Rising Moon

Jedi Goat

Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.

Author's Note: Thank you, Rabbitstorm!

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Chapter 14

After the meeting, Leafpool had made up her mind: her sister could be as grumpy as she liked, but Moonpaw was missing. With the still-present threat of the wolves, the apprentice could be in grave danger.

"Firestar!" Leafpool weaved through the throng of cats toward him. The ThunderClan leader paused, waiting for her to catch up.

"There you are, Leafpool," he finally meowed. "I need to speak to you." Turning, he leaped up the rocks to his den above the Highledge. Leafpool bounded after him.

Inside, Firestar sat and gestured for her to do the same. Leafpool crouched, bowing her head respectfully.

"How is Brambleclaw? I need him to resume deputy duties as soon as possible."

The question caught Leafpool off-guard. She sighed, considering this new matter. "Well…his injuries are similar to Brightheart's. He will need a while to recover, and then he might have to learn her fighting technique. He's lost one eye and almost lost the other," she added as an explanation.

Firestar nodded, eyes dark. "Then I must choose a replacement for him before moonhigh tomorrow."

"Yes. That might be the best." Leafpool sighed, raising her head to meet her father's eyes. "Firestar, Moonpaw's missing."

"What?" Firestar sat straighter. "She came back to camp with us, didn't she?"

"Yes, but she ran off from her den. She wasn't there during the clan meeting. I think she left camp."

Firestar looked up at the ceiling. "Great StarClan! An apprentice, out alone in the forest at night? What was she thinking?!"

"Can you send out a patrol?" Leafpool asked hopefully. She ducked her head, confessing, "I'm really worried about her!"

Firestar nodded, padding forward to lick her ear. "I'll send Cloudtail to organize one. He is the best tracker in the clan. We'll find out where she went."

"Thank you."

Oakheart, Wolfpaw and Cloudtail circled the camp, searching for Moonpaw's scent. Oakheart's mind was clouded with worries, but he forced them aside for the task at hand. Where did she go? And why? he wailed inwardly.

Remembering Leafpool's tip that Moonpaw had gone by the nursery, Oakheart headed in that direction. His heart leaped as he caught her sweet scent.

Following the scent around the nursery bush, he saw the nearly disguised tunnel. And he knew that Moonpaw was no longer in the camp.

Yowling to his clanmates, he pushed his way through the tunnel and emerged from the juniper bush. Wolfpaw and Cloudtail squeezed out behind him a moment later.

"She went this way," Oakheart announced.

Cloudtail nodded, sniffed the ground, and set off. The other two cats followed him as he weaved around bushes and plowed through undergrowth.

Several minutes later they returned to the exact same spot.

"She didn't go back in, did she?" Wolfpaw wondered, poking her head underneath the bush.

Oakheart shook his head. "We'd have heard if someone else found her." He glanced around the surrounding forest, half hoping the black she-cat would appear. His heart was torn with worry for Moonpaw. With the danger of wolves in the forest, she could be dead by now!

"This way!" exclaimed Cloudtail, rushing off in a different direction. Oakheart thanked StarClan and bounded after him.

The three cats raced through the forest. Everything was dark now, but they were hot on the trail. Branches whipped by Oakheart's face, scratching at him, tearing at his fur, but he didn't give them a second thought. Moonpaw, we're coming!

Abruptly Cloudtail yowled a warning and slid to a stop; Oakheart peered around him, afraid of what he might see. But it was only the stream, the border between ThunderClan and WindClan.

Cautiously, he padded forward, tasting the air. "She crossed here," he said disbelievingly. He shook his head. "But why would she go out on WindClan territory?"

"Maybe she was heading to the Moonpool," Wolfpaw suggested, pushing her nose consolingly into her brother's fur.

Oakheart relaxed slightly. "Maybe. But I thought the medicine cats stayed on ThunderClan territory…?"

"They do," Cloudtail pointed out grimly.

Going closer to the stream, Oakheart scented cats on the other bank. He sunk his claws into the dirt, hissing angrily. "WindClan were here! They could've taken Moonpaw!"

Cloudtail's eyes flashed dangerously. "If they did…" he trailed off, baring his teeth.

Wolfpaw spoke up. "Think logically, you guys. This is WindClan's border. Of course there would be patrols passing by here! There's no way to tell if she met up with a patrol."

"The Gathering is in a few days." Oakheart was forcing his voice to sound calm, to think logically. "We'll ask WindClan then if they saw her."

Cloudtail and Wolfpaw nodded and started back up the hill into the forest. Oakheart remained, staring out over the moorland. Closing his eyes, he whispered, "I hope that's not too late for you, Moonpaw."

Moonpaw raced through a gorse tunnel and slowed to a stop behind Cougarpelt. Her eyes took in WindClan camp and she scented the air, recognizing barely any of the plentiful cat-scents. The unfamiliarity of it all made her shrink back, nervousness clawing at her belly.

The camp had a clearing in the center, reminding her of the ThunderClan camp. Around the edges was a border of gorse. A few extra bushes served as dens, while a fallen log nearby had a small pile of fresh-kill next to it.

Cougarpelt flicked his tail at her, signaling for her to stay with Crowfeather. Then he trotted over to the log and disappeared inside with his package of herbs.

"What are you doing here?" A fierce-looking tabby tom stalked up to her. "This isn't your territory. Get lost."

Crowfeather growled low in his throat. "Give a medicine cat a bit of respect, Tornear."

Tornear snorted. "Great. Now we've got two apprentice medicine cats running around. WindClan is definitely doomed."

Moonpaw bit her tongue. Speaking out against a warrior wouldn't be the best way to make a first impression. But already she was beginning to have doubts about this clan. I hope not all of their warriors are this rude!

From one of the gorse bushes came a thin brown tabby tom. The cat glanced curiously from Moonpaw to Crowfeather, asking, "Crowfeather, who is this?"

"ThunderClan medicine cat, apparently," Tornear pointed out sarcastically.

"Go stuff yourself with crowfood," Crowfeather snapped at him, before turning to the newcomer. He ducked his head. "Onestar, this is Moonpaw. She wants to help us."

The WindClan leader observed her warily. "You have had sufficient medicine cat training?"

"Yes, Onestar," she murmured shyly, pawing at the ground. "Cougarpelt asked for my help."

Onestar cast her a sharp look. "WindClan is not weak."

Moonpaw could see the bones sticking out on the warriors who had gathered around them, and the weariness in their stares. These cats were obviously in need of care, no matter what Onestar said.

"I only want to help," Moonpaw reassured him. "Cougarpelt tries hard. But he doesn't have all of his training yet. I can teach him."

A gray she-cat stepped up. Moonpaw recognized her as Ashfoot, deputy of WindClan. "We could use her help," she urged.

Onestar looked up at the starry sky and sighed. "All right. You may stay for now."

"Thank you, Onestar." Moonpaw bowed her head just as Cougarpelt approached. He glanced from his leader to Moonpaw, and then nodded.

"Yes, thank you, Onestar." Turning, he led Moonpaw toward the medicine cat den inside the log.

To be continued...

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