Moth Flight nodded, swallowing back excitement. “Inside Highstones.”
“And there was a hole in the roof?”
“You’ve seen it?” Moth Flight could hardly keep her paws still.
“I dreamed I was there with you, Dappled Pelt, and Pebble Heart.” Cloud Spots nodded toward Micah. “And him.”
Tall Shadow turned to Pebble Heart. “Have you had any dreams?”
“Only last night.” His eyes glowed like stars. “I dreamed Turtle Tail was leaning over me. She said she always knew I was special.”
Moth Flight’s tail quivered. “And she told you to take care of them all, didn’t she?”
“Yes!” Pebble Heart blinked. “That’s exactly what she said!”
Juniper Branch looked at Tall Shadow. “Are we actually going to believe this hare-brained WindClan cat?”
Gorse Fur flicked his tail angrily. “She’s not hare-brained.”
“So why does Spotted Fur always joke that one day she’ll find the end of a rainbow and try to climb up it?” Juniper Branch scoffed.
“I was joking!” Spotted Fur caught Moth Flight’s eye apologetically.
Fern Leaf brushed past him and stared at Moth Flight. “What if you’re wrong about this, Moth Flight? You might have misunderstood the spirit-cats’ message. You can’t even tell the difference between plants and prey.”
Wind Runner faced the gray-and-white she-cat. “She can tell the difference. Perhaps she brings home plants because that’s what medicine cats do.”
Moth Flight felt a rush of gratitude. She glanced at Micah. “I think they’re going to believe me,” she whispered.
Clear Sky’s tail was still twitching impatiently. “So SkyClan is going to be stuck with an extra mouth to feed.” He glared at Micah resentfully.
“I can hunt,” Micah told him.
“Won’t you be too busy looking after sick cats?” Clear Sky sneered.
Star Flower stood beside her mate. “Perhaps we should wait for the spirit-cats to tell us themselves before we start making any changes.”
Juniper Branch and Swift Minnow murmured in agreement.
“The spirit-cats have spoken to us before,” Tall Shadow reasoned. “If they’re not speaking to us now, it’s because they have nothing to say.”
“But they do!” Alarm buzzed beneath Moth Flight’s pelt. You have to listen to me! What more could she say? She suddenly remembered Half Moon’s parting words. We will split the sky. And later, stars will rise. The spirit-cats had promised to send a sign when she told the Clans.
Where was it? She stared up through the branches to the stars beyond.
“What are you looking for?” Clear Sky asked her, his mew thick with scorn. “Do you think you can call them whenever you want?”
Moth Flight blinked at him. “They promised to split the sky when I told you.”
Clear Sky’s whiskers twitched with amusement. Purrs echoed around the clearing.
“Split the sky?” Juniper Branch shook her head. “What nonsense!”
Moth Flight squared her shoulders. “They said they’d split the sky and later stars would rise.”
Clear Sky sat down. “Okay.” He looked up. “Let’s wait.”
Silence gripped the clearing. Above, the sky stretched cloudless and black.
Moth Flight’s pelt burned with shame. Perhaps I dreamed it after all! I’ve thought dreams were real before. Perhaps I’ve been wrong all along!
She could feel the eyes of the Clan cats on her. “What have I done?” she whispered to Micah. “I’m such a rabbit-brain!” She shrank beneath her pelt.
Suddenly, a flash lit the clearing. A bolt of lightning cracked the sky and, for a moment, the Clans were drenched in blinding white light.
Terror ripped through Moth Flight. She dropped to the earth.
On the far side of the hollow a tree exploded into flame as the lightning hit it. It shuddered and split. One half fell, blazing, to the ground.
Moth Flight stared in amazement. They did it! They split the sky! Her heart leaped into her throat. They have to believe me now. She glanced around the clearing.
The Clan cats gaped at the flaming tree. Then, one by one, they turned toward Moth Flight.
CHAPTER 15
The roar of the flames died away as the fire burned itself out. Moth Flight felt Micah shift beside her. The Clan cats stared at her in silence.
She froze, her breath catching in her throat, when River Ripple padded forward and dipped his head low. “Moth Flight, you were brave to speak up. Come with me.” He headed for the huge stone that rose from the soil as though it had been growing for countless moons from the heart of the earth.
