Rising Moon
Jedi Goat
Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.
Author's Note: Thank-yous go to Princess of Lightning and Sirona Elf-Angel for your reviews! As for your question, yes, medicine cats are forbidden to love. And Moonblaze is quite aware of that...
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Chapter 32
Moonblaze darted up the rocky cliff to Firestar's den, rapid but careful not to slip. Her mind was buzzing; was there more bad news? She chanced a glance back at Oakheart from the top. He looked fine; Thank StarClan nothing had happened to him! Moonblaze turned and called into the dark cave, "Firestar?"
The flame-colored tom emerged from the shadows. His voice was cool and calm as he inquired, "What is it?"
"Oakheart's patrol is back," she told him, harried. "He wants to speak with you."
Firestar nodded and padded put, gracefully leaping down the stones. Moonblaze scrambled after him.
She arrived at the group just as all the other cats began appearing to discover the source of all the commotion. Moonblaze respectfully stood back from the patrol, listening in. Her eyes roved over the cats, checking for injuries. While the clan cats seemed fine, in the midst of them stood two scratched-up outsiders. Moonblaze stared at them, but she could recognize neither their features nor their scents.
"Yes?" Firestar addressed Oakheart.
The white tom took a moment to catch his breath – they must have run back to camp – before launching ahead. "While we were patrolling the border we discovered these two loners in our territory. They claim they have been searching for you, Firestar." Oakheart stepped aside, revealing the two new cats.
The smaller tom was pitch-black except for the white tip of his tail. He was rather skinny in an unhealthy way, and scratches crisscrossed his pelt.
The other tom was larger, and had the look of a once-well fed cat who had met with misfortune. His bones stuck out on his large frame, and his pelt, too, was battle-scarred.
Firestar gaped at the two toms for a moment. "Ravenpaw? Barley?"
"The very same," said the bigger tom.
"How did you two find us?" Firestar was staring at them in wide-eyed amazement, and a few of the older cats around them were murmuring, "I remember those two!"
The newcomers exchanged grim looks. The bigger one spoke up, "A while ago we caught word from some rogues that there was good territory over the mountains. Everyone was headed there…and after what happened to our old home, who could blame them?"
The smaller tom shook his head, sighing, "The plan wasn't as innocent as we thought. After following some of the rogues into the mountains, we met a group of cats called –"
"The Tribe of Rushing Water," murmured Firestar.
"Exactly," continued the smaller tom. "And they, too, were coming to this 'good territory'. Well, most of them, at least." His gaze darkened.
Stormfur, previously a member of this tribe, called out, "But their territory is perfectly fine as it is!"
"So it would seem," acknowledged the smaller cat. "But their leader – what was his name again?"
"Preybone," said the other tom.
"Yes, Preybone…he ordered the tribe to come. And those who argued, well…" the tom trailed off. Firestar and the other cats who had made the Great Journey bowed their heads, remembering cats they had known in the tribe.
"The survivors ran away and hid, us with them," rumbled the bigger tom. "We waited until Preybone and his cronies had left. By then we had found out that this 'good territory' was not unoccupied. It is where we are now."
There came gasps from the crowd around them. To Moonblaze, everything was beginning to fit together, in a sort of grim sense. Nightfang had bribed the rogues, even the tribe into coming. And they wanted to fight for the territory. She felt sick, but the toms were not finished their story.
"Knowing now that the rogues and the tribe were coming to where the clans were, we decided we had to warn you. The survivors of the tribe didn't want to leave their territory – perhaps they were scared to face Preybone again. And so we journeyed on alone, until we found you here."
The smaller cat raised his head, looking out over ThunderClan. "There are many cats who have come here to take away what you have. You must be on alert!"
Immediately everyone started talking at once. Some cats were yowling in terror, while others were muttering in disbelief. Nearby Mousetail hissed to Hazelgaze, "Why haven't we seen these fearsome cats, then? How do we know these loners tell the truth?"
