Chapter 34: Tall Pine
The dawn broke severely and silently over the Valley of Hidden Stars. The branches above Tall Pine's head were a graveyard without the melodic calls of birds. The weak sunlight offered meager but crisp light, leaving ominous shadows that gathered in the corners. The air was crisp and frosty, descending in a bitter layer over everything. It's almost as if the forest knows what is about to happen, the young tom mused. Or maybe it was only his imagination as he tramped along near the rear of the patrol, an atmosphere of tense silence and intent concentration hanging over the Clan of the Morning Sun cats' heads like a coiled snake.
Despite the cold, the ground under-paw was still soggy but frigid, penetrating the cats' pads and chilling them to the bone. Although the others around him started to slow their pace, wrinkling their noses with distaste and lifting their paws high, clear of the puddles, Tall Pine strode along, as usual, undisturbed, or at least, accustomed to the terrain. A shiver ran through him as the decaying husks of reeds began to dot the landscape here and there. It's strange to be back here for an entirely different purpose.
"Eww, this is disgusting," Jagged Path groaned as he sloshed through a puddle of muddy water.
"Quit whining," Sharp Wind snapped without halting. "We're all wet."
"Hush," Mossy Moon ordered, raising her tail. She paused, turning to scan the patrol from the front. Angling her ears toward a screen of reeds a few fox-lengths ahead, she fixed each patrol member with a stern gaze. "We have almost arrived at the designated meeting place. What we are about to do will either succeed and save our Clan or fail and doom us all. Do not forget why we are here, what is at stake, and what we need to accomplish."
Right. Tall Pine lifted his chin and squared his shoulders, trying to summon the confidence to mask the nervousness twinging inside him. We- He froze, his ears twitching as the tendrils of a willow tree rustled above him. Oh, could that be- His gaze darted upward, but he relaxed once he saw it was only the breeze. We are here to stop Gray Moon and the Clan of the Flowing Waters from accomplishing their goal. The survival of our Clan is at stake, so we must achieve peace.
Whoops. The black and white tom looked up to see that his Clanmates had already vanished through the reeds. He hurried after them, pushing through stalks, only to freeze when he saw what lay on the other side. Oh stars, when Gray Moon said the central island, he meant that one. Across an inlet of half-frozen water ahead of them, lay a broad island with a high bank tufted with reeds on the far side. Images flashed before his eyes. Bright blue eyes lighting up. A slender gray shape racing through the reeds. Strong paws pulling him from the water.
"Watch it," Jagged Path snapped, jostling Tall Pine's shoulder as he brushed past. "Why are you standing there like a mouse-brain? We have important things to do."
Tall Pine jerked out of his thoughts. Great stars, Jagged Path is even grouchier than usual. He scowled and opened his mouth to retort but stopped short as he met the tom's wide eyes for a split-heartbeat. Oh, he's probably just afraid of what could happen. Tall Pine smoothed his neck fur and started to move again. We all are.
No one dared to complain aloud, so the Clan of the Morning Sun cats suffered in silence as they waded through the frigid water. Tall Pine shuddered as the hungry waves lapped at his flanks, not too thrilled to be crossing the inlet once again. Digging his claws into the mud, which was more like frozen dirt now, he hauled himself onto the island, half-expecting to see Frosted Leaf waiting for him. But instead, a large tom sat in the center of the island, his thick pelt sleek and serene as the sky after a storm, but he fixed his blue eyes on the newcomers with the ferocity of a gale.
"Greetings, Gray Moon," Mossy Moon meowed as she trotted over to the chieftain, halting just inside the border. Her voice was as solid and firm as an oak branch, giving no hint that she was aware of the imminent danger.
"Mossy Moon." The glint in Gray Moon's eyes made Tall Pine shiver. He had risen to his paws as she approached and dipped his head. "Thank you for coming."
