Moth Flight's Vision

by Erin Hunter

  When she looked back, Spider Paw was hurrying after Riverstar.

  Skystar padded forward. He dipped his head to Honey Pelt. “Are you ready to join SkyClan?”

  “Yes.” Honey Pelt lifted his chin.

  Skystar glanced at Moth Flight. “Are you ready?” Compassion filled his gaze.

  Moth Flight reached for words, but could only stare back, her heart breaking.

  Honey Pelt touched his nose to her cheek. “I know you have no choice,” he whispered. “If this is StarClan’s wish, then I’m happy to go.”

  “Your father will be as proud of you as I am,” Moth Flight croaked.

  “Don’t be sad.” Honey Pelt pressed his muzzle deeper. “We’ll be fine.”

  As he drew away, Moth Flight felt cold air touch the fur his breath had warmed.

  She watched numbly as Honey Pelt padded after Skystar. “Good-bye,” she murmured under her breath.

  You’ve done the right thing. Micah’s mew touched her ear fur, as light as the evening breeze.

  “Have I?” she whispered.

  “You have changed the destiny of the Clans.” Micah’s voice was clear now. She wondered if Skystar and Honey Pelt could hear it as they climbed the slope toward the forest. But neither cat looked back.

  Micah went on. “You were always braver and smarter than you thought. It’s one of the reasons I loved you, and why I still miss you. But you have so much left to do. Making decisions is easy; living with them is the true test of courage. Only by being true to yourself and becoming the medicine cat you dream of will you learn how truly special you are.”

  Moth Flight looked up, staring past the branches to the sky beyond. The stars flashed like flecks of sunlight on rippling water, brighter than she’d ever seen them and too many to count.

  “I will do my best,” she promised. “I will always do my best.”

  CHAPTER 37

  Moth Flight fluffed out her fur against the chilly air of the Moonstone cavern and looked up. Stars glittered beyond the hole in the roof. Moonlight spilled over the rim. As she waited for it to reach the Moonstone, she listened to the other medicine cats talk.

  “I’m glad the clouds cleared in time,” Pebble Heart mewed.

  “Clouds never last long when it’s this breezy,” Dappled Pelt answered. “The wind has been tugging at my whiskers all day.”

  “It brought down the first fall of leaves in the forest,” Cloud Spots told them.

  Acorn Fur shivered. “I’m not ready for leafbare.”

  “That’s a few moons away yet,” Pebble Heart reassured her.

  Moth Flight’s thoughts drifted from their idle chatter, her mind sifting through everything they’d told her on the journey here. In the moon since she’d given Honey Pelt, Bubbling Stream, Blue Whisker, and Spider Paw away, her heart had felt like a heavy, cracked stone in her chest. She’d curled into her empty nest each night, feeling their absence in the cold moss around her, and each morning she’d awoken expecting to feel their soft pelts nestling against her but feeling nothing but the twitching of her own paws.

  “How is Blue Whisker?” she’d asked Cloud Spots as she met him at the WindClan border.

  Cloud Spots had told her that Blue Whisker was eating well and had made friends already with Milkweed’s kits. “She and Shivering Rose are inseparable.”

  Acorn Fur had purred as she told Moth Flight that Honey Pelt was following Skystar around camp, asking endless questions. “Skystar enjoys it,” the chestnut she-cat had reassured her. “His eyes light up whenever Honey Pelt darts in front of him, begging to know something new. He seems impressed by Honey Pelt’s eagerness to learn.”

  “How’s Bubbling Stream?” Moth Flight had asked Pebble Heart as they’d crossed a dusky meadow.

  “She’s leading Dangling Leaf, Dusk Nose, and Shade Pelt on expeditions outside camp.”

  Moth Flight’s belly had tightened with worry. “Are they safe in the forest by themselves?”

  “Someone always tracks them,” Pebble Heart had promised her. “Mouse Ear followed them through a nettle patch yesterday. They all came home with stung noses and pads.”

  Moth Flight’s heart had quickened with alarm. “Is Bubbling Stream all right?”

  “I had plenty of fresh dock in my store,” Pebble Heart had told her gently. “Besides, every kit gets stung eventually. Mouse Ear should have known better than to walk through a nettle patch, but he said he didn’t want to let them out of his sight.”

