Эрин Хантер - Moth Flight’s Vision

“Let’s go with them,” Spotted Fur breathed softly in her ear.

“Don’t forget that you tried to save Clear Sky’s kit. He might be more understanding than these fox-hearts.”

Nettle glared at him. “Stop whispering and get moving.”

The SkyClan cats fell in beside them and began to herd them deeper into the forest.

Moth Flight glanced at the bark left behind on the forest floor. Its precious sap would be leaking into the earth. But, if she explained everything to Clear Sky as quickly as she could, there might be enough left to take back to Slate.

She quickened her pace.

“You seem to be in a hurry,” Alder snarled.

“I just want to sort this out and get home,” she snapped back. She spotted the bramble barrier on the slope ahead. Birch had to break into a run to duck through the gap before her.

As she emerged into the hollow, faces turned to stare.

Sparrow Fur got to her paws. Blossom blinked from the shadow of a yew.

Moth Flight’s gaze flashed toward the earth where Tiny

Branch had died last night. Leaves had been scattered over it, but dark bloodstains still showed between.

She felt suddenly weary, her paws as heavy as stone. All she wanted was to help the cats around her, but every paw step seemed to lead her into another nettle patch.

“Clear Sky’s in his den.” Alder jerked her nose across the clearing. “Spotted Fur can wait here while you speak to him.”

She steered Moth Flight up the short, steep slope and through the trees beyond. “Clear Sky?” She paused and called into the shadows.

The SkyClan leader padded slowly out.

Moth Flight blinked. Clear Sky’s eyes were hollow. His pelt was matted and slicked against his broad frame. He looked as though he’d been dragged from a river.

Star Flower followed him. Grief glistened, still fresh, in her eyes. She stared blankly at Moth Flight. “What’s she doing here?”

“We found her on our land,” Alder told the she-cat. “She was with a Clanmate.”

Clear Sky padded closer, confusion clouding his stricken gaze. “No cat is allowed on SkyClan land,” he mumbled.

“I had to come,” Moth Flight told him. “I need bark from the tree where Micah died. It’s to cure a sick Clanmate. She’s got redcough. She might die.” She waited for Clear Sky to understand. But he only stared at her.

“No cat is allowed on SkyClan land,” he repeated.

“I need the bark!” Moth Flight glared at him. “I know you’re grieving and I hate to disturb you. We don’t want to disturb you.

We just want to take the bark and go.”

“No.” Clear Sky slowly lifted his head, his gaze clearing.

“Last night, you tried to save Tiny Branch, and I will always be grateful for that. But if Wind Runner hadn’t tried to stop you from coming, my kit might still be alive. Wind Runner has to realize that there are consequences for her actions. She has to admit her mistake.”

Cold fear rippled along Moth Flight’s spine. There was darkness in the SkyClan leader’s words. He is capable of more cruelty than you can imagine. “What are you going to do?”

“To you?” His ear twitched. “Nothing.”

Moth Flight heard paw steps. Pelts moved at the edge of her vision. She smelled the scents of Alder and Red Claw as they closed in behind her.

Clear Sky went on. “You will simply be our guest until Wind Runner comes to fetch you.”

“She won’t come here!” Panic flashed through Moth Flight.

She can’t come here. It’s not safe!

“She must.” Clear Sky sat down heavily. “She has accused us of stealing prey. She has stolen prey herself. And why?”

Moth Flight stared at him. Did he expect an answer?

He went on. “She has listened to the word of a rogue and believed it over the word of a mountain cat.” He glanced at Star

Flower. “It’s hardly surprising. Wind Runner was a rogue herself once.”

“What are you talking about?” Moth Flight felt lost. “What rogue?”

“Willow Tail.”

Moth Flight shifted her paws uneasily. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve been talking to Red Claw,” Clear Sky told her. “He and Willow Tail go back a long way. Willow Tail has been lying for moons. She’s been spreading half-truths and stirring up trouble just to settle scores that have nothing to do with the Clans.”

Moth Flight shifted her paws nervously. She had no idea if what Clear Sky was saying was true. But she could see a way out. “Why don’t I go and tell Wind Runner this?” I can take the bark back with me.

“No!” Clear Sky snarled. “You will stay here until Wind Runner comes to me, admits her mistake, and banishes Willow

Tail from her Clan.”

“She’ll never do that!” The words burst out before Moth

Flight could stop them. Wind Runner was far too proud to come groveling to Clear Sky. And too proud to banish Willow Tail.

By banishing Willow Tail, Wind Runner would be admitting she had made a mistake by letting the she-cat join her Clan. It simply wasn’t something Wind Runner would do.

“She will,” Clear Sky meowed. “We just have to wait.”

“How long are you going to keep me prisoner ?” Moth Flight snarled. Her thoughts skipped from Slate to her kits. How dare he keep her from them? They needed her!

“For as long as it takes.”

Moth Flight glared at the SkyClan leader. “You can’t do this!”

His tail twitched menacingly. “This is my territory,” he growled. “I can do anything I like.”

“What do we do now?” Spotted Fur paced the den.

“We can’t stay here!” Moth Flight stared angrily from the entrance. The tiny cave, hollowed from the bramble close to Clear Sky’s den, still carried the stale scent of Star Flower. Clear Sky’s mate must have slept here at one time. Her ragged nest looked as though it hadn’t been used in moons. It would probably crumble into dust if any cat climbed into it.

Moth Flight thought of her own nest at home. She could almost smell its heathery scent and the warmth of her kits rising from its thick moss lining. Anxiety twisted in her heart. And what about Slate? She needed the bark. “We have to escape.”

“How?” Spotted Fur jerked his muzzle toward Alder, who sat, as still as a rock, a few tail-lengths from the entrance.

“We could burrow through the back,” Moth Flight suggested.

Spotted Fur grunted, glancing at the prickly stems, so thickly woven that no light filtered through. “If we had paws made of wood.”

Moth Flight whisked her tail crossly. “Why do Clan leaders make life so difficult?”

Spotted Fur blinked at her. “Who knows?”

Moth Flight tipped her head. “Do you think Willow Tail has been stirring up trouble?” she asked. “Slate and Jagged Peak have seen the bones, too.”

Spotted Fur shrugged. “But she is usually the first one to make accusations.” He frowned. “And she’s the only one who’s actually seen SkyClan stealing prey. If she is really as bad as Clear Sky says… she could have planted the bones.”

Planted the bones? It seemed crazy to Moth Flight. She crouched and drew her paws tightly under her. “Doesn’t she realize that she might cause a battle?”

“Perhaps that’s what she wants.” Spotted Fur stared at her grimly.

“No!” Moth Flight refused to believe it. “Why would any cat want to cause suffering?”

Spotted Fur didn’t answer. His gaze flicked back toward Alder. The gray-and-white she-cat still hadn’t moved. “Even