Micah looked at the kit, his whiskers twitching with amusement. “We’ve been to Highstones.”
“Highstones!” Slate was crossing the grass toward them, White Tail at her heels. “That’s a long way from here.”
“I know.” Moth Flight suddenly realized how tired her paws were. But she couldn’t stop now. “We have to catch up with Wind Runner. I’ve got something important to tell her.”
Slate narrowed her eyes. “Is everything okay?”
Moth Flight met her gaze. “Everything’s fine,” she promised.
“Why the rush?” Rocky was shambling toward them too.
But there wasn’t time to talk.
“You’ll hear about it later!” Moth Flight turned and headed for the entrance. “I have to catch up with Wind Runner.”
“You’re not taking him to a Gathering, are you?” Dew Nose called after Moth Flight. Micah was following her. “Gatherings are for Clan cats!”
“He’ll be a Clan cat soon!” she called over her shoulder.
She burst out of camp and headed downslope. Opening her mouth, she tasted the air. WindClan scent bathed her tongue, so fresh she struggled to make out which way they’d gone. Micah was already sniffing the ground. He whipped his tail eagerly as he reached a spot of trampled grass a few tail-lengths ahead.
“They went this way.”
Moth Flight rushed to his side and checked the scents. He was right. Fresh paw-scents coated the tussocks here, and headed toward a wide clump of heather. She followed the trail, nose low, pushing through the bushes onto the grassy slope beyond. It led past the outcrop of rocks she used to hunt on with Dust Muzzle. Wind Runner must be leading her Clan along the old sheep track that went through deep heather and ended at the top of Fourtrees. Checking to see that Micah was still following, Moth Flight broke into a run.
He caught up and fell in step beside her. “Do you think we’ll catch her in time?”
“I think so,” Moth Flight puffed. “The scents are very fresh.”
They slid into single file as heather rose around them and the sheep track meandered among the bushes, finally opening at the top of the hollow.
Moth Flight halted and scanned the ridge. Her belly tightened. She couldn’t see Wind Runner or the WindClan cats.
But she could smell their scents rising from the hollow. “We’re too late,” she whispered. “They’re down there.”
The tops of the oaks loomed in front of them, the huge branches softened by a haze of leaf buds. Moth Flight gazed into the valley and saw pelts moving below.
She shifted her paws. “Let’s wait until they’ve finished the Gathering. Then I can tell Wind Runner about the medicine cats.”
Micah looked at her. “All the Clan leaders are going to be down there tonight, right?”
Moth Flight avoided his gaze. She could guess what he was thinking. “You want me to go down there and tell every cat.”
“They have to know,” he reasoned.
“But I wanted to tell Wind Runner first,” Moth Flight argued.
“Why?” Micah’s green gaze didn’t waver.
Moth Flight felt hot. “Because it’s easier,” she admitted.
“Moth Flight.” Micah moved his muzzle closer until she could feel his warm breath billow around her nose. “You can do this.”
“You want me to walk into the middle of a Gathering and tell all of them that some spirit-cats told me they should have medicine cats?” Fear tightened her belly.
“The spirit-cats believe you can do it.” Micah didn’t move.
Moth Flight nodded stiffly. “They told me to be strong.” She tried to ignore the panic flashing beneath her pelt.
“Then, be strong.” Gently, Micah nudged her toward the top of the hollow.
Paws numb with terror, Moth Flight let him steer her into the thick bracken that crowded the slope. Pressing against her, he guided her among the thick stems. Her ears twitched as she heard the murmur of the cats below. I can’t do this! The bracken rustled around her as they neared the bottom of the slope. She felt sick. “Wait.” She paused, desperately trying to think of what she was going to say.
Micah halted beside her and peered through the bracken.
She followed his gaze.
“Who’s that gray cat?” he whispered.
“That’s Clear Sky.”
Micah nodded. “I thought so.”
“Did he look like that in your dream?”
“Yes.” His gaze scanned the gathered cats. “Who are the cats standing beside him?”
Moth Flight narrowed her eyes, trying to tell who was who.
Bright moonlight shone through the budding oak branches, turning the pelts of the Clan cats silver. “That’s Jagged Peak.”
She nodded toward the small gray tabby tom who paced beside
Clear Sky. “He’s Clear Sky’s brother but he lives with WindClan now. And Thunder is the big tom next to them.”
“Thunder is leader of ThunderClan.” Micah was clearly trying to learn as much as he could.
“He’s also Clear Sky’s son.”
Micah stared at her. “They all live in different Clans even though they share the same blood?”
“Clan connections are stronger than blood ties now,” Moth
Flight told him. She glanced back at the cats milling in the clearing among the trees. Where was Wind Runner? Her gaze flitted from pelt to pelt until she recognized the narrow stripes of her mother. Wind Runner was pacing restlessly between
Gorse Fur and Dust Muzzle. Spotted Fur, Fern Leaf, and Willow
Tail sat nearby.
The grass on the far side of the clearing swished as River Ripple led his cats into the clearing. Dappled Pelt was with him, and Shattered Ice, Night, and Pine Needle.
River Ripple nodded a polite greeting to the other leaders and settled on an arching root beneath one of the oaks. As his cats gathered around him, Tall Shadow led Pebble Heart, Raven
Pelt, Juniper Branch, Mud Paws, and Mouse Ear into the clearing.
“We’re all here.” Clear Sky’s mew rang out loudly in the chilly night air.
Wind Runner crossed the clearing and stopped in front of the SkyClan leader, dipping her head politely first to him, then to Thunder, River Ripple, and Tall Shadow. “What news do you bring?”
“Newleaf has brought fresh prey to our part of the forest,” Clear Sky told her.
“And to ours,” Thunder added.
River Ripple hopped from the root and joined the other leaders. “The river is still swollen with snowmelt, and the fishing is good.”
Moth Flight felt Micah shift beside her. He was watching the Clan cats with wide eyes.
Wind Runner offered her report. “There are rabbits on the moor and the lapwings are beginning to nest. There will be plenty of prey by greenleaf.”
A hiss sounded behind her. “There won’t be if SkyClan keeps hunting on our land.” Willow Tail stalked across the clearing.
Wind Runner looked sharply at her Clanmate.
Clear Sky stiffened. “Are you accusing us of prey-stealing?”
Willow Tail faced the SkyClan leader. “Just one of you.”
Her gaze flashed to the reddish-brown tom sitting behind Clear Sky.
Moth Flight recognized Red Claw. She tensed. Was Willow
Tail still determined to start a fight with the SkyClan tom?
Red Claw got to his paws, his tail flicking ominously behind him. He padded toward Willow Tail, showing his teeth. “Why would a forest cat want to steal moor prey? We’ve got rabbits of our own—fatter than your scrawny vermin.”
Willow Tail’s hackles lifted. “The only scrawny vermin on our territory lately is you!”
Red Claw flattened his ears.
Wind Runner pushed between them. She looked at Clear Sky. “You need to keep your Clan under control.”