Rising Moon

Jedi Goat

Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.

Author's Note: Wow! This story has eighty reviews! That's, like, more than all my other stories combined... o.O Thank you to everyone who has reviewed! Also, to WildTotodile: Nightfang was Moonblaze's half-brother. The black cat (Pantherglare) was Nightfang's real mother.

-------------------------------------

Chapter 39

Somehow they managed to get through ShadowClan's territory unscathed, following the paw prints of the fleeing cats. Moonblaze scented the carrion-walls of ShadowClan camp before it came into view; she then stopped in her tracks in horror.

The camp was swarming with cats, and as BloodClan's patrol returned, the mass turned to face the clan cats.

They can scent us! Moonblaze realized as the wind blew past, ruffling her fur. It was a stupid hunter's mistake: letting your prey know you were coming.

"We can't face that many cats," mewed Moonblaze worriedly to Wolfspirit and Honeydew.

The she-cats looked grim. "We've got to try," stated Honeydew.

A little ways ahead, Firestar called for Lilypaw and Fishpaw. The twin light gray she-cats slipped through the throng toward him.

Moonblaze crept nearer to hear.

"Lilypaw, run ahead to ThunderClan," Firestar ordered. "Tell them we need backup at ShadowClan camp. Fishpaw, find RiverClan's patrol back at the border. We'll need their help, too."

The apprentices ran off in opposite directions. Firestar waited a moment, and then signaled the group with his tail. As one they raced down toward the camp, letting loose their battle cries.

Moonblaze clamped her herbs in her mouth, praying to StarClan for their safety. In front of her, the cats leaped over the carrion wall; Moonblaze grimaced but followed suit. She landed in the fray; cats clashed against cats in a horrible battle.

Moonblaze and Cindercloud broke off from the others and, finding a more secluded corner, set down their herbs. Wolfspirit and Honeydew took up defensive positions on either side of them. Moonblaze took a moment to get her bearings; she could see the rock where Nightfang had stood before at the center of the clearing. Now Preybone stood there, shouting orders to his clan.

Moonblaze spotted the black she-cat again, this time tussling with a RiverClan tom nearby. Honeydew followed Moonblaze's gaze and snarled.

Without warning, the bracken-colored she-cat charged, pouncing on the black she-cat.

"Honeydew!" Wolfspirit cried after her, but the enraged she-cat wasn't coming back. She knocked the black cat to the ground, repeatedly scouring her with her claws.

"You'll pay!" Honeydew screeched, lashing out again. Moonblaze tried to keep an eye on her sister, but the battle converged around her and Moonblaze lost sight of her. Hoping Honeydew could take care of herself, Moonblaze exchanged a glance with Wolfspirit.

A fierce-looking tabby charged at them, and Wolfspirit leaped protectively in front of Moonblaze. The next moment, however, the tabby was shoved aside by a smaller, thinner tom.

"Littlecloud!" Moonblaze gasped.

Littlecloud gazed up at her with tired eyes.

"Moonblaze – Cindercloud—I have gathered a group of ShadowClan cats disloyal to Preybone. They need help – Preybone forbid me access to herbs."

Wolfspirit glanced at him, not trusting the ShadowClan tom. Littlecloud's eyes were pleading.

"Show me," said Cindercloud curtly, collecting her herbs. She flicked her tail at Moonblaze and Wolfspirit, indicating that they should follow.

They cautiously made their way around the clearing, sticking to the outskirts. Finally they arrived at a group of cats crouching among the bones of carrion. They all bore cuts and bruises. Moonblaze recognized Toadstool, the brother of Appleheart and Marshpelt; and Tallpoppy, an old queen. Cindercloud immediately began tending to their wounds. Moonblaze followed more slowly. Wolfspirit stood guard nervously, while Littlecloud stood by helplessly.

"Take some of my herbs," Moonblaze offered briskly, pushing the bundle toward him. Littlecloud blinked in thanks and began pressing marigold against Toadstool's bleeding paws.

"You!" came an enraged shriek from behind them. Moonblaze whirled around to see Marshpelt glaring at them, her fur on end. "Preybone forbade you to heal!"

