The tang of blood touched Moth Flight’s nose. Her heart seemed to burst in her chest. “Wind Runner! Stop! Clear Sky only wanted to talk!”
Wind Runner held Nettle down, raking his belly with her hind claws. She didn’t even look up. Moth Flight felt as though she were in a dream, unable to make herself heard.
Thorn slid from the ferns crowding the other side of the hollow. His blue gaze narrowed on Fern Leaf. The WindClan she-cat was pinned to the ground by Birch. Her hind legs churned desperately as she fought to loosen Birch’s grip. Thorn dropped into an attack crouch and showed his teeth.
That’s not fair! Moth Flight leaped from the top of the slope, landing heavily on the soft earth of the hollow. She had to help
Fern Leaf! She dodged out of the way as Swift Minnow and Sparrow Fur rolled toward her. “Fern Leaf!” Rearing, she strained to see over the jumble of pelts.
She was too late. Thorn was on Fern Leaf’s back, his hindlegs scraping lumps from the young she-cat’s pelt while
Birch aimed vicious blows at her muzzle.
She froze. What do I do? A medicine cat was meant to heal, not harm, but she couldn’t watch while her Clanmate was attacked.
Suddenly, gray fur flashed beside Thorn. Dust Muzzle! Moth
Flight watched her brother plunge toward Thorn and rip him away from Fern Leaf. Fern Leaf’s eyes flashed with triumph as, freed, she reared and slashed Birch’s nose.
Blood sprayed the ground. The tang grew stronger, bathing Moth Flight’s tongue.
I’m going to need supplies! She stared around the camp.
Where’s Acorn Fur’s den? Why had she sent the SkyClan medicine cat away? She’d never manage all these injuries alone.
Cobwebs. The thought flashed in her mind. If she could gather enough to staunch any bleeding, it would do until she had time to tend to the wounds properly. She slid between Blossom and Red Claw and scrambled out of the hollow. Hurrying among the trees, she scanned their trunks for cobwebs. Her heart leaped as she saw the roots of an elm swathed in a gray mist of web. She scraped it away, wrapping as much around her paws as she could and turned back toward the hollow.
“What are you doing?” Blossom faced her, eyes glittering with rage.
Moth Flight bristled. “I’m trying to help!”
“Help who?” Blossom padded closer.
“Any cat who’s injured.” Moth Flight lifted her paw to show the cobweb. “This will stop bleeding.”
“You’re wasting your time,” Blossom snarled. “We’re going to make WindClan bleed so badly, all the cobwebs in the forest won’t save you.”
Moth Flight blinked at her. “Can’t you just stop fighting and talk?”
“You invaded our camp!” Blossom padded closer, a menacing gleam in her eyes.
“I’m not fighting you.” Moth Flight lifted her chin. “I’m a medicine cat. It’s my duty to heal. Get out of my way so I can get on with it.”
Blossom showed her teeth. “You have to fight.”
Moth Flight held her ground. “No, I don’t.”
Blossom reared and slashed a paw across Moth Flight’s muzzle.
Pain sliced through her. StarClan! What do I do? Rage pulsed beneath her pelt. Her claws itched to rip the fur from Blossom’s spine. She narrowed her eyes as Blossom lifted her paw again.
Gray fur flashed behind the SkyClan she-cat. Jagged Peak!
The lame tom flung himself at Blossom, snarling viciously.
Blossom gasped as he sunk claws into her shoulders and hooked her hind paws from under her with a sharp kick.
Moth Flight blinked gratefully at her Clanmate as he pinned Blossom to the earth. She started for the hollow. “Don’t hurt her,” she hissed as she passed him.
Surprise flashed in his eyes. “This is a battle, not a
Gathering!” he called after her as she leaped into the clearing.
Fern Leaf was staggering at the far edge, blood welling from a gash on her flank. Birch was backed against the ferns, flailing at Dust Muzzle as the WindClan tom swiped at him with vicious blows. Moth Flight skirted the battle and skidded to a halt beside Fern Leaf.
The black she-cat was panting, her eyes cloudy with pain.
Moth Flight unwrapped a swath of cobweb from her paw and padded the open wound. Fern Leaf winced, but didn’t flinch.
“This will stop the bleeding,” she told her.
“Good.” Fern Leaf leaped to her paws.
“You can’t fight again!” Moth Flight blocked her way. “You must rest or it’ll start bleeding again.”
Fern Leaf met her gaze. “If one of my Clanmates dies while
I’m resting, I will never forgive myself.”
Moth Flight stared at her wordlessly.
Fern Leaf snatched her gaze away and fell in beside Dust
Muzzle. The two cats reared together, sending well-aimed blows at Birch’s nose until the SkyClan tom backed deep into the ferns.
Moth Flight scanned the battle for more injuries. Nettle staggered beside Red Claw, who was wrestling with Gorse Fur.
Swift Minnow struggled beneath Sparrow Fur, her whiskers dripping with blood.
“Let her go!” Moth Flight shrieked at Sparrow Fur as the tortoiseshell pressed Swift Minnow’s muzzle into the earth.
“She’s hurt!”
Claws hooked Moth Flight’s scruff and jerked her backward.
Gasping, she struggled. A deep-throated snarl sounded in her ear. Red Claw. “If you don’t want to fight, get out of the battle.”
“Get off!” She thrashed helplessly. “I need to help!”
Red Claw let go and she turned on him.
“You have to stop them from fighting!” she wailed. “This won’t solve anything!”
“Really?” Sneering, Red Claw pushed past her and grabbed Holly. Dragging her from Quick Water’s back he hurled the black she-cat to the ground. Then he reared and slammed his paws into her chest.
Rage surged through Moth Flight. This is rabbit-brained!
Suddenly Wind Runner’s tabby pelt flashed at the edge of her vision. The WindClan leader was racing toward Clear Sky.
“Stop!” Moth Flight chased after her, skidding to a halt as Wind Runner leaped at the SkyClan leader. Clear Sky turned as quick as a fox. Lashing out with a forepaw, he slashed Wind Runner’s neck. Blood sprayed the clearing. Wind Runner staggered, her eyes rounding with shock.
Moth Flight raced toward her, her heart in her throat.
Wind Runner batted her away, her gaze fixed on Clear Sky.
Blood welled at her throat and dripped from her fur. “You went too far this time.” Her mew was husky with pain. “You took my kit hostage.”
“And you let my kit die.” Clear Sky glared back at her.
“Moth Flight came, didn’t she?” she snarled at the SkyClan leader.
“Not soon enough!” Clear Sky flew at her, his blue eyes cold with fury. He threw another blow at her, cracking her cheek with such force that she staggered and fell. Leaping on top of her, he pinned her to the ground and raked her belly with powerful hind claws.
Horror surged beneath Moth Flight’s pelt. She unsheathed her claws, rage burning in them. Her thoughts whirled. She was meant to heal—but she couldn’t watch Clear Sky hurt her mother.
Wind Runner twisted, knocking Clear Sky’s hind paws clear.
She leaped up and raked his muzzle with a powerful blow.
Blood glistened on his nose as he raised his gaze to meet hers. “How dare you attack my camp? My kits are here!” He glanced toward the yew where frightened eyes peered out behind Star Flower. “Are you determined to kill them all?”
Rage lit up Wind Runner’s eyes. “You started this!” Snaking beneath his belly, she pushed hard against his chest and heaved him onto his side. He hit the ground with a thump and she lunged for his throat.