Moth Flight’s Vision

Moth Flight stared at the rock, surprised how dull it was without moonlight. “The Moonstone doesn’t do anything except let us share with StarClan. It’s StarClan that heals.”

Acorn Fur dipped her head. “Then let’s pray they heal Sun

Shadow.”

Cloud Spots and Dappled Pelt murmured in agreement.

Pebble Heart glanced at Moth Flight. “How is the rest of your Clan? Have they recovered from their battle injuries?”

“Storm Pelt’s ear tip will always be torn,” Moth Flight told him. “But I think he’s secretly proud of his scars.”

Acorn Fur snorted. “Red Claw’s the same! He asked me not to treat the scratch on his muzzle. I told him not to be silly.

What if it got infected?” She purred suddenly, her eyes glistening with affection. “I didn’t realize Red Claw was such a kind cat. He’s changed since the battle. I think making peace with Willow Tail has softened him.”

A teasing glint flashed in Dappled Pelt’s gaze. “You sound like you’re in love.”

Acorn Fur looked away shyly. “We have been getting close,” she admitted. “We’ve even talked about sharing a nest.”

Cloud Spots purred. “It looks like Moth Flight won’t be the only medicine cat with kits.”

“No!” Moth Flight stiffened, surprised at the harshness of her mew.

Pebble Heart blinked at her. Dappled Pelt and Cloud Spots narrowed their eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Acorn Fur tipped her head uneasily.

Moth Flight’s throat tightened. Grief swelled in her chest.

“Are you worried I’ll lose him like you lost Micah?” Acorn Fur pressed. “You were unlucky. Not all relationships end like that. I mean, I’m sorry yours did, but it doesn’t mean Red Claw will—”

Moth Flight glared at her. “You don’t understand!” The walls echoed the sharpness of her voice. The fear and uncertainty that had nagged at her since Windstar had been hurt hit her like an icy blast of wind. She gripped the stone with her claws, bracing herself against the emotion sweeping over her.

“No medicine cat should have kits! They shouldn’t even take a mate!”

Acorn Fur stared at her. “But you did!”

Moth Flight’s mouth dried as she gazed back at the SkyClan cat. “I was wrong.” Her mew cracked.

“What do you mean?” Pebble Heart’s eyes rounded with worry.

“I can’t be a mother and a medicine cat,” Moth Flight sobbed. “Spider Paw nearly drowned. I pulled him from the river. He wasn’t breathing.” She stared at the others wildly. “I was so scared, I didn’t know what to do! A medicine cat can’t be like that!”

“But you saved him,” Pebble Heart pointed out.

“Micah saved him!” Moth Flight confessed. “He spoke to me and told me what to do. I was frozen with terror! If Micah hadn’t told me what to do, I would have watched my kit die.”

Her flanks heaved as her breathing quickened. She felt Pebble Heart’s tail smoothing her spiked fur, but she went on. “I spend half my time terrified that my kits might die while I’m looking after my Clan, and the other half terrified a Clanmate might die while I’m looking after my kits. StarClan sent me a sign that let me save Windstar. But what if they’d sent it earlier, while I was rescuing Spider Paw? I would have missed it! Windstar could be dead. And we’d have never discovered that leaders should have nine lives.”

Cloud Spots lifted his chin. “StarClan would have sent another sign! They’d have made sure you saw it.”

“You don’t know that! We can’t risk it!” Moth Flight’s eyes grew hot as she glared at Acorn Fur. “You can’t have kits with Red Claw. You mustn’t even share his nest. You must live only for your Clan. It’s the only way to stay strong.”

Acorn Fur’s eyes flashed angrily in the darkness. “That’s easy for you to say. You’ve had a mate. You’ve got kits!”

Moth Flight shifted her paws, the stone walls pressing in around her. “I can’t do it anymore!”

Pebble Heart stiffened beside her. “Are you going to stop being a medicine cat?”

“No.” Moth Flight gasped as sorrow plunged thorn-sharp claws deep into her heart. “Being a medicine cat is my destiny.

It’s what I was always supposed to be. The Clans depend on me.

Half Moon told me.”

Pebble Heart’s eyes glowed darkly in the half-light. “What are you going to do?”

The earth seemed to tremble beneath Moth Flight’s paws.

The pain she’d felt at Micah’s death seemed to open in her chest, pouring out grief sharper than any she could imagine.

“I’m going to give up my kits.”

Chapter 36

“The oaks are so big!” Honey Pelt’s breathless mew echoed across the shadowy Fourtrees clearing. He gazed up through the branches. The sky was turning purple as the sun sank below the distant horizon. Stars began to show, glimmering among the leaves.

Blue Whisker huddled closer to Moth Flight. “Can we go home now?”

Moth Flight’s throat tightened. Words dried on her tongue.

She couldn’t answer. Instead she called to Spider Paw, who was scrambling over an ancient oak root. “Stay close.”

He glanced over his shoulder. “But I want to explore.”

Honey Pelt marched toward his brother, Bubbling Stream at his heels. “Moth Flight said to come back!”