Rising Moon

Jedi Goat

Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.

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Chapter 30

Moonblaze raised her head from the water and blinked, shaking droplets from her muzzle. She then closed her eyes, enjoying the cool night breeze on her face. The wind seemed to whisper her new warrior name, as it brushed against her thick fur.

Moonblaze…Moonblaze…

Then the memory of screaming cats and the whispering voice arose in her mind.

Someone—or something—had interrupted her warrior ceremony. What was going on? Why was there such a dark prophecy hanging over her like a storm cloud?

The other medicine cats were awakening, stepping back from the citrus-tainted dawn waters and stretching. Leafpool stood up next to her, giving her a smile and a nod. Monnblaze's heart leaped; now, she was an equal to the other healers. She had passed her training and was now a true member of her clan.

Cindercloud stretched on her other side, her back arching and her tail sticking straight up. "I can't wait to get back to camp," she sighed. Her eyes clouded.

"I wonder who's the new deputy. What do you think, Moonpaw?"

"I'm not Moonpaw anymore," she addressed her old friend quietly.

"Oh?" Cindercloud suddenly brightened, giving the black she-cat a wide-eyed, interested stare.

"I got my name," she announced softly. "I'm Moonblaze now."
Cindercloud leaned forward to touch her nose to Moonblaze's ear. "Congratulations!"

Spotting Cougarpelt's brown form farther down the shore, she excused herself from Cindercloud and bounded toward him. She passed a troubled Willowtail and mewed a quick greeting.

"Cougarpelt! Cougarpelt!" she yowled. The WindClan tom turned, took in her excitement, and grinned.

"What's got you so happy?"

"I got my warrior name!" she gasped breathlessly.

"Really?" he purred, "so what shall I call you now?"

"Moonblaze," declared the she-cat proudly.

"Moonblaze." He tested the word on his tongue and then nosed her ear. "That's lovely."

Leafpool and Cindercloud padded up to them.

"Come on, Moonblaze," mewed her ex-mentor, her eyes shining but holding a tinge of regret.

"Let's get back to camp; the others need us."

"Moonblaze?" piped up Willowtail, turning toward her and pricking her ears forward in excitement. "You got your name! That's great!"

Moonblaze smiled and nodded for the RiverClan she-cats, and then detached herself from the group, darting up the slope after Cindercloud and Leafpool.

Moonblaze, Cindercloud and Leafpool arrived at the thorn tunnel as dawn stretched across the sky. Moonblaze was exhausted in mind and body; it seemed it had been moons since she had slept after the day and night's excitement: first the hunt for Rabbitkit, the horror and battle at ShadowClan camp, Brackenfur's death at the white tom's paws, and finally her warrior ceremony and the revelation at the Moonpool.

Moonblaze's paws and tail dragged in the dust and she could barely keep her eyes open as she trudged into camp.

The trio met Whitedove on guard duty just inside the camp. The she-cat looked as if she had just started her shift; she was bright and perky and enjoying a breakfast of last night's leftover fresh-kill.

"Hey!" she called out, bouncing to her paws.

Lowering her voice, she continued, "Firestar chose a new deputy. It's Oakheart." Whitedove raised her head proudly; he was her brother.

Moonblaze nodded sleepily, warmth jolting through her. Oakheart. Distantly she heard Leafpool murmur a few words of congratulations.

A procession approached and the cats moved aside. The medicine cats and Whitedove bowed their heads as Mousefur and Longtail carried the body of Brackenfur past. Mousefur kept tapping Longtail's shoulder with her tail, guiding the blind tabby along. Sorreltail followed the elders, looking stricken. Her eyes were faraway and her face shadowed and gaunt; Rainwhisker, her brother; and Honeydew, her daughter; were on either side of the suffering she-cat, trying but failing to console her.

Cindercloud turned and looked after them, looking worried. After a nod from Leafpool she hurried after her mother. Moonblaze heaved herself to her paws and moved to go after them, knowing she must put the clan before her own suffering.

Leafpool flicked her tail out, barring Moonblaze's path.

"Get some sleep," she murmured gently. "Cindercloud and I will take care of her."

Placing her tail on her shoulder, Leafpool guided Moonblaze to the medicine cat's den.

Moonblaze settled down on the moss, staring off into the distance. Leafpool bustled about, grabbing some chamomile, and then hurried out of the den.

A moment later the fern curtain rustled again, and a familiar face peeked in. "I thought I heard you arrive."

"Oakheart!"

The speckled tom entered, and Moonblaze buried her face in his fur.

All the pain and horror of the last twenty-four hours came rushing back, and hot tears spilled from her eyes.

"Oakheart, I was fighting there beside him! I was right there and I couldn't save him! And now everything's going wrong and the clans are in trouble and it's just going to get worse!" she sobbed.

"You did the best you could," Oakheart whispered soothingly. "It'll be all right, Moonpaw, don't worry. It'll be all right."

She didn't have the heart to tell him about her warrior name. Instead she fell asleep listening to the beat of his heart.

To be continued...

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