Moth Flight’s Vision

“Yes.” Willow Tail rested her chin on the ground, her eyes red with blood. “I killed rabbits and dragged them across the border, then told you that I’d seen SkyClan hunting on the moor.”

Clear Sky’s gaze flicked sharply toward the WindClan leader. “You believed a rogue over me!”

Wind Runner growled from where she lay, pain tightening her words. “She’s my Clanmate.”

Clear Sky didn’t move. “And you are always loyal to your Clan,” he sneered.

Wind Runner didn’t flinch. “Aren’t you?”

Clear Sky looked away.

Moth Flight felt a surge of pride. Despite Wind Runner’s terrible pain, she’d silenced Clear Sky. Of course he’d be loyal to his Clanmate. If Willow Tail had been a SkyClan cat instead of a WindClan cat, he’d have stood by her. Moth Flight looked back at Willow Tail, her heart twisting with pity. The pale tabby’s flanks were quivering. Her ears were flat. A low moan crackled in her throat.

She’s in shock! Moth Flight scanned the edges of the hollow, hoping to see thyme sprouting between the roots and brambles, but there was none. She scrambled toward Willow Tail and swept her tail along the tabby’s spine. “It’s okay,” she murmured. “We’ll get you back to camp and take care of you.”

Willow Tail began to shiver, her matted fur spiking. She turned her gashed eyes toward Moth Flight. “Will I see again?”

“I don’t know,” Moth Flight whispered. Helplessness gripped her. She glanced around the watching cats. All she could see were wounds: scratched muzzles, torn pelts, ripped ears. Blood and fur specked the clearing. Fury rose in her chest.

“You fought for nothing.” She glared at Clear Sky. “Why didn’t you let me go home? I could have spoken to Wind Runner. I could have told her what you’d said about Willow Tail and Red Claw. You could have settled this with words.”

Clear Sky narrowed his eyes. “I didn’t ask Wind Runner to attack my camp.”

Moth Flight hesitated. If only Wind Runner had sent a patrol to search for her, not to start a war. “You need to make peace.”

She got to her paws and stood between her mother and Clear Sky. Looking from one to the other she growled. “This must end here.”

Clear Sky’s gaze lingered on her for a moment. Then he dipped his head. “It was a dumb fight,” he conceded.

Wind Runner took a shuddering breath. “It was never our battle,” she rasped.

Paw steps thrummed the forest floor beyond the camp barrier. The brambles shivered as Acorn Fur hurtled in. She skidded to a halt, her eyes widening as she saw the battle-scarred cats. Pebble Heart raced behind her, Cloud Spots and Dappled Pelt on his tail.

They stared.

Dappled Pelt’s gaze shot toward Willow Tail. Pebble Heart hurried over to Wind Runner. He sniffed her pelt, peering at the gash in her neck before running a paw along her flank.

“Her leg is broken,” Moth Flight told him anxiously. She looked toward Cloud Spots and Dappled Pelt. “We have to help the injured.” She blinked at Acorn Fur. “I’m going to need herbs from your herb store.”

“Let’s go.” Dappled Pelt was already climbing the steep bank.

Acorn Fur ran after her.

Cloud Spots whisked his tail. “I’ll gather fresh dock and marigold.” He ducked out of camp.

Gorse Fur hurried across the clearing, his anxious gaze fixed on Wind Runner. “Is she okay?”

“She’s broken her leg,” Moth Flight told him.

“Broken it?” Gorse Fur’s gaze darkened. “Will it heal?”

Pebble Heart answered for her. “Yes. If we wrap it with comfrey.” He leaped over Wind Runner and began tugging tough shoots that spouted from the base of the oak. “But first we need to make a support for it.”

Gorse Fur hurried to help.

“The bone’s twisted out of line.” Moth Flight felt sick as she remembered the jagged shape beneath her mother’s flesh.

“We can straighten it.” Pebble Heart snapped a stiff shoot from the trunk. He showed it to Gorse Fur. “We need more like these,” he ordered.

Gorse Fur nodded and hopped over the roots, his eyes scanning the bark.

Moth Flight glanced at Willow Tail. “What can we do to help her?” she mewed desperately.

Pebble Heart’s gaze darkened as he saw the she-cat. She looked like fresh prey, crumpled on the ground, blood soaking into the earth around her. “I think it’s too late,” he whispered.

Red Claw dropped beside Willow Tail, his eyes wide with horror.

Pebble Heart padded to the tabby’s side. He pressed his ear to her flank. Lifting his head slowly, he shook it, his gaze grim.

“She’s dead.”

Swift Minnow limped closer, her eyes glistening with grief.

Jagged Peak glared at Clear Sky.

Wind Runner caught the lame tom’s eye. “What’s done is done,” she croaked. “All we can do now is bury her.”

Dappled Pelt appeared at the top of the slope, a wad of leaves in her jaws. Acorn Fur leaped past her, carrying cobwebs.

The brambles rattled as Cloud Spots returned with marigold, dock, and thyme. The ThunderClan medicine cat glanced quickly around the hollow. As he narrowed his eyes, Moth

Flight realized he was assessing the injuries.

“Fern Leaf’s got a nasty gash in her flank,” she told him.