The chill of the fall morning seeped through Ghostface's fur as he crouched among the bushes at boulder rock place. He had made sure he wasn't followed on the way out, heading first towards the up-stone place and the pasture before crossing the stream and going straight onto the boulder rock place. Now he waited anxiously, listening for the sound of soft paw steps on stone or the swoosh of fur against vegetation. Fawnshadow's black face peered out from behind a rock. Ghostface stood and meowed a greeting.
She rubbed up against him and Ghostface could feel her purring from inside of her lithe body.
"Fawnshadow, one of the cats has found out I've been… meeting you." Ghostface said, sitting down.
"What? How?" Fawnshadow said, a worried look showing in her eyes.
"I was sort of followed yesterday, but that's not all. My clan is getting angry about the scents of HillsClan here and we're patrolling more. Fawnshadow, even StarClan, for whatever reason they might want us together, can't stop the wrath of the clans. We might plan a raid, or an attack."
Fawnshadow looked down. "I'd hate to see you get hurt, but Ghostface, I want to see you. Maybe we could find somewhere else to meet? Do you think… can you trust the cat who found out?"
"I don't know." Ghostface meowed, looking away from her. His heart felt heavy. He did want to see her, she was so beautiful, but his place in the clan was being threatened every second he spent with her. His troubles seemed to be piling up. The prophecy, being found out and the clans anger at HillsClan.
They were quiet for several minutes. Ghostface was lost in thought, thinking about whether or not to tell her about the strange prophecy. Suddenly Fawnshadow sprang up. "Ghostface, I know the perfect place to meet!"
"What? Where?" Ghostface said, tilting his head and narrowing his eyes slightly.
"The Ditch Tunnel beneath the Two-leg dirt road."
"Where's that?" Ghostface asked.
"In HillsClan territory, but it's not far. Come on, I'll show you!"
Ghostface stood up, "Wait, Fawnshadow. There's something else I want to talk about before we go." She turned around and sat back down. Ghostface took a deep breath and said, "Yesterday, our medicine cat had a strange vision and a prophecy from StarClan. She saw sick diseased cats from all of the clans together marching in one direction. She said their sickness was horrible, falling out fur, coughing, dripping wounds. And then she heard,'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.'"
"What does that mean?" Fawnshadow asked, her fur beginning to prickle uncomfortably.
"Shrubfoot and I figured that it meant that in my old territory, at the place where my tribe would go to talk with Clan of Stars is where the cats will be healed. All of the clans have to go and…"
"What?"
"I have to lead them." Ghostface looked at her pretty face closely, searching for her reaction.
"Are you sure?" She said, staring back at him.
"No, but Shrubfoot went to some Motherground to the Moonstream to talk with StarClan. She hasn't returned yet."
"Ghostface! We have to tell the clans! This is important to the fate of every clan cat!"
The pale warrior stood up in alarm. "No! We can't! Not until we know more. We could be wrong. Don't tell any cat!"
Fawnshadow reluctantly nodded and buried her dark face into his shoulder. "This sounds horrible… Ghostface, some cats in my clan have been getting sick. Some with a cough, others with odd rashes. Do you think…?"
"I'm not sure. I'm so confused. I thought my life had been entangled enough into StarClan, having been saved from the plague, but now… Why me? Why these clans? Why us?"
They remained there together for a while until the sun was above the horizon, spreading its warm fingertips across their chilled bodies. Finally Ghostface stood. "I've got to go. They'll need me back at camp." Before Ghostface could stand to leave, a golden body leapt out of the bushes.
Ghostface turned quickly and stood, his hackles raised. "Prairieheart!"
"Ghostface! I told you not to!" Prairieheart said, glaring at him. Fawnshadow stood beside Ghostface.
"Why do you care so much?" Ghostface said through clenched teeth.
"Because you're breaking the warrior code! You're endangering yourself and her if the clans war!"
"Look, Prairieheart, I know you're concerned but don't be! StarClan spoke to us, don't you understand? This doesn't concern you!" He could feel Fawnshadow press against him.
"Yes it does! Ghostface…" She looked down at the ground. Ghostface didn't move and waited for her to finish. Finally she spoke up again, "I like you."