Moonblaze stood up. Though her fears had just been proven true, she felt eerily calm. "This is true!" she yowled to the clan. "And I know where these rogues are. They have allied themselves with the traitorous Nightfang and his ShadowClan!"
"Then we must fight them!" cried Dustpelt. He stood on the other side of the clearing, and cats rallied him with loud yowls. "We should attack now, before they are prepared to fight back!"
"We're not going to lose our territory again!" This came from Sorreltail, who stood with fire blazing in her eyes. Moonblaze could see she was ready to fight with tooth and claw for her dear Brackenfur's spirit.
"SILENCE!"
At Firestar's command, the camp fell silent. The tom bounded to the top of the Highledge, pelt blazing in the sunlight. He stood over them, bringing calm and order with his words:
"For now, we will live as normal. We will observe only, and prepare ourselves as best we can. We cannot attack now, as ShadowClan will vastly outnumber us with their rogues and the tribe. The best time to make our move is at the Gathering in seven days' time. There and then we may openly accuse him."
Firestar looked out across the camp. "Before deciding on anything, I must confer with my deputy, medicine cats and senior warriors, as well as Ravenpaw and Barley. Come to my den immediately. Everyone else please proceed as normal."
Firestar whisked away into his den. The clan still buzzed with conversation; Moonblaze glanced around once before heading back toward the Highledge. Oakheart brushed past her at the bottom.
"Hey," he smiled at her.
"Oakheart!" she exclaimed, before quickly lowering her voice. "I need to talk to you –"
"A bit later?" he suggested, as Cindercloud swerved around them and leaped up the rocks.
"All right," she agreed, and then turned her attention to the business at paw.
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"Attention, everyone," commanded Firestar. He was seated at the far end of the cavernous den, with Sandstorm seated beside him. Dustpelt, Cloudtail, Brightheart, Thornclaw, and Oakheart were all sitting along the left side of the cave, with Moonblaze, Cindercloud, Leafpool, Barley, and Ravenpaw on the right.
"We have seven days until the Gathering," reported Firestar, "do we all agree that then we shall reveal Nightfang to the clans?"
There was a general murmur of agreement down the lines; Dustpelt did not look satisfied.
"We will need to prepare the camp," said Sandstorm. She glanced at Firestar. "All must be ready to fight, even the elders and the kits."
"We must also secure the camp," agreed Thornclaw, "but it will be best if we keep the battle away from the camp. If the camp is breached, it is too enclosed for much of an escape."
Firestar nodded. "Our camp will remain our last line of defense." He turned to Oakheart. "Oakheart shall be in charge of border patrols. Make sure our territory remains secure."
"And hunting?" asked Sandstorm. "Our warriors will need whatever food we can get."
"Sandstorm, I trust you will organize our hunting patrols," Firestar said calmly. "Now, also make sure not to overwork our warriors. We will need them well-rested and battle-ready. Someone should work on training and making sure everyone is ready."
"I will," answered Brightheart.
It went back and forth like this; Moonblaze was amazed at the efficiency of her leader. They were quickly covering all the aspects of the plan.
"Medicine cats, how are your stores of herbs?"
"They're stocked as normal," Leafpool informed them, "but we'll work on getting extra supplies."
Firestar nodded. "I believe we've covered it. Shall we inform the clan now?"
"I have a question," Leafpool spoke up, turning to Firestar. "Should we warn the other clans? Obviously the danger concerns them too."
"They'll find out at the Gathering," said Dustpelt dismissively.
"Yes, but that doesn't give them much time to get ready," pressed Leafpool. "Would StarClan want us to be selfish? Cats could die because their clans are not prepared."
"Cats will die either way," Firestar warned her grimly. "It is a war we will be fighting. But I see your reasoning, Leafpool, and I will do my best to forewarn the other clans."
And with that note, he dismissed them. Moonblaze exited the cave, feeling nervous.
StarClan, what have we gotten ourselves into?
To be continued...
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