by Erin Hunter
The SkyClan leader padded slowly out.
Moth Flight blinked. Clear Sky’s eyes were hollow. His pelt was matted and slicked against his broad frame. He looked as though he’d been dragged from a river.
Star Flower followed him. Grief glistened, still fresh, in her eyes. She stared blankly at Moth Flight. “What’s she doing here?”
“We found her on our land,” Alder told the she-cat. “She was with a Clanmate.”
Clear Sky padded closer, confusion clouding his stricken gaze. “No cat is allowed on SkyClan land,” he mumbled.
“I had to come,” Moth Flight told him. “I need bark from the tree where Micah died. It’s to cure a sick Clanmate. She’s got redcough. She might die.” She waited for Clear Sky to understand. But he only stared at her.
“No cat is allowed on SkyClan land,” he repeated.
“I need the bark!” Moth Flight glared at him. “I know you’re grieving and I hate to disturb you. We don’t want to disturb you. We just want to take the bark and go.”
“No.” Clear Sky slowly lifted his head, his gaze clearing. “Last night, you tried to save Tiny Branch, and I will always be grateful for that. But if Wind Runner hadn’t tried to stop you from coming, my kit might still be alive. Wind Runner has to realize that there are consequences for her actions. She has to admit her mistake.”
Cold fear rippled along Moth Flight’s spine. There was darkness in the SkyClan leader’s words. He is capable of more cruelty than you can imagine. “What are you going to do?”
“To you?” His ear twitched. “Nothing.”
Moth Flight heard paw steps. Pelts moved at the edge of her vision. She smelled the scents of Alder and Red Claw as they closed in behind her.
Clear Sky went on. “You will simply be our guest until Wind Runner comes to fetch you.”
“She won’t come here!” Panic flashed through Moth Flight. She can’t come here. It’s not safe!
“She must.” Clear Sky sat down heavily. “She has accused us of stealing prey. She has stolen prey herself. And why?”
Moth Flight stared at him. Did he expect an answer?
He went on. “She has listened to the word of a rogue and believed it over the word of a mountain cat.” He glanced at Star Flower. “It’s hardly surprising. Wind Runner was a rogue herself once.”
“What are you talking about?” Moth Flight felt lost. “What rogue?”
“Willow Tail.”
Moth Flight shifted her paws uneasily. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve been talking to Red Claw,” Clear Sky told her. “He and Willow Tail go back a long way. Willow Tail has been lying for moons. She’s been spreading half-truths and stirring up trouble just to settle scores that have nothing to do with the Clans.”
Moth Flight shifted her paws nervously. She had no idea if what Clear Sky was saying was true. But she could see a way out. “Why don’t I go and tell Wind Runner this?” I can take the bark back with me.
“No!” Clear Sky snarled. “You will stay here until Wind Runner comes to me, admits her mistake, and banishes Willow Tail from her Clan.”
“She’ll never do that!” The words burst out before Moth Flight could stop them. Wind Runner was far too proud to come groveling to Clear Sky. And too proud to banish Willow Tail. By banishing Willow Tail, Wind Runner would be admitting she had made a mistake by letting the she-cat join her Clan. It simply wasn’t something Wind Runner would do.
“She will,” Clear Sky meowed. “We just have to wait.”
“How long are you going to keep me prisoner?” Moth Flight snarled. Her thoughts skipped from Slate to her kits. How dare he keep her from them? They needed her!
“For as long as it takes.”
Moth Flight glared at the SkyClan leader. “You can’t do this!”
His tail twitched menacingly. “This is my territory,” he growled. “I can do anything I like.”
CHAPTER 30
“What do we do now?” Spotted Fur paced the den.
“We can’t stay here!” Moth Flight stared angrily from the entrance. The tiny cave, hollowed from the bramble close to Clear Sky’s den, still carried the stale scent of Star Flower. Clear Sky’s mate must have slept here at one time. Her ragged nest looked as though it hadn’t been used in moons. It would probably crumble into dust if any cat climbed into it.
Moth Flight thought of her own nest at home. She could almost smell its heathery scent and the warmth of her kits rising from its thick moss lining. Anxiety twisted in her heart. And what about Slate? She needed the bark. “We have to escape.”
“How?” Spotted Fur jerked his muzzle toward Alder, who sat, as still as a rock, a few tail-lengths from the entrance.
