Эрин Хантер - Moth Flight’s Vision

The tops of the oaks loomed in front of them, the huge branches softened by a haze of leaf buds. Moth Flight gazed into the valley and saw pelts moving below.

She shifted her paws. “Let’s wait until they’ve finished the Gathering. Then I can tell Wind Runner about the medicine cats.”

Micah looked at her. “All the Clan leaders are going to be down there tonight, right?”

Moth Flight avoided his gaze. She could guess what he was thinking. “You want me to go down there and tell every cat .”

“They have to know,” he reasoned.

“But I wanted to tell Wind Runner first,” Moth Flight argued.

“Why?” Micah’s green gaze didn’t waver.

Moth Flight felt hot. “Because it’s easier,” she admitted.

“Moth Flight.” Micah moved his muzzle closer until she could feel his warm breath billow around her nose. “You can do this.”

“You want me to walk into the middle of a Gathering and tell all of them that some spirit-cats told me they should have medicine cats?” Fear tightened her belly.

“The spirit-cats believe you can do it.” Micah didn’t move.

Moth Flight nodded stiffly. “They told me to be strong.” She tried to ignore the panic flashing beneath her pelt.

“Then, be strong.” Gently, Micah nudged her toward the top of the hollow.

Paws numb with terror, Moth Flight let him steer her into the thick bracken that crowded the slope. Pressing against her, he guided her among the thick stems. Her ears twitched as she heard the murmur of the cats below. I can’t do this! The bracken rustled around her as they neared the bottom of the slope. She felt sick. “Wait.” She paused, desperately trying to think of what she was going to say.

Micah halted beside her and peered through the bracken.

She followed his gaze.

“Who’s that gray cat?” he whispered.

“That’s Clear Sky.”

Micah nodded. “I thought so.”

“Did he look like that in your dream?”

“Yes.” His gaze scanned the gathered cats. “Who are the cats standing beside him?”

Moth Flight narrowed her eyes, trying to tell who was who.

Bright moonlight shone through the budding oak branches, turning the pelts of the Clan cats silver. “That’s Jagged Peak.”

She nodded toward the small gray tabby tom who paced beside

Clear Sky. “He’s Clear Sky’s brother but he lives with WindClan now. And Thunder is the big tom next to them.”

“Thunder is leader of ThunderClan.” Micah was clearly trying to learn as much as he could.

“He’s also Clear Sky’s son.”

Micah stared at her. “They all live in different Clans even though they share the same blood?”

“Clan connections are stronger than blood ties now,” Moth

Flight told him. She glanced back at the cats milling in the clearing among the trees. Where was Wind Runner? Her gaze flitted from pelt to pelt until she recognized the narrow stripes of her mother. Wind Runner was pacing restlessly between

Gorse Fur and Dust Muzzle. Spotted Fur, Fern Leaf, and Willow

Tail sat nearby.

The grass on the far side of the clearing swished as River Ripple led his cats into the clearing. Dappled Pelt was with him, and Shattered Ice, Night, and Pine Needle.

River Ripple nodded a polite greeting to the other leaders and settled on an arching root beneath one of the oaks. As his cats gathered around him, Tall Shadow led Pebble Heart, Raven

Pelt, Juniper Branch, Mud Paws, and Mouse Ear into the clearing.

“We’re all here.” Clear Sky’s mew rang out loudly in the chilly night air.

Wind Runner crossed the clearing and stopped in front of the SkyClan leader, dipping her head politely first to him, then to Thunder, River Ripple, and Tall Shadow. “What news do you bring?”

“Newleaf has brought fresh prey to our part of the forest,” Clear Sky told her.

“And to ours,” Thunder added.

River Ripple hopped from the root and joined the other leaders. “The river is still swollen with snowmelt, and the fishing is good.”

Moth Flight felt Micah shift beside her. He was watching the Clan cats with wide eyes.

Wind Runner offered her report. “There are rabbits on the moor and the lapwings are beginning to nest. There will be plenty of prey by greenleaf.”

A hiss sounded behind her. “There won’t be if SkyClan keeps hunting on our land.” Willow Tail stalked across the clearing.

Wind Runner looked sharply at her Clanmate.

Clear Sky stiffened. “Are you accusing us of prey-stealing?”

Willow Tail faced the SkyClan leader. “Just one of you.”

Her gaze flashed to the reddish-brown tom sitting behind Clear Sky.

Moth Flight recognized Red Claw. She tensed. Was Willow

Tail still determined to start a fight with the SkyClan tom?

Red Claw got to his paws, his tail flicking ominously behind him. He padded toward Willow Tail, showing his teeth. “Why would a forest cat want to steal moor prey? We’ve got rabbits of our own—fatter than your scrawny vermin.”

Willow Tail’s hackles lifted. “The only scrawny vermin on our territory lately is you !”

Red Claw flattened his ears.

Wind Runner pushed between them. She looked at Clear Sky. “You need to keep your Clan under control.”

Clear Sky narrowed his eyes. “It’s your cat who’s trying to start a battle.”

“She is just defending our borders,” Wind Runner snapped back. “Besides, it isn’t only Willow Tail who’s noticed. Slate found rabbit bones just on our side of the SkyClan border. None of my cats enjoyed that meal. Which of yours did?” She glared at Red Claw.

Moth Flight’s fur prickled nervously. Slate found evidence ?

Still, one rabbit didn’t seem worth fighting about. The Gathering was meant to be a time of peace. The Clans weren’t supposed to quarrel here.

Micah shifted beside her. “Are they going to fight?”

“I hope not.” Moth Flight watched uneasily as Clear Sky nudged Red Claw aside and glared at Wind Runner.

“Any animal could have killed that rabbit. What other proof do you have my cats are on your territory?” he growled.

“Willow Tail saw Red Claw on the moor a few days ago,” Wind Runner hissed.

“Is she telling the truth?” Clear Sky’s tail twitched irritably as he turned to the SkyClan tom.

Red Claw lifted his chin. “I was there. I don’t need to hide it. I wasn’t hunting. Can’t we even set paw on another Clan’s land now?”

Willow Tail glared at him. “Not when you’re a fox-hearted traitor.”

“How dare you!” Red Claw’s eyes flashed in the half-light.

Willow Tail let out a low warning growl.

They mustn’t fight! Blood roared in Moth Flight’s ears. The spirit-cats wanted her to share her news with the other Clans.

How could she if they were at war? “Wait here!” She left Micah and bounded from the bracken.

The cats turned, eyes glittering with surprise as they saw her.

She skidded to a halt in the clearing, suddenly conscious that everyone was staring at her.

“Moth Flight?” Wind Runner stared across the dappled clearing, her eyes round with dread. “Is that you?”

Moth Flight blinked at her. “Of course.” Why did her mother look so scared?

Wind Runner flattened her ears. “Are you dead ?” Fear edged her mew.

Moth Flight frowned, struggling to understand. Dead? Why would I be dead? She glanced at her paws, noticing how the moonlight was making her white fur glow. Then she realized, shocked. She’d appeared at a Gathering like a spirit-cat! Did Wind Runner think she’d been killed on her journey? Alarm spiked in her belly. “No!” She hurried toward Wind Runner.