Littlecloud gazed up at her coolly. "Do you wish to see your clanmates die?"

"Traitors!" she spat at the injured cats. "We don't need you anyway. Especially," she added, glaring at Littlecloud, "you!"

Before anyone could stop her, Marshpelt lunged at Littlecloud. At the last second Cindercloud leaped in front of her flashing claws. "No!"

Marshpelt slammed into her, raking in her claws. As she drew back, Cindercloud slumped to the ground.

Moonblaze suddenly froze up. No! her mind was screaming.

Cindercloud didn't move.

With a feral screech, Wolfspirit leaped at Marshpelt. The she-cat turned tail and ran, Wolfspirit hot in pursuit.

"No, Cindercloud," she whispered, staring horror-struck at her friend's body.

"She is with StarClan," came a voice from behind her. Moonblaze turned; for a moment, she thought Wolfspirit had returned already, but this gray she-cat was paler…and Moonblaze recognized those sharp green eyes.

"Dawnbreak," she murmured.

"Cindercloud came from StarClan…she was once Cinderpelt."

Moonblaze stared at Dawnbreak in shock. Cinderpelt had been Leafpool's mentor!

"Now she has returned to us." Dawnbreak bowed her head, acknowledging the loss. "Now Duskshadow and I are here. We shall help you in any way we can."

Dawnbreak turned and disappeared into the battle. Moonblaze glanced at Littlecloud for his reaction, but he was still staring down at Cindercloud in horror.

Moonblaze understood that she alone could see her sister; despairingly, she wondered, How can they help if no one else can see them?

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she busied herself with her herbs. I can mourn later, she struggled to convince herself, for now these cats need me.

A yowl split the air and Moonblaze's heart leaped; ThunderClan warriors were spilling into the camp, breaking down the walls of bones. From the other side of the clearing came RiverClan's battle cry.

"Stay here, where you'll be safer," Moonblaze ordered the injured cats, and, snagging what herbs she could, Moonblaze re-entered the battle.

Slowly, the clans collectively began forcing BloodClan back. Some cats turned tail and ran, while others put up more of a fight.

Soon they were splashing across the newly-melted stream into ThunderClan territory. Now they just needed to keep going.

Moonblaze noticed, however, that many of the rogues were angling off toward camp. She began to panic again; they had to get them to the WindClan border!

Moonblaze suddenly slid to a stop as a thought struck her. The white tom had said the rogues only followed Preybone. Maybe if they managed to take down Preybone, all of BloodClan would collapse!

Moonblaze hurried after the rest of the cats, now determined to find a clan leader to inform them of her plan. When she arrived at the entrance to camp, the battle was already in full swing. Some cats hadn't even made it inside before joining the fight.

Moonblaze heard thunder off to the side and turned to see WindClan's patrol racing toward the camp, led by Ashfoot. She fell into their ranks as they surged through the thorn tunnel; up ahead she could see the patrol spreading out to take the camp. Moonblaze swerved around them and dared a quick glance around.

The clearing was filled with writhing cats; there was no way Moonblaze could single out Preybone's pelt.

Then she felt claws on her back and rolled to face a battle-scarred gray tom. Hissing, she slashed at his muzzle. The tom slipped aside and sank his claws into her side. Crying out in pain, Moonblaze batted at him again. This time her claws connected with his face; yowling, the tom scampered away. They're all cowards, observed Moonblaze. They'd all run out of here if Preybone wasn't holding them together! Recalling all she knew about the vicious tom, Moonblaze realized he must be threatening them.

In the break between her fights, she glanced around the clearing once more. She missed Preybone, but a flash of white pelt speckled with brown caught her attention. Oakheart! She turned and saw the tom on top of the Highledge, facing off against none other than Preybone himself. Moonblaze hurried toward the Highledge, skirting away from any cat who dared confront her. Moonblaze chanced another glance up and her heart caught in her throat; Oakheart was hanging off the edge of the cliff!

With a howl of fury, she bowled right past a BloodClan rogue, lunging for the cliff face. Her eyes frantically searched out the pawholds leading up to the top. A cat bounded ahead of her – for a moment, she thought it was an enemy – then she recognized Duskshadow's dark pelt.