“We could burrow through the back,” Moth Flight suggested.
Spotted Fur grunted, glancing at the prickly stems, so thickly woven that no light filtered through. “If we had paws made of wood.”
Moth Flight whisked her tail crossly. “Why do Clan leaders make life so difficult?”
Spotted Fur blinked at her. “Who knows?”
Moth Flight tipped her head. “Do you think Willow Tail has been stirring up trouble?” she asked. “Slate and Jagged Peak have seen the bones, too.”
Spotted Fur shrugged. “But she is usually the first one to make accusations.” He frowned. “And she’s the only one who’s actually seen SkyClan stealing prey. If she is really as bad as Clear Sky says . . . she could have planted the bones.”
Planted the bones? It seemed crazy to Moth Flight. She crouched and drew her paws tightly under her. “Doesn’t she realize that she might cause a battle?”
“Perhaps that’s what she wants.” Spotted Fur stared at her grimly.
“No!” Moth Flight refused to believe it. “Why would any cat want to cause suffering?”
Spotted Fur didn’t answer. His gaze flicked back toward Alder. The gray-and-white she-cat still hadn’t moved. “Even SkyClan cats have to eat, surely?”
“If she goes, another cat will take her place.” Moth Flight wondered how long they’d been here. The sun glimmered through the distant branches, low enough to show through the den entrance. Her kits would start wondering where she was. Yearning tugged in her belly, as sharp as hunger. “Do you think Willow Tail has realized that we’re not coming back?”
“She’s probably on her way to camp now.”
Moth Flight stiffened. “I hope not.” How would Wind Runner react to news that her daughter had gone missing in SkyClan territory? “What if she sends a patrol looking for us?”
“Isn’t that what Clear Sky wants?”
“He wants her to apologize.” Moth Flight stared at him, dread worming beneath her pelt. “Doesn’t he know Wind Runner at all?” She remembered her mother’s warning. You may think I’m wrong, but never dare to question me again! She was far too stubborn ever to apologize to Clear Sky.
Spotted Fur’s ears twitched. “Do you think she’ll fight him?”
“Of course she’ll fight him!”
“But she says she wants peace between the Clans.”
“Not enough to admit she was wrong.”
“We need to get to her before Willow Tail does. We can explain why Clear Sky’s so mad.” Spotted Fur began pacing again. “Perhaps I can distract Alder and you can make a run for it. Or you could distract Alder and I could make a run—”
Paw steps cut him off. He jerked his muzzle toward the entrance.
Moth Flight followed his gaze, her heart quickening as she saw Acorn Fur approach Alder. The SkyClan medicine cat held dripping moss between her jaws. She dipped her head to Alder, who nodded toward the den.
“Thank StarClan you’re here!” Moth Flight hurried to meet Acorn Fur as she padded inside.
The chestnut brown she-cat dropped the wet moss on the ground and blinked anxiously at Moth Flight. “Are you okay?”
“We’re fine,” Moth Flight assured her. “But we’ve got to get back to camp before Willow Tail!”
Spotted
Fur crouched to lick thirstily at the moss. “If she tells Wind Runner we’re missing,” he told her between laps, “in SkyClan territory, we’re worried it’ll start a war.”
“We have to get out of here.” Moth Flight stared at her urgently.
Acorn Fur backed away. “I can’t help you escape.” She glanced at Alder, lowering her voice. “They’re my Clanmates. I can’t betray them.”
Spotter Fur narrowed his eyes. “We only need to get past Alder.”
Moth Flight nodded. “I can pretend I’m ill and you can fetch Alder, and Spotted Fur can slip out while she’s—”
“No!” Acorn Fur looked stricken. “I want to help. But when Alder sees you’re okay and Spotted Fur’s gone—”
“She’ll think I tricked you!” Moth Flight interrupted.
Acorn Fur stiffened. “She knows that you trained me. She’ll suspect me. Every cat will suspect me! How can I heal my Clanmates if they stop trusting me?”
Spotted Fur glanced at Moth Flight. “She’s right. We can’t ask her to betray her Clan.”
Moth Flight’s thoughts flashed to her kits. They’d be terrified if Willow Tail raced into camp telling everyone that she and Spotted Fur had gone missing in SkyClan territory. Her heart began to pound. “You could fetch the others!” She blinked at Acorn Fur.
