I thought I should give you fair warning. Yes, I am writing this book for your entertainment. But I actually plan on getting it published, which means that when I am finished rewriting it to make it better, I will be taking down this version so that I can send it off to publishers. Just a reminder.

Here is the pivotal moment of the book, the head of the prophecy. Who did you expect to be the one with moonshone eyes? Read and find out if you were right.

~Cara Lea

Chapter Thirty-five –The One with Moonshone Eyes

Moonblaze looked around the nursery. None of the kits seemed to be in bad shape, although Frecklecloud had a long cut going down her shoulder. It wasn't bleeding, but the medicine cat apprentice would still like to put a poultice on it to keep it from getting infected.

She looked down at her mother on the nursery floor beside her. The golden queen was curled up, fast asleep. The two kits lay nursing beside her. They were strong and Moonblaze had no reason to fear that they would die yet. Stress had caused Gingertail's birth to be a hard one. Rest would cure that. Sooner or later, her mother would wake good as new. There was nothing that Moonblaze could to for her now, and anyway, Whitebirch was there if she needed anything.

She began to back out of the nursery, beckoning Frecklecloud as she went. The pretty she-cat gave Cedarkit a harsh lick. "I'll be right back, okay?"

"You'll find Petalsong, won't you?"

Frecklecloud nodded. "As soon as I can," she promised.

The two she-cats padded, side by side, into the clearing.

It was total devastation. The warriors den had a huge hole in the side of it. The nests that the warriors usually slept in were all torn apart. Little clumps of moss, feather, and pine needle strewed the clearing. The apprentices' den was in similar shape, though it looked as though nobody had dragged them from their nests. Blood splattered up the Clanrock where Moonblaze's den was.

Bodies were lined up already in the clearing, and more were being added to the pile. Grief pierced Moonblaze's heart as she looked down at the first body in the lineup. Briarstar had lost her last life, though it appeared to be the sickness that had taken her, not the battle. Her fur was sleek, and clean. Next to her lay Gorsefur. He looked so small in death. His claws were out and bloodied. He must have fought bravely.

She tried to look away when Frecklecloud moaned beside her. She followed the she-cat's gaze and saw Petalsong. They young queen was in a line separate from that which Briarstar headed. Never before had Moonblaze seen such a look of rage. Next to Petalsong lay Tinyclaw.

Moonblaze swayed where she stood. Her brother's orange fur was now blood red. His claws were out, and tufts of brown fur were caught in them. His tail stuck out straight behind him like a stick. His ears were torn, and his eyes were half closed. But there was no mistaking the look of anger on his face. Moonblaze closed her eyes, hoping that when she next opened them, her brother's body would not be there.

Why was he laying with the enemy? Had he betrayed the Clan with the others? She deliberately turned away before opening her eyes again. Wondering would not bring her brother back; it could only delay her from saving those who were on their way to join them.

She passed Geckotail, who was pressing cobwebs into Crowpaw's side. The apprentice was staring up blankly at her brother's face. Fastpaw sat with his tail over his paws, watching as the retired medicine cat worked on Crowpaw's injury. Ashpaw, Beechpaw, and Stonepaw sat huddled together. Over beside the entrance to Briarstar's den were Snakefang, Talonclaw, and Soddenpelt. Around them were Molefoot, Quietstep, Leapwing, and Beeflight. They had their claws out and their teeth bared. Obviously, this was some kind of guard. Moonblaze bristled as she glared at them. Talonclaw had been Tinyclaw's own mentor! How could he have sent her brother to his death?

But Talonclaw didn't look angry, or even scared. He looked stricken, as though he too were in shock after the night's events. How could he dare to sit in the camp that he had ravaged and looked so upset? After all, he had lead them to it!

She followed the path of his eyes to see Cedartail lying in a bloody heap. Brindlefern was standing over the body, glaring down at it with heavy eyes. It seemed that the elderly queen had had no idea that her ex-lover would have done such a thing to his Clanmates. Moonblaze felt a wave of sympathy. She had never thought her own brother could –

"In here," she said to Frecklecloud. Was that her voice that sounded so hoarse? Grief did funny things to cats, she knew.

She brushed into her den and froze. Swanfeather was standing over what looked like another body. In the medicine den? Then she realized that the body was breathing. Quickflight had taken a real number for his new Clan. Moonblaze wondered if he would want to return to WindClan after this.

