Rising Moon

Jedi Goat

Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.

Author's Note: Reviews! Yay! To Rabbitstorm: I don't know how they knew; I just liked the name. Willowcloud, thank you, and you'll just have to wait and see. Swiftstream, yeah, I didn't really like Daisy either. But now I have to read The Sight :)

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Chapter 9

"Moonpaw? Could you get some more juniper berries? There's a nice big plant right outside camp."

"Okay, Leafpool," Moonpaw called over her shoulder, stepping out of the den. "I'll take Oakpaw with me, just in case." The two warriors rule was causing extra trouble for the cats, meaning simple duties became larger affairs. But it is for the safety of the clan, Moonpaw reasoned.

Racing over to the apprentices' den, where Honeypaw was lounged outside, Moonpaw stuck her head inside. "Oakpaw?"

"What is it?" With a yawn, the tom padded out. "Oh, hi, Moonpaw."

"Will you come find herbs with me?"

He shrugged, "Sure."

The two apprentices headed out of the camp. Following the surrounding walls, they soon found the juniper bush up against them. Moonpaw crawled under it, choosing the juiciest berries and rolling them outside to Oakpaw. She quickly pawed off a good dozen.

"Okay, I think we have enough now," she called out. Moonpaw stood, the leaves brushing against her pelt.

Then she spotted something odd; there was light coming through from the other side of the bush. But that should be the wall, shouldn't it? Puzzled, Moonpaw took a few steps toward the light.

Then she squealed as she slid down a small slope. Pebbles showered down onto her fur. Moonpaw shook them off and looked around. She was in a small tunnel running through the wall into ThunderClan camp!

"Moonpaw? Are you okay?" Oakpaw's concerned voice echoed above her.

"Fine," she gasped in reply. "Come down here. I think I just discovered something!"

There was a short pause, and then more stones rained down as Oakpaw slipped down toward her.

"What is it?" he asked, warm breath brushing against her cheek. Moonpaw was suddenly uncomfortably aware of how cramped the tunnel was.

Crawling forward, she said, "Look. This tunnel goes right into camp!"

The two apprentices emerged into the sunlight, blinking. Firestar padded up to them. "Oakpaw! There you are. Sandstorm wants you for a patrol."

"Look what we found!" piped up Moonpaw, indicating the tunnel.

Firestar frowned. "I thought it was covered up with bushes."

"It was!" Oakpaw added. "We were looking for juniper berries there."

The ThunderClan leader nodded gravely. "Moonpaw, Oakpaw, this tunnel is not to be used unless there is an emergency. It is an escape route only. We do not want any rival cats – or other creatures – coming into the camp."

"I understand," Oakpaw mewed, ducking his head. Moonpaw nodded.

"Good. Now, Oakpaw," Firestar flicked his tail at a group of cats waiting at the thorn tunnel entrance. "Patrol."

"Right! Sorry." He bounded off toward the cats, then paused and glanced back at Moonpaw.

"I think I can fetch the berries on my own," she laughed, and Oakpaw left.

"Moonpaw? Cinderpaw?"

"I'm here!" Moonpaw bounced excitedly out of the medicine cats' den. Cinderpaw was only a paw step behind her.

"Good," Leafpool purred. "It's time to go to the Moonpool. First, I have to go tell Firestar. We'll need warriors to go with us."

Cinderpaw nodded solemnly. Moonpaw felt a shiver of fear replace her bubbling enthusiasm. Memories of what happened to Molepaw flashed in her mind. Is whatever killed him still out there, waiting to pick off more of us?

Grimacing slightly, Moonpaw forced those thoughts form her head. There were warriors coming with them, for StarClan's sake! The killer wouldn't attack full-grown cats. I hope.

Leafpool returned from Firestar's den with Squirrelflight and Honeypaw at her heels.

"All right, let's go," meowed Leafpool, and the group of cats padded toward the camp entrance.

At the WindClan stream, the ThunderClan cats met up with Barkface and Cougarpaw. Moonpaw greeted the other apprentice with a wave of her tail

"Any news?" Barkface inquired, seeing the patrol surrounding Leafpool and her apprentices.

Leafpool shook her head. "We're just on guard."

"Probably for the best, anyway," he sighed.

The she-cat's ears pricked forward. "What's wrong?"

The WindClan medicine cat closed his eyes wearily. "A few nights ago, fearsome shadows descended on the camp. They were some sort of animals. They chased us around, and then one caught Morningflower and they ran off with her."

Leafpool gasped sympathetically. She had known the old, gentle she-cat. "Maybe the other clans know what's going on," she suggested.

The bushes rustled, and Squirrelflight tensed. Leafpool laid her tail on her shoulder to calm her; a moment later Littlecloud and Nightfang appeared.

"Is ShadowClan on guard, too?" Leafpool asked.

Littlecloud nodded. "A patrol reported seeing big creatures that hid in the shadows. Blackstar seemed convinced, so no cat can travel at night without a guard."

Nightfang shrugged; Moonpaw felt a chill and looked away from the frightening young tom. "One good thing came from this. Those Twoleg cats are gone from our territory. Maybe those creatures ate them."

"I wonder if RiverClan is having the same problems," Cinderpaw commented.

At that moment, Mothwing and Willowpaw darted toward them.

"What is this? A party?" Mothwing's eyes went wide at the sight of so many cats.

"You haven't had any problems in RiverClan lately?" Littlecloud sounded surprised.

Mothwing shook her pretty golden head. "Not that I know of."

"All of us have," Barkface sighed. "Something is hunting us in our own territories."

"Are we going or not?" Squirrelflight interrupted impatiently.

"We're going," Leafpool said, taking the lead. The other cats followed her upstream.

Arriving at the Moonpool, the medicine cats filed down the slope. The warriors took up positions along the ridge, waiting and watching. Honeypaw's eyes were wide with wonder.

Moonpaw, too, was struck by the beauty of the place. She stepped into the ancient paw prints, observing the sparkling midnight lake.

The medicine cats settled at the water's edge. Moonpaw chose her own spot and lay down, lapping the water once. Then she closed her eyes and dreamed.

She was standing on the Gathering island. Moonpaw recognized the great oak standing tall at the front. Turning, she spotted a starry cat padding toward her.

"Dawnpaw!" Moonpaw raced over and touched noses with her sister. "Have you come to tell me what's hunting the cats? We need StarClan's help!"

Dawnpaw shushed her with a wave of her tail. "StarClan tell me what I must tell you," she sighed. "I would help, if only I could. But tonight StarClan have a different message for you."

Another cat slipped through the bushes into the clearing. His dark eyes shimmered like the sky above, and his pelt was gray smoke.

"This is our brother," Dawnpaw murmured. "Duskshadow. He is now a warrior of StarClan."

Duskshadow bent his head to touch noses with Moonpaw. "I will always watch over you, sister," he whispered.

Moonpaw blinked at her sibling, puzzled. "But you were just a kit when you died! How did you become a warrior?"

"StarClan trains us," Dawnpaw explained. "Under their guidance, we can become warriors."

Moonpaw nodded. Abruptly the clearing began to fade, leaving the two cats hovering in the darkness.

"Be careful, Moonpaw," Duskshadow called.

Dawnpaw's soft voice remained, even as the StarClan cats, too, were dissolving:

"Betrayal will spill blood of old wounds. A terrible danger comes to prowl the forest. Night will send aid, and will replenish the spirit of the forest."

To be continued...

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