Rising Moon

Jedi Goat

Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.

Author's Note: To WildTotodile: Thanks for the great review; I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. However, to answer one of your questions, Moonpaw already knows that Brackenfur and Sorreltail aren't her parents. Sorry if I wasn't clear on that before.

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Chapter 29

"Cats of ThunderClan!" Firestar's yowl could be heard above the ruckus. The clan quieted, cats taking seats in front of the Highledge. Everyone was careful to leave a wide circle around the ShadowClan visitors. When Squirrelflight emerged from the nursery with Brambleclaw, she gasped and raced over to them, calling out, "Rabbitkit!"

Brambleclaw, Blazekit and Briarkit bounded after her. Squirrelflight rasped her tongue over her kit's head several times before she sat down, curling her tail protectively around her. She blinked thankfully at Tawnypelt, who ducked her head and then turned back toward the Highledge.

Firestar cast a glance around camp, at the various injured cats, Brackenfur and the ShadowClan cats. "Who can explain what has happened here?"

Cloudtail glanced around at the rest of the patrol before padding forward. "We were sent out to find Squirrelflight's missing kit," he mewed. "We followed her scent trail into ShadowClan territory and right into their camp. They were holding her hostage."

"Something's not right with ShadowClan," Wolfspirit piped up. "They had many cats in their camp, and I didn't recognize any of them. They sentenced their own warriors to death."

"Even Blackstar isn't that cruel," reasoned Sandstorm.

"Blackstar is dead," Moonpaw said hollowly. "Nightfang killed him."

"Nightfang!" Leafpool's head shot up. "He took control over ShadowClan?!"

"Apparently," agreed Cloudtail.

"We must be wary, then," warned Firestar. He gestured with his tail for silence.

"And what of the ShadowClan cats?" Dustpelt yowled over the fading clamor. "They can't stay here!"

Brambleclaw's pelt bristled. "There's nothing wrong with them staying!" he hissed, good eye turned toward Appleheart and Tawnypelt. "That's my sister!"

"Silence!" The camp fell quiet at Firestar's order. He looked down at the two shivering she-cats, their heads bowed. "They have done us no harm. For now, Tawnypelt and…"

"Appleheart," the tabby offered quietly.

"…Appleheart may stay in ThunderClan in safety," Firestar nodded. The ThunderClan leader leaped down from the Highledge to stand over Brackenfur. He closed his eyes, murmuring miserably, "He is in the paws of StarClan now. At moonhigh, I will select a new deputy."

Without another word, Firestar whisked off to his den, his pelt like fire in the dying sunlight.

Moonpaw sighed, her shoulders slumping as she closed her eyes. It had been a long and terrible day. She felt Oakheart's pelt brush against hers, and she wanted to sink into him and never get up.

"Moonpaw!"

She glanced up tiredly to see Leafpool and Cindercloud making their way toward her. With a jolt, she recalled that it was the half-moon. With all of the activity, the date had slipped her mind.

Leafpool licked her ear comfortingly before stepping back. "You may share tongues with your father before we go."

Moonpaw and Cindercloud nodded thankfully and joined the swarm of cats surrounding Brackenfur. Solemnly silent, they weaved over to his side, where Sorreltail and Honeydew were already crouched, heads bowed.

Moonpaw knelt beside her foster father and closed her eyes as tears welled up in them. Wordlessly she buried her nose in his fur, his scent washing over her for the last time. Cindercloud's pelt pressed against hers as the medicine cat nosed Brackenfur's limp shoulder.

"Goodbye, father…and dear brother," she murmured. Moonpaw was too distressed to decipher her words.

What seemed like moments later, Cindercloud rose and flicked her shoulder. "We must go," she whispered, swallowing hard. "We must attend to our duty."

Moonpaw nodded and the two sisters walked side by side, subdued, out of camp. Leafpool was only a pawstep behind.

The cats raced to the river in time to meet the other medicine cats. As Moonpaw slid to a stop, she realized that Littlecloud was not present.

"About time!" Willowtail exclaimed, standing and stretching her back legs. "It's going to be moonhigh before we get there if we don't leave now!"

"What about ShadowClan?" Moonpaw wondered worriedly.

Cougarpelt explained, "I haven't seen or heard any sign of ShadowClan for these past few days. Maybe they're in trouble with sickness and Littlecloud's too busy to come."

The medicine cats glanced at one another. The ThunderClan warriors had a good guess at why Littlecloud wasn't there – but it wasn't news to share with the other clans.

"It's late," Leafpool mewed uncomfortably. "We should go to the Moonpool. Littlecloud can catch up if he's coming."

Cougarpelt, Mothwing and Willowtail agreed. As the cats set off again, Leafpool in the lead, Moonpaw moved into stride with Cougarpelt.

"Hi," she said, grateful for her old friend's presence.

