Moth Flight’s heart leaped. She trusts me!
Jagged Peak stared at the WindClan leader, his eyes round with surprise. “But you’re too weak!”
“I’ll find the strength.” Wind Runner’s eyes were clouded with pain.
“Eat these.” Moth Flight nosed the shredded leaves closer and Wind Runner turned her head to lap them from the heather.
She swallowed and gazed into Moth Flight’s eyes. “I am proud of you, Moth Flight. You are ready to fight for what you believe in.”
Joy washed through Moth Flight’s pelt. Wind Runner struggled onto her three good paws, grunting with pain as her broken leg trailed on the ground, held stiff by the swaths of comfrey. At once, Moth Flight ducked down beside her and eased the wrappings enough for her to tuck her hind paw beneath her.
Limping on three legs, Wind Runner headed past Jagged Peak.
Gorse Fur hurried after her. “I’m coming with you!”
Wind Runner swung her head around. “No.”
Gorse Fur blinked at her, clearly shocked. “But—”
She cut him off. “If I don’t make it back, WindClan will need you.” She glanced at Jagged Peak. “Gorse Fur will be the next leader.” Limping out of the den, she left Gorse Fur gazing after her.
Moth Flight’s paws trembled as she saw the helpless grief on her father’s face.
“I’ll make sure she comes home,” she promised desperately.
Please, StarClan. Save her!
She followed her mother into the clearing. Rain battered her face. It pounded the clearing and pooled among the tussocks.
The wide, dark sky glowered over the camp. She felt fur brush her flank as Dust Muzzle stopped beside her.
“We’re coming with you.” He beckoned Spotted Fur with a flick of his tail.
Spotted Fur looked up from the mouse he was eating beside the drenched prey pile. His eyes rounded, questioningly.
“We’re taking Wind Runner to the Moonstone,” Dust
Muzzle called.
Spotted Fur leaped to his paws and hurried to join them.
“Can she walk that far?” His gaze followed Wind Runner. She was padding clumsily through the tussocks.
Holly darted out from the shelter of the gorse. “She’s too ill to leave camp!”
Swift Minnow stared after her leader. “Wind Runner! Come back!”
“Where’s she going?” Storm Pelt stopped, Spider Paw clinging to his broad shoulders. Honey Pelt and Bubbling Stream stood beside him, their ears pricked.
Moth Flight blinked at Storm Pelt. “I’m taking her to the Moonstone.”
“You’ve only just got back!” Honey Pelt mewed.
Spider Paw shook the rain from his pelt. “Stay with us!”
Moth Flight avoided their gaze. I can’t, my loves. I have to save Wind Runner. Her heart seemed to crack inside her chest.
Gorse Fur padded from the medicine den. His gaze swept the watching cats. “This is something Wind Runner must do.”
He nodded to Moth Flight. “StarClan has called her and she must go.”
Moth Flight raced back to her father and pressed her cheek against his. “I’ll take care of her,” she whispered before pulling away and heading after Wind Runner.
“Moth Flight!” Blue Whisker’s mew sounded beside the heather wall. Moth Flight turned to see her kit, cowering from the rain. Her wet pelt clung to her tiny frame. She stared at her mother anxiously. “Are you leaving again?”
Moth Flight hurried to her kit and snatched her up by her scruff. Bounding across the tussocks, she dropped her at the entrance to Rocky’s den and nosed her inside. “Keep her warm and dry while I’m gone!” Her mew echoed into the heather cave.
Reed Tail stuck his head out.
“I’m taking Wind Runner to the Moonstone,” Moth Flight told him. “Take care of the Clan. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Moth Flight!” Blue Whisker’s plaintive mew sounded from the shadows.
Rocky’s rumbling purr answered her. “She’ll be back soon.”
Moth Flight turned away, sorrow weighing like a stone in her belly. Raindrops streamed from her whiskers. I’m sorry, kits.
I have to do this.
Spotted Fur and Dust Muzzle had already reached Wind Runner. They walked on either side, pressing their shoulders against hers to support her. Moth Flight hurried after them, catching up as they reached the camp entrance.
Outside, the rain streaked the moorside, whipped by the wind. Wind Runner’s face was stiff with pain, her eyes firmly fixed ahead. Moth Flight slid into the lead, choosing the easiest path to the moortop.
She reached the crest first and looked back, stiffening as she realized how far behind Wind Runner had fallen, even with Spotted Fur and Dust Muzzle supporting her. She glanced at the sky, wishing the clouds would clear. She’d been rabbit-brained to hope for rain! Where’s the sun? Was it slipping toward Highstones yet? They must get there before the moon rose. In her dreams, the Moonstone had blazed with moonlight when the other cats had met StarClan. Wind Runner must be there when it did.
What if the clouds didn’t clear? What if moonlight couldn’t touch the stone? Her pelt spiked. She pushed away the thought.
Just get her there! She beckoned Dust Muzzle to hurry, flicking her tail urgently. He gazed at her pleadingly. She knew he was doing his best. They couldn’t risk pushing Wind Runner too hard. But they had to get there tonight. Moth Flight guessed that her mother couldn’t survive another day’s raging fever.
She gazed through the rain to the Thunderpath below.
Monsters roared, thundering in both directions, their eyes lit up, spraying walls of water in their wake.
How would they get Wind Runner across?
She hurried down the slope, leaving Dust Muzzle and Spotted Fur to follow with Wind Runner. As she neared the bottom, where the Thunderpath cut through the grass, she slowed. Monster stench stung her eyes and burned her throat.
The ground trembled beneath her paws. She watched the gaps between monsters, trying to judge whether there would be enough time to get Wind Runner between them.
When she glanced back, her heart sank. Spotted Fur and Dust Muzzle were still near the top of the slope. She’ll never be fast enough! Heart racing, she pelted toward them, circling as she reached them. Wind Runner hardly seemed to focus her gaze. Moth Flight thrust her muzzle close, smelling the rank stench of infection in her mother’s breath. Then she saw blood seeping from the wound in her neck. Rain dripped from her fur, reddened by her blood. I should have brought cobwebs! Moth Flight cursed herself for being so dumb.
“How’s she doing?” she asked Dust Muzzle.
Wind Runner paused and lifted her gaze hazily. “I’m doing okay,” she rasped.
It was strange for Moth Flight to see her mother so weak.
She’d always seemed stronger than any cat.
Dust Muzzle exchanged a look with Moth Flight. She saw fear flash in his eyes as he glimpsed the busy Thunderpath.
“We’ll never get her across there!”
“We have to,” Moth Flight told him.
Spotted Fur narrowed his eyes. “If we get the timing right, we could just do it.”
Moth Flight looked at him hopefully.
“We might have to stop in the middle,” he added.
“Stop in the middle?” Moth Flight could hardly believe her ears.
Dust Muzzle was following Spotted Fur’s gaze. “There’s a narrow channel where the monsters pass each other. If they don’t touch each other, they won’t touch us.”
Moth Flight’s belly twisted with fear as she realized they’d have to try. It was their only chance. “Okay.” She turned toward the Thunderpath and headed slowly toward it.