“The others?” Acorn Fur echoed.
“The other medicine cats,” Moth Flight explained. “Bring them here. They can reason with Clear Sky.”
Acorn Fur tipped her head. “It might work.”
Spotted Fur shrugged. “It’s worth trying.”
“Go now!” Moth Flight nosed Acorn Fur toward the entrance. She lowered her voice as Alder turned, ears pricking. “Run as fast as you can!”
“Take care,” Spotted Fur murmured under his breath as Acorn Fur trotted past Alder and disappeared down the slope.
Moth Flight blinked at him. “Do you think she’ll bring them in time?”
Spotted Fur’s tail twitched. “Even if she could, I’m not sure Clear Sky will listen to medicine cats.”
“He has to!” Moth Flight began pacing again. Too much was at stake. Slate needed the bark. Her kits needed to know she was safe. And Wind Runner—
She flinched from the thought. What if the WindClan leader chose war? No cat should live like prey.
“Moth Flight.” Spotted Fur’s mew was soft in her ear. She met his gaze, surprised to see warmth there.
“What?”
“I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am.”
“Sorry?” She didn’t understand.
“About Micah,” he murmured. “About him dying. I know I was jealous when you brought him back from Highstones with you. I always thought I’d be your mate.”
Moth Flight shifted her paws uneasily.
“This probably isn’t the best time,” Spotted Fur told her quickly. “But it’s so hard to get you alone these days. You’re either with your kits or busy with your medicine-cat duties. I just wanted you to know that I understand how much you loved Micah. And I’m glad you got to spend time with him before he died. And the kits . . .” His mew trailed away.
Moth Flight saw sadness in his gaze. “Thank you,” she mumbled self-consciously. “I’m sorry I hurt you, but I had to follow my heart.”
“And I must follow mine.” His gaze lingered on her, glowing.
He still loves me. Moth Flight looked away. “You’re a good friend, Spotted Fur. And the kits love you but—”
A shriek ripped through the trees.
Moth Flight raced to the den entrance.
Alder was leaping into the hollow, her pelt bushed, as the forest rang with the yowls of battle.
“WindClan!” Moth Flight’s heart lurched. “They’re attacking the camp!”
CHAPTER 31
Spotted Fur beat her out of the den. Moth Flight hared after him, skidding to a halt at the top of the hollow. Pelts swarmed from the bramble barrier. Wind Runner was leading the charge, Willow Tail and Gorse Fur at her heels. Behind them raced Dust Muzzle, Fern Leaf, Swift Minnow, Holly, and Storm Pelt. Jagged Peak trailed at the rear, his lame hind leg slowing him down.
Star Flower yowled, her eyes blazing, and dragged her kits, Dew Petal and Flower Foot, beneath a yew at the edge of the clearing. She crouched in front of them, eyes slitted, a low growl rumbling in her throat.
SkyClan cats streamed from their dens and met the invaders with outstretched claws. Wind Runner crashed into Nettle, and they fell, squirming like snakes, onto the ground. Swift Minnow’s gray-and-white pelt flashed beneath Sparrow Fur’s as the tortoiseshell knocked the she-cat’s paws from under her and leaped onto her back. Blossom jumped from the roots of an oak. She landed on Dust Muzzle’s back and sank her jaws into his neck.
Moth Flight flinched. “Dust Muzzle!” The yowl of battle swept away her panicked cry.
Fern Leaf shouldered her way through the battling cats and attacked Birch with a flurry of blows while, behind her, Quick Water leaped at Holly as she crossed the hollow.
Moth Flight heard a yowl of rage behind her and turned to see Clear Sky racing for the clearing. Fury glittered in his eyes. Flattening his ears, he leaped from the short, steep slope and hurled himself at Spotted Fur.
Moth Flight felt panic rising. “Stop!” Her wail was lost in the shriek of battle. “You mustn’t fight!”
Pale tabby fur caught her eye. Willow Tail had halted beside the barrier and was watching Red Claw through slitted eyes. The glossy red tom was fending off Gorse Fur with strong forepaw swipes.
“Look out!” Moth Flight saw Alder streak toward Willow Tail. The pale tabby whipped around and lifted her paws as the SkyClan she-cat slammed into her. Staggering for a moment, Willow Tail kept her balance and hooked her claws into Alder’s pelt. With a hiss of fury, she hauled Alder onto her belly.
