Moth Flight’s Vision

Spraying earth behind him, he leaped toward the tree and hauled himself into the branches. “Take the bark to Rocky!” he called back to Moth Flight.

Moth Flight froze. I can’t leave! Not until Micah was safe.

“Come back!” she wailed. Let them kill each other if they want!

Guilt flared through her. She was meant to protect cats, not wish them dead! Her paws were rooted to the ground as Micah’s yellow pelt flashed among the leaves. He swarmed upward, toward the trembling branches where Red Claw and Willow Tail fought.

Brown fur crashed through the leaves. Red Claw swung from a branch for a moment before scrambling back on. Willow

Tail balanced farther along, her hind paws trembling as she lashed out, blow after blow, with her forepaws. Red Claw backed away, the end of the branch only a tail-length behind him. It dipped perilously as he retreated from Willow Tail’s punishing swipes.

“Stop!” Micah’s mew rang out behind them.

Moth Flight strained to see him. She could make out his yellow pelt among the green leaves. He was moving slowly along the branch. “Stop!” he ordered again.

Willow Tail glanced at him. “Stay out of this,” she snarled.

“It’s not your battle.”

“It’s not any cat’s battle!” Micah called. “I’ve got the bark.

Moth Flight’s taking it to Rocky. There’s no point in fighting now.”

Red Claw stopped near the end of the branch, his tail thrashing wildly as he fought to keep his balance. “Let’s at least fight like cats, not crows! On the ground where cats are meant to be!”

Willow Tail narrowed her eyes. “You always were a mouse-heart!” She advanced slowly toward the SkyClan tom.

“Stop!” Micah followed her along the branch, lifting a paw to grab for her tail. He wobbled, fear flashing in his eyes.

Moth Flight gasped. “Be careful!”

Micah dug his claws into the branch, clinging like a vine.

The branch creaked beneath him. Dry bark fluttered down like dust.

Fear flared through Moth Flight as she noticed that the leaves around Red Claw were withered and brown. With a jolt, she realized that the branch they were on was dying. “Get back!” she cried. It creaked again. “The branch is rotten!”

Beside her, Clear Sky backed away.

A crack split the air. The world seemed to slow as the branch bent, then snapped, the wood screaming as it tore away from the tree and dropped.

She saw Red Claw fall, flailing. Willow Tail dropped beside him, her legs thrashing the air. Red Claw caught hold of a branch and swung, forepaws clinging hard. Willow Tail hit the bough below, yowling with shock as she scrambled to cling on.

The rotten branch hurtled down and smashed onto the ground, shards of wood strafing Moth Flight’s flank. She screwed up her eyes, scrabbling away as the world seemed to explode around her.

Then silence fell.

A moment later, leaves rustled overhead and Willow Tail huffed high above.

“Micah?” Moth Flight blinked away the splinters and gazed into the branches. Red Claw had hauled himself onto his paws and was trembling. Willow Tail lay frozen, her paws wrapped tightly around the bough that had broken her fall. Moth Flight scanned the leaves around them, trying to glimpse Micah’s pelt.

A low moan sounded from below the tree.

Moth Flight dragged her gaze toward the fallen branch.

Among the shriveled leaves and shattered wood, she saw yellow fur.

Dread hollowed her belly. “Micah?” Her throat tightened.

Trembling, she crept closer. Don’t let it be him. Once more, she looked up, hoping to see Micah gazing down from the tree, his eyes bright with relief.

The moan sounded again.

Moth Flight felt sick. She forced herself closer, until she could make out Micah’s twisted body, his hindquarters crushed beneath the splintered wood.

His head moved.

He’s alive! Hope soared in her chest.

Then his pain-wracked gaze sought hers and held it. She could see his hopeless agony. Grief tore at her heart as she crouched beside him. “What can I do?” she whispered hoarsely.

“Let me feel your breath on my cheek.” His mew was so weak that she had to lean closer to hear. He sighed as her muzzle touched his. “Moth Flight, I don’t want to leave you.”

“Then don’t!” Desperation filled her plea. “We can drag you out.”

“No, Moth Flight. My spine is crushed.”

“You don’t know that!”

“I can feel only pain.” He reached for her gaze again, his eyes clouding.

A sob choked her mew. “I can wrap you in comfrey. Cloud

Spots says it can mend—”

“Moth Flight.” Micah interrupted, gasping. “Thank you for letting me come with you to Highstones. And for bringing me to the Clans.”

Horror pressed at the edge of Moth Flight’s thoughts. “Don’t say that!” He was talking like this was the end.

“I’m glad I spent this time with you.”

“No!” He mustn’t die! He couldn’t!

“You made sense of my life,” he rasped. “You showed me my destiny.”

“This can’t be your destiny!” Moth Flight fought for breath, her thoughts spiraling into panic. “It’s not fair!”

“I love you.”

“Then don’t leave me!”