Moth Flight glanced nervously at Micah as River Ripple leaped onto the great rock.
“Go on.” He nudged her forward with a flick of his muzzle. “You’ve done the hardest part.”
Self-consciously, Moth Flight padded into the shadow of the rock and scrabbled onto a ledge, then leaped into the moonlight. She landed beside River Ripple, who was gazing at the Clan cats below.
She peered over the edge. What a long way down! Her Clanmates seemed suddenly small. Moth Flight glanced at the sky. A thick band of stars stretched like a silver pelt across the indigo blackness. Was that where the spirit-cats lived? A star Clan? She remembered their star-flecked pelts, glittering in the darkness of the cave. How small the Clans must look to the spirit-cats. They were so powerful they could command lightning! And yet they cared about these cats, enough to watch over them and guide them.
“There can be no disagreement now.” River Ripple’s mew jerked her back into the moment. The Clan cats were watching her expectantly.
Thunder lifted his tail, his orange pelt pale in the moonlight. “The spirit-cats have spoken. Each Clan will have a medicine cat.”
Quick Water called from among the SkyClan cats. “If we’d had medicine cats earlier, the sickness might not have taken so many.”
Moth Flight shook her head. “We don’t know any more now than we did then,” she pointed out. “We can’t change the past. But we can change the future. Somehow we must discover new herbs and new cures.”
“How?” Pebble Heart looked up at her. “It will take moons to test out every plant.”
“Yes,” Moth Flight agreed. “In the meantime, we can learn from each other. Each Clan has cats who know a little about healing.”
Swift Minnow lifted her muzzle. “Reed Tail knows plenty.” She glanced proudly at her mate.
The silver tabby dipped his head modestly. “I am happy to share the little I know with Moth Flight.”
“And I’ll share whatever you teach me with the other medicine cats.” Moth Flight nodded to Pebble Heart. “Will you learn all you can from the cats in ShadowClan?”
Pebble Heart nodded.
Cloud Spots whisked his tail. “I will gather all the knowledge in ThunderClan.”
“The medicine cats are to meet at Highstones every half-moon,” Moth Flight told them.
Dappled Pelt blinked. “That’s a long way to travel!”
Moth Flight met her wide-eyed gaze. “Once you have seen the moonlit stone for real, you’ll be glad you made the journey.” She suddenly realized that she was addressing the Clan like a leader. She backed away from the edge, butterflies rising in her belly once more.
“Don’t be afraid,” River Ripple whispered in her ear. “The spirit-cats chose you. This is your destiny.”
She stared at the mysterious RiverClan leader, wondering if the star Clan ever shared with him. He seemed so wise.
An angry mew rang in the clearing.
Moth Flight stiffened as Clear Sky glared up at her. “You talk as though everything has been decided.” He fluffed out his pelt. “We shouldn’t have to take medicine cats who have been chosen for us! We should decide our Clan’s future for ourselves!”
Moth Flight forced herself to meet his gaze. “We can’t ignore the spirit-cats.”
“You must have misinterpreted what they told you
!” Clear Sky was eyeing Micah. “Why would they choose a stranger for SkyClan?”
“Are you saying she’s a liar?” Wind Runner turned on Clear Sky, hackles up.
Clear Sky held his ground. “I’m just saying she might be mistaken.”
“If she were mistaken, would the spirit-cats have sent a sign?” Wind Runner snapped. “Micah is your medicine cat! Stop complaining!”
Clear Sky’s gaze flashed with fury. “That’s easy for you to say. You don’t have to take in a rogue.”
Wind Runner’s tail twitched irritably. “You’ve taken in plenty of rogues before, Clear Sky. You just don’t like being told what to do.”
Clear Sky glared at the WindClan leader. “Neither do you.”
“At least if I’m wrong, I’ll admit it,” Wind Runner flashed back.
“I’m never wrong!” Clear Sky’s ears twitched.
Moth Flight felt a sudden rush of pity for Micah. What if Clear Sky did agree to take him? The SkyClan leader had never let any cat tell him what to do. The spirit-cats wanted the medicine cats to advise their leaders. How could Micah advise Clear Sky if he wouldn’t listen? She glanced at Micah, who watched silently, moonlight silvering his pelt. His gaze seemed so sure and steady. He’ll find a way.
