Moth Flight’s Vision

Blue Whisker had started exploring the camp with her littermates. Only that morning, the yellow-and-white she-kit had climbed the stones beside the camp entrance and called to Moth

Flight from the top, her fur fluffed with delight.

Cloud Spots jerked Moth Flight from the memory, flicking his tail happily. “Dappled Pelt says they have Micah’s coloring.”

“Honey Pelt looks just like him,” Moth Flight told him proudly.

Cloud Spots purred. “I’m sure Micah’s watching them from StarClan.”

He is. Happiness surged through Moth Flight as she remembered her dream.

Silver Stripe’s excited mew sounded behind her. “Please can we talk to the others?”

She turned to see the pale tabby pacing around her brothers.

Black Ear was staring wide-eyed at the gathered cats, while

White Tail gazed around thoughtfully, his nose twitching.

“RiverClan cats smell funny,” he commented.

“Hush!” Slate lowered her voice. “They smell a bit fishy, that’s all.”

“I want to ask them if they really swim!” Silver Stripe whispered.

Moth Flight nodded toward a pair of RiverClan cats. “Go and talk to Drizzle.” She’d spotted the gray-and-white she-kit—a young cat now—standing beside her brother.

Pine Needle had grown; his shoulders were broader and his black pelt was as sleek as an otter’s. He stared around the clearing, his eyes round. Moth Flight wondered if it was his first

Gathering too.

Silver Stripe padded impatiently around Slate. “Can we?” she begged.

But Black Ear was already crossing the clearing toward the young RiverClan cats.

Slate’s ears twitched. “Of course.”

Silver Stripe hared after her brother, White Tail at her heels.

“Don’t forget to be polite!” Slate called after them.

Dappled Pelt watched the young cats race away. “Gray Wing would have been proud of them.”

Slate blinked at her sadly. “He always wanted kits of his own,” she murmured. “I just wish he’d had a chance to watch them grow up.”

Moth Flight swept her tail along Slate’s spine. “He’s probably watching them right now.” Just like Micah watches over our kits.

Wind Runner’s angry mew rang across the clearing. She faced Thunder, her eyes flashing accusingly in the moonlight. “I knew you’d defend him.”

River Ripple padded between the two leaders. “We should wait and let Clear Sky speak for himself.”

Wind Runner scowled. “We’ve heard enough lies from him.”

As she spoke, grass swished at the top of the hollow. Lithe bodies swarmed down the far slope.

Clear Sky? Moth Flight stiffened. Would Wind Runner manage to keep her temper? Would she openly accuse the SkyClan leader of sending hunting patrols onto their land? And what would happen when Clear Sky accused her in return?

ShadowClan scent washed over her and she recognized Tall Shadow’s pelt, hardly more than a shadow in the long grass.

Dappled Pelt eyed Moth Flight anxiously. “Are there still hunting disputes between WindClan and SkyClan?”

“Yes.” Moth Flight’s pelt prickled. “Clear Sky has banned any cat from crossing his borders.”

Cloud Spots blinked. “How will you fetch catmint from Twolegplace?”

Dappled Pelt didn’t give her a chance to answer. “What about Acorn Fur? Did you finish training her?”

Moth Flight dropped her gaze guiltily. “I tried, but Clear Sky won’t let her leave and I can’t get past the border to see her.”

She watched the ShadowClan cats weave among the waiting cats, greeting them with nods and flicks of their tail. Murmured gossip hummed in the evening air.

Shattered Ice gazed grimly at Mud Paws. “Clear Sky’s patrolling his borders again.”

“Pebble Heart was turned away when he tried to gather borage,” Juniper Branch told Milkweed.

Moth Flight saw pelts ripple with apprehension. Milkweed glanced nervously toward the bramble-covered slope where SkyClan usually made its entrance. Dawn Mist moved closer to Drizzle and Pine Needle.

Pebble Heart reached the medicine cats, his eyes round with worry. “I thought the prey dispute would have blown over by now, but it’s gotten worse.”

Moth Flight’s ears twitched uneasily. “Clear Sky has stopped me from training Acorn Fur,” she told him. “He won’t let any cat cross his border. He’s been sending hunting patrols onto our land again.”

Pebble Heart’s gaze darkened.

“Sparrow Fur and Acorn Fur both say that Clear Sky hasn’t sent hunting patrols onto our land but Willow Tail swears she’s seen Red Claw taking WindClan prey across the border.” Moth Flight glanced at Willow Tail. The pale tabby stood in a circle of ThunderClan and RiverClan cats, her eyes flashing with malice as she talked. Moth Flight’s belly tightened. Why was she so determined to stir up trouble? She lowered her voice. “Wind Runner’s started sending hunting patrols onto SkyClan land to teach Clear Sky a lesson.”

Pebble Heart’s tail twitched. “This needs to stop now before it gets serious.” He glanced up the slope hopefully. “Perhaps when Clear Sky arrives we can talk some sense into him and Wind Runner.”