Cougarpelt smiled. "Hey, Moonpaw, how's the prey running in ThunderClan?"

She stared at her paws. "Okay, I guess."

"What's wrong?"

Moonpaw shook her head. She couldn't tell him; it was none of WindClan's business. Whatever was going on with ShadowClan was only ShadowClan's concern, not hers. Right?

Nightfang was powerful, too powerful, she knew. And if someone didn't stop him, the whole forest would suffer. However, not even Leafpool seemed to understand the situation. It seemed no one but Moonpaw saw the threat of Nightfang's new and fiercer ShadowClan.

And what abut all those rogues? A thought struck her.

"Cougarpelt, have you seen any rogues lately?"

He frowned at the change of topic, but considered. "The WindClan patrols scented a few recently. We didn't ever see them, though. They must have moved on." He whirled on her suddenly. "Are there rogues harming ThunderClan?"

"No, no, I'm just wondering," she hastily reassured him. Moonpaw thought this over. So the rogues came from beyond our territory, from the mountains, according to Blackstar. Nightfang must have brought them here somehow.

The arrival at the Moonpool shook Moonpaw from her thoughts. She hurried down the slope to the pool, drawing in a sharp breath at the sign of the gently rippling midnight waters.

She crouched by the lake and dipped her muzzle in its coolness. Sighing in exhaustion and wondering what would come tonight, she closed her eyes and slept.

Moonpaw was in a darkened forest; stars sparkled above in Silverpelt, lighting a path through a clearing. She sat at the edge of the starlit trail, peering to its end, where there stood a thick tree.

Her eyes took in the proud oak, and she realized this was the Gathering clearing. It was empty, grass and bush rustling softly in the breeze. The wind tugged gently at her pelt and she cautiously took a step forward into the starlight, her paws brushing through silky grass.

As the light hit her pelt, it turned a blazing white. Moonpaw narrowed her eyes to gaze down at her blindingly shimmering fur. She then looked back up at the sky, where the stars blinked secretively back at her.

She took another step and gasped as a strange yowl echoed in her ears. She whirled around and stared into the darkness surrounding her; no one was present. The yowling came again, this time joined by many other desperate calls. Moonpaw closed her eyes and wavered on the spot.

The eerie sounds were terrifying and filled with pain. She could almost picture dying cats, calling out to her for help.

No…

Familiar faces flashed in her mind. Oakheart. Cougarpelt. Wolfspirit. Her friends, her family.

"No!" Moonpaw screamed into the darkness.

Your path is difficult, filled with challenges and suffering, a voice said, seeming to come from the stars. Your journey has only begun, young warrior.

Then many voices rose in a chorus, perfectly in time: 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. Three cats have been chosen. They alone can save the clans.

The bright path of stars faded and there was a rustle in the bushes. Moonpaw turned, pelt bristling.

Leafpool, Dawnbreak and Duskshadow entered the clearing. Moonpaw relaxed slightly, fur flattening. "What's going on?" she asked shakily.

"StarClan has been watching you for many moons, dear sister," replied Duskshadow. "We have been waiting for this moment."

"Oh…" she said, not quite sure what he was talking about. The events of a few seconds ago buzzed in her mind, confusing her.

Leafpool approached her. "StarClan has deemed it time for you to receive your warrior name." She leaned closer, tail-tip brushing against Moonpaw's ear. "I agree that it is time," she added quietly. "You are a skilled medicine cat, Moonpaw. I am proud to have taught you."

Moonpaw was in a daze. She shook her head, blinked several times and finally voiced, "Thank you."

Dawnbreak and Duskshadow moved to either side of her, while Leafpool stood in front. As it slowly registered with Moonpaw what was about to happen, her heart started to beat faster.

I'm about to become a medicine cat! A real, official medicine cat!

Leafpool gazed at Moonpaw for a long moment, her eyes warm and filled with kindness. Then she raised her head to look up at the stars glittering above.

"I, Leafpool, medicine cat of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the way of a medicine cat, and with your help she will serve her clan for many moons."

Moonpaw bowed her head, stomach clenching in anticipation. This was the moment she had trained and waited for all her life.

"Moonpaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between clan and clan, and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?"

Moonpaw's fur prickled as she looked back up at her mentor. Eyes shining, she murmured, "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Moonpaw, from this moment you will be known as Moonblaze. StarClan honors your faith and strength. Your blazing light is a star for all cats to follow."

Leafpool set her gaze on the three siblings standing before her. She smiled faintly, secrets dancing in her eyes. Closing them, she laid her muzzle on Moonblaze's head.

Moonblaze licked her mentor's shoulder respectfully. As she stepped back, she felt fire rush through her body and she screamed.

Then she was falling back into the darkness, and the three cats in front of her winked out like stars. The prophecy echoed menacingly in her ears among the agonized screeches of dying cats.

Then everything went black.

To be continued...

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