"Wow," Frecklecloud breathed. "I'd always had my misgivings about him, but it seems that he was loyal all along."

Moonblaze nodded agreement. "How much do we have of dried oak leaf?" she asked her mentor. Swanfeather didn't look up from her work.

"N-no idea. You'll h-have to g-go check."

Moonblaze slipped past her mentor and her patient and entered the stores. Dried oak leaf would have been stored near the front, because it was dryer there. She leaned down and sniffed the first plant she came by. Yarrow, no…burdock, no…sage, no…ah yes! Finally, she withdrew with a pinch of the right remedy. She grabbed a wad of cobweb and began her work. She pressed the dried leaves against Frecklecloud's wound and fastened them there with the cobweb. She stepped back to admire her work, "You'll have to be careful not to disturb it. The leaves will soak up any infection that might get in there. Don't take this bandage off, and clean yourself thoroughly, got it?"

Frecklecloud dipped her head to show she understood. Moonblaze padded back into the den to grab more herbs that she might need. By the time she got into the clearing, all of the bodies had been moved into three lines in the clearing.

There was Briarstar's line, which were cats that Moonblaze supposed had been fighting for the Clan she had lead. Among them were Cloverspirit, and of course Gorsefur the deputy. The other pile was headed by Cedartail. Moonblaze winced as she saw Tinyclaw among them. She looked at the last line and was surprised to see that Pantherstripe- the ThunderClan deputy –headed it. She peered more closely at him. What had he been doing, fighting here in ShadowClan's battle? Farther along the line, she saw Mudear of RiverClan beside a young dark tabby tom known as Branchpaw. She looked beside them and saw Saltpelt of WindClan. This was the entire pile, Moonblaze realized. What had the other Clan cats wanted from ShadowClan? And how had they convinced Cedartail and the other ShadowClan warriors to turn against their own Clanmates?

Moonblaze turned as Graypetal padded up to her. The young she-cat had a wrenched claw. Comfrey, she thought, checking her pile.

The night seemed to go on like that. Moonblaze and Geckotail went around treating cats. Thyme for shock, comfrey for claws, burdock and oak for claw wounds, cobwebs for bleeding. Any of the more serious injuries were sent to Swanfeather for checking. Thankfully, there weren't that many besides Quickflight.

Lichentooth gave the summoning yowl sometime just past moonhigh. She didn't bother to jump onto the Clanrock. The only other cats that needed gathering were the queens and elders. They padded out of the darkness of the nursery to sit in the clearing and look around. Gingertail didn't join them. Good, Moonblaze thought. She really doesn't need to see this. She shot a glance in the direction of Tinyclaw.

A loud wail of grief tore the clearing. Dustcloud and Bramblepelt sat beside one another, gazing down at Tinyclaw's body. "No!" Dustcloud shrieked. "It can't be true!"

Bramblepelt mouthed wordlessly and nudged his sister away from their brother's body. Moonblaze stood to join them, then changed direction and sat between Geckotail and Swanfeather instead. As much as she wanted to see her remaining siblings and talk to them, now was not the time. She had a role to fulfill as medicine cat apprentice.

Lichentooth sat at the head position of Clan as the cats huddled around her. "ShadowClan has suffered a battle like never before," she began when all the cats were listening. "Firstly, we need to decide who stands for what."

"I stand for my Clan," Shellfrost whispered. "What else would I be fighting for?"

Murmurs of appreciation went around the group. "What were they fighting for?" Rushclaw asked. "What did they expect to gain by turning on their own Clan?"

Lichentooth supplied the answer. "Cedartail wanted to kill Gorsefur, I think. Unless I'm mistaken, he was hoping to become next Clan leader."

"No," Spottedwhisker said. "He was hoping Talonclaw would become the next Clan leader."

"How?" Dustcloud asked. "Who would follow him after what he'd done?"

"He certainly wouldn't have the Clan's support," Hailfur said quietly. "But that doesn't mean anything. With Briarstar and Gorsefur dead, it's StarClan that decides the next Clan leader."

"StarClan wouldn't pick Talonclaw after what he'd done!" Weaselscuffle scoffed. "He'd betrayed his Clan."

"StarClan can pick anyone," Swanfeather cut in. At once, all the head in the circle turned to look at her.

