Rising Moon
Jedi Goat
Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.
Author's Note: To Sirona Elf-Angel: Wow, thanks!
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Chapter 36
Moonblaze slept badly. When she awoke the next morning, the weight of the upcoming battle dragged at her paws and she felt fear gnawing at her belly. One more day…it may be the last we have.
The leaders of the three clans had conversed long into the evening, and had left late yesterday. Leopardstar and Onestar had looked grim as they left; in her heart, Moonblaze knew the decision was final: they were going to war.
She shivered in the bleak sunlight as she went to fetch her breakfast. Wolfspirit and Honeydew were already seated by the fresh-kill pile, sharing a vole.
"Hey," Honeydew greeted as she approached. Moonblaze nodded wordlessly.
"It's different, isn't it?" murmured Wolfspirit, glancing around camp. It was eerily quiet, warriors hurrying on with their business. Fear hung in the air, almost thick enough to choke them.
This may be the last day we have together, realized Moonblaze, looking over at her friends. She swallowed hard and found her voice.
"Before…we go into battle tomorrow, I want you to know…you guys are the best. I couldn't ask for better friends or warriors to have by my side tomorrow."
Wolfspirit lowered her head solemnly. "The same to you, Moonblaze…may all of StarClan stand with us tomorrow."
Honeydew closed her eyes for a long moment. She had already lost so much in this war, as Moonblaze had.
"Let's hope this is not goodbye," she said finally.
At sunhigh Firestar called a clan meeting; standing above them, pelt glinting in the sun, he proclaimed, "You all know that tomorrow we will go into battle against BloodClan. We shall fight rank-in-rank with RiverClan and WindClan to drive out the intruders."
He paused a moment before continuing, "Our plan is to drive the rogues out into the mountain territory beyond the Moonpool and WindClan's land. We will gather in RiverClan's camp tonight; in the morning, we shall charge ShadowClan territory and hopefully clear out their camp. Once we reach our border, a second patrol of ThunderClan will force them down to the stream. Finally, we will join a WindClan patrol and force them out. We'll leave a small group in every territory, in case we must fall back or any rogues get through our ranks."
He looked around the clan, silently asking if there were any questions.
"Will we have to drive out ShadowClan, too?" asked Appleheart.
Firestar sighed. "As they are allied with Nightfang and Preybone, it seems so."
"But they are one of the four clans! We need the four to survive!" exclaimed Brightheart.
"Do we really?" asked Dustpelt. "As I see it, ShadowClan were only ever a nuisance."
Tawnypelt and Appleheart bristled at him.
Firestar quickly brought their attention back to him. "If ShadowClan can see their wrongdoing, we will welcome them back. For now, we must focus on the true threat to drive out."
"Preybone is a threat to ShadowClan, too," pointed out Appleheart. "He and Nightfang twisted it from its true self."
"By driving out the rogues, we are then helping them," Firestar explained.
The clan shifted uneasily; for one thing, they were apprehensive about the upcoming battle, and secondly, some of them were uncomfortable with this decision.
"How will we send messages between the patrols?" asked Sandstorm.
Firestar inclined his head toward her. "The apprentices will serve as runners between the patrols."
"We have no apprentices!" snapped Dustpelt.
"Lilypaw and Fishpaw of RiverClan have volunteered," Firestar explained, "and Onestar is ready to apprentice WindClan's kits."
Seeing there were no other questions, Firestar continued, "We will divide into two groups. The patrol that stays here must only drive the rogues from border to border. The patrol coming with me to RiverClan must fight the entire way."
"And what of us medicine cats?" inquired Leafpool.
"Each clan will leave a medicine cat available in its own territory," stated Firestar, "that leaves two of you and one in RiverClan to join the original group."
"And my kits?" asked Squirrelflight sharply.
"Leopardstar has suggested all kits and elders shelter in RiverClan camp, as it is the least likely to be attacked," mewed Firestar. "All the other camps will be deserted." He gazed evenly at Squirrelflight. "If you were to stay in charge of the kits and elders, it would be an assurance to all of us."
Squirrelflight considered; Moonblaze knew the fiery she-cat longed to join the rest of the battle. Then she looked over at Brambleclaw, who would be staying with the elders due to his injuries.
"I accept," she said.
Firestar nodded. "All right. I'll need someone to lead the ThunderClan patrol."
"I will."
