Rising Moon

Jedi Goat

Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.

Author's Note: For the next few weeks, updates will be slow as my exams are beginning (sigh).

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Chapter 12

The cats returned in solemn silence to camp later that afternoon; Brambleclaw was braced between Leafpool and Stormfur, and two warriors were carrying Berrryfoot's body. Moonpaw limped forward slowly, head down and tail drooping, keeping her gaze on her paws. Exhaustion and regret had taken their hold; Moonpaw couldn't help but guiltily think how none of this would have happened if she hadn't gone out looking for catnip. Oakpaw walked beside her, concerned amber eyes on his friend.

Moonpaw emerged from the thorn tunnel and blinked in the sunlight. She had forgotten it was still day; everything had suddenly disappeared in shadow with the arrival of the wolves.

"We'll put him in my den," Leafpool instructed curtly to Stormfur. The gray tom nodded, eyes sympathetic. Brambleclaw had been a good friend to him.

Brambleclaw turned at the sound of her voice, and Moonpaw felt her insides lurch in sympathy. The ThunderClan deputy had once been a strong and powerful warrior. Now he looked defeated and weak, tufts of fur removed completely by the vicious wolves. But the worst of the damage was his face: on one side, nothing remained of his eye but a deep gash. The other eye was partly closed, amber iris dull.

Cinderpaw bounded out of the medicine cats' den with an excited mew, slowing to a stop when she caught sight of Brambleclaw. "What –" she began, eyes wide with shock.

"I'll tell you inside." Leafpool disappeared through the fern curtain.

Cinderpaw exchanged a confused but worried glance with Moonpaw before whisking after her.

Moonpaw turned to Oakpaw. "I'll see you later, I guess," she mumbled awkwardly.

Oakpaw nuzzled her ear comfortingly. "All right."

Turning, he raced off to the apprentices' den. Moonpaw watched him for a moment, and then returned to the duty at hand.

She entered the medicine cats' den in time to hear Leafpool quickly summarizing the battle. The tabby she-cat glanced up as she approached, suggesting, "Cinderpaw, could you get Moonpaw some cobwebs?"

The gray she-cat vanished deeper into the den, reappearing a moment later with a pawful of sticky webs.

"Here," she mewed, pressing them onto the wound on Moonpaw's shoulder. The last of the bleeding seemed to heal up.

"Thanks," murmured Moonpaw gratefully, settling down in the moss bedding.

At that moment a ginger she-cat burst into the den. The ferns swung crazily behind her as she gasped, "Brambleclaw! What happened to him?!"

Leafpool stood, pushing her nose into the frantic cat's fur. "Calm down, Squirrelflight. Shouldn't you be in the nursery?"

Squirrelflight stepped back, shaking her head. "I heard they were hunting. Then you all came back from a battle."

"There was a battle," Leafpool soothed. "Moonpaw, Brambleclaw, Berryfoot, Oakpaw, Cloudtail and Brackenfur were out hunting when they were attacked by wolves. We had to send more cats out to fight them."

"Berryfoot is dead," Squirrelflight continued. "I saw Cloudtail and Brackenfur bring in his body. But what happened to my Brambleclaw?" She tried to push past her sister.

"Squirrelflight! You really shouldn't be in here," Leafpool pleaded.

"I will see my mate." The ginger cat's green eyes flashed. She shoved Leafpool out of the way and took a step forward.

Brambleclaw raised his head, and his good eye brightened. "Squirrelflight!"

She gasped, sinking to the ground beside him. Her eyes never left his marred face. "What happened to you?"

"The wolves attacked. One came at Moonpaw and I tried to defend her. That's one of the last things I remember." Brambleclaw's head drooped back down onto his paws, as if his little speech had sapped the last of his energy.

Squirrelflight licked his ear and then stood, her eyes alit with fire. She turned her angry gaze on Moonpaw. "You! This is your fault."

Moonpaw's emerald eyes widened and she shrank back. "I'm sorry," she stuttered. "I-I didn't mean to-"

Leafpool swept her tail around the black she-cat, glaring at Squirrelflight. "I'd prefer if you did not speak against my apprentices in my den," she snapped. "Go back to the nursery. Now."

Squirrelflight gave her a murderous look. Then she turned and stalked out of the den.

Leafpool allowed her fur to settle back down on her shoulders. She turned to see Cinderpaw watching her, wide-eyed.

"Sorry about that," she sighed. "Squirrelflight is just so prickly some times. Don't let her get to you, Moonpaw." She glanced around suddenly. "Moonpaw?"

The apprentice was gone.

Moonpaw slipped out of the den, eyes brimming with tears. She hadn't meant to get Brambleclaw injured! Would the clan absolutely hate her now?

She passed by the fresh-kill pile just as Honeypaw and her replacement mentor while Squirrelflight was in the nursery, Ferncloud, were adding their catches to the stash. Honeypaw dropped the juicy vole she had been holding to call out, "Hey, Moonpaw!"

Moonpaw took one quick look at the apprentice and turned away.

"Hey! What's wrong?" Honeypaw asked, but Moonpaw had already run off.

Moonpaw raced behind the nursery to where she knew the secret tunnel was. She didn't care if she wasn't supposed to be there; she probably wouldn't be a part of the clan for much longer.

Scrambling up the stony tunnel, she thought she heard someone say her name. But then she was through and out in ThunderClan forest.

Moonpaw shook her head to clear the memories of the wolves and darted off through the trees, not really sure of where she was going. It didn't matter what happened to her now. The wolves could get her, for all she cared. She was a traitor. An outcast. ThunderClan didn't want her. Maybe she could find somewhere to go. Maybe she would find her fate at the pit of a wolf's stomach.

Moonpaw paused. The forest was darkening around her, and a shiver crept up her spine. Now she began to doubt her decision to leave. Every plant looked hostile, a shadow stretching out to grab her.

Moonpaw shook her head. Stop being so paranoid! She rose to her paws, picked a direction, and kept walking without casting a glance back.

As she moved, her mind wandered back to the battle, and to Squirrelflight's fierce accusation that stung her insides. Moonpaw felt tears forming in her eyes once more, and burst into a run.

She flew through the bushes and skidded down a slope, vision blurred. She heard a splash and gazed down to see she was standing in the middle of a stream. A soft, cool current tugged at her legs. Beginnings of stars and the oncoming night shone in the water, along with the reflection of a small black cat with glistening green eyes. A single tear fell, rippling across the image.

Moonpaw padded out onto the bank and flopped down on the ground, staring out at the stream and allowing herself to cry. Her feelings raged in her mind, warring against her better judgment. She knew she was being overdramatic, rushing from camp like that. But StarClan knew what happened hadn't been her fault. Squirrelflight had no right to verbally attack her!

Moonpaw shook her head, trying to clear her vision. She sniffled and brushed at her wet eyes.

Then she realized that she was no longer on ThunderClan territory.

To be continued...

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