  Moth Flight had felt reassured and hurried to catch up with Dappled Pelt. “Is Spider Paw settling into RiverClan?”

  “He can swim already.” There had been a hint of pride in Dappled Pelt’s mew.

  “Not by himself, surely?” Alarm flashed through Moth Flight’s pelt.

  “Kits never swim by themselves,” Dappled Pelt promised her. “Not until they’re strong enough to ride the currents.”

  Moth Flight’s thoughts had flashed back to her “swim” with Spider Paw. She’d felt helpless against the buffeting of the water. She couldn’t imagine Spider Paw ever being strong enough to survive it.

  “He’ll be swimming like a fish before long.” Dappled Pelt must have guessed Moth Flight’s anxiety. “It’s just like running through a gale.” She’d glanced sideways. “You’ve never been knocked off your paws by the wind, have you?”

  “No.” Moth Flight had been unconvinced. But she had to trust RiverClan.

  Dappled Pelt gently changed the subject. “Drizzle and Pine Needle think Spider Paw’s great. He’s been teaching them how to play moss-ball. He’s a great jumper. Drizzle can never get the moss past him.”

  Moth Flight pictured Spider Paw now, as she gazed at the Moonstone. She could imagine him charging around the RiverClan camp as he’d done in the hollow. Her heart ached. Did her kits miss her? They sounded happy in their new homes. Happier than with me? Guilt pricked her paws. She wanted them to be happy, and yet she hoped they still kept a place for her in their hearts.

  Acorn Fur’s mew cut into her thoughts. “I wonder if StarClan has anything important to share with us.”

  Moth Flight shifted her paws uneasily. Had they known she would give her kits away? Had she done the right thing? Guilt hollowed her belly.

  The Moonstone flared. Moth Flight flinched, slitting her eyes as light blanched the cave. Countless stars seemed to blaze before her face. Leaning forward, she touched her nose to the glittering stone.

  The floor shifted beneath her paws. Her heart lurched as she felt herself swept sideways, whirling dizzyingly until suddenly she felt soft pasture beneath her paws. She opened her eyes into the half-light of evening. Pebble Heart, Dappled Pelt, Cloud Spots, and Acorn Fur stood nearby, blinking at the rolling meadows and distant forest. They were in StarClan’s hunting grounds, on the breeze-blown hilltop, grass rippling around their paws.

  Above them, a purple sky deepened to black as it stretched toward the distant horizon. She gazed at it, the stars blurring as she stared at them. They began to swirl like a flock of shimmering birds, spinning toward the ground.

  Pebble Heart lifted his chin, his eyes wide in wonder. Dappled Pelt’s fur pricked along her spine. Acorn Fur backed away as the stars circled closer. Moth Flight narrowed her eyes against the brightness as the grass sparkled and the stars slowed, coming to rest on the hilltop around them.

  Blinking, she saw the light fade until she could make out the shapes of the StarClan cats.

  Half Moon stepped from among them, her white pelt glistening. She stopped in front of Moth Flight and dipped her head.

  Moth Flight tensed, trying to glimpse the expression in the StarClan cat’s dark green gaze. I scattered the petals of the Blazing Star, just as Micah told me. She knew what she wanted to say. She had given away her kits and she wanted to tell StarClan that it was the only thing she could have done. But the words she’d planned stalled on her tongue. “I had to!” she blurted as Half Moon met her gaze.

  “We know.” Half Moon stared at her steadi
ly. “You made the right choice.”

  Moth Flight glanced beyond the white she-cat, hoping to glimpse Micah. He’d given his blessing to sending their kits to new homes, but she wanted to see him—she needed to read his gaze and truly know that he understood.

  Before she could spot him, Half Moon spoke again. “Your greatest loyalty must always be to StarClan and your Clanmates.” Her gaze flicked to Acorn Fur. “The only way to ensure this is for you all to promise never to take mates or have kits.”

  Acorn Fur’s eyes flashed indignantly. “That’s not fair! I can be loyal to you, and my Clanmates, and a mate and kits!”

  Half Moon didn’t answer.

  “I can!” Acorn Fur insisted.

  A starry she-cat padded forward. Snow-white fur flecked her gray muzzle. “How do you know what it is like to be a mother?” she challenged Acorn Fur, her eyes flashing.

  Acorn Fur snorted. “I’ve seen Star Flower with her kits. It’s not hard!”