Moonblaze turned and gazed wide-eyed at Oakheart. She knew he would be a good leader, but she was still so worried for his safety.
Firestar nodded, accepting his deputy. "Now, let's organize the patrols. I want an equal number of warriors on each." Firestar leaped down from the Highledge, landing in front of his warriors. "All to join my patrol, come under the Highledge. Everyone else will join Oakheart. For medicine cats, I will take Cindercloud and Moonblaze with me." He met Leafpool's gaze for a moment, and the head medicine cat acknowledged his choice with a nod.
Moonblaze took a tentative step toward her leader, gazing longingly over at Oakheart. She did not want to be separated from him for the battle.
"Sandstorm, Dustpelt, Ashfur, Ferncloud, Sorreltail, Honeydew and Wolfspirit, you will come with me," stated Firestar. "Cloudtail, Brightheart, Thornclaw, Rainwhisker, Whitedove, Birchhollow, Mousetail, and Hazelgaze, with Oakheart." The rest of the ThunderClan warriors stood by Oakheart. Honeydew and Wolfspirit sat beside Moonblaze, giving her small nods.
Stormfur, Brook, Tawnypelt, Appleheart, Barley, and Ravenpaw hesitated between the two groups.
Firestar now turned to them. "As you are technically not ThunderClan warriors, I do not require you to fight for us. It is your choice."
Tawnypelt was the first to step forward, her eyes blazing. "I will fight for my brother's clan."
Appleheart nodded her agreement.
"Then you two shall join my patrol," decided Firestar.
Stormfur and Brook added their consent, Stormfur mewing, "The clans have given us a home for so long. It is the only way we can repay you." Firestar added them to his patrol as well.
Finally, Ravenpaw stepped up. "We didn't come all this way for nothing, Firestar," he said quietly. "We will fight with you."
Firestar nodded. "Then you shall join Oakheart's patrol."
Then it was decided. Firestar and his patrol would be leaving momentarily, and the cats were now bidding each other goodbye.
Moonblaze wound her way through the crowd of cats, searching for one tom in particular. Finding Oakheart, she burrowed her face in his shoulder, inhaling his sweet scent.
"Moonblaze…" he murmured, laying his head on top of hers.
At that moment Moonblaze didn't care about what any of the others thought; she only wanted to stay with Oakheart, to feel his fur brush against hers…
"Please don't leave me," she whispered into his fur.
"Moonblaze, whatever happens tomorrow, I want you to know that I love you and always will."
"Oakheart." Tears sprang to her eyes. No, she couldn't do this. She couldn't say goodbye. "I- I love you."
"Oakheart?" Moonblaze jumped at the familiar voice. Quickly stepping away, blushing, she turned to face Wolfspirit.
The gray she-cat looked from her to Oakheart, looking mildly puzzled. Then she smiled. "Oh."
"I'll go now," Moonblaze mumbled, tearing her eyes away from Oakheart. She began padding away.
"Moonblaze, wait!"
She turned back as Oakheart ran up to her. His amber eyes met hers. "StarClan go with you," he murmured.
She could feel tears stinging her eyes again. Too choked up to speak, she only nodded. StarClan go with you, Oakheart.
Then he turned away and walked back to Wolfspirit. Moonblaze sat alone and cried.
Finally, pawsteps made her look up.
"Moonblaze?" Leafpool asked softly. Cindercloud was at her side. "Are you all right?"
Moonblaze took a shuddering breath. "I'm just – scared," she sobbed, "for all of us. About what's going to happen."
Leafpool laid her tail on Moonblaze's shoulder. "Whatever happens, StarClan will guide us," she murmured.
At that moment, Firestar yowled for attention. It was time to go.
Moonblaze and Cindercloud hurried to gather up their bundles of herbs. From the corner of her eye, Moonblaze noticed Mousefur guiding Longtail and Brambleclaw toward the exit; Squirrelflight's group of elders and kits would be making the journey with them.
Oakheart's patrol stood at the entrance to see them off. Oakheart dipped his head ever so slightly as she passed, and Moonblaze flicked her tail at him. With the succulent herbs clamped in her mouth, however, she could say nothing.
Then they were through the thorn tunnel and out in the forest. Honeydew and Wolfspirit fell into pace beside her and Cindercloud as they walked.
"Well, this is it," Honeydew declared grimly.
To be continued...
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