Rising Moon

Jedi Goat

Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.

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Chapter 31

When Moonblaze awoke, it was already sunhigh. She could hear warriors bustling about camp, performing their regular duties. Some she-cats were chattering outside the medicine cats' den.

Moonblaze rolled onto her paws, yawning and stretching grandly. Another normal day for ThunderClan.

Then all the memories of last night's ordeal returned to her. How could so much have happened, so much have changed in such a short time? She could barely believe that it had all started with just one kit.

Moonblaze sat up, wincing at the stiffness in her muscles. She rasped her tongue over her paws and slowly and gingerly began to wash.

Yesterday she and Oakheart – Moonblaze's heart leapt at the thought of the tom, the new deputy – had decided to go for a stroll. It seemed like moons ago that the two of them had been simply enjoying one another's company; then, they had found Rabbitkit's scent trail and all had spiraled out of control. They had tracked the missing kit into ShadowClan territory, where they found Nightfang had taken over the disheveled clan. Though ShadowClan seemed to suffer under the coldhearted tom's rule, they were ruthless warriors under his control. Nightfang had sentenced Rabbitkit, along with two she-cats of his own clan, to death. Somehow, with the help of a ThunderClan patrol, Moonblaze and Oakheart had escaped that horrible place with the three prisoners.

However, the mission was not without loss. Moonblaze paused in her washing and got to her paws, pacing around the room. Her paws pricked with sadness and a little bit of guilt.

Though she had never liked him, she still mourned the loss of Blackstar, ShadowClan's ex-leader. Now that she had seen the horrors performed by Nightfang, she began to appreciate what had been Blackstar's ShadowClan. Under his guidance, the clan had been at least semi-respectable. And Blackstar really had cared for his clan, as Moonblaze had seen in his dying moments. After fighting off Nightfang to allow the prisoners to escape, he had spoken to Moonblaze and told her she had been correct in her accusations against Nightfang. The ambitious tom truly was evil, doing whatever he could to gain control of ShadowClan. Now, it seemed, he had gathered rogues from the mountains to ensure ShadowClan would be the most powerful –

Moonblaze paused again as a thought struck her. Could it be that Nightfang's real goal was to rule the entire forest? Would he really be able to attack the other clans? Moonblaze remembered all the cats she had seen in ShadowClan and shuddered. Nightfang certainly had the necessary fighting force.

And then…

Moonblaze closed her eyes. Here it was, the hardest part to accept. As they were escaping, a ShadowClan tom had attacked and killed her dear foster father, Brackenfur. ThunderClan's deputy had had no chance; he had been thrown against a tree, the impact killing him almost instantly.

Moonblaze gave a shuddering gasp and continued her pacing. No. She couldn't think about that or she would lose all her composure. She had lost so much: she had never known her brother, Duskshadow, or her still-unknown mother alive; Dawnbreak, her sister, had died in kithood; of her foster family, she had never met Poppykit, lost Molepaw and now…

Moonblaze sighed heavily. She loved her friends and family so dearly, and he didn't think she could bear to lose another one. If Nightfang indeed was preparing for a war, many more cats would suffer and Moonblaze didn't know if she could stand the pain.

Still, the memories continued. Next, the patrol had returned to camp, and then Moonblaze and the other medicine cats had set off for the Moonpool. There Moonblaze had received the honor of her warrior name, but after all that had happened, it didn't seem quite so grand. Also, there had been more in her dream. It had been somehow disrupted; the prophecy seemed to have had something to do with it. But Moonblaze still didn't understand – why was this prophecy constantly recurring around her, when it seemed it had nothing to do with her?

Moonblaze sighed. All she knew was that the future lay in shadow – she would simply have to wait and see.

Finally stepping out of her reverie, Moonblaze decided that she had to find Leafpool; her ex-mentor would know what to do, be able to help her figure out what the prophecy was about.

Then, she thought, butterflies tingling her belly, then I can find Oakheart and congratulate him on his new title.

Taking a deep breath and mustering her courage, Moonblaze strode through the fern curtain…and right into a melee!

