Moth Flight’s Vision

Wind Runner’s cry sounded at the edge of her thoughts, no more than the rushing of the wind. She hardly heard her mother.

Her thoughts were filled with her dream. The blood on the blue-gray cat’s fur had spread so quickly through her matted pelt.

How could any cat have survived such a wound?

“Moth Flight!” Wind Runner’s angry yowl pierced her ear fur. A rabbit pelted past her, then her mother’s pelt flashed at the edge of her vision and she heard grass tear beneath skidding claws as Wind Runner slowed to a halt a tail-length away. The rabbit veered downslope, easily avoiding Gorse Fur, who was crouched beyond the rise, and darted down a hole.

“You birdbrain!” Wind Runner turned on Moth Flight, her mew hot with rage. She seemed to be swallowing back a snarl.

“If you weren’t going to catch it, you should have gotten out of my way so I could have driven it into Gorse Fur’s paws!”

Moth Flight stared at her, stricken with horror. I’ve done it again! Panic flashed through her. Why do I always get it wrong?

“I’m so sorry!”

Wind Runner seemed to be trying to stop herself from shaking as she glared at her daughter. “You were supposed to be helping,” she meowed slowly, her words clipped.

“I know.” Moth Flight stared dejectedly at her paws. “I was just remembering a dream I had. It was so vivid, I sort of…”

She searched for words, knowing that no matter what she said, her mother wouldn’t understand. “…I sort of got lost in it.”

Gorse Fur galloped toward them. “Moth Flight.” There was more pity than anger in his mew. “You need to try to pay attention.”

“How many times do I have to remind you?” As Wind Runner started another lecture, Moth Flight’s shoulders sank. “A hungry clan is a vulnerable clan. With empty bellies, we are prey to disease and attacks from rogues. What if a dog is loose on the moor? Our cats need the strength to outrun it.”

Moth Flight lifted her head to meet her mother’s gaze. “I’m sorr—” She stopped, her breath catching in her throat. Wide, green wings were fluttering a tail-length away.

The moth!

There it was! Dancing over the grass, whipped one way then the other by the buffeting wind. Just like the one in my dream!

Moth Flight’s heart soared. Suddenly she was swamped by the same longing to follow the beautiful moth that had filled her dream. Her paws itched to run after it. I have to catch up with it!

With a purr of delight, she pelted after it.

“Moth Flight!”

She hardly heard her mother’s yowl. Wind rushed past her ears as she chased the moth across the grass.

Chapter 4

Moth Flight ran. She could hear Wind Runner and Gorse Fur calling, but her eyes were fixed on the moth’s great, green wings. She had to chase it. The moth wanted to show her something. She just knew it!

The ground sloped steeply beneath her paws and she skidded, straining to keep her balance as she bounded down the hillside where the moor dropped into the valley.

The sun, burning orange on the peaks of Highstones, made a halo around the moth, illuminating its great wings as it fluttered above the ground.

The coarse grass of the moor turned soft as it dipped toward the valley, growing lush as the land flattened. Suddenly Moth Flight felt hard stone beneath her paws; the stench of the Thunderpath touched her nose. She paused, wary.

The moth paused too, wheeling in the air and flying back toward her. It swooped above her head.

It’s beckoning to me! She knew the moth wanted her to keep following.

“I’m coming!”

The moth began to head away, moving toward fields beyond the Thunderpath. A breeze lifted it, swirling it sideways.

Moth Flight leaped, paws outstretched, hoping to touch its soft wings.

As she arched her back, straining to reach it, hard muscle slammed into her flank and knocked her rolling across the black stone of the Thunderpath.

Surprise flared through her as she tumbled onto the grass verge on the far side. A roar exploded in her ears and wind tore at her fur. The foul stench of a monster swept over her, burning her throat, as grit pelted her flank. Wailing in terror, she screwed up her eyes and flinched from the stinging shower.

“Moth Flight!” Gorse Fur’s voice sounded in her ear as the monster’s roar faded.

She scrambled to her paws, blinking open her eyes.

Gorse Fur stood beside her, his gaze almost black with shock. “You could have been killed!”

She stared at him, numb.

“You were standing in the middle of the Thunderpath!” Fury flared in Gorse Fur’s eyes. “Didn’t you hear the monster coming?”

Moth Flight blinked at him, struggling to make sense of what had happened. “I was chasing the moth.” Hadn’t he seen it? She turned her head, scanning the hedge beside them. Where had it gone?

Paws thudded over the Thunderpath. Moth Flight glimpsed her mother and Dust Muzzle racing toward them.

“You rabbit-brained fool!” Wind Runner scrambled to a halt, bristling with rage.