Moth Flight’s Vision

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?”