Ghostface sat on a rocky boulder, far, far away from camp in a place where he hadn't been for countless moons. The pale tom looked around and gasped as he recognized the place. He was in his tribe's old territory. Suddenly a pale gray tom stepped out from behind a tall rock.
"Darkest Corner of a Cave!" Ghostface said, standing up and rubbing against his formal tribe leade, purring deeply as his familiar scent stirred kithood memoriesr.
"Face of a Ghost." Dark said, smiling at the young cat. "You are happy in your new tribe, no?"
Ghostface nodded, "Yes, but…it's become complitcated. A terrible prophecy is threatening all of the clans and StarClan says that I must be the one to lead the cats to the MoonFalls! Oh, Dark, what am I to do?"
"Young spirit—" Dark began, but was cut off by terrible groans, cries and coughs that grew louder and louder. Ghostface turned and looked to see cats, walking in a double line, crying out.
"Ghostface! You said you would save us!"
"StarClan said! Pale remnants of high!"
"Don't abandon you're duties!"
"Ghostface!"
"You were saved; now you must save us. You are our only link to your Clan of Stars!"
Suddenly Ghostface was jerked out of his terrible, prophecy-ridden dream by Icetail.
"Ghostface! Stop you're wailing!" The silver tom said, hissing. Ghostface opened his eyes. It was still dark out. With a jolt he realized that the Marshclan patrol must have just returned.
"Be quiet Icetail." Mossclaw's voice drifted from his mossy nest. "It was just a bad dream."
Ghostface closed his eyes again, glad despite Icetail's hostility that the patrol to Marshclan had returned. Soon a more peaceful sleep stole him. When dawn arrived, Ghostface awoke. Most of the other warriors were still asleep. Ghostface padded out to go see Fawnshadow, but he was intercepted by Prairieheart.
"Ghostface." She said, padding up next to him.
Ghostface sighed, "Not now, Prairieheart."
"Ghostface, I want to talk--." Prairieheart said, lowering her voice.
"Prairieheart, will you stop? There's nothing you can do to stop us, besides, this is important."
Prairieheart narrowed her eyes and lashed her tail. "I was just going to tell you that me and Mossclaw are now mates, but apparently you're to busy to talk with your own clan!" She turned and stalked away. Ghostface felt bad, he hadn't meant to snap at her, but he wanted to tell his dream to Fawnshadow. He watched her walk away to the warriors den. Mossclaw appeared and greeted the golden she-cat with a lick on her muzzle. Ghostface sighed and padded towards the entrance. He could never greet Fawnshadow in camp, they could never be seen together.
Suddenly Barkstar called to the cats from deadtrunk. Ghostface turned around, exhasperated. 'I'll never get to visit Fawnshadow at this rate!' He thought. Cats came groggily out of their dens. Stormflower appeared, her kits bouncing behind her.
When the cats were settled, Barkstar said, "First, I would like to announce that the MarshClan patrol has returned, and Shadedpelt informs me that they seem to be willing to listen. Several of their cats are sick, and their medicine cat believes that what Shadedpelt reported was true." The cats nodded their agreement. Barkstar continued, "Sickness seeps into our camp like slow sap down a tree trunk, but we will try to remain strong. We know now that StarClan is on our side, and they want to save us. And now, it is time to make two apprentices full warriors."
Ghostface saw Woodpaw and Rosepaw brighten up. They looked at each other, and then at their mentors, who smiled proudly.
"Rosepaw, please step forward. I, Barkstar, leader of GrassClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained long and hard to understand the ways of your honorable and noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Rosepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend and protect his clan, even at the cost of your life?" When she replied enthusiastically, Barkstar continued, "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you you're warrior name. Rosepaw, from now on you will be know as Rosepatch. StarClan honors your heart and bravery. We welcome you as a full warrior in our Clan."
Rosepatch grinned. Barkstar called Woodpaw forward. As he recited the ceremonial words, Woodpaw nodded. "Yes, I do!"
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you you're warrior name. Woodpaw, from now on you will be known as Woodclaw. StarClan honors your heart and bravery. We welcome you as full warrior in our clan."
Woodclaw stood, grinning and sat by Rosepatch. The clan crowded around them, congratulating them. "Woodclaw! Rosepatch!" They chanted. Ghostface congratulated them also.
When the noise died down, Barkstar said, "And I would also like to make two kits apprentices."
Milkkit and Pinekit's eyes widened and they glanced at their mother excitedly. Stormflower, whose belly was already beginning to swell with new kits smiled at her kits.
"Pinekit you have
reached six moons and it is now time for you to begin your warrior
training. From this day forward until you receive your warrior name
you will be known as Pinepaw." Barkstar said, smiling at the
young brown-patched tom.
Mossclaw you have shown yourself a
warrior of great strength and loyalty, and you are ready to take on
an apprentice. Mossclaw, you will guide Pinepaw in his warrior
training. You're mentor was Mudear, pass on what he has taught you
to this young apprentice."
Mossclaw seemed pleasantly surprised. He touched noses with the young tom.
"Milkkit, you have reached six moons and it is time for you to begin your warrior training. From this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Milkpaw." The cream she-cat smiled. "Prairieheart, you have shown yourself a warrior of loyalty and heart, and you are ready to take on an apprentice. Prairieheart, you will guide Milkpaw in her warrior training. You're mentor was Coldpelt. Pass on what he taught you to this young apprentice."
The two touched noses. Ghostface smiled. Perhaps now Prairieheart would be too busy to bug him about Fawnshadow. The apprentices smiled as the clan congratulated them.
Rosepatch and Woodclaw had padded to the thick were grinning excitedly. Ghostface was glad; the ceremonies showed that despite the impending prophetic danger, the clans were strong. "Congratulations Mossclaw, Prairieheart!" Ghostface said, touching each of them on the shoulder.
"Thanks, Ghostface!" Prairieheart said. Mossclaw nodded.
When the cat dispersed, Ghostface was assigned to do a patrol of their eastern and southern borders with Thunderhawk and Coldpelt. With the ceremonies and the patrol, Ghostface forgot about the sick cats, StarClan's warning of impending doom and his nightmarish dream.