"I was glad to receive the invitation," the chieftain said sincerely. The other Clan of the Morning Sun cats crowded around their chieftain as she sat. In the quick briefing before they had left, she had told them to act naturally to not reveal their ploy, so Tall Pine, Jagged Path, Sharp Wind, and Fern Dapple sat down as well, but they couldn't stop their pelts from bristling just perceptibly and scanning the marsh around them for threats. Hopefully, Gray Moon would attribute that to them being cautious.
"So." Mossy Moon cleared her throat. "Why did you invite us here today?"
"I'm sure you have an idea." Gray Moon smiled with a nod. "And you're correct. I invited you to meet with me here today for an important reason that affects both of our Clans." He shifted his weight and cleared his throat as if nervous. "I saw how much hurt and devastation the last battle between our Clans caused-for both of us. I started this war to protect my Clan, but it has done more harm than good. We are now facing two much more serious threats between the Time of Frozen Earth rapidly approaching and the enduring threat of the Bands that will no doubt cause more harm. So now, after the battle, I have realized that it would not be wise to continue as we are. The time has come for us to end the war."
Mossy Moon returned his smile. "I am delighted that you think so, and I agree wholeheartedly. We cannot continue this any longer."
Tall Pine's eyes widened. Wow, Gray Moon is an exceptional pretender. But so is Mossy Moon. He glanced over his shoulder as his pelt prickled. How much longer is Gray Moon going to stall for? I can't stand all this suspense.
"Excellent." The Clan of the Flowing Waters chieftain's tone was as slippery as a fish as he rose and began to pace back and forth along his side of the border. "I am so glad that we agree. Now that we do, we can start to discuss how we might resolve it."
"Negotiating a peaceful resolution." Mossy Moon nodded. "I am all ears."
"Good. You will want to hear what I have to say. Since the battle, I also realized that the war we are fighting is pointless. It will never come to fruition, only resulting in more hurt and devastation for my Clan. That is why-"
"Our Clans?" Fern Dapple rose to her paws with a frown, glaring at the gray tom.
Gray Moon froze in his tracks, a cloud of confusion drifting across his face for a heartbeat. "What?"
"Our Clans," Fern Dapple repeated. Her expression was carved in stone. "This war has caused hurt and devastation for both of our Clans. You've been wreaking havoc on our Clan for a moon now, attacking innocent hunters and trainees, severely injuring our fighters, and forcing us to bury one of our elders. And took all of this for you to finally realize that this war is pointless, something everyone else knew since before the beginning. Don't you forget that my Clan is hurting. Don't forget that you are responsible."
Gray Moon stared at her for a few heartbeats before nodding swiftly and averting his gaze. "Right." He returned to his pacing. "So, that is why we cannot continue fighting this war. In the past three sunrises, I have thought a lot about how to resolve the conflict, and one thing has become clear to me." He stopped abruptly directly in front of Mossy Moon, his eyes flashing as he lifted his chin. Tall Pine swallowed a lump in his throat.
When the chieftain spoke again, his voice was like the frigid breeze whispering in the leaves. "All of the issues that my Clan has faced recently have one thing in common. One thing that has cost us innocent lives. One thing that prevents me from protecting my Clanmates from further harm." As his voice crescendoed, he curled his lip into a snarl, revealing white fangs. "One thing that with, there can never be peace. And that thing-"
"-you believe is me." Gazes wrenched from Gray Moon, and heads whirled so mouths could gape at Mossy Moon, who stood as cool and calm the Blue River on a sunny day despite Gray Moon's accusing glare rivaling the bristling pelts behind her.
The gray tom's jaw dropped partway open before he seemed to check himself. "Yes, it is you." His gaze glimmered. "So, the only way to resolve all of these issues is too-"
"If I were you, I'd be careful with what I say next," Mossy Moon interrupted, her mew cold. "You are treading into treacherous territory, Gray Moon. Think carefully before you make your next move. Do you really want to do this?"
He lifted his chin. "I have never been more certain of anything."
"You won't accomplish anything," Mossy Moon warned. She took a step forward, her toes touching the border but not crossing the scent line. "If you continue to fight, my Clan won't back down. We will fight you with claws and teeth for what we believe in. If you kill me here and now, that won't change."