She stepped to the front of the great rock once more. “Micah may be a stranger to the Clans, but he shares a bond with us. He always has.”
Clear Sky lifted his muzzle to stare at her. “What?”
Mews of surprise rippled around the cats. Micah stiffened as they stared at him, their gazes sharp with curiosity.
“Tell them, Micah,” Moth Flight encouraged.
Micah’s tail quivered. “I’ve dreamed of you.” He nodded toward Clear Sky. “I dreamed I was bringing you catmint to treat a sick kit.”
Star Flower pricked her ears. “What’s catmint?”
“It’s an herb that grows on the farm,” Micah told her. “We use it to treat coughs.”
Star Flower turned to Clear Sky, her purple gaze glittering. “He could help Tiny Branch!”
Clear Sky’s fur lifted along his spine. He looked uneasily from Star Flower to Micah. “Can you get some of this catmint?”
“Of course.” Micah tipped his head to one side. “Who is Tiny Branch?”
Clear Sky narrowed his eyes. “He’s my kit.”
Micah lifted his tail. Moth Flight could see he was excited. He was clearly keen to start work.
River Ripple moved beside Moth Flight. “Are we all agreed?” he called to the cats below. His gaze fixed on Clear Sky.
Clear Sky hesitated. “Are you sure this catmint will help?” he asked Micah.
“It helped me when I was a kit.”
“We have to try it!” Star Flower urged.
“Okay.” Clear Sky dipped his head. “If you can heal Tiny Branch, you can stay with SkyClan.”
Tall Shadow lifted her muzzle. “From now on, Pebble Heart will be ShadowClan’s medicine cat.”
“And Cloud Spots will be ThunderClan’s,” Thunder agreed.
“Dappled Pelt will be medicine cat for RiverClan.” River Ripple sat down and tucked his tail over his paws.
Moth Flight looked toward Wind Runner. She met her mother’s gaze, surprised at its warmth.
“Moth Flight will be medicine cat for WindClan.”
Her heart swelled with pride and joy as her mother spoke. Quickly, she slithered down the side of the rock and leaped to the ground. She hurried toward Wind Runner. “I’m sorry I scared you,” she blurted as she reached her.
Wind Runner touched her nose gently to Moth Flight’s cheek. “I understand now why you went.” She pulled back, meeting Moth Flight’s gaze. “I’m sorry I was so hard on you. Gorse Fur was right. You are special. I’ve been rabbit-brained not to see it.”
Gorse Fur reached them, Dust Muzzle at his heels. “I’m so proud of you!” His eyes shone as he looked at Moth Flight.
She purred loudly, hesitating as memories of Emberkit and Morning Whisker flashed in her thoughts. “I saw my littermates,” she told Wind Runner. “They were with the spirit-cats and they spoke to me.”
Wind Runner’s eyes glistened with emotion. “Are they okay?” Her mew caught in her throat.
“They are still kits,” Moth Flight told her. “But they look well and happy, and they have grown wise.”
Wind Runner jerked her muzzle toward Gorse Fur. “They are happy.” The words were no more than a breath but they were filled with joy.
Gorse Fur pressed his cheek against his mate’s. “They will always be safe,” he murmured.
The ShadowClan cats were starting to climb the slope toward the pine forest. Thunder was leading his cats away through the trees.
“We should go too.” Wind Runner signaled to her cats with a flick of her tail and began to head for the moor.
Clear Sky and Star Flower led SkyClan into the brambles as RiverClan disappeared into the long grass that reached toward the reed beds.
Dust Muzzle nudged Moth Flight’s shoulder. “Are you coming?”
Moth Flight scanned the empty clearing, relieved to see Micah hanging back at the bottom of the slope. “I’ll catch up with you,” she told Dust Muzzle.
Her brother glanced quizzically at Micah, then headed after their Clan.
Moth Flight hurried toward Micah. “We did it!” she mewed excitedly.
Sadness clouded his gaze.
“What’s wrong?” Wasn’t he happy that they’d convinced the Clans?
“I’m going to miss you,” he mewed softly.
Her heart quickened. She’d forgotten! He was going to live in SkyClan’s camp. They’d only been together a few days, yet leaving without him seemed strange. “I’ll miss you too.”
