Эрин Хантер - Moth Flight’s Vision

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.”

Moth Flight’s heart lurched. “Do you think they’re ready to listen to us?” She glanced at Cloud Spots and Dappled Pelt.

How much influence did any of them have over their leaders?

Cloud Spots swished his tail. “We speak for StarClan.”

Dappled Pelt frowned. “From what I’ve heard, Clear Sky has no time for StarClan.”

Pebble Heart glanced at the stars, sparkling high overhead.

“They’re his ancestors as well as ours.”

“We should hold the meeting without him!” Wind Runner’s angry mew rang once more across the clearing. As Moth Flight turned, the WindClan leader shouldered her way through the crowd and leaped onto the great rock.

Wind Runner glared at Thunder, River Ripple, and Tall Shadow. “Why should we show him respect by waiting when he shows us none by being late?” She lashed her tail, her brown pelt pale in the moonlight. “He probably won’t come at all!

That’s how little he values us.”

Tall Shadow weaved past Juniper Branch and Milkweed, glancing at Sun Shadow before jumping up beside Wind Runner. River Ripple followed slowly, his pelt ruffled. Thunder hesitated, checking the SkyClan slope once more before leaping onto the rock.

Wind Runner’s gaze swept the Clans as the cats crowded closer and raised their muzzles to their leaders.

“We must treat Clear Sky as he has treated us!” she yowled.

“If he wants to stop all cats from crossing his land, then we must turn our tails on him !”

Thunder stared at her, ears twitching. “What do you mean?”

“From now on, SkyClan is not one of us,” Wind Runner showed her teeth. “They do not exist. They must survive alone.”

“No!” Thunder bristled. “Clear Sky must have closed his borders for a good reason. You say he’s being hostile. For all we know, he’s simply defending his land. You claim that SkyClan has stolen prey from you! But where’s your proof? They’re not even here to defend themselves.”

River Ripple nodded. “Clear Sky should at least be given a fair hearing.”

“Why?” Tall Shadow narrowed her eyes. “He hasn’t even shown up. Clearly, he doesn’t consider himself one of us. Of course you defend him, Thunder; he’s your father. But why should we doubt Wind Runner’s word? She has never lied before. Clear Sky has been lying since he was a kit. Have you forgotten his treachery to Gray Wing? He started the Great

Battle! We have been patient with him long enough! We will be stronger without SkyClan.”

Stronger without SkyClan? Outrage surged in Moth Flight’s belly. Didn’t these cats realize that banishing a Clan would be like pulling a woven twig from a nest? Each twig made it strong. Once you began to unravel it, the whole nest might collapse. “We cannot turn our tails on another Clan!” She was shocked to hear her own voice ring loudly across the clearing.

Eyes flashed toward her.

Dappled Pelt lifted her chin. “We came from the mountains together. We share blood and memories.”

“Unite or die!” Cloud Spots yowled. “Don’t you remember the Great Battle? The spirit-cats told us afterward that we could not live without each other.”

“Unite or die!” Thunder stepped to the edge of the rock. “If we are to survive, we must act together . This dispute must be ended with words, not deeds.”

“ Words? ” Wind Runner spat. “Since when did Clear Sky ever resolve anything with words? He only knows how to use his claws and this is the only way we can avoid battle. We must shun Clear Sky, before he starts another war.”

Moth Flight stared at her mother. “What about the rest of SkyClan? It’s they who will suffer if we abandon them.”

Willow Tail called from among the crowd. “ How will they suffer? They won’t starve. They have enough prey in the forest.”

Shattered Ice lifted his muzzle. “Clear Sky has always caused trouble for the Clans. Without him, we can have peace.”

“But their medicine cat hasn’t finished her training!” Moth

Flight whisked her tail angrily. “Who will care for their sick?

And what if they need herbs that only grow beside the river, or on the moor? Do we turn them away and let their Clanmates die?”

Juniper Branch spoke up. “The Clans must work together. I only survived my kitting because Moth Flight helped Pebble Heart. Now I have three healthy kits!”

Muted murmurs of agreement rippled through the Clans.