Chapter 3

The sound of quivering undergrowth awoke Moon. She yawned, opening her eyes, and was met with the round face of a dappled queen.

Gray sunlight outlined the limp mouse hanging from her jaws.

"O-oh, am I in your way?" Moon rose from her nest, but the queen shook her head, flinging the mouse at her paws. "Creststar requested I bring this to you," she said flatly. "My name is Suefall. Welcome to Fern — welcome to the Rebellion." Her amber eyes were dull, hollowed of emotion.

Moon gazed inquisitively at Suefall before taking a bite of mouse. "Thank you very much. May I see my brother?"

"That smoke-colored tom? Canarypelt is tending to him." Suefall flicked her tail at the cracked stone.

Beanstalk bounded up behind her. "Moon, would you like a tour of camp?" she meowed excitedly.

Moon quickly gulped down the mouse, sighing as her belly filled for the first time in days. "Yes, please."

She slipped out of the brambles, nodding to Suefall as she went. Pebblefur and a silver she-cat were sitting close by, tails thumping impatiently.

"You've met Pebblefur," said Beanstalk, sauntering up to the gray-and-white tom. "This is Froststripe."

The silver she-cat dipped her head in greeting, icy eyes flashing.

"Nice to meet you," Moon said.

"Let's get a move on," Pebblefur ordered gruffly. His pelt was still wet with the dog and Boots' blood. "Pinefoot wants me and Bobbywind to patrol near Bloodcliff at sunhigh."

Froststripe's muzzle wrinkled as the cats began to stalk across camp. "If we had more warriors, you wouldn't have to do so much of the work," she meowed.

"Well, we aren't expecting any soon." Pebblefur looked at his paws. "And Suefall is practically retired, she can't do anything."

Beanstalk's ears twitched. "Once her grief passes, she'll become a warrior again, surely."

"Or she'll return to being a kittypet. That's what she should have done, before her kits were —" Pebblefur broke off, gazing at Moon. "Nevermind," he muttered.

Moon opened her mouth to speak, quickly but thought better of it.

Pebblefur continued steadily. "This is the medicine den, as you probably know by now. Canarypelt treats the ill and injured here." Moon gazed through the narrow crack, but any sign of Boots was lost in the darkness. Pebblefur nudged her onwards and stalked over to a tight clump of nettles encircled by thorns.

"This is the nursery. When she-cats become queens, they stay here and raise their kits until they become apprentices."

He moved on to a short, hollow log, sunlight streaming inside through dozens of termite holes. "This is the elders' den. We've never had any elders, but Canarypelt says that StarClan willed us to make one for when the time comes."

Moon's head buzzed with confusion. "What — what is StarClan?"

Beanstalk jumped. "Oh! Right! Basically, they're —"

"I'm better at explaining things," Froststripe cut in, flashing Beanstalk a playful glance. "According to Canarypelt, StarClan are the spirits of Clans that died out long ago. After many moons, they called him and Creststar to recreate their ancient ways, and thus the Rebellion was born."

Moon squinted, trying to figure out what in the world Frostripe was talking about. "They're d-dead cats?"

Beanstalk let out a mrrow of laughter. "You bet. My littermates and I were confused, too, but you get used to it."

"I still think Canarypelt is out of his mind," Pebblefur huffed. "But, I am glad for the Rebellion. I hated being a kittypet." His fur prickled, fangs exposed.

"I thought it was alright." Beanstalk's voice was meek. Froststripe turned on her, eyes blazing.

"It's a disgusting way to live!" spat the silver tabby. "I would rather die than go back to that life." She swiveled around to face the snapped aspen. Creststar basked underneath a pool of gray sunlight, clawing at a limp sparrow. "Kittypets are even weaker than her."

"What are you talking about?" Moon's eyes widened. She felt completely lost.

Froststripe twitched. "Nothing," she said hastily. "Let's keep moving." She hurried towards a large, overhanging holly bush.

Pebblefur touched his nose to one of the bright red berries. "This is the apprentices' den. It's… vacant."

He fell back onto his haunches, gazing darkly at the wet leaves.

"And over there," Froststripe broke in, fur raising, "is the Crookedtree, where Creststar sleeps."

Moon nodded. She scuffed her paws over the damp earth.

"That concludes the tour." Pebblefur bounded off towards a fluffy tabby without another word. Froststripe stalked over to a shaggy gray she-cat and a small, golden kit.

Moon cocked her head at the sight of the young cat; she bore a great resemblance to Creststar, from the color of her fur to her long, thin legs, and calm, confident air.

"The leader's daughter herself," said Beanstalk, nudging Moon with her shoulder. "That's Chirpkit, and beside her is Blueflow, her sister from another litter."

Gazing at the way Blueflow wrapped her tail protectively around Chirpkit, Moon's heart flooded with warmth. She saw her love for Boots reflected in the pretty sisters. "Who is the father?" she meowed absent-mindedly.

"I-I'm not sure Creststar would want me to say." Beanstalk's gaze flickered to the Crookedtree, where Pinefoot and Creststar were watching Bobbywind and Pebblefur pad out of camp.

"I get it," Moon said quickly, not wanting to be nosy.

Beanstalk sat down, curling her tail neatly over her paws. "You mentioned that your Twolegs — uh, housefolk, abandoned you," she murmured.

Moon nodded, claws sinking into the earth.

"What will you do once your brother is healed? Return to town?"

Moon swallowed, her ears pressed back. "I suppose I wanted to live in the wilderness, but it seems like you've already claimed it."

Beanstalk's eyes fluttered, then a sly glint came into her gaze. "You know, Creststar would be happy to have you in the Rebellion."

Moon stiffened, her heart skipping a beat. "You want me to join the Rebellion?"

"I-if you want."

"I… Boots would never agree…" Moon shook her head, body slackening.

"You could always ask," Beanstalk insisted. "The Rebellion always needs new warriors. And since you and Boots are almost full-grown, you wouldn't have to be apprentices for long!"

Moon shot her a quizzical look. "Apprentices?"

"Oh, right. Apprentices are cats training to become warriors. And trust me, being a warrior is worth all the effort!" Beanstalk stretched, showing off her lean body and strong muscles.

Moon gaped at her in awe, a strange sensation swelling in her chest. A wild cat? Her? Was it possible?

She swiveled her ears around, drinking in the sounds of fluttering leaves and murmuring cats. On the damp breeze, she could scent deep soil and a nearby vole. The ground underneath her swelled with life and vegetation, far softer than the rough town paths.

Moon took in a long, steady breath. "I'll think about it."

Beanstalk's tail stood erect. "Great! I'll go tell Creststar." Before Moon could respond, Beanstalk bounded off.