The tang of blood touched Moth Flight’s nose. Her heart seemed to burst in her chest. “Wind Runner! Stop! Clear Sky only wanted to talk!”
Wind Runner held Nettle down, raking his belly with her hind claws. She didn’t even look up. Moth Flight felt as though she were in a dream, unable to make herself heard.
Thorn slid from the ferns crowding the other side of the hollow. His blue gaze narrowed on Fern Leaf. The WindClan she-cat was pinned to the ground by Birch. Her hind legs churned desperately as she fought to loosen Birch’s grip. Thorn dropped into an attack crouch and showed his teeth.
That’s not fair! Moth Flight leaped from the top of the slope, landing heavily on the soft earth of the hollow. She had to help Fern Leaf! She dodged out of the way as Swift Minnow and Sparrow Fur rolled toward her. “Fern Leaf!” Rearing, she strained to see over the jumble of pelts.
She was too late. Thorn was on Fern Leaf’s back, his hindlegs scraping lumps from the young she-cat’s pelt while Birch aimed vicious blows at her muzzle.
She froze. What do I do? A medicine cat was meant to heal, not harm, but she couldn’t watch while her Clanmate was attacked.
Suddenly, gray fur flashed beside Thorn. Dust Muzzle! Moth Flight watched her brother plunge toward Thorn and rip him away from Fern Leaf. Fern Leaf’s eyes flashed with triumph as, freed, she reared and slashed Birch’s nose.
Blood sprayed the ground. The tang grew stronger, bathing Moth Flight’s tongue.
I’m going to need supplies! She stared around the camp. Where’s Acorn Fur’s den? Why had she sent the SkyClan medicine cat away? She’d never manage all these injuries alone.
Cobwebs. The thought flashed in her mind. If she could gather enough to staunch any bleeding, it would do until she had time to tend to the wounds properly. She slid between Blossom and Red Claw and scrambled out of the hollow. Hurrying among the trees, she scanned their trunks for cobwebs. Her heart leaped as she saw the roots of an elm swathed in a gray mist of web. She scraped it away, wrapping as much around her paws as she could and turned back toward the hollow.
“What are you doing?” Blossom faced her, eyes glittering with rage.
Moth Flight bristled. “I’m trying to help!”
“Help who?” Blossom padded closer.
“Any cat who’s injured.” Moth Flight lifted her paw to show the cobweb. “This will stop bleeding.”
“You’re wasting your time,” Blossom snarled. “We’re going to make WindClan bleed so badly, all the cobwebs in the forest won’t save you.”
Moth Flight blinked at her. “Can’t you just stop fighting and talk?”
“You invaded our camp!” Blossom padded closer, a menacing gleam in her eyes.
“I’m not fighting you.” Moth Flight lifted her chin. “I’m a medicine cat. It’s my duty to heal. Get out of my way so I can get on with it.”
Blossom showed her teeth. “You have to fight.”
Moth Flight held her ground. “No, I don’t.”
Blossom reared and slashed a paw across Moth Flight’s muzzle.
Pain sliced through her. StarClan! What do I do? Rage pulsed beneath her pelt. Her claws itched to rip the fur from Blossom’s spine. She narrowed her eyes as Blossom lifted her paw again.
Gray fur flashed behind the SkyClan she-cat. Jagged Peak! The lame tom flung himself at Blossom, snarling viciously.
Blossom gasped as he sunk claws into her shoulders and hooked her hind paws from under her with a sharp kick.
Moth Flight blinked gratefully at her Clanmate as he pinned Blossom to the earth. She started for the hollow. “Don’t hurt her,” she hissed as she passed him.
Surprise flashed in his eyes. “This is a battle, not a Gathering!” he called after her as she leaped into the clearing.
Fern Leaf was staggering at the far edge, blood welling from a gash on her flank. Birch was backed against the ferns, flailing at Dust Muzzle as the WindClan tom swiped at him with vicious blows. Moth Flight skirted the battle and skidded to a halt beside Fern Leaf.
The black she-cat was panting, her eyes cloudy with pain. Moth Flight unwrapped a swath of cobweb from her paw and padded the open wound. Fern Leaf winced, but didn’t flinch. “This will stop the bleeding,” she told her.