Moth Flight’s Vision

Moth Flight paused. “Go and shelter with Slate and Swift Minnow,” she told them distractedly. Her attention was fixed on her den. How was she going to explain her plan to Gorse Fur?

Could Wind Runner even make it to Highstones? She has to!

Bubbling Stream scrambled out of the hollow. “Moth

Flight!” Hurt edged her mew as her mother headed away.

“Not now!” Moth Flight called. “I’m busy!”

Spider Paw jumped out of the hollow and blinked at her.

“You promised you’d play with us!”

“Shouldn’t you be taking care of your kits?” Jagged Peak padded from the shelter of the gorse, his eyes narrow with interest, while Holly watched from the shadows behind.

Moth Flight ignored him. She slid into her den. “I’ve had a sign from StarClan,” she told Gorse Fur.

Her father was crouched beside Wind Runner. He jerked around, his pelt pricking nervously. “Is she going to be okay?”

“I have to take her to the Moonstone.” Moth Flight tried to catch her breath.

“Highstones!” Gorse Fur leaped up, eyes blazing. “She can’t travel!” He swung his nose toward Wind Runner. She lay sprawled on the bed of heather, her comfrey-wrapped leg jutting awkwardly. Her eyes were half closed, whites showing through the slits.

Moth Flight stiffened, fear stabbing her heart. Was Wind Runner dead? She ducked down beside the WindClan leader, relieved to feel her mother’s flanks tremble. Her breath was fast.

Heat pulsed from her pelt.

“I’ll mix her some herbs to give her strength for the journey.” Moth Flight hurried to her store, plucking leaves from between the gorse stems.

“No!” Gorse Fur growled. “You’re not taking her anywhere.”

Moth Flight shredded a pawful of feverfew and ripped nettle, catmint, and coltsfoot onto the pile. She sprinkled poppy seeds over it, hoping they’d ease her mother’s pain without making her sleepy. She had to do everything she could to get Wind Runner to the Moonstone.

Gorse Fur’s breath billowed over her ears. “Did you hear me?”

Moth Flight looked at him. “I can’t sit and watch her die.”

“You can’t take her out there to die!” Gorse Fur’s pelt spiked with fury. “If she’s going to die, she should be with her Clan.”

“If I can get her to the Moonstone, she won’t die!” Moth Flight glared at her father. “StarClan is guiding me. I know it!”

A shadow moved at the den entrance. Jagged Peak slid in, his pelt wet with rain. “Have you spoken with StarClan?”

Moth Flight met his gaze. “In my dreams, yes!”

“And they told you to take Wind Runner to the Moonstone?”

Jagged Peak tipped his head.

“Not exactly,” Moth Flight snapped. “But I know that’s what they meant.”

Jagged Peak narrowed his eyes. “You think that’s what they meant.”

Moth Flight growled. “I know it.”

Gorse Fur padded to Wind Runner’s side and gazed down at her. “She’s in no state to travel.”

“She will be.” Moth Flight grabbed a mouthful of shredded leaves and pushed past him. She spat the scraps onto the heather beside Wind Runner’s muzzle. “Wind Runner, can you swallow these?”

Wind Runner moaned softly, but didn’t open her eyes.

Panic flashed in Moth Flight’s belly.

“Leave her in peace!”

Moth Flight felt her father’s claws drag her backward. She turned on him, hissing. “You have to trust me! You have to trust

StarClan! When Half Moon made me a medicine cat, she told me that the Clans’ destiny would one day depend on me.”

Jagged Peak leaned forward, ears flat. “What has this got to do with the Clans’ destiny?”

“I don’t know!” Moth Flight trembled with rage. “But you have to let me find out.”

Fur brushed the heather at the den entrance. A gentle mew sounded behind Jagged Peak. “Trust her, Gorse Fur.”

Dust Muzzle! Gratitude swept Moth Flight as she saw her brother’s solemn gaze. He padded past Jagged Peak and stopped in front of his father. “Has she ever been wrong?”

Gorse Fur hesitated, his eyes glittering with fear. He glanced at Wind Runner, then at Moth Flight. Finally, he dropped his gaze. “No.”

“Then let her take Wind Runner,” Dust Muzzle murmured.

Gorse Fur began to tremble. “But she’ll die.”

“Don’t be frightened, Gorse Fur.” Wind Runner’s parched mew sounded from the heather.

Moth Flight jerked around to see her mother blinking up at them.

Gorse Fur turned beside her.

Wind Runner went on. “Every cat must die. But I won’t go without a fight. I am WindClan’s leader and I must show I have courage. It will give my Clan courage. I will go to the Moonstone with Moth Flight.”

Moth Flight’s heart leaped. She trusts me!

Jagged Peak stared at the WindClan leader, his eyes round with surprise. “But you’re too weak!”

“I’ll find the strength.” Wind Runner’s eyes were clouded with pain.

“Eat these.” Moth Flight nosed the shredded leaves closer and Wind Runner turned her head to lap them from the heather.

She swallowed and gazed into Moth Flight’s eyes. “I am proud of you, Moth Flight. You are ready to fight for what you believe in.”