Rising Moon

Jedi Goat

Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.

Author's Note: Now it's summer and I'm back! I apologize again for the wait, and I will keep posting as fast as I can.

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Chapter 17

Moonpaw's blood ran cold at his words. Cougarpelt appeared from his den, eyes wild.

"We have to get the injured cats out of here!"

Moonpaw nodded, thinking quickly. The medicine cat's den? No, the wolves can get in there. Um… She glanced about. The nursery bush. Gorse all around. But there was no secure hiding place. They'd have to take a chance.

"Into the den!" she shouted, hurtling over to Nightcloud and helping her to her paws. "Now!"

Nightcloud limped for the log, eyes wide. Weaselfur wasn't far behind. Cougarpelt grasped Snowpaw by her scruff and dragged her inside. Moonpaw glanced around wildly. Owlwhisker! Where is he?!

She caught sight of the tom sleeping where they'd left him. Moonpaw raced over, sinking her teeth into the back of his neck and struggling to force him up.

Crowfeather streaked over, hauling Owlwhisker, still asleep, to his paws. With his help, Moonpaw managed to pull Owlwhisker to the den.

"Stay in there!" Crowfeather ordered.

"But-" Moonpaw met his flaming blue gaze and nodded meekly. "Okay."

WindClan cats now swarmed the clearing, taking up battle-ready positions. Moonpaw watched, crouched in the medicine cat's den entrance. Onestar was yowling orders, perched atop a rock. Cats streamed about in the clearing, fear-scent strong.

Then it happened.

A howl split the air, otherworldly and mournful. The sound sent chills down Moonpaw's spine.

Cougarpelt arrived at her side. "The cats are all settled in," he meowed. "I'm going out to fight."

"Good luck," she murmured, praying for his safety.

Cougarpelt licked her ear. "You too. May StarClan keep you safe."

Moonpaw closed her eyes, wishing it were Oakheart at her side and that she were fighting with him. But the ruthless truth was that she was in WindClan camp, about to be attacked by the pack of wolves.

Moonpaw darted farther inside the log to check on the injured cats. Owlwhisker had barely woken up, staring sleepily at the wall as Nightcloud told him what was happening. Weaselfur had his claws unsheathed, glaring at the log's entrance, ready to fight. Snowpaw crouched beside him, but her blue gaze was cool and only slightly frightened. The thyme had had a good effect on her.

Moonpaw padded up to the other apprentice. "Snowpaw?"

"Yes?" she glanced up, curious.

Moonpaw swallowed hard. The task she was about to give Snowpaw was something she could do herself. But Moonpaw didn't want to face her old clan again so soon. "I have a job for you. WindClan will need help. Run over to ThunderClan territory and ask for help. You do know where it is, don't you?"

Snowpaw nodded, expression serious. "Weaselfur showed me the border."

"Okay. Go there. If you can't find a patrol, find the stone hollow down by the lake. That's our – their – camp."

Snowpaw rose to her paws. "I'll run as fast as I can," she promised, heading for the entrance to the den. She slipped around behind the log and was gone.

Moonpaw sighed. StarClan, please help her hurry! She cast a worried glance around camp. WindClan would put up a good fight, she knew, but their warriors were thin and weak from the wolves' plague. They would all be killed if they weren't careful!

At that moment a single wolf stepped through the gorse tunnel. Moonpaw was surprised to see its pelt a light brown instead of the usual stone gray. Curious amber eyes took in the camp, noticing the crouching, hissing cats. Hunger flashed in the wolf's eyes and it barked, lunging for the nearest cat.

Chaos broke loose! The gorse walls burst, leaves flying everywhere as wolves charged through. The three wolves ThunderClan had chased off were among them, pelts battle-scarred and eyes angry. They were joined by the brown wolf and two of their fellows. Moonpaw's ears flattened against her head and she hardly dared to breathe as she watched the ghastly spectacle. Fur and blood spattered everywhere, screeching cats whirling and diving. The wolves howled and twisted, their bulky forms easy to distinguish in the mass.

Moonpaw caught sight of Ashfoot, thrown into the air, pelt bloody. Cougarpelt was at her side in an instant, applying cobwebs. Moonpaw felt a surge of pride for her friend.

So far only one wolf had dared approach the log; before it had gotten within two fox-lengths, a white she-cat had leaped onto its back, yowling. She reminded Moonpaw of Snowpaw. Was this she-cat her mother? Moonpaw willed the brave cat on, and the WindClan queen succeeded in drawing the wolf back into the thick of the battle.

Through a momentary parting in the fray, Moonpaw saw Webfoot lying on the ground still. Her heart jolted in her chest. No! She gazed around wildly for Cougarpelt, but the medicine cat was still on the other side of the clearing, kneeling beside a blood-soaked Onestar.

A cat hobbled past, and Moonpaw realized with a shock that even the elders were fighting! The old tom slashed madly at the approaching wolves just as if he were an able warrior.

A wolf plowed through the nearby fresh-kill pile, tumbling it to the ground. It turned, jaws snapping hungrily at a rabbit. Moonpaw shrank back nervously.

"That's our prey, foxdung!" Crowfeather spat, hurtling toward the wolf. He leaped upon its back, clawing madly.

Yowling, the wolf turned, reaching for the tom. Crowfeather hung just out of its reach.

"Hang on!" Moonpaw yowled, springing out of hiding. She flew at the wolf's face, claws outstretched.

"Moonpaw, no!"

The wolf howled in pain and Moonpaw jumped back. She tripped over a rolling juniper berry and with a yelp fell to the ground. She scrambled to get back to her paws.

Too late, she saw the wolf's mouth coming down, teeth dripping with blood.

Moonpaw screamed and tried to pull away, but the jaws sunk into her back. Pain scorched through her and she writhed in the wolf's grasp.

Panting, the wolf raised its head in triumph and shook her. Moonpaw screeched all the louder as she felt her skin tearing, the clearing spinning and jerking around her.

"Put her down," Crowfeather hissed, charging at the wolf. A paw swept him aside, sending him reeling into the log. There was a sickening crack and Crowfeather slumped against the bark, staring up in helpless horror.

Moonpaw gasped for breath as she looked down at him. StarClan help me!

To be continued...

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