Эрин Хантер - Moth Flight’s Vision

Sliding between Wind Runner and Dust Muzzle, she staggered as she took Wind Runner’s weight. “Come on,” she whispered, hoping her mother could hear her.

Wind Runner padded forward unsteadily. Moth Flight pressed her paws hard against the stone, trying to keep her balance as she steered the WindClan leader toward the back of cave. As darkness swallowed them, she became sharply aware of her mother’s rasping breath and the scuffing of their paws as they limped together into the tunnel. The air grew cold, swirling around them like freezing water. The tunnel sloped beneath

Moth Flight’s paws. The dank scent of stone was masked by the iron tang of Wind Runner’s blood. A droplet smacked the tunnel floor. Moth Flight felt it spray her paws. Another drop fell, the sound ringing around the stone walls.

Moth Flight pushed on faster, heaving her mother forward with every step. Don’t die. Her heart quickened. Wind Runner’s dripping blood spattered her fur. Ignoring the fear that was tightening like bindweed around her heart, she focused on moving forward, letting her whiskers brush the cave wall where she could, carefully following the twisting tunnel deeper into the earth. Every sense was fixed ahead, every thought willing Wind Runner on. You can do it.

Her mother’s breath was growing uneven—a few short breaths, followed by the desperate drawing in of air. Moth

Flight swallowed. Each breath sounded like Wind Runner’s last.

Moth Flight smelled fresh air. It felt warm on her nose after the icy chill of the tunnel.

The cave!

They’d made it.

A few more steps and the walls opened into the Moonstone cavern. Soft starlight filtered through the hole in the roof. The Moonstone rose, still and dark, from the middle of the cave floor. Grunting with effort, Moth Flight heaved her mother forward and let her collapse against it. Wind Runner gasped as she fell, then lay still.

Moth Flight backed away, heart pounding.

Her mother didn’t move.

“Wind Runner?” Moth Flight’s paws felt rooted to the stone.

She stared, terror clutching her chest. Was it too late?

Suddenly the Moonstone blazed into white fire. Moth Flight flinched, screwing up her eyes. Through a slitted gaze, she saw moonlight flooding through the hole in the roof.

She strained to see her mother, and could just make out her body, a dark shadow against the glittering stone.

Please move. Desperately, she willed Wind Runner to twitch an ear, or move a paw. Show me you’re alive!

A soft mew sounded beside her ear.

Everything will be fine.

Moth Flight froze as she recognized the mew. Her breath stopped in her throat as she smelled a familiar scent. “Micah?”

Fur brushed hers and she snapped her head around, meeting his gaze a muzzle-length from hers.

Micah blinked slowly at her, his pelt sparkling with starlight.

His warmth seemed to melt into her and she realized suddenly how cold and wet she was. She softened against him, letting herself lean into the familiar curve of his flank. He pressed his cheek against hers. “You’ve done so well.” His mew was thick with love.

Joy flared in her chest. “Will Wind Runner be okay?”

“You’ve done all that you can,” he breathed. “Now she belongs to StarClan.”

She stiffened. Belongs to StarClan? Was she dead?

Micah’s breath stirred her ear fur. “One day you will gather the scattered petals of the Blazing Star, but not yet.”

She drew away from him and stared into his green gaze.

“What do you mean?”

He blinked at her. “Just watch,” he whispered. He turned his head toward the Moonstone.

Moth Flight followed his gaze. Around the shimmering rock, pelts were appearing, sparkling as though stars were woven into the fur.

StarClan had come.

Gray Wing stepped from among the ranks of starry cats and stopped beside Wind Runner. He turned to Moth Flight. “You are more like your mother than you imagine,” he told her gently.

“It took courage to bring her here. And strength. More than you knew you had.” He dipped his head. “But it also took something even your mother does not share. You are special, Moth Flight.

You can see what is hidden from ordinary cats. You can read signs and understand their meaning.”

Moth Flight glanced at her mother, slumped against the rock. Wasn’t Gray Wing going to heal Wind Runner? “Don’t waste time!”

Gray Wing’s gaze didn’t waver. “You must understand the importance of this skill.”

“Any cat can follow a moth.” Impatience prickled through Moth Flight’s fur.

“Few cats would understand which moth will lead their Clan to safety,” Gray Wing told her.

“I haven’t led my Clan anywhere.” Moth Flight’s heart began to quicken. She looked for Micah. He wasn’t behind her anymore. She glimpsed his pelt among the other spirit-cats. “I only brought you Wind Runner. You’re going to save her, right?”

“We can’t save this life.” His words echoed from the walls, ringing in Moth Flight’s ears.

She stared at him, feeling sick. “But you have to!”

Gray Wing stepped back while StarClan moved at the edges of the cave, forming a glittering ring around the blazing Moonstone.

Moth Flight’s heart seemed to stop. “Don’t let her die!”

“We can only give her our gift.” Gray Wing leaned down and touched his nose to Wind Runner’s head as she lay against the rock. “Wind Runner, with this life I give you the determination to bring unity to all the Clans.”

Wind Runner suddenly jerked, as though sharp teeth had seized her body. She shuddered, her fur bushing.

As Gray Wing stepped away, the WindClan leader lifted her head and blinked. She staggered to her paws and stood unsteadily, staring at the circle of star-flecked cats.

Moth Flight wanted to race forward and press her muzzle to her mother’s cheek, but her paws felt frozen, her body too stiff to move. She watched helplessly as another cat stepped forward.

Moth Flight recognized Petal from her first meeting with StarClan. The she-cat leaned toward Wind Runner, who blinked at her, confused.

“With this life,” Petal told her, “may you learn to love friendship and loyalty above all things.” She touched her nose to Wind Runner’s and Wind Runner trembled, her ears flattening.

“Please don’t hurt her,” Moth Flight called. “She’s suffered so much already.”

Micah’s gaze flashed toward her, soft with sympathy. Moth

Flight stared at him pleadingly. He blinked slowly, as though reassuring her again that everything would be fine.

Wind Runner swayed on her paws as Petal drew away. Her eyes sparked with fear as Turtle Tail took Petal’s place. She recoiled, tucking her broken leg tighter beneath her.

“Don’t be afraid, Wind Runner,” Turtle Tail soothed. “We are giving you a gift. A gift for all the Clans.”

Wind Runner straightened, pushing her injured leg to the ground. Moth Flight’s paws turned cold as she saw her mother grimace, as though gritting her teeth against pain.

Turtle Tail reached her head forward. “With this life, I give you stubbornness to keep going in the face of future troubles.”

Wind Runner moaned softly as Turtle Tail touched her, the fur lifting along her spine. Moth Flight felt sick. She knew her mother was suffering. She tensed as Wind Runner tensed and, as Turtle Tail stepped away, she felt limp with relief.

Wind Runner turned her head to stare at the star-pelted cats crowding the cave. She blinked as though noticing them for the first time. Then her eyes widened as a gray tom padded toward her. Her ears twitched. “What are you doing here?” There was a snarl in her mew.