TB MOONRISE -- Chapter 12 (Patreon)

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It was dusk by the time that Mothwing returned to the RiverClan camp, her paws muddy and aching and her heart feeling as if it had been wrapped in thorns. Her stomach roiled as she recalled the image of the rabbit’s torn-open stomach, and she knew the smell of vomit clung to her pelt.

No Clan should have to suffer like that,she thought. How long can WindClan last without rabbits, and with Twolegs driving away what prey remains?

She ignored the curious looks and mews of her Clanmates as she padded across the clearing towards Leopardstar’s den. She would tell Mudfur everything, but right now some part of Mothwing wanted to talk to her mother, to be comforted like a kit.

Leopardstar looked up from her nest as Mothwing padded inside of the hollow willow log. “What’s wrong?” she asked, eyes gleaming in the dim light.

Mothwing took a deep breath before spilling all that had happened in the WindClan camp – the destruction of their territory, the death of Graytail, the poisoned rabbits… it all tumbled from her mouth like the waterfall in the gorge, and Mothwing felt like she was lashing herself upon the rocks as she spoke.

Leopardstar was silent for a long moment after Mothwing was done. Then, in a quiet tone, she meowed, “I am sure you did your best… I’m proud of you, Mothwing. That had to be difficult.”

“It was,” Mothwing rasped.

Leopardstar got to her paws and brushed her muzzle against Mothwing’s. Mothwing leaned in, taking comfort in her mother’s clean, fresh RiverClan-scent, untainted by hunger; but she felt the tension in the dappled she-cat’s muscles and knew that the sympathy wouldn’t last.

“Are you certain that all the rabbits in the forest are poisoned?” she asked.

Mothwing sighed. “I can’t say for sure,” she admitted, “but even just one or two…”

Leopardstar nodded in understanding. “Come,” she meowed. “We must tell the Clan.”

Mothwing swallowed and followed her mother out of the den. Already every warrior seemed to be gathered close, as if anticipating a meeting. How would they react to the news? WindClan wasn’t exactly an ally these days. Mothwing caught sight of Falcontail in the crowd, who leaned over and whispered something to Leafwhisker and Blackclaw, both of whom curled their tails in aggression.

What if they want to attack WindClan?Mothwing shivered, glancing at Leopardstar. The RiverClan leader was making her way up the Clan Root, sitting herself down at its peak to look over her Clan. There was no need for Leopardstar’s signature call – all were present to listen, eyes bright and curious.

“Mothwing has returned from WindClan,” Leopardstar announced, “and the news is not good.”

“What happened?” hissed Mudfur. Mothwing flinched at his tone as he slid into position beside her. “Why didn’t you come to me first?”

“I’m sorry,” Mothwing whispered back. Leopardstar was already launching into a brief explanation of what had happened in WindClan territory. “It all happened so fast…”

Mudfur sighed, giving Mothwing’s ear a lick. “It’s all right,” he soothed. “But come to me first, next time.”

“… and I have come to the inevitable conclusion,” Leopardstar meowed on. “RiverClan cats can no longer risk hunting rabbits.”

“What?!” gasped Heavystep. “All because some WindClan cats got sick?”

“It’s not a risk we can take!” Mothwing insisted, getting to her paws. “You didn’t see how sick it made them – Graytail died from whatever was in those rabbits, and Bristlepaw might still die!”

“Rabbits cross the border all the time,” Tawnypelt reasoned, facing the Clan with her chin high. “It’s not a risk I’m willing to take, either. RiverClan has never needed rabbits to survive anyway; it’s not a huge loss to our fresh-kill pile.”

Mudfur sighed. “StarClan, what is happening to the forest?!”

“Are you sure it was Twolegs that did it?” asked Brackenflight. Her striped tail lay still where it was, wrapped around her paws; but the senior warrior looked disturbed. “And their territory… could the Twolegs be trying to kill WindClan?”

“Why?” wondered Frostsplash. “I’ve never seen Twolegs do stuff like that; I’ve lived around them for long enough…”

Mackerelpaw looked confused, too. She hung her head helplessly. “I don’t get it…”

“First Fourtrees, now WindClan,” mused Mosspelt. “I think it’s clear that the Twolegs aren’t something we can ignore.” The tortoiseshell queen looked up at Leopardstar, her eyes hard. “They’re clearly a danger.”

“And WindClan needs help!” Mothwing chimed in, looking up at her mother too. “There has to be something we can do! They’ll starve to death without rabbits! There’s hardly any other prey on their land!”

Leopardstar’s ears flattened, her eyes troubled. Mothwing gave her most pleading look, beseeching her mother to do something. It can’t be StarClan’s will that WindClan starves! Please, Mother!

“Twolegs are one thing, but why should we aid WindClan?” snapped Leafwhisker.

Blackclaw grunted in agreement. “They’ve done nothing but steal from us – first our water, then our prey. What’s next?”

Mudfur curled his lip. “We gave them water to combat the dry spell,” he reminded. “And we have a duty to aid the other Clans in times like these.”

“You do.” Falcontail’s voice was sharp and cold. Mothwing stared hopelessly at her brother – she wasn’t at all surprised he was speaking up about this. “Medicine cats have their own code. The rest of us follow the warrior code, in case you’ve forgotten – and the warrior code strictly states that Clans do not share prey.”

Leafwