Moth Flight’s Vision

Chapter 34

“You have to wait here.” Moth Flight gazed solemnly at Spotted Fur. She nodded to Dust Muzzle. “You too.”

They had managed to haul Wind Runner over the stone lip of the cave. Wind Runner leaned against Dust Muzzle, her eyes clouded. She murmured under her breath. “Where’s Gorse Fur?

Tell him I’m coming.”

Moth Flight glanced at her mother anxiously. Wind Runner was clearly lost in a feverish world of pain.

Dust Muzzle peered into the darkness at the back of the cave. “Where’s the Moonstone?”

“It’s down a tunnel,” Moth Flight told him.

“Can you get her there alone?”

“I must.” She was their medicine cat. She alone must guide her mother to StarClan.

Spotted Fur shifted his paws uneasily. “We could help her there and then leave.”

Moth Flight hesitated. Wind Runner was exhausted. Do I really have the strength to help her though the tunnel? Outside, the clouds were clearing, revealing the night sky. Stars stretched to the distant moor. So much depends on me. Spotted Fur and Dust Muzzle were hunters—moor runners who fed the Clan. My bond with StarClan is special. Her belly hardened. She met Spotted Fur’s gaze. “I must do this alone.”

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.

Moth Flight tipped her head, curious. Who was this strange cat? She hadn’t seen him before.

The tom dipped his head as he stopped in front of Wind Runner. “I know you hate me for leaving you.”

Wind Runner hissed. “You’re a coward, Branch! You abandoned me before I could even hunt properly! There’s nothing I want from you!”

“I didn’t mean to leave you.”

“Yet you left me all the same!” Wind Runner narrowed her eyes. “It was the kindest thing you ever did for me. If you hadn’t disappeared, I’d never have met Gorse Fur. He’s a better cat than you could ever be! He has given me love and loyalty, and kits that I’m proud of.”

Moth Flight frowned. Who was this? Clearly a cat her mother had known when she was young. As she strained to recall her mother’s stories, Branch spoke.

“You deserve a cat like Gorse Fur far more than you deserved me.” He leaned forward and touched his nose to her head. “With this life, I give you the confidence to open your heart to other cats. I give you trust.”

Wind Runner jerked again, trembling as his touch sent pain searing through her. But Moth Flight didn’t flinch. This was like it had been in her dreams. Wind Runner must endure it, just as the other cats had and, when it was over… Moth Flight narrowed her eyes. When it was over, then what?

A familiar pelt moved toward Wind Runner. Willow Tail!

Clear-eyed and strong, Willow Tail stepped forward. She carried no signs of her injuries from the battle. Chin high, she took Branch’s place.

Wind Runner met her gaze, her eyes flashing with anger.

“You lied to me.”

Willow Tail nodded. “I know. I led my Clanmates into battle for no good reason.” As she leaned forward, Wind Runner began to duck away. “I’m sorry.”

Wind Runner paused and met Willow Tail’s touch with her nose.

“With this life,” said Willow Tail, “I give your heart the grace to forgive all cats, however weak or wrong they may be.”

Wind Runner hardly flinched. Only her tail-tip shivered.

As Willow Tail stepped away, a kit took her place.

Moth Flight’s heart swelled with joy as she recognized Morning Whisker.

As the she-kit padded forward, Wind Runner blinked. Her eyes clouded. “Morning Whisker?” Disbelief edged her mew.

Morning Whisker purred loudly. “Hi, Wind Runner.”

Wind Runner thrust her muzzle forward to greet her, but Morning Whisker backed away.

“Not yet.” The she-kit gazed at Wind Runner, joy shining in her eyes.

Wind Runner’s tail trembled. “Are you happy? Are you well?”

Morning Whisker glanced fondly toward her starry

Clanmates. “Yes. Half Moon and Gray Wing have taught me how to hunt.”

“You hunt?” Wind Runner sounded surprised.

“We hunt, and warm our pelts in sunshine and share tongues, just like you.”

A delighted purr throbbed in Wind Runner’s throat. Then she paused. “Is Emberkit with you?”

