Moth Flight’s Vision

Heart pounding in her ears, Moth Flight raced after him.

Chapter 2

She crashed through the heather, hardly feeling the branches scrape her flanks, and exploded onto the grass a moment after Spotted Fur. He was already scanning the slope and she followed his gaze.

Willow Tail crouched in a dip near the edge of the gorse patch. The pale tabby she-cat was peering into a narrow rabbit burrow. “It’s all right, Silver Stripe. We’ll get you out.”

A plaintive wail answered her. “Hurry! Please! I’m scared!”

White Tail—no bigger than a rabbit-kit—appeared, nosing past Willow Tail and peering into the burrow. “She’s been there for ages!”

Black Ear paced around them, his fluffy black-and-white fur bushed out. “We tried to reach her but she’s too far down.”

They’re okay! Relief swelled in Moth Flight’s chest, then she froze. Black Ear and White Tail were safe, but what about Silver Stripe?

Spotted Fur charged toward his Clanmate. “What happened?”

Willow Tail’s ears twitched. “Looks like Silver Stripe fell into a tunnel and she can’t get out, the poor kit. She’s scared half to death but the hole’s too narrow for me to squeeze through.”

Moth Flight caught up, skidding to a halt and peering into the small gap in the grass where Silver Stripe’s wails were growing louder. “Are you hurt?” she called down.

“Not yet,” Silver Stripe squeaked nervously. “But I’m sure I can hear paw steps coming up the tunnel toward me!”

Black Ear’s eyes widened. “A badger!”

White Tail unsheathed his tiny claws. “I’ll save her.” He stuck his head into the hole and began to burrow into the tunnel.

“No you don’t!” Spotted Fur grabbed his tail between his teeth and hauled the kit backward. “We’re not losing two of you.”

Black Ear tried to scrabble free. “But what about the badger?”

“That tunnel’s too small for a badger,” Willow Tail assured him.

White Tail blinked at the tom. “What about rats?”

Moth Flight’s heart quickened, her fear spilling into anger.

“Why didn’t you just stay in camp?” she snapped at the kits.

Black Ear met her gaze innocently. “We were going to ask you if we could leave, but you were asleep.”

Willow Tail flashed her a look. “Were you supposed to be watching them?”

Moth Flight dropped her gaze guiltily. “Yes,” she confessed, her fur rippling with irritation. Why did Slate have to ask her to watch her kits? Everyone knows I’m a featherbrain!

Spotted Fur pushed past her and began tearing at the grass around the narrow tunnel entrance. “Let’s just get Silver Stripe out. I can’t smell rat scent down there, but she must be cold and hungry.”

Willow Tail nodded and hooked her claws into the earth, ripping away another clump. Together they dug out soil around the rim. Moth Flight found herself watching the grassy clods as her Clanmates flung them aside. They exploded as they hit the ground; the soil here wasn’t as dark and wet as it was on the high moor. And she noticed that the grass was softer too, nothing like the stiff grass around camp; it smelled lusher too.

“Stop staring and help!” Willow Tail’s sharp mew broke into her thoughts.

Moth Flight hopped forward, tripping over Black Ear. He squeaked as her paw squashed his tail, then dragged it free and glared at her indignantly.

“Sorry!” Moth Flight plunged her forepaws into the hole beside Spotted Fur’s and began scraping out soil. She could see Silver Stripe’s muzzle, lit by the late sunshine that broke into the widening hole. The earth was easy to scrape away—lighter and crumblier than the heavy peat higher on the moor. Moth

Flight wondered if different plants grew here and, as she helped Willow Tail and Spotted Fur dig, glanced furtively around, looking for unusual leaf shapes showing in the grass nearby.

“That should be big enough.” Willow Tail sat back on her haunches.

Spotted Fur frowned. “It’s too small for me to fit in.”

Silver Stripe was already trying to scrabble up the steep sides of the hole, yowling with frustration each time she slid down as the earth crumbled beneath her claws.

“You’re small enough to squeeze in.” Willow Tail stared at Moth Flight. “Jump down and give him a boost.”

Moth Flight hesitated. She knew that some of the WindClan cats liked running though the rabbit tunnels. Holly often took Eagle Feather and Dew Nose hunting there. But Moth Flight preferred to feel the wind in her fur.

Spotted Fur nudged her shoulder with his muzzle. “Don’t think about the dark,” he urged gently. “Silver Stripe needs help.”

Steadying her breath, Moth Flight slithered into the hole.

Her paws slipped as she reached the bottom, and she nearly fell.

A cold musky smell swirled around her. She shivered, the darkness of the tunnel pressing around her until her belly tightened with fear.

“You saved me!” Silver Stripe flung herself against Moth

Flight, purring loudly. Moth Flight suddenly realized how brave the young kit had been, trapped alone down here for so long.