Gray Moon's jaw fell open entirely this time. "How...how did you know?"
She ignored his question. "I know that you blame me for advocating for the Band patrol to join our Clans, which resulted in our Clanmates' deaths, and for refusing to go along with your plan to defeat the Bands. I know that you believe that killing me will enable you to crush any more resistance from my Clan. But I will give you this warning once; you're deadly wrong. Killing me will accomplish nothing; it will not end the war between our Clans, it will not solve our problems with the Bands, and-" her tone softened as she leaned forward to look him in the eye. "-it will not be vengeance for your son. It will not bring him back to life."
"You don't know it won't," Gray Moon snarled, turning away. "You don't know of what you speak. Don't you dare ever mention my son." He paused, and time seemed to slow as he raised his tail. "Clan of the Flowing Waters cats." His eyes flashed. "Attack."
Tall Pine froze as the water and mud and reeds around them came to life. It was one thing to eavesdrop on the plan of attack; it was quite another to see it in action. It seemed as though countless cats materialized from the marsh and descended on them with claws unsheathed and lips curled. The Clan of the Morning Sun cats dropped into battle stances, their pelts bristling like pinecones as they formed a circle around their chieftain. To one side, Jagged Path growled as loud as metalbeat as Tall Pine's heartbeat pounded in his ears. Fern Dapple's eyes rippled with fear reflecting his own, but she narrowed them and unsheathed her claws. There are so many of them! They could rip us to shreds. But we're ready, he assured himself. We can do this. He joined his Clanmates in a battle stance, ready to meet the incoming tide.
Amid the chaos, Mossy Moon stood as calmly and gracefully as a willow tree. She turned to Gray Moon, who stared at her in confusion. "One of my cats uncovered your plan just in time, so we were able to prepare. And do you really think after all we've been through, I wouldn't take precautions?" Lifting her tail, she dropped a signal of her own.
All of a sudden, the trees around them came alive with whispers and rustles. Shadows flashed across the water sparkling with the dawn's light before several shapes dropped down out of the overarching trees, landing with a resounding splash. Falling Star, Drifting Leaf, Raven Swoop, Dawn Sky, Running Wave, and Bracken Tail sank into crouches, sliding their claws out in a wide ring around the island. Paired with the other Clan of the Morning Sun cats, they now outnumbered and outflanked the Clan of the Flowing Waters cats.
Falling Star swished her tail, low and slow as she glared at the fighters. "Stop it right there, fox-hearts. Not another step, or we'll attack."
The Clan of the Flowing Waters fighters skidded to a halt, glancing nervously at Falling Star and the others before turning to their chieftain.
Mossy Moon met her regent's gaze, giving her a nod before she turned to Gray Moon. She lifted her chin. "This insanity stops now. My cats outnumber yours, and we have the advantage. If you truly want to protect your Clanmates, you will call this off and cease all future attacks. This is how we resolve the issues. With your decision to end this war here and now. If you do this, I will forgive this deceit and attempt on my life, and I will not seek any retribution for both of our Clans' sake. We cannot afford to continue fighting with the Time of Frozen Earth coming and the threat of the Bands hanging over our heads."
Gray Moon shifted his weight, watching her in stony silence.
"You should know," the chieftain went on, her eyes shining meaningfully. "The threat of the Bands is much more imminent than you think. You wanted to know why I let Sharp stay, so here's why. By granting him asylum, I could have my cats spy on him because I never doubted that he was a part of the Bands' plan. It was a difficult decision to make but well worth the risk. But if I had told anyone the truth, I would've risked ruining the plan. Just this past evening, my spy uncovered an essential part of the Bands' plan. As we speak, a patrol from the Bands has entered the Valley of Hidden Stars to begin their ploy, and a patrol from the Clan of the Morning Sun has gone to stop them."
She turned to pace back and forth once. "We as the Clans cannot be fighting amongst ourselves right now. We may stop the Bands today, but they won't give up. I have no doubt that they have more in store for us. The Clans must be united to thwart them. But to do so, we must stop this war." She halted at the border again for a heartbeat before she carefully picked up one paw and reached across, setting it on the other chieftain's. "I did not kill your son, Gray Moon. The Bands did. If you want revenge, end this war and help me fight them."