Morning Whisker blinked slowly at her mother and then, without answering, reached up and touched her nose. “With this life, I give you resilience, to keep going, whatever troubles life brings.” As she finished, Wind Runner’s pelt bushed. She stiffened, her claws scraping stone as she braced herself against the pain of her kit’s gift. Then her shoulders loosened and Morning Whisker backed away into the shadows.

Emberkit took her place.

Moth Flight leaned forward, her heart pounding. What must it be like to meet a kit you’d never had chance to know in life?

“Emberkit?” Wind Runner’s mew was thick with emotion.

“Hello, Wind Runner.” Emberkit stared at his mother with round, star-specked eyes.

“It is so good to see you.” As Wind Runner’s gaze flicked over the young tom-kit’s fluffy pelt, Moth Flight swallowed back a purr of pleasure.

“I wish I could have stayed with you longer,” Emberkit told his mother softly. “But I’m happy to be with StarClan. There are moors for me to play on. One day I’ll show them to you.”

Before Wind Runner could answer, Emberkit reached up and touched his nose to her muzzle. “With this life I give you love.”

This time, Wind Runner did not flinch with pain. Her pelt smoothed. Closing her eyes, she swayed softly. She grew still as Emberkit drew away, her eyes closed as though lost in a dream.

Half Moon took the tom-kit’s place, waiting patiently for Wind Runner to drift back into the moment.

When, at last, Wind Runner opened her eyes, she tipped her head as though confused. “Who are you?”

“Half Moon.” The slender white she-cat’s dark green gaze reflected the shimmering Moonstone.

“Are you Stoneteller?” Wind Runner dipped her head. “Gray Wing and Jagged Peak have spoken of you often. Moth Flight too. I am honored to meet you.”

“You are the first,” Half Moon told her solemnly. “May you carry StarClan in your heart always.”

“The first?” Wind Runner narrowed her eyes.

Half Moon stretched her muzzle forward and touched noses with the WindClan leader. As she did, a jolt seemed to race through Wind Runner.

Moth Flight stiffened as her mother jerked wildly. Her paws buckled beneath her and she collapsed to the floor.

“No!” Heart bursting, Moth Flight darted to her mother’s side. Wind Runner lay like dead prey on the stone, her flanks still. No breath stirred the cold air. “You killed her!” She glared accusingly at Half Moon. “I brought her here to be saved!”

Half Moon blinked calmly and stepped away. “Have faith, Moth Flight.”

Moth Flight’s mind whirled. Have faith? In what? They were meant to stop Wind Runner from dying! She stared around the starry cats, appalled at the joy lighting their eyes. Didn’t they realize what they’d done?

Why had they brought her here? Had they wanted Wind Runner to die?

Desperate with grief and rage, Moth Flight buried her nose in Wind Runner’s pelt. How was she going to tell Gorse Fur that his mate had died, far from her Clan and the moor?

Suddenly Wind Runner moved. Moth Flight jerked her nose up, shock sparking through every hair. She stared as her mother pushed herself lightly to her paws.

Wind Runner lifted her chin and shook the comfrey from her hind leg. The once-bloody fur around her throat was clean and soft. Her injured paw pressed against the stone, as strong as the others.

Moth Flight shivered, her thoughts spinning. Had her mother joined StarClan? She scanned her pelt for sparks of starlight, but saw only plain brown fur. “I don’t understand.” She stared at Half Moon.

“Remember your dreams,” the white she-cat told her.

Those cats didn’t die! Moth Flight’s fur prickled with hope.

Half Moon dipped her head to Wind Runner. “You are the first of the stars that will rise.”

The prophecy! We will split the sky. And later, stars will rise.

Half Moon went on. “We have given you the gift we will give all leaders: the gift of nine lives. From now on, you shall be known as Windstar.”

Joy flooded like starlight beneath Moth Flight’s pelt. She remembered her vision of the gray she-cat in the ditch.

Suddenly it made sense. Wind Runner could die eight times and still come back to life.

Around her, StarClan began to chant, their voices echoing around the shimmering walls of the cave. “Windstar! Windstar!

Windstar!”