But what? She paused as she reached the high moor, the ground sloping away ahead of her, rolling down into the valley toward Highstones.
The moth flitted on and Moth Flight followed it over the crest of the slope and raced downhill. It wants me to go to Highstones again! Her heart lifted. Perhaps StarClan was waiting there with advice. Were they going to tell her how to cure Wind Runner?
The moth stopped, hovering on the breeze. Then it ducked past Moth Flight, heading back toward the moor.
Moth Flight turned in surprise, skidding on the grass.
“Where are you going?” She raced after it and watched it bob downslope toward the camp. It halted again and shivered in midair while she caught up.
Frustration surged beneath Moth Flight’s pelt. “Where do you want me to go?” she demanded.
The moth bobbed once more toward Highstones. Moth
Flight turned to follow but, the moment she did, the moth headed back toward camp. There, it hung in the air, letting the wind toss it one way, then the other.
“Make up your mind!” Moth Flight froze, her anger melting.
Around her the wind grew stronger, sharp with the scent of rain.
Her dreams of the Moonstone flashed in her mind. The cats she’d seen there had all been accompanied by a Clanmate. And when they arrived, StarClan had given them something. Moth
Flight plucked impatiently at the grass, thinking hard. She knew it must mean something. Something that mattered now! That’s why StarClan had sent the moth to fetch her.
Not just me! Moth Flight understood. As the first drops fell from the darkening clouds, she blinked at the moth. “You want me to bring Wind Runner!” The moth fluttered closer to the camp, as though agreeing. Moth Flight hurried after it. “You want me to lead her to the Moonstone!”
As she yowled into the wind, the moth fluttered higher, its green wings bright against the gray sky. Deep in her belly, Moth
Flight knew she was right. StarClan was waiting to give Wind Runner the same gift they’d given the other cats in her dreams.
Would it save her life?
She had to try. Narrowing her eyes against the thickening rain, Moth Flight raced for camp.
Spotted Fur, Fern Leaf, and Dust Muzzle were carrying fresh prey toward the prey pile. They stared in surprise as she passed them. Swift Minnow was nosing Slate toward the shelter of the camp wall, while Reed Tail slid into Rocky’s den, a wad of comfrey in his jaws.
Black Ear sat proudly beneath the tall rock, ignoring the rain battering his muzzle. A freshly killed rabbit lay beside him.
Honey Pelt, Bubbling Stream, and Spider Paw crowded around him, their pelts soaked. “Look what I caught!” he called to Moth
Flight as she bounded past.
She slowed, glancing at the rabbit.
Bubbling Stream was sniffing it, her ears twitching with excitement. “I’m going to catch a rabbit soon,” she mewed.
Moth Flight paused. “Go and shelter with Slate and Swift Minnow,” she told them distractedly. Her attention was fixed on her den. How was she going to explain her plan to Gorse Fur?
Could Wind Runner even make it to Highstones? She has to!
Bubbling Stream scrambled out of the hollow. “Moth
Flight!” Hurt edged her mew as her mother headed away.
“Not now!” Moth Flight called. “I’m busy!”
Spider Paw jumped out of the hollow and blinked at her.
“You promised you’d play with us!”
“Shouldn’t you be taking care of your kits?” Jagged Peak padded from the shelter of the gorse, his eyes narrow with interest, while Holly watched from the shadows behind.
Moth Flight ignored him. She slid into her den. “I’ve had a sign from StarClan,” she told Gorse Fur.
Her father was crouched beside Wind Runner. He jerked around, his pelt pricking nervously. “Is she going to be okay?”
“I have to take her to the Moonstone.” Moth Flight tried to catch her breath.
“Highstones!” Gorse Fur leaped up, eyes blazing. “She can’t travel!” He swung his nose toward Wind Runner. She lay sprawled on the bed of heather, her comfrey-wrapped leg jutting awkwardly. Her eyes were half closed, whites showing through the slits.
Moth Flight stiffened, fear stabbing her heart. Was Wind Runner dead? She ducked down beside the WindClan leader, relieved to feel her mother’s flanks tremble. Her breath was fast.
Heat pulsed from her pelt.
“I’ll mix her some herbs to give her strength for the journey.” Moth Flight hurried to her store, plucking leaves from between the gorse stems.
“No!” Gorse Fur growled. “You’re not taking her anywhere.”
Moth Flight shredded a pawful of feverfew and ripped nettle, catmint, and coltsfoot onto the pile. She sprinkled poppy seeds over it, hoping they’d ease her mother’s pain without making her sleepy. She had to do everything she could to get Wind Runner to the Moonstone.
Gorse Fur’s breath billowed over her ears. “Did you hear me?”
Moth Flight looked at him. “I can’t sit and watch her die.”
“You can’t take her out there to die!” Gorse Fur’s pelt spiked with fury. “If she’s going to die, she should be with her Clan.”
“If I can get her to the Moonstone, she won’t die!” Moth Flight glared at her father. “StarClan is guiding me. I know it!”
A shadow moved at the den entrance. Jagged Peak slid in, his pelt wet with rain. “Have you spoken with StarClan?”
Moth Flight met his gaze. “In my dreams, yes!”
“And they told you to take Wind Runner to the Moonstone?”
Jagged Peak tipped his head.
“Not exactly,” Moth Flight snapped. “But I know that’s what they meant.”
Jagged Peak narrowed his eyes. “You think that’s what they meant.”
Moth Flight growled. “I know it.”
Gorse Fur padded to Wind Runner’s side and gazed down at her. “She’s in no state to travel.”
“She will be.” Moth Flight grabbed a mouthful of shredded leaves and pushed past him. She spat the scraps onto the heather beside Wind Runner’s muzzle. “Wind Runner, can you swallow these?”
Wind Runner moaned softly, but didn’t open her eyes.
Panic flashed in Moth Flight’s belly.
“Leave her in peace!”
Moth Flight felt her father’s claws drag her backward. She turned on him, hissing. “You have to trust me! You have to trust
StarClan! When Half Moon made me a medicine cat, she told me that the Clans’ destiny would one day depend on me.”
Jagged Peak leaned forward, ears flat. “What has this got to do with the Clans’ destiny?”
“I don’t know!” Moth Flight trembled with rage. “But you have to let me find out.”
Fur brushed the heather at the den entrance. A gentle mew sounded behind Jagged Peak. “Trust her, Gorse Fur.”
Dust Muzzle! Gratitude swept Moth Flight as she saw her brother’s solemn gaze. He padded past Jagged Peak and stopped in front of his father. “Has she ever been wrong?”
Gorse Fur hesitated, his eyes glittering with fear. He glanced at Wind Runner, then at Moth Flight. Finally, he dropped his gaze. “No.”
“Then let her take Wind Runner,” Dust Muzzle murmured.
Gorse Fur began to tremble. “But she’ll die.”
“Don’t be frightened, Gorse Fur.” Wind Runner’s parched mew sounded from the heather.
Moth Flight jerked around to see her mother blinking up at them.
Gorse Fur turned beside her.
Wind Runner went on. “Every cat must die. But I won’t go without a fight. I am WindClan’s leader and I must show I have courage. It will give my Clan courage. I will go to the Moonstone with Moth Flight.”