He leaned forward and touched his muzzle to hers. “I’ll see you at half-moon.”
“We can travel to the Moonstone together,” Moth Flight murmured.
Eyes flashed from the top of the slope. “Micah! Hurry up!” Clear Sky’s mew rang around the hollow.
“I’d better go.” Micah headed for the undergrowth. “I don’t want to start off on the wrong paw.”
Moth Flight watched him disappear. The pricking sadness in her heart was suddenly swept away by excitement. She’d changed the future of the Clans! Nothing would ever be the same again. She glanced up at the sky, wondering if Half Moon was proud of her.
Green wings flitted in the moonlight overhead.
The moth!
It fluttered toward her, dancing closer until it settled on her muzzle. Her whiskers twitched as it tickled her nose. Her breath stirred its wings, then the moth swooped away, circling higher and higher until it was lost among the oak branches.
Had it come to say good-bye?
Thank you! Moth Flight heard the bracken rustle at the top of the slope. Her Clan was heading onto the moor. She hurried after them, pushing through the stiff stems. Her life was going to be different now. Her heart quickened. Half Moon, she whispered into the chilly night air. Help me be strong enough to fulfill my destiny.
CHAPTER 16
“Moth Flight, look at me!”
Silver Stripe’s mew sounded behind her. Shaking leaf crumbs from her paws, Moth Flight turned impatiently to watch the pale gray she-kit.
Silver Stripe was wedged into the prickly gorse halfway up the wall of her den. Black Ear was tugging at his sister’s tail, while White Tail was trying to climb up beside her.
“Please, get down!” Moth Flight marched across the freshly dug floor of her den and snatched Silver Stripe’s scruff in her teeth.
It was Wind Runner who had suggested hollowing out a den especially for Moth Flight. Storm Pelt, Reed Tail, Fern Leaf, Holly, and Dew Nose had spent days digging out a dip beneath the stems and tearing away branches to shape a cave in the heart of the thickest part of the gorse wall. The floor was wide enough for three nests. One for herself, and two for any sick cats who might need to be watched. The branches would make a great place to store the plants she collected
. She could slot her herbs among the spiny stems and keep them sheltered from the weather.
Moth Flight dropped the kit on the ground. “If you want to climb, go outside.”
Silver Stripe blinked at her. “But Slate told us to stay with you.”
Moth Flight glanced back at the piles of leaves she’d collected. She was hoping to sort them and store them among the gorse stems at the back of her den before sunhigh.
Black Ear followed her gaze and hurried toward the piles. He began sniffing them, sneezing as he reached a pungent heap and scattering leaves across the floor of the den. “Sorry!”
Moth Flight swallowed back frustration. I have to tell Slate that she needs to find another cat to watch her kits now that I’m a medicine cat. Moth Flight loved the kits, but she had new responsibilities now.
In the days since the full-moon Gathering, she’d gradually become used to the strange new way her Clanmates treated her. When she disappeared into thought, Swift Minnow no longer teased her. When she brought plants back to camp, Wind Runner was the first to ask her if she’d found something interesting. Jagged Peak nodded a respectful greeting whenever she passed him. Only Slate didn’t seem to have noticed the change, still lost in her grief for Gray Wing.
The entrance rustled as Reed Tail poked his head in. “Do you need any help?”
“Can you look after these three?” Moth Flight grabbed Black Ear’s tail and hauled him away from the herbs.
“Swift Minnow’s just back from hunting,” Reed Tail told her. “I’ll see if she can watch them.”
White Tail frowned. “But we want to stay in Moth Flight’s cave!”
“Kits need fresh air and sunshine.” Reed Tail slid into the den and nosed the gray-and-white tom-kit toward the entrance.
“Wait!” Black Ear was sniffing the herb piles again. “What’s this?” He wrinkled his nose at a lush green leaf.
Moth Flight’s ears twitched. “Horsetail.” I think. She was having trouble remembering all the names.
Silver Stripe pushed past her brother and sniffed it. “What’s it for?”
Moth Flight frowned. “It cures twisted tails,” she guessed.
Reed Tail blinked at her sympathetically. “It’s chervil and it’s good for bellyache.” He padded past Silver Stripe and hooked a leaf with his claw. “But the root is better than the leaves. They aren’t really strong enough.”