Эрин Хантер - Moth Flight’s Vision

“I’m alive. I’ve come home!” She pressed her muzzle against her mother’s cheek.

Wind Runner was trembling.

Gorse Fur shouldered his way through the watching cats, his gaze glittering with anger. “Where have you been? We’ve been worried sick!”

Moth Flight dipped her head apologetically. “I’m sorry,” she mewed. “But I had to go. There was something I needed to find.”

“What?” Wind Runner lifted her head sharply. Her grief seemed to evaporate.

Moth Flight backed away. Clear Sky was staring at her.

River Ripple padded closer, his eyes round with interest.

Tall Shadow tipped her head to one side thoughtfully.

Moth Flight’s belly fluttered with fear. She lifted her chin. “I bring news from the spirit-cats,” she began.

“Really?” Clear Sky huffed, clearly unconvinced. Tall Shadow rolled her eyes.

Moth Flight glanced toward her Clanmates, hoping to find support.

But Swift Minnow was staring at her accusingly. “Have you been daydreaming again, Moth Flight?”

Jagged Peak exchanged glances with Holly. Spotted Fur blinked at her sympathetically.

They don’t believe me. Moth Flight fought the panic rising in her chest.

A low growl sounded in Red Claw’s throat. “She’s just trying to distract us.” He turned his gaze back to Willow Tail.

“No cat accuses me of stealing.”

Wind Runner hissed. “No cat steals from WindClan.”

Frustration surged beneath Moth Flight’s pelt. Did they really think their dumb fight was more important than a message from their ancestors? She lashed her tail. “You have to listen to me!”

Red Claw flashed her a look. “Did Wind Runner put you up to this, Moth Flight?” He growled. “Is she scared her Clan is going to look like a bunch of liars?”

Wind Runner’s hackles lifted. “Clear Sky.” She glared at the SkyClan leader. “You seem to make a habit of taking in troublemakers. I thought you’d have learned after One Eye turned on you. But you’re still filling your Clan with thieves and bullies.”

Clear Sky’s blue gaze turned to ice. “My cats are brave and honest.”

Star Flower pushed past Blossom and Acorn Fur and stood beside her mate. “Clear Sky is a great leader. He knows his cats and he knows they would never lie!”

Wind Runner curled her lip. “Then why did Slate find rabbit bones at the border?”

Red Claw snorted. “How do we know Slate is telling the truth?”

“Slate is not a liar!” Wind Runner hissed.

“Stop it!” Frustration flared through Moth Flight. “I’m trying to tell you the most important news you’ll ever hear. The future of the Clans depends on it!” She stiffened, surprised by her own boldness.

Dust Muzzle blinked at her.

Before any cat could interrupt, she went on. “I spoke with the spirit-cats. They told me that each Clan should have a medicine cat to care for their sick. Dappled Pelt will be

RiverClan’s medicine cat and Pebble Heart will be medicine cat for ShadowClan. I’m to be WindClan’s and Cloud Spots will be

ThunderClan’s.” She paused. It wasn’t time yet to tell them about Micah. They needed to get used to the idea of medicine cats first. She dug her claws into the ground, bracing herself for the Clans’ reactions.

Tall Shadow stepped forward. “Why would the spirit-cats tell you this? Why not tell us?” She glanced at Clear Sky and River Ripple. “We’re the Clan leaders .”

“They said that they would speak through me from now on,” Moth Flight told her.

Clear Sky spluttered. “ You ? You’re hardly more than a kit!”

Moth Flight tried to ignore him, but her paws began to tremble. “They said they will send omens, and that I must tell Wind Runner what the omens mean.” She noticed Dappled Pelt staring at her, eyes bright with starlight. “I guess each medicine cat will see omens and interpret them for their leader.” That was what Half Moon had meant, surely?

Wind Runner padded closer, her pelt rippling along her spine. “Moth Flight?” Her mew was gentle. “I know you think you’re doing the right thing. But is this just another one of your dreams?”

“It’s real !” Moth Flight dug her claws harder into the cold earth. “I followed a tunnel into Highstones and I found a stone filled with moonlight and I saw the spirit-cats.” She knew she must sound crazy and she saw some of the Clan cat’s eyes soften into pity as she went on. I knew it! They don’t believe me.

Clear Sky sniffed. “You forgot to tell us who SkyClan’s medicine cat would be.”

Moth Flight stared at him uncertainly, words frozen on her tongue. Was he taking her seriously?

“The spirit-cats told you so much,” Blossom yowled mockingly. “Did they forget to mention us ?”

“She’s making it up!” Mud Paws accused.

“She just wants attention.” A ShadowClan tortoiseshell padded forward.

Pebble Heart nosed past her. “Give her a chance, Juniper

Branch!” He gazed softly at Moth Flight. “Do you know who

SkyClan’s medicine cat will be?”

Moth Flight glanced over her shoulder toward the bracken where Micah was hiding among the shadow stems. How would these cats react when she told them the spirit-cats had named a stranger?

The bracken rustled and Micah pushed his way out. “They said that I would be SkyClan’s medicine cat,” he said.

Shocked mews rose among the Clan cats.

“Who’s he?”

“He’s not one of us!”

“Who said he could come here?”

“This is Micah.” Moth Flight pressed her flank against

Micah’s as he stopped beside her. “He saved me from a dog and came with me on my journey to Highstones.”

River Ripple narrowed his eyes. “Did he see the spirit-cats too?”

Moth Flight shook her head. “The moth led me to the cave, not him.”

Wind Runner had stiffened. “Is this the moth you’re always dreaming about?”

“Yes.” Moth Flight watched the cats exchange glances.

Thunder stared at Micah through slitted eyes. Clear Sky’s pelt rippled uneasily along his spine. Tall Shadow was watching, her ears twitching. Helplessness swept over Moth Flight. How could she convince them? Only River Ripple looked calm. “I didn’t dream it !” she mewed desperately. “It was real .”

“I saw the moth.” Micah lifted his chin.

“You might just be saying that so you can be our medicine cat,” Clear Sky growled.

“The moth was real. It led us to Highstones.” He met Clear Sky’s gaze steadily. “I want to be your medicine cat, but I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“What do you know about healing?” Clear Sky demanded.

“Nothing, yet,” Micah told him calmly. “But I will learn.”

“We’ll all learn!” Moth Flight added. “There are cats who already know healing herbs. If we can learn some, we can learn more ! The Clans will depend on their medicine cats one day.

Half Moon told me!”

“ Half Moon ?” Clear Sky stiffened.

Tall Shadow stepped closer.

Dappled Pelt blinked. “You spoke with Stoneteller ?”

Quick Water hurried to Clear Sky’s side. “She must have seen Stoneteller,” the old mountain cat whispered. “How else would she know her name?”

Clear Sky was still staring at Micah. “She probably heard Jagged Peak or Gray Wing talking about her.”

Moth Flight heart’s leaped. They knew who Half Moon was!

Were they going to believe her after all?

Dappled Pelt’s eyes shone with excitement. “My dreams must have been a sign!”

River Ripple looked at his Clanmate. “What dreams?”

“I’ve been dreaming about teaching cats about herbs and healing for the past moon,” Dappled Pelt told him. Her gaze flitted to Micah. “I think one of the cats in my dream might have been him .”