Her friends Honeydew, Wolfspirit, and Whitedove were all gathered around the entrance to the medicine cats' den. Moonblaze had opened her mouth to say hi when she realized that all three she-cats were glaring at one another.

Wolfspirit and Whitedove, both normally mild-mannered and benign she-cats, had their fur fluffed up and were staring each other down. Honeydew stood beside Wolfspirit, claws extended and looking very upset.

"I don't see what your problem is," growled Wolfspirit at her sister, her voice low. "He's a very nice fellow!"

Whitedove drew herself up, eyes flashing. "He's far too old for you, for one thing!"

Moonblaze looked from one to the other, very confused. She looked to Honeydew for support, but the bracken-colored she-cat was silent for once, and in her eyes, Moonblaze could see she was still hurting from the loss of her father.

"Maybe I don't care!" Wolfspirit shot back.

Moonblaze decided to jump in before things got ugly. "Whoa!" she cried, stepping in between the two of them. "Calm down. What's going on here?"

"I'm just looking out for my sister, who obviously does not know what's best for her," Whitedove said haughtily.

"He loves me." Wolfspirit drew back, looking hurt. "Why is that so wrong?"

Whitedove leaned forward, hissing, "I know things about Ashfur that would make your fur curl!"

And, turning on her heel, she stalked away.

Oh. Moonblaze stood there for a moment in a stupor as she slowly processed what was happening. Wolfspirit sank back on her haunches, head bowed, but Honeydew lunged forward with a snarl.

"Come back here, you - !"

"Honeydew, no!" Moonblaze quickly intercepted her, tackling her to the ground. Honeydew writhed beneath her paws, yowling.

"Look," murmured Moonblaze, "I know you're upset after what happened. But you don't have to take it out on the entire camp."

Honeydew stopped trying to break free and lay still. She closed her eyes, looking rather small and helpless. Moonblaze felt a pang; Honeydew had always been so brave, reckless, even…now, to see her like this…

She turned away, unable to find words of condolence for her sister. She looked instead to Wolfspirit. Her other friend looked sad, too.

Moonblaze approached her and gently nosed her ear. "Oh, Wolfspirit. I'm so glad you found someone."

Wolfspirit sighed. "I thought it was great, too. Until…" She glanced at Whitedove's retreating form. "I thought she'd be happy for me…what does she have against him, Moonpaw?"

Moonblaze bit back her correction and instead shook her head. "I don't know. But will her opinion ever stop you from loving him?" This made her think of her secret relationship with Oakheart; guiltily she wondered if she was giving this advice to herself, too. Would she be able to love Oakheart if Wolfspirit disapproved? Would it ruin their friendship?

Wolfspirit seemed deep in thought. Finally, she raised her head. "I don't care what anyone thinks."

Moonblaze smiled. "That's the spirit." Wolfspirit was, after all, the one who grew up with the name of the creatures that were attacking ThunderClan. If anyone could, she would be the one who could hold her head high even if the rest of the clan whispered about her.

Unlike me, Moonblaze thought, feeling ashamed. She looked away to see Honeydew watching them with a feeble smile.

Moonblaze walked up to her and gave her an affectionate lick on the ear. "Even though he is gone, he will always watch over you in StarClan."

Honeydew blinked and looked at her paws. "I know," she mumbled. "But – it's hard, Moonpaw. So hard to know he's gone."

"He was a great warrior," Wolfspirit murmured gently. "ThunderClan won't soon forget him."

"Be strong for him, Honeydew," Moonblaze told her. "We must all be strong, when the time comes." Her gaze became troubled as her thoughts once again dwelled on the uncertain future.

"What are you on to, Moonpaw?" queried Wolfspirit, eyeing her with her head cocked to one side. "What are you not telling us?"

Moonblaze was about to tell them her suspicions when there came a yowl from the entrance tunnel. The three she-cats turned and watched in surprise as a patrol of ThunderClan cats – headed by Oakheart – charged into the camp.

Moonblaze's heart began to thunder in her chest as Oakheart panted, "Firestar! Where's Firestar?"

To be continued...

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