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Moth Flight’s Vision

Micah halted and met her gaze solemnly. “No. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Joy rippled beneath Moth Flight’s pelt. “I feel the same w—”

“Hurry up.” Cloud Spots slid past them, his black pelt hardly visible against the dark rock. Only his white ears and paws gave him away.

Dappled Pelt hurried after the black tom. Pebble Heart bounded behind, scattering stones in his wake.

Wincing as one hit her paw, Moth Flight glanced up at the dark opening. What would the others think when they saw the Moonstone for the first time?

“Come on.” Micah nudged her forward.

Pebble Heart had already leaped onto the shadowy ledge.

The white spot on his chest glowed like a star. Cloud Spots hopped up beside him and stared blinking into the tunnel. Micah followed Dappled Pelt as Moth Flight scrambled up after them.

The icy stone felt familiar beneath her paws. She sniffed the shadows. The tang of stone and water washed her muzzle and she shivered, excitement swelling in her chest. “Follow me.” As she padded into the darkness, cold air flooded over her pelt.

Behind her, the starlight faded. “We have to reach the cave by the time moonlight strikes the stone.” Her breath billowed, warm around her nose.

She heard the other cats’ paws scuff the stone as they followed. Eyes wide, Moth Flight peered into the blackness, relaxing as she let her whiskers guide her. Brushing the wall of the tunnel, she followed it down as it snaked deep into

Highstones.

“Do you remember the way?” Cloud Spots’s anxious mew echoed behind her.

“What if you take the wrong tunnel?” Dappled Pelt fretted.

“I know where I’m going,” Moth Flight promised.

Micah’s breath rippled her tail-fur. “I can’t believe you came down here alone.”

“I wasn’t alone.” A purr trembled in Moth Flight’s throat.

“The spirit-cats were waiting for me.”

“Are they there now?” Pebble Heart’s mew sounded from the blackness.

“We’ll see when the moonlight hits the stone.” Moth Flight quickened her pace. She didn’t want to miss it. Fresh air touched her nose. “We’re nearly there!” She rounded a corner and felt the tunnel open around her. Air swirled over her pelt and she blinked as she saw weak starlight rippling on the cave walls ahead. She paused, her heart pounding. Pebble Heart padded past her, nose twitching. Dapple Pelt and Cloud Spots circled the great rock.

Micah stopped beside Moth Flight. He stared at the hole high in the roof. “Who’d have thought starlight could reach down this far?”

Moth Flight purred. “Wait until the moon light arrives.” She padded toward the rock and settled herself in front of it. “We have to touch our noses to it,” she told the others.

“How do you know?” Cloud Spots blinked at her.

“I saw another cat do it in a dream, and last time I came—”

Pebble Heart cut her off. “Look!”

Moth Flight followed his gaze. Through the hole, she could see the clipped edge of the moon. “Hurry!”

Fur brushing rock, the other cats settled around the Moonstone. Dappled Pelt’s eyes flashed with excitement.

Pebble Heart shifted on his belly, pelt pricking.

Cloud Spots crouched beside him, a whisker from the stone.

Micah settled beside Moth Flight. She felt warmth seeping from his pelt and closed her eyes.

Pebble Heart’s gasp made her blink them open.

Light blinded her. The rock shimmered in front of her muzzle, brighter than countless stars. Her breath quickened as she touched her nose to it.

The rock seemed to fall away. She was swept through the air, her head spinning, her heart pounding in her ears. And then she felt soft grass beneath her paws.

She blinked open her eyes.

Where was the cave?

She was on top of a hill. Green meadows stretched away on every side. In the distance, a forest lifted its branches to a clear, blue sky. She felt sunlight warm her pelt and smelled the fresh scent of newleaf.

Micah shifted beside her.

She caught his eye. “Where are we?”

“You don’t know?” He blinked in surprise.

“Last time, I never left the cave.”

Cloud Spots looked around, pelt bristling. Dappled Pelt leaped to her paws.

“What is this place?” Pebble Heart’s eyes were stretched with wonder.

A silky mew answered him. “These are our hunting grounds.”

Half Moon was climbing the slope toward them. More pelts shimmered into view, encircling the hilltop. Starlight shone in their fur.

Joy swelled in Moth Flight’s chest. The spirit-cats! They’d come!

Half Moon padded past Moth Flight and halted.

As Micah turned his head, surveying the ranks of starry cats, Pebble Heart stretched his muzzle and sniffed at Half Moon.

Dappled Pelt tipped her head, curiosity flashing in her eyes.