Эрин Хантер - Moth Flight’s Vision

Willow Tail silenced them. “A few moons ago, we didn’t even have medicine cats! We survived then. We’ll survive now!”

Moth Flight swung her gaze toward the she-cat. “StarClan ordered us to care for our Clans. Would you go against

StarClan?”

“Why not?” Willow Tail snapped. “They’re dead! They know nothing about the living.”

“That’s not true!” Moth Flight lashed her tail. “They watch over us.”

River Ripple nudged past Thunder, his eyes glittering with starlight. “StarClan brought peace. They see things we cannot.”

He stared at Willow Tail. “Do you think you know better than they do?”

Willow Tail looked away, her pelt rippling.

Thunder glanced gratefully at the RiverClan leader. “We cannot make hasty decisions without speaking to Clear Sky.”

Wind Runner growled. “It’s not your border that Clear Sky has crossed. It’s not your prey he’s stolen. It’s clear that he wants to push us into war. I am only suggesting a way that a battle might be avoided. By cutting him off, we are sending a strong message: We won’t fight with him. We will patrol our borders and protect our land, but we will not fight. He is on his own.” She glared suddenly at Moth Flight. “And that means medicine cats too. You will not share your knowledge with Acorn Fur. You must go to the Moonstone without her. She is forbidden from your meetings.”

Moth Flight’s hackles lifted. You don’t have the right to decide that! She opened her mouth to object but Wind Runner pressed on.

“This is the best way to stop Clear Sky. You’ve seen him drag us into war before. Help me stop him from doing it again.”

As her gaze swept beseechingly over the Clans, yowls of agreement filled the still night air.

“Cut him off!”

“Forget SkyClan!”

Moth Flight blinked at her mother. Was she really going to deprive SkyClan of help and healing? What would StarClan say? She glanced around her Clanmates, disappointment weighing in her chest. Dew Nose and Swift Minnow were joining in with the cheering.

Gorse Fur lifted his muzzle. “It’s the only way to avoid war!”

Moth Flight stared at her father in disbelief. Wind Runner was hotheaded, but Gorse Fur had always tempered her rashness with reason. Why was he going along with this madness?

A yowl sounded at the top of the hollow. The Clans fell silent, their eyes flashing as they turned to see who had called.

Sparrow Fur was haring down the slope. “Help!”

The gathered cats parted and let her race to the center.

The tortoiseshell gazed around, her eyes wide with horror.

“Where’s Moth Flight? Pebble Heart?” She scanned the Clans desperately.

Moth Flight pushed her way through the cats, Pebble Heart at her heels. “What’s happened?”

Sparrow Fur stared at her. “Tiny Branch is hurt! He got his paw trapped! There was a fox. We fought it off but Tiny Branch—”

Dappled Pelt burst from the crowd. “Was he bitten?”

Sparrow Fur nodded, her eyes wild. “It’s bad. We’ve carried him back to camp, but he’s unconscious.”

“Fox bites cause infection.” Cloud Spots nosed his way past

Dappled Pelt. “They must be treated at once.”

Sparrow Fur was trembling. “Acorn Fur can’t stop the bleeding.”

Moth Flight’s heart lurched. Tiny Branch was less than six moons old. If the blood loss didn’t kill him, the shock might.

“Come on.” She began to race for the side of the hollow.

Wind Runner’s snarl made her stop. “Where are you going?”

“I have to help Tiny Branch!” She skidded to a halt and glared at Wind Runner.

“I told you! SkyClan is on their own!” Wind Runner’s eyes blazed with fury.

“ You decided that!” Moth Flight hissed. “I’m a medicine cat. I won’t stand by and let cats die.”

Shocked mews sounded around her.

“She can’t go!”

“She must!”

“What about the kits?”

“That’s Clear Sky’s problem!”

Shattered Ice blocked her path. “Clear Sky must learn that he can’t push the other Clans around.”

Moth Flight flexed her claws. “Get out of my way.”

A low growl rumbled behind her. Dust Muzzle stalked past and faced Shattered Ice. “Let her pass. Tiny Branch shouldn’t have to pay for his father’s mistakes.” He looked meaningfully at Thunder.

Thunder dropped his gaze. “Let her go, Shattered Ice.”

Shattered Ice glared at Thunder, hackles raised. “You’re not my leader.”

“But I am.” River Ripple stepped forward. “Let her pass.”

Growling, Shattered Ice backed away.

Moth Flight glanced at Dust Muzzle. “Thank you.” Breaking into a run, she pelted up the slope. Sparrow Fur charged after her, Cloud Spots, Dappled Pelt, and Pebble Heart at his heels.

Sparrow Fur dodged in front of her as they reached the top of the slope. “Follow me!”

Zigzagging past brambles and leaping logs, she blazed a winding trail through the thick woodland. Moth Flight’s chest burned as she raced to keep up. Behind her, she could hear the thrumming paw steps of Cloud Spots, Dappled Pelt, and Pebble Heart.

As the forest floor began to slope down, she recognized the glade where Sparrow Fur had stopped her and sent her home only a few days earlier. The tortoiseshell crossed it and headed for a thick clump of brambles. Ducking through a small gap at one edge, she disappeared. Moth Flight narrowed her eyes against the prickly stalks and followed her through, surprised to find herself emerging into a small hollow edged by trees and lush ferns.

Clear Sky stood in the center. Star Flower trembled beside him. The rest of SkyClan ringed around them, their horrified gazes fixed on a blood-soaked scrap of fur lying at Clear Sky’s paws.

Tiny Branch!

Moth Flight scrambled to a halt and crouched beside the kit.

She could hear her own heart pounding in her ears as she swiftly scanned his body. There were deep teeth wounds on his flank.

His hind paw was twisted and bloody, as though it had been yanked from a thorn bush. His eyes were closed, flickering slightly. His muzzle was clumped with dried blood.

She smelled the sharp tang of horsetail and marigold rising from Tiny Branch’s wound. Dried green pulp showed on his bloody fur. Acorn Fur had clearly been trying to treat him for some time. Moth Flight glanced at Clear Sky. “Where’s Acorn

Fur?”

“She went to find cobwebs.” Clear Sky’s mew was tight.

Moth Flight pictured the SkyClan medicine cat struggling alone to help Tiny Branch. Sympathy pricked at her heart. She wasn’t trained to deal with injuries as bad as this. She must be terrified. “She should have sent for help sooner.”

Clear Sky’s tail twitched. “SkyClan doesn’t ask for help unless there’s no choice.”

Did you stop her? Moth Flight angrily swallowed back the words. Picking a fight with Clear Sky wouldn’t help Tiny

Branch.

Star Flower didn’t wrench her gaze from her kit. “Will he be okay?”

Moth Flight didn’t answer. “Where’s her herb store?”

Clear Sky stared at her blankly. “I don’t think she has one.”

Red Claw stepped forward. “She’s been gathering herbs for a while,” he told his leader.

Moth Flight turned to the dark red tom. “Where are they?”

Red Claw began to lead the way to a short steep slope where the roots of an oak snaked into the earth.

As Moth Flight straightened to follow, she felt Dappled Pelt’s nose on her shoulder.

“I’ll go with him.”

“Bring every herb she’s got,” Moth Flight told her. She glanced at Pebble Heart. “What can we do?” She wasn’t sure which wound to treat first.