Following the path he showed her, Moonblaze reached the top in record time. She turned, gasping, and yowled, "Preybone!"

The huge tom twisted to face her, and he smiled coldly. "How nice of my daughter to join me."

For a moment, Moonblaze was frozen in confusion. "Wh-what? How did you know?"

Preybone flicked his tail carelessly. Behind him, Moonblaze could just see Oakheart, clinging on to the cliff. "Did you really think I would let your mother take you away that easily? I had spies, rogues I trusted, following her until her death. A terrible loss, I must say." Preybone's mouth curled into a cruel smile. "Then they brought news of your location to me. I always figured you would be a part of my takeover plan, and now here you are. Pity your siblings didn't make it, though."

Moonblaze boiled with anger. How dare he speak of her family that way!

Fur bristling, Moonblaze snarled, "I'll never join you!"

"Really." Preybone sounded bored. He lifted a paw, revealing long, deadly looking claws. "I'll make this simple for you." His voice had lowered to a dangerous growl. "Surrender all your territory to me, or your friend here," Preybone nodded down at Oakheart, "will suffer the consequences."

A dark laugh rumbled in Preybone's throat. Moonblaze gazed wide-eyed at Oakheart, and he stared back. I won't leave you, she tried to tell him with her eyes.

"Well?" asked Preybone, sharpening his claws against the rock.

Moonblaze looked down at her paws, mustering her courage. Finally, she raised her gaze to Preybone's.

"You're wrong," she whispered.

Preybone narrowed his eyes. "What?"

Moonblaze raised her voice. "The Clans won't give up their territory."

"Why not?" hissed Preybone, readying his claws.

"Because we have StarClan on our side."

"StarClan!" laughed Preybone. "Your clan of ancestors? How can they help you? They're dead!"

"Wrong again," Moonblaze growled, her voice cold. They're alive in our hearts!

With that Moonblaze charged, yowling fiercely. Maybe it was just her imagination, but the sound seemed to echo twice. Preybone's eyes widened slightly as she lunged at him, claws flying.

Preybone responded with a slash toward her belly, but suddenly found his paw stuck in midair. Moonblaze, however, saw Duskshadow clamping down on his leg. Preybone yowled in pain, though it seemed nothing touched him. Next Moonblaze saw Dawnbreak strike Preybone in the chest. The tom doubled over, for a moment offering the perfect target.

"Now!" Dawnbreak cried, but Moonblaze was already moving. Without even thinking, she sank her teeth deep into Preybone's neck and held on.

Preybone howled and thrashed only a moment before lying still at her paws. Moonblaze drew back, panting and tasting blood in her mouth.

Only then did the shock of what she had done hit her. Great StarClan, I – I killed him!

Duskshadow and Dawnbreak moved to the edge of the cliff, and Moonblaze followed in a daze. She looked down at Oakheart, his claws sunk into the rock to hold on.

Reaching down, Moonblaze grasped the scruff of his neck in her mouth and hauled him up. Her siblings were on either side of her, pulling as well.

As Oakheart lay panting on the Highledge, for a moment he thought he could see two gray cats standing beside Moonblaze. He blinked in confusion and they were gone. Moonblaze nosed him worriedly. "Are you all right?"

Oakheart heaved himself to his paws, wincing. Claw-inflicted wounds stung his sides. Turning and looking into her lovely green eyes, he mewed, "Never better."

Moonblaze's gaze softened. She pressed her nose against his shoulder before she turned to face the clearing.

"BloodClan!" she yowled, as fiercely as she could, "your leader, Preybone, is dead!"

The crowd gasped and stared up at her. For emphasis, she pushed Preybone's body to the edge and looked down at him in disgust. "Leave now and never return to our land!"

But already the BloodClan cats were moving, surging toward the entrance tunnel like the cowards they were. The clan cats catcalled after them, and Moonblaze saw Firestar and Onestar chasing out the last of the rogues. Some ShadowClan cats remained in the clearing, slumped with defeat.

Moonblaze sighed and sat back against Oakheart. Finally, it was over.

To be continued...

----------------------------

Please review!