She could see stepping-stones ahead and remembered, with a jab of grief, Micah waiting for her there only a few moons ago.
This time, she would cross them alone.
Micah? She lifted her face to the sky, hoping StarClan could hear her. How can I make Wind Runner well again?
The sun glared down at her, stinging her eyes, and she hurried along the bank. If StarClan couldn’t help her, maybe
Dappled Pelt could.
She reached the stepping-stones and bounded across. The sun-drenched rocks burned her pads and she paused on a low stone to let the river lap over her paws, relishing the water’s chill. She scanned the reeds ahead, searching for the opening where a trail would lead her to the RiverClan camp.
Fox scent touched her nose. She stiffened, unnerved by its freshness, and gazed along the river to where the water split the reed beds from the forest. Among the trees, birds chattered in the cool shadows. Wings flitted among the branches. But there was no sign of a red pelt between the trunks. She leaped the last few stones and landed on the marshy bank, pelt pricking as the fox stench grew stronger. She paused, stretching onto her hind legs to peer over the reeds. Was a fox skulking there? She couldn’t turn back. She needed to reach Dappled Pelt. Padding along the shore, she pricked her ears. A gap showed in the reed wall beside her. Her heart lifted. It was the trail she and Micah had followed on their first visit. She opened her mouth, letting scents wash her tongue. The fox stench was still strong.
She paused. River Ripple would have smelled it surely?
He’d have sent patrols to drive the fox away from his camp. It must be gone by now. She ignored the foreboding in her belly.
She’d have to risk it. Wind Runner’s life depended on her.
As she ducked into the reeds, squeals sounded behind her.
Her heart lurched as she recognized the desperate mewls.
“Spider Paw!”
“Help him!”
“He’ll drown!”
She turned and saw Honey Pelt, Bubbling Stream, and Blue
Whisker clustered on a stepping-stone in the middle of the river.
They huddled, fur bushed, and stared at the water flowing away from them.
Moth Flight followed their gaze, horror sparking through her fur. Her heart lurched as a paw jutted from the water, disappearing again as the current swept it onward.
Lightning seemed to jolt through her. She pelted toward the stepping stones, ignoring the surprised squeals of Honey Pelt and Bubbling Stream.
“Moth Flight!”
“Spider Paw fell in!”
She had already plunged into the water. The chill of it took her breath. Gulping, she struggled for the surface and flailed desperately toward the tiny whirlpool, which was all she could see of Spider Paw. The current grabbed her and spun her, dragging at her fur. Fighting to keep her muzzle above water, she kicked fiercely with her legs, trying to steer herself toward Spider Paw. The river dragged her down, sucking at her pelt. As water closed over her head, she blinked open her eyes, panic sending her thoughts spiraling into terror. Spider Paw.
Moth Flight forced herself to focus, straining to see through the stinging water. It clouded around her and dragged her downstream. She kicked out determinedly, pushing herself upward until her head broke the surface long enough to take a desperate gulp. The squeals of Bubbling Stream, Honey Pelt, and Blue Whisker seemed far away. She could hardly hear them as water gurgled in her ears. Reeds blurred at the edge of her vision as the river swept her under again.
Prepared this time, she struck out with her hind legs and scanned the murky water. A pale shape showed ahead, white fur in the spinning current. Spider Paw! Blood roared in her ears and she flailed, trying to swim. She shot forward, closing the gap between her and Spider Paw. Reaching out with a forepaw, she felt fur snag between her claws. She grabbed it and fought once more for the surface.
She broke into fresh air, a bundle flailing against her chest.
Its scent filled her nose. It was definitely Spider Paw.
Churning her hind paws, she managed to keep her head above water. Dizzy with fear and disorientated by the swirling river, she looked for the bank, her heart sinking as she saw it across a vast stretch of water.
I can make it! Gritting her teeth, she steered herself toward it, fear sparking through every hair as the struggling bundle in her claws grew limp. Grunting with effort, she tried to heave Spider Paw above the surface. “Lift your head!” she ordered sharply. “Breathe!” She shook her paw, desperately trying to rouse him as she struggled closer to the bank.
His muzzle dragged through the water.
Is he dead?
Her hind paws hit stones and she scrabbled to find her footing as the riverbed rose to meet them. Limping, she dragged Spider Paw from the water and laid him on the pebbly shore.
Panic scorched beneath her pelt as she stared at his bedraggled body. His muzzle lolled to one side. His paws flopped onto the stones. “Spider Paw!” Her mind clouded with dread. Her paws froze beneath her.
Moth Flight. A distant voice sounded in her ears. Remember what Dappled Pelt did.
“Micah?” Moth Flight gazed numbly around as she recognized his calm mew.
Remember Drizzle.
Of course! Pushing fear away, Moth Flight lifted her forepaws and rested them on Spider Paw’s white chest. She began pumping, her thoughts clearing. Juniper Branch’s kit!
She’d done this before! Spider Paw was much stronger.
“Breathe!” she growled, pumping harder.
Spider Paw jerked suddenly beneath her paws and coughed up water.
She rolled him quickly onto his side and massaged his flank.
Then she glanced upstream. The river had carried her far from the stepping-stones. She’d climbed out beside the reed beds, on RiverClan’s side. She narrowed her eyes, searching for Honey Pelt, Bubbling Stream, and Blue Whisker.
The stepping-stones were empty.
Her pelt spiked with fear as fox scent touched her nose.
“Hurry!” She nosed Spider Paw up. “We have to find your littermates and get out of here.” Hardly daring to look around, she grabbed Spider Paw’s scruff and picked him up. He churned his paws indignantly as she carried him along the bank toward the stepping-stones. Where are they? She scanned the far shore, her gaze flitting over the water and toward the reed beds. Her heart lifted. Three shapes crouched at the water’s edge, shadowed by the reeds. They’d crossed the stepping-stones and were waiting for her on this side of the river. She raced toward them, scrambling to a halt and dropping Spider Paw beside
Honey Pelt.
Fox stench still soured the air.
“Come on!” She began to herd them toward the stepping-stones. “We have to get out of here.” Alone, she had been willing to risk meeting the fox, but her kits would be easy prey for it. She had to get them out of danger.
As they reached the crossing, she darted in front. “Wait on the shore,” she told them. “I’ll carry you across one at a time.”
She wasn’t going to let another kit fall in. Snatching Blue
Whisker by the scruff, she bounded across the stones and dropped her on the far shore. Racing back, she scanned the reed beds, her heart pounding as she looked for flashes of red fur among the stems.
There was no sign of fox, only its stench heavy in the air.