Moth Flight’s Vision

“I’ll see you again.” His eyes flickered. “Next half-moon maybe.”

Moth Flight felt a wave of relief. But then she realized what he meant: Next half-moon. He means he’ll see me from StarClan! “No!” The ground swayed beneath Moth Flight’s paws. She thrust her muzzle against Micah’s, longing to feel his warm breath. But she felt nothing. Jerking away, she saw his gaze light for a moment, then grow dull, as though dusk had swept through the forest and swallowed the sunshine.

“Micah.” Collapsing, Moth Flight pressed her cheek to his.

“Don’t go. I love you!”

Chapter 22

Moth Flight lifted her head blearily, not sure if she’d slept.

Dawn light filtered through the trees above. “I forgot about Rocky,” she said, but her voice came out hoarse and creaky. “I didn’t take the bark to him.”

“Reed Tail took it,” Wind Runner’s voice replied. “Rocky’s doing okay. Don’t worry about anything, Moth Flight.”

She smelled Wind Runner’s scent and realized that her mother’s warm flank was pressed against hers. Swift Minnow was on her other side. Moth Flight wondered how long they’d been there. A chilly mist swirled around the forest floor.

Dread swelled at the edge of her thoughts and she wondered, for a moment, why. Then she remembered.

Anguish struck her like a wave. She struggled to breathe.

Micah’s muzzle was still a whisker from hers, cold and stiff.

She blinked at it numbly. Grief had dragged her through the long, dark night. Foxes had screeched from the depth of the woods. Owls had glided, curious, through the glade, the breeze from their silent wings the only clue they had passed. Paws had scuffed the forest floor as cats came and went, dipping their head in respect to Micah, exchanging sympathies in hushed mews.

“It’s time we buried him.” Wind Runner’s mew cut through Moth Flight’s grief like claws.

Panic seized her. “No.” They couldn’t lay him deep in the earth and cut him off from sunlight forever. “I need to see him.”

Wind Runner got to her paws and touched her muzzle to Moth Flight’s head. “Foxes will come for his body if we don’t.”

Moth Flight blinked at her. Why was her mother being so cruel?

Swift Minnow shifted beside her. “Burying him will show our respect.”

Wind Runner nodded. “He’ll be safe in the earth.”

Anguish slammed into Moth Flight. “But what about me?” I need him.

“You still have your family,” murmured Wind Runner.

“And your Clanmates,” Swift Minnow added.

Moth Flight leaped to her paws and glared at them. “I don’t want you!” she hissed. “I want him!”

They exchanged looks, then Wind Runner signaled to some cat with her tail. Gorse Fur padded toward them, with Nettle, Blossom, and Acorn Fur following close behind. The splintered branch had already been cleared away, leaving Micah’s body exposed to the brightening day.

Nettle thrust his gray muzzle beneath Micah’s flank, heaving him onto his back. Gorse Fur and Blossom crowded beside him, helping to take the weight of Micah’s body. Acorn Fur slid among them, pressing her shoulder beneath Micah’s hindquarters. Together, they carried the body from the glade.

Moth Flight watched them wade through the bluebells, the purple blossoms sweeping Micah’s matted pelt.

Wind Runner nudged her gently forward. “Come and say good-bye.”

Moth Flight’s paws felt as heavy as stone as she followed the cats out of the glade. Daylight was beginning to glimmer among the leaves overhead as the sun lifted higher. At the top of the rise she saw cleared earth and a hole dug deep into it. Clear Sky stood at its head, Star Flower at his side. SkyClan gathered around them as Nettle and Gorse Fur paused at the edge of the hole.

Moth Flight blinked at the solemnity in Clear Sky’s gaze.

Didn’t he realize that he’d caused this, with his fox-hearted craving for borders?

Acorn Fur’s eyes were misted with grief. She pressed against Birch while Quick Water, Alder, Fern Leaf, and Thorn stared bleakly at Micah’s body. Red Claw hung back behind

Clear Sky, his gaze fixed on his paws. Moth Flight felt anger flash in her belly, eclipsing her grief for a moment. You killed him! You and your stupid fight! She glanced around, wondering if Willow Tail had dared come.

The pale tabby she-cat was watching half hidden behind

Dust Muzzle. Moth Flight glared at her, anger seething beneath her pelt. “Don’t skulk behind my brother!” she spat. “Come and see what you’ve done.” She jerked her muzzle toward Micah, lying stiffly on Nettle’s back.

Moth Flight felt Wind Runner’s pelt brush her flank. “It was an accident,” she murmured.

“It didn’t have to happen! If they hadn’t been fighting”—Moth Flight glared at Red Claw—“Micah would still be alive.”

Clear Sky caught her gaze and returned it steadily. “Micah died because he was brave. It was a noble death.”

“He didn’t die because he was brave!” Moth Flight stared at him, stunned. “He died because you sent Red Claw after him.”