Эрин Хантер - Moth Flight’s Vision

“Where have you been?”

Wind Runner’s accusing mew took Moth Flight by surprise as she padded into camp. The sun was sinking toward the horizon and shooting long shadows across the clearing.

Moth Flight dropped the bundle of comfrey she’d gathered.

“Training Acorn Fur.” I’m not going to lie about it.

“Why you ?” Wind Runner’s hackles lifted. “Surely you understand that SkyClan cats are no longer our friends.”

“Why not?” Moth Flight demanded.

“They’ve been stealing our prey.” Wind Runner narrowed her eyes. “And I’m sending patrols across their border to hunt.”

“ What? ” Moth Flight stared at her. Did her mother want to cause a war ?

Wind Runner lifted her chin stiffly. “It’s important that we show them they can’t steal from us without consequences.”

“Has anyone actually seen SkyClan stealing our prey?”

Moth Flight demanded.

“Willow Tail says she saw Red Claw carrying a rabbit over the border yesterday.”

“And you believe her?” How could her mother be so naive?

“Willow Tail hates Red Claw.”

“That doesn’t make her a liar!” Wind Runner lashed her tail.

“It’s not just Willow Tail who’s seen evidence. Fern Leaf caught

Red Claw’s scent on our territory. Slate and Jagged Peak have seen bones too. Are they liars?”

Of course not. But even if SkyClan cats caught a rabbit or two on WindClan territory—who cared ? Still, Moth Flight swallowed back anger. She didn’t want to get drawn into her mother’s argument with SkyClan. Her duty was to heal cats, not fight with them. “I’m going to teach Acorn Fur what I know,” she mewed stubbornly.

Wind Runner’s pelt prickled. “I’m just worried about you, Moth Flight. If Clear Sky catches you with one of his cats, who knows what he’ll do? I’ve known him a long time. He’s capable of more cruelty than you can imagine.”

“Then it’s important that his medicine cat is well trained,” Moth Flight argued. “If she can earn his respect, she may be able to guide him.”

“No one has ever managed to guide Clear Sky before,” Wind Runner pointed out.

“Acorn Fur has StarClan on her side. They want me to train her.”

“They spoke to you?”

“Micah did,” Moth Flight told her. “He spoke to Acorn Fur too.”

“Micah’s not StarClan!”

Moth Flight’s throat tightened. “He is now.”

Wind Runner gazed at her helplessly. “Then you’re going to keep on training her?”

“Yes.” Moth Flight scooped up the comfrey and headed for her den. If Micah wanted her to train Acorn Fur, then nothing would stop her.

As the days lengthened, Moth Flight kept her word. Each afternoon, she’d leave Slate in charge of her kits and slip out of camp. She was aware of Wind Runner’s gaze following her, dark with worry. But she ignored it, racing to the patch of grass on the moorside where she met Acorn Fur.

This afternoon, clouds hid the sun and a thin drizzle misted the moor. Moth Flight fluffed out her pelt, hoping Slate would keep the kits in the den. The air was warm, but a wet pelt could mean a chill. She was getting used to being away from them, but she enjoyed their welcome each time she returned home, when they’d clamber over her, purring and begging for badger rides or a game of chase-tail.

She blinked away raindrops and scanned the moorside.

There was no sign of Acorn Fur and no scent either. She glanced at the darkening sky, wondering whether, with the sun hidden, the SkyClan medicine cat had lost track of time.

Acorn Fur was a quick learner, just as Micah had said. And she seemed to have a deep understanding of suffering as well as a burning need to ease it. Teaching such a willing apprentice had been fulfilling and, in going over her knowledge in such depth, Moth Flight had renewed her own delight in her healing skills. Was it time she relieved Reed Tail of some of his duties?

She frowned. She already felt that she spent too much time away from her kits.

She gazed toward the forest, impatience fizzing beneath her pelt. Where are you? It wasn’t like Acorn Fur to be late. She was usually pacing the hillside, waiting, by the time Moth Flight arrived.

Unease jabbed her belly.

Perhaps Acorn Fur couldn’t come.

Her fur tingled with worry. Had Clear Sky found out about their meetings?

He can’t stop her from learning! She headed downslope as the rain thickened, heading for the SkyClan border. Does he think his wishes are more important than StarClan’s? Anger pulsed through her paws as she crossed the wet grass.

The pungent scent of SkyClan markers washed her muzzle as she neared the ferns that edged the trees. She pushed through the dripping fronds. Padding into the shelter of the woods, she glanced around, wondering where SkyClan’s camp lay. She had to know where Acorn Fur was. If Clear Sky was stopping her, someone needed to explain to the rabbit-brained leader how important it was for his medicine cat to learn everything she could.

Sniffing the ground, she smelled paw prints and began to follow them. They must eventually lead to the camp. She trailed around a bramble and between two fallen trees. Ducking beneath a branch, she smelled more paw prints. She must be getting close. She could see a glade ahead where rain dripped through the canopy.

I hope he hasn’t hurt her. She suddenly remembered her mother’s warning. He’s capable of more cruelty than you can imagine. Moth Flight pushed the words away. She wasn’t going to be bullied. She had StarClan on her side.

As she slid through a clump of ferns, a hiss made her freeze.

Tortoiseshell fur flashed at the corner of her vision.

Something hard slammed into her flank and knocked her, sprawling, to the ground.

Panic flared beneath Moth Flight’s pelt as she scrambled to her paws. The scent of a SkyClan she-cat filled the air. Jerking around, she saw Sparrow Fur glaring at her, hackles raised.

“What are you doing on SkyClan land?” The tortoiseshell’s eyes flashed with suspicion.

“I’m Moth Flight!” she growled.

“I know who you are,” the tortoiseshell returned.

“Then you know that I’m a medicine cat! I can walk where I please.”

“No one walks in this forest without Clear Sky’s permission!” Sparrow Fur growled.

“Since when?”

“Since he said so!”

Frustration surged in Moth Flight’s belly. “I’ve come to find

Acorn Fur.” Perhaps if she explained that she was worried about her Clanmate, Sparrow Fur would understand.

“Acorn Fur is in camp, doing what she’s supposed to do.”

“Which is?” she demanded.

“Taking care of her Clanmates!”

“But I haven’t finished training her!”

Sparrow Fur’s tail swished ominously. “She’s had all the training she’s going to get.”

Moth Flight didn’t understand. “Don’t you want her to be the best medicine cat she can be?” Just because Clear Sky was a rabbit-brain, didn’t mean his whole Clan had to act dumb!

“What I want doesn’t matter,” Sparrow Fur snarled. “Clear Sky is my leader. I follow his orders. And his orders are that no cat should cross our border. Especially not a WindClan cat.”

Fury scorched Moth Flight’s belly. “I’m not here to hunt !

StarClan ordered me to train Acorn Fur and that’s what I’m going to do.” She headed past Sparrow Fur.

The SkyClan she-cat dodged ahead of her.

She glared at the tortoiseshell angrily. “Get out of my way! I have to—” She stopped, surprised to see worry clouding Sparrow Fur’s gaze.