"What do you mean?" Lichentooth asked. "Has StarClan already picked someone?"

Swanfeather seemed to hesitate. She took a deep breath, "A long time ago, I received a prophecy. 'The one with moonshone eyes will save the Clan'."

Moonblaze blinked in mild surprise. Swanfeather had never told her that. Looking around, she realized that everyone was wearing the same face of shock. All except Geckotail, who nodded slowly beside his old apprentice.

"The cat with moonshone eyes?" Slystep repeated wondrously. "Who could that possibly mean?"

Swanfeather did not answer; she just turned her head and stared at Moonblaze. The medicine cat apprentice shrugged. If her mentor was looking for some sort of clue, she was not going to get any help. Suddenly it struck Moonblaze that all the other cats were looking at her now too.

"What?" she asked, shifting uncomfortably.

"The cat with moonshone eyes…" Slystep repeated again, this time thoughtfully. Moonblaze narrowed her eyes, following his train of thought-

"Oh no," she said, sitting up. "No way. You've got the wrong cat."

"What other cat have you heard of that has a white pelt and amber eyes?" Beeflight asked. He looked around the circle. "No one? Didn't think so."

Moonblaze shook her head, taking a step back. "I'm not it. I can't be the one, I'm a medicine cat."

"But Swanfeather just said it could be anyone," Shellfrost said. She sounded slightly dismayed, but moreover thoughtful. "It could work."

"It's not me!" Moonblaze hissed, bristling. "I can't lead the Clan. I'm not even a warrior! I wouldn't know how!"

"StarClan will guide you," Weedfoot said. "That's why they wanted you to be a medicine cat first."

Moonblaze was shaking now. It wasn't true. It couldn't be her! StarClan send me a sign!

For once, StarClan obliged without delay. For the quarter moon had been covered by cloud all throughout the battle now broke free. It shed its light down into the clearing, shining down onto one cat. His blue eyes glowed in the sudden flare of light. And it became clear to Moonblaze in that instant. StarClan hadn't sent the prophecy to Swanfeather upon her arrival. They had sent it upon his. They had seen this battle coming long ago and chosen the cat that would save ShadowClan from itself long ago.

And it wasn't Moonblaze after all.

It was Spottedwhisker.

"You," she sighed, stepping forward. All the horror of the battle seemed to vanish, replaced instead by confidence. "You're the one, not me."

Swanfeather followed her gaze and gasped. Soon, all eyes turned from the young medicine cat apprentice to warrior StarClan had singled out above all others.

It took a moment for it to dawn on Spottedwhisker. His glowing blue eyes took in that everyone was no looking at him, and he gulped. "Me?"

"Of course," Swanfeather said. "Why didn't I see it before? You've always had the most beautiful blue eyes. You've always stood out."

Spottedwhisker sat up straight, shaking his head in protest. "That's not true. I've never stood out. I'm just a normal warrior."

"But you've never been just a normal warrior," Lichentooth argued. "Don't you remember our first battle training session?"

Spottedwhisker nodded slowly.

"Even back then, you were different. When we asked Gingertail what she would fight for, she gave the standard answer that everyone gives: The Clan. But do you remember, Spottedwhisker, what you said you'd fight for?"

"My sister," he mewed.

"That's right. Back then, you're sister was more important to you than the entire Clan. I'm sure that now, that answer has grown. Sagepool and the unborn litter, Gingertail and her kits, Ashpaw and her littermates, Whitebirch and the other elders…" Spottedwhisker was watching her now as though his life depended on it. "Don't you see? You're different because, while every cat cares for the Clan, you care for each individual cat."

Spottedwhisker's brow furrowed as he stared at the ground, mouth agape. From behind them, a cold voice scoffed, "Him be Clan leader? Like StarClan would ever chose someone as soft."

The huddled cats turned to look into the eyes of Snakefang, still held at bay by Palemist, Acornblaze, and Stonepaw. "Nobody asked you," Stonepaw sneered back, unsheathing his claws.

"There's been enough fighting," Weedfoot said.

Snakefang smirked at Stonepaw as he retracted his claws. Moonblaze bristled. How could the ginger warrior treat his Clanmates that way after everything he'd done? Didn't he realize so many lives that'd been lost in this battle? Moonblaze couldn't ever remember a battle being as vicious as this one was, not even in the stories the elders had told her when she was a kit. Snakefang was acting like he didn't care.

The remaining Clan cats were now stepping forward to face the traitors. Their eyes—which had been tired—was now glinted with fresh anger. Fur was brushing up, and claws sliding up. "What should we do with the traitors?" Weaselscuffle asked. It suddenly occurred to Moonblaze that Snakefang was Weaselscuffle's and Slystep's brother. They now stood together and glared as one at their littermate. Their only sister, Violetcloud, wasn't even looking at her tabby brother at all.

Talonclaw lay staring up in horror as his Clanmates advanced. Soddenpelt sat up, staring at them with genuine worry in his eyes. Snakefang actually took a step back. "You'll do nothing," he spat. "Killing us won't undo what's been done!"

"I wish it would," Talonclaw said quietly. "I wish that I could die and the Clan could revive quicker."

Cats exchanged wide-eyed glances. Brindlefern let out a choked sob, but it was cut off as Molefoot said, "I think we should question them. Ask them about the battle and how it was planned."

Other cats didn't look so pleased with that thought. Bramblepelt was sliding his claws in and out, as though he longed for nothing more than to avenge his brother. Ashpaw hissed, "After what they've done to their own Clanmates? To their families?" She looked over at Cloverspirit's body, and Moonblaze remembered that the old she-cat had been Ashpaw's mentor.

"We can't do anything unless Spottedwhisker tells us," Tealfur reminded her. "He's Clan leader now."

The gray tom rose to his feet. He faced the traitors with content in his eyes. Finally, he spoke. "We'll do nothing with them until I've spoken to StarClan. In the meantime, I want these bodies to be set for vigil. Put Pantherstripe on the side of the Thunderpath. Hopefully, Scarletstar will think he'd been hit by a monster. Bury the other Clan warriors, but away from our own burial site. They don't belong with ShadowClan, though they fought alone against us. So they will rest alone."

He looked around the clearing. "I want Briarstar, Gorsefur, and the others lined up for vigil. Take Cedartail's body out and bury him with the other Clan cats. He does not walk with ShadowClan in StarClan. We must send out a hunting party. Who is the least injured?"

Molefoot stepped forward amongst a few ragtag members of the Clan, including Frecklecloud. Spottedwhisker eyed her for a moment. "Molefoot, take these warriors out for hunting. Bring back as much as possible. Frecklecloud, I know that you are still a warrior, but I would appreciate it if you would move into the nursery with Cedarkit. Now that his mother is gone, he needs someone to raise him. I can think of no one better."

Frecklecloud took a deep breath, then dipped her head and whisked away to the nursery. "Lichentooth will be in charge of the camp while I am gone." He looked directly at the she-cat as he spoke. "Let all the warriors eat accept our prisoners. They get no food." The mottled she-cat dipped her head as he spoke. By now, dawn light was filtering over the mountaintops. The starshine was vanishing amongst the morning light.

"I will set out at once to the Moonstone. If Moonblaze is right, when I return, I will have received my new name and nine lives."

The cats around the clearing gave a half-hearted cheer. Although Spottedwhisker was no doubt a popular choice for leader, no one had been expecting it to be him going to the Moonstone.

"I will accompany you, Spottedwhisker," Moonblaze volunteered. "There are still plenty of wounds that need healing around the Clan, and Swanfeather needs to rest after last night."

"What about you?" he asked.

"I am okay. Swanfeather had been working restlessly over Gingertail. I have enough energy to make the trip there and back."

Spottedwhisker nodded.

Before leaving the camp, the gray tom bowed his head before each of the bodies. As he said his goodbyes to each of his Clanmates, Moonblaze padded up to Tinyclaw. Her brother had been set out nearer the nursery. Inside the prickly den, a kit squeaked, then another. It sounded like Gingertail's kits were becoming more active. She rested her head on her brother's cold fur and breathed in his scent. The smell of blood nearly choked her. Beneath all other senses, the smell of death was settling in. She stepped back and surveyed him.

"I know why you want to go to Spottedwhisker's ceremony," Swanfeather's voice sounded in her ear. "Please, Moonblaze. Don't hold too much against him." Moonblaze didn't respond. She wasn't sure what she expected from going to the Moonstone. The only explanation she could offer herself was that she had been the one to interpret the sign from StarClan. Whatever they wanted from her now, they were calling, and who was Moonblaze to ignore them?