded and dashed over towards the other side of camp. Ghostface spotted Prairieheart marching out of camp and a second later he spotted Mossclaw dashing after her. Ghostface felt tired, but he knew he should help with the clan. He hadn't gotten much done today. He picked up some fresh kill and padded over towards the elders den.

When they saw him, the cats stood. "Thank you Ghostface. I was beginning to think we had been forgotten." Said a light tom with a brown patch on his ear.

"Is there anything else you need?" Ghostface asked.

"No, no. We should be fine. The weather isn't too bad yet." Rabbittail meowed.

Ghostface nodded politely and padded out. Not quite wanting to return to the warriors den, he headed to the nursery. He meowed quietly outside of the entrance and Stormflower's soft meow replied. He stepped inside lightly. It smelled strongly of milk and fresh bedding. Stormflower was laying on her side, her kits running around to the side.

"Wow, you've got a lot of room in here." Ghostface said, smiling at the rambunctious kits.

"Yeah. We're short of cats, and Lichenfur recently retired to elder so now we'll be short of kits until we get some new queens." She sounded slightly worried. "But they should be old enough to become warriors in a couple of moons, I just pray to StarClan that greencough doesn't hit this season."

Ghostface remembered the prophecy. "Yeah, I hope so too. Do you need anything?"

"No, I just ate. Thank you though."

Ghostface smiled and backed out of the warm nursery, though his heart was troubled. What would happen to the clan if the prophecy came true?