  The old she-cat’s tail twitched crossly. “I am Quiet Rain, mother of Gray Wing, Clear Sky, and Jagged Peak. I stayed behind in the mountains when they left the Tribe. But my heart cried out for them every day they were gone.”

  Moth Flight shivered. Will grief torture me forever?

  Quiet Rain went on. “My need was so strong that I spent my final days crossing unknown lands to see them. Only when I was sure they were safe in their new home could I give in to the sickness that made every step heavy with pain.”

  Acorn Fur stared at her. “I’m not you! My kits will stay near me. I won’t have to worry about them!”

  Quiet Rain gave a hollow purr. “Do you really believe that you’ll be able to ignore their cries to treat an injured Clanmate?” She swung her head toward Moth Flight accusingly. “Haven’t you warned this foolish cat?”

  “She’s not foolish!” Moth Flight stepped closer to Acorn Fur. “I thought I could be a mother and medicine cat too. I had to experience it before I realized how impossible it was to give my heart twice over.” She blinked at Acorn Fur. “You must make your choice now, before you have kits. You mustn’t ever face the choice I faced. It will break your heart.” Her eyes prickled with sadness. “Choose now. Either care for your Clan, or take a mate. You can’t do both.”

  Pebble Heart swished his tail. “What about us?” He nodded toward Cloud Spots. “We can’t be mothers.”

  Half Moon tipped her head. “But you can be fathers. Do you think a father loves his kits any less?”

  Gray Wing slid from among his Clanmates. “Pebble Heart,” he meowed gently. “Each medicine cat must make the same choice. Live like an ordinary Clan cat and take a mate. Raise a family if you like. But if you do, renounce your medicine-cat duties.”

  Half Moon’s gaze flitted around the medicine cats. “We brought you closer to us than any of your Clanmates. One day your Clan may depend on what we share with you. We need to know you hear us. If you don’t, who will suffer?”

  Pebble Heart’s eyes darkened. “Our Clan.”

  Half Moon nodded. “Then choose.”

  Pebble Heart shifted his paws, his gaze lingering on Half Moon’s for a moment. Then he spoke. “My greatest loyalty will always be with StarClan and my Clanmates.”

  Half Moon’s ear twitched. “Do you agree you will never take a mate or have kits?”

  Pebble Heart nodded.

  Half Moon’s gaze flicked to Cloud Spots questioningly.

  The ThunderClan medicine cat dipped his head. “Me too.”

  “And me.” Dappled Pelt gazed solemnly at Half Moon.

  Quiet Rain was still staring at Acorn Fur. “And you? Have you decided which you will choose?”

  Acorn Fur glanced around anxiously. She caught Moth Flight’s eye hopefully, as though hoping for advice.

  Moth Flight lowered her gaze. “You must decide for yourself.”

  Acorn Fur shifted beside her. “Okay,” she mewed. “If I must choose, I choose StarClan.”

  Quiet Rain narrowed her eyes sharply. “Are you certain?”

  Acorn Fur lifted her chin. “I’m certain.”

  Relief washed Moth Flight’s pelt. She knew how hard Acorn Fur’s decision must have been. She thought, with a rush of love, of her first moon with Micah. The memory still warmed her. She couldn’t imagine her life, never having known such love. Or worse, having known it but knowing she must refuse it.

  Softly, she pressed against Acorn Fur. “Tending to your Clan will give you all the joy and warmth and love that you need,” she murmured, hoping it was true. “Give your heart to them.” She blinked at Half Moon. “It must always be this way.”

  Half Moon nodded. “In the future, medicine cats may never take a mate. They must never have kits.”

  Gray Wing swished his tail. “Their loyalty will rest only with StarClan and their Clanmates.”

  Around them, StarClan murmured with approval, their mews echoing beneath the starless sky.

  Watching them, Moth Flight caught sight of Micah at last. His gaze was fixed on her, brimming with affection.

  She returned it, her heart twisting with sorrow. I’m sorry, my love. But while I live, I must give you up. She had sent her kits away so she could be the best medicine cat she could be. She couldn’t share her dreams with Micah any more. Her dreams belonged to StarClan now. Every hair in her pelt, every beat of her heart, every breath belonged to them.

  TURN THE PAGE FOR AN

  EXCLUSIVE MANGA ADVENTURE

  CREATED BY

  ERIN HUNTER

  WRITTEN BY

  DAN JOLLEY

  ART BY

  JAMES L. BARRY

  Excerpt from Warriors: A Vision of Shadows #1: The Apprentice’s Quest

  A new adventure begins for the warrior Clans.

  Read on for a sneak peek at

  For many moons, the warrior cats have lived in peace in their territories around the lake. But a dark shadow looms on the horizon, and the time has come for Alderpaw—son of the ThunderClan leader, Bramblestar, and his deputy, Squirrelflight—to shape his destiny . . . and the fate of all the warrior Clans.

  CHAPTER 1

  Alderkit stood in front of the nursery, nervously shifting his weight. He unsheathed his claws, digging them into the beaten earth of the stone hollow, then sheathed them again and shook dust from his paws.

  Now what happens? he asked himself, his belly churning as he thought about his apprentice ceremony that was only moments away. What if there’s some sort of an assessment before I can be an apprentice?

  Alderkit thought he had heard something about an assessment once. Perhaps it had been a few moons ago when Hollytuft, Fernsong, and Sorrelstripe were made warriors. But I can’t really remember . . . I was so little then.

  His heart started to pound faster and faster. He tried to convince himself that some cat would have told him if he was supposed to prove that he was ready. Because I’m not sure that I am ready to become an apprentice. Not sure at all. What if I can’t do it?

  Deep in his own thoughts, Alderkit jumped in surprise as some cat nudged him hard from behind. Spinning around, he saw his sister Sparkkit, her orange tabby fur bushing out in all directions.

  “Aren’t you excited?” she asked with an enthusiastic bounce. “Don’t you want to know who your mentor will be? I hope I get someone fun! Not a bossy cat like Berrynose, or one like Whitewing. She sticks so close to the rules I think she must recite the warrior code in her sleep!”

  “That’s enough.” The kits’ mother, Squirrelflight, emerged from the nursery in time to hear Sparkkit’s last words. “You’re not supposed to have fun with your mentor,” she added, licking one paw and smoothing it over Sparkkit’s pelt. “You’re supposed to learn from them. Berrynose and Whitewing are both fine warriors. You’d be very lucky to have either of them as your mentor.”

  Though Squirrelflight’s voice was sharp, her green gaze shone with love for her kits. Alderkit knew how much his mother adored him and his sister. He was only a kit, but he knew that
Squirrelflight was old to have her first litter, and he remembered their shared grief for his lost littermates: Juniperkit, who had barely taken a breath before he died, and Dandelionkit, who had never been strong and who had slowly weakened until she also died two moons later.

  Sparkkit and I have to be the best cats we can be for Squirrelf light and Bramblestar.

  Sparkkit, meanwhile, wasn’t at all cowed by her mother’s scolding. She twitched her tail and cheerfully shook her pelt until her fur fluffed up again.

  Alderkit wished he had her confidence. He hadn’t wondered until now who his mentor would be, and he gazed around the clearing at the other cats with new and curious eyes. Ivypool would be an okay mentor, he thought, spotting the silver-and-white tabby she-cat returning from a hunting patrol with Lionblaze and Blossomfall. She’s friendly and a good hunter. Lionblaze is a bit scary, though. Alderkit suppressed a shiver at the sight of the muscles rippling beneath the golden warrior’s pelt. And it won’t be Blossomfall, because she was just mentor for Hollytuft. Or Brackenfur or Rosepetal, because they mentored Sorrelstripe and Fernsong.

  Lost in thought, Alderkit watched Thornclaw, who had paused in the middle of the clearing to give himself a good scratch behind one ear. He’d probably be okay, though he’s sort of short-tempered. . . .

  “Hey, wake up!” Sparkkit trod down hard on Alderkit’s paw. “It’s starting!”

  Alderkit realized that Bramblestar had appeared on the Highledge outside his den, way above their heads on the wall of the stone hollow.

  “Let every cat old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!” Bramblestar yowled.

  Alderkit gazed at his father admiringly as all the cats in the clearing turned their attention to him and began to gather together. He’s so confident and strong. I’m so lucky to be the son of such an amazing cat.

  Bramblestar ran lightly down the tumbled rocks and took his place in the center of the ragged circle of cats that was forming at the foot of the rock wall. Squirrelflight gently nudged her two kits forward until they too stood in the circle.