Tall Pine held his breath. The cats around him, Clanmates and enemy, hushed, watching and waiting. Everything seemed to stop as Gray Moon remained silent, gazing at Mossy Moon with blazing eyes. The young tom was extremely aware of how close his chieftain was standing to the other one, the snarl on Gray Moon's lips, the proximity of the enemy fighters to him, and their claws that they were sliding out and in. His chest constricted as his thoughts spiraled like tumbling leaves. Oh stars, is he going to attack her? There's no way he's going to say yes. He's going to continue the war. After everything, there's no way he'd stop now. We failed.
"Fine," Gray Moon spat after what felt like seasons had passed. His intense composure shattering, he wrenched his paw away from Mossy Moon and turned away in an attempt to hide the pain deeply etched into his face. "Fine, you get what you want. You've won. This war is over." The Clan of the Flowing Waters cats began to stream toward him as he flicked his tail and strode into the reeds. "But you should know-" he said, looking over his shoulder, his piercing gaze meeting Mossy Moon's. "This isn't the end. You'd better watch your back. Sleep with one eye open. There are traitors within the Clan of the Morning Sun." He turned to leave but halted once more. This time, his voice was little more than a murmur, hard to decipher over the whispers of the breeze, so Tall Pine almost thought he heard wrong. "His name was Golden Song."
The Clan of the Morning Sun cats stood in stunned silence, watching as the Clan of the Flowing Waters cats hurried away. In what felt like mere heartbeats, they had vanished into the willows, reeds, and tiny isles of the marsh, melting into the rapidly disintegrating shadows as the sun rose higher. Sunlight slanted through the barren branches, gleaming on the softening ice half-covering the inlet. The breeze was still cold, but it, too, had softened and was easier to breathe. A lone birdsong drifted through the bows. The forest was quiet, but it was a peaceful hush, gentle and promising for the first time in moons. A new day.
"We did it," Drifting Leaf whispered, her smile growing like Time of Thawing Earth flowers as she exchanged a glance with Tall Pine.
Falling Star flexed her claws with a rare grin. "We sent those fox-hearts running."
"We did it!" Several cats took up the cheer now, whooping and hollering their joy and relief to the brilliant blue sky. Even Mossy Moon smiled a little as she turned to Fern Dapple, giving her quiet praise for her clever catch and brave stance against Gray Moon.
We did it. Tall Pine released a long breath as his anxiety and tension eased. He allowed himself to relax and have hope. Just a little. Mossy Moon made Gray Moon back down. The war between our Clan is over. We don't have to live in fearful anticipation of another attack anymore. We won't bury any more Clanmates...for a while. While one problem is solved, we are still facing the issue of the Bands. He sent a quick prayer to his ancestors in the Clan of the Bright Stars. Spotted Owl, it's all up to you now.
Hi, everyone! Sorry, it has been so long. I had the most severe case of writer's block I ever had with this chapter, and that, coupled with a vacation I just got back from, made this chapter take forever. I was extremely busy a few weeks back near the end of school, so it took me a long time to write this chapter in the first place, but then I wasn't happy with it, so I went back and edited it six times. But here it is, finally, and I'm mostly satisfied with it. This is the first half of the climax (second half to follow in the next chapter) with a lot of action and things that have been revealed, so, exciting! Leave a review and let me know what you think!
Fun Fact: Gray Moon's son was named Golden Song. Golden Song was a sickly kit, unlike his stronger sister, and so Gray Moon was always extremely protective of him and encouraged him to get stronger. They became very close as he got older as Golden Song relied on his father for support and advice. When Gray Moon found his son's body in a pool of blood, his throat slashed, he was blinded by rage and sorrow. Though the Bands were responsible, he would never know which cat killed Golden Song and they drove the rogues out soon after, so in searching for something more tangible to blame, he chose Mossy Moon.
- A Warrior At Heart