Rising Moon

Jedi Goat

Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.

Author's Note: Thank you, Rabbitstorm and Leopardstripe, for the great reviews!

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Chapter 13

Moonpaw jumped up, suddenly frantic. A strong WindClan scent hung in the air, and Moonpaw could imagine it choking her. Cats were coming; they would immediately smell her presence on their territory, even if she made a mad dash for the other bank. It wasn't the half-moon. She had no right to be here, and WindClan had every right to persecute her for that!

The reeds rustled. Moonpaw crouched low, praying to StarClan that the cats wouldn't kill her.

"I told you I smelled cats!" came the confident yowl of a dark gray tom.

"Please, don't hurt me," Moonpaw whispered, her throat choked up with fear.

The tom paced around her, observing her carefully. "ThunderClan. What are you doing on WindClan territory?"

"I – I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." Moonpaw knew the words sounded stupid even as they left her mouth.

The tom snorted. Then his eyes opened wide with realization. "You're Leafpool's apprentice, aren't you!"

"Yes, I'm Moonpaw."

A brown tom emerged after his clanmate, carrying a bunch of herbs in his mouth. He dropped them and his eyes widened when he saw her. "Moonpaw!"

"Cougarpaw?" She couldn't believe it. Silently, she thanked StarClan that she had met up with a fellow medicine cat apprentice. Upon closer observation, the tom seemed a lot thinner than the last time she had seen him. His fur was barely groomed, and his amber eyes were hooded.

He scuffed a paw on the ground in embarrassment. "Well, it's actually Cougarpelt now."

"Cougarpelt?" Moonpaw's eyes grew wide. "But you've only been an apprentice for two moons!"

"I know," he mumbled quietly. "Onestar was going to tell everyone at the next Gathering, but…Barkface is dead."

"What?" Moonpaw rocked back on her paws. "How?"

"The creatures continue to plague our clan. Any cat who goes out alone disappears. Our camp is no longer safe." He heaved a sigh, and his whole body slumped with exhaustion. "Injuries everywhere. Some cats dead. Barkface…he died protecting my sister from the creatures."

Moonpaw padded forward in silence, pushing her nose comfortingly into his fur. She knew clans weren't supposed to share news outside of a Gathering, but as a medicine cat, and considering the grave matter at hand, it seemed all right to inform him of what had happened to ThunderClan.

"We've had trouble, too. The creatures are wolves. Just today they attacked, killing a warrior and injuring many more."

"You, too," Cougarpelt observed, seeing the slash on her shoulder. He brushed the wound briefly with his tail, but Moonpaw drew back from his touch.

She sighed, shaking her head wearily. "If only there was something we could do! These wolves keep hunting us, and we can't do anything about it!"

"There is nothing we can do but heal," Cougarpelt said. "And hope StarClan will be with us."

He watched her for a moment, deep in thought. "Moonpaw," he began finally, "I must ask of you a favor I would not ask any other cat."

She said nothing, but her ears pricked forward curiously.

"Barkface left…abruptly. I do not have the training to give WindClan the help they need." He pawed at the ground before finally meeting her eyes. "Would you help me?"

Moonpaw felt the weight of his words settle in. This would be overstepping clan friendships and boundaries! Firestar and Leafpool would never allow it. And yet…Cougarpelt was her friend and a medicine cat, too. ThunderClan already had Leafpool and Cinderpaw to care for them. And they didn't want her, anyway.

Moonpaw took a deep breath. "Okay."

The gray tom shook his head. "Cougarpelt, are you sure about this? Bringing a ThunderClan cat into WindClan camp? Onestar will have nothing of it!"

"Onestar will understand, Crowfeather." Cougarpelt gave Moonpaw a grateful look. "It is for WindClan."

The three cats raced over the open moor, bellies close to the ground and wind whistling in their ears. Moonpaw remembered the way she had enjoyed the run on the way to Gatherings with her clan, and she began to wonder if maybe WindClan was the clan for her.

Moonpaw shook those thoughts from her mind. I'm just doing Cougarpelt a favor, she reminded herself.

"Moonpaw?" Leafpool stuck her head out of her den. The small black she-cat was nowhere in sight. She sighed heavily; this was no time for her apprentice to be fooling around. Slipping out from her den, Leafpool spotted Honeypaw sitting by the fresh-kill pile, hungrily devouring a shrew.

"Honeypaw!" Leafpool called, approaching her. "Have you seen Moonpaw?"

The apprentice nodded. "She went that way a little while ago," she explained, pointing toward the nursery with her tail. "Looked pretty upset, though."

Leafpool nodded and started off toward the nursery. She had barely taken three steps before she heard a yowl from the Highledge.

"Cats of ThunderClan!"

Inwardly groaning at her father's timing, Leafpool turned and padded back out into the clearing. The other cats were already congregating around her, whispering about what they had heard of the day's events. Berryfoot lay, stretched out below the Highledge.

Squirrelflight squeezed out of the nursery. Leafpool headed toward her, wanting to make up, but Squirrelflight gave her a glare and purposely chose a spot far away, next to Cloudtail.

Leafpool sunk to the ground beside Stormfur and Brook. They gave her a friendly mew before Firestar began the clan meeting.

"As you know, the wolves attacked us once again this morning. The battle sadly claimed the life of one of our young warriors, Berryfoot."

A few tail-lengths away, Hazelgaze bowed her head and Mousetail nosed her shoulder comfortingly. The rest of the clan murmured softly.

Firestar waited for the cats' mournful calls to die down before continuing. "Tomorrow I will send a patrol to inform Daisy. She will want to know about her son. Tonight, we mourn his passing." Firestar raised his head to look at the stars of Silverpelt, just beginning to sparkle into view. "Berryfoot was a brave and energetic warrior. May StarClan treat him well."

Firestar cleared his throat. "Many warriors were also injured in battle. But, thanks to our efforts, four of the wolves are dead. The forest is still unsafe, however."

His gaze swept the crowd. "And now, on a lighter note, I would like to recompense one of our apprentices who fought extremely bravely in battle. Oakpaw, I believe you are ready for your warrior name."

Scattered cheers broke out among the clan; Honeypaw's yowl was the loudest. "Yeah! Go Oakpaw!"

The brown-and-white tom rose to his paws, looking pleasantly surprised. He padded up to Firestar and knelt in front of his mentor.

The flame-colored tom stared up at Silverpelt. "I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn."

Oakpaw bowed his head as Firestar said, "Oakpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," he murmured.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Oakpaw, from this moment forth you will be known as Oakheart. StarClan honors your bravery and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Firestar placed his head on top of Oakheart's, and the tom gave his shoulder a respectful lick.

"Oakheart! Oakheart!" ThunderClan's voices rose in the chant.

Oakheart held his head high as he headed back to his seat. His amber eyes searched the crowd for one cat in particular, but she was the only one not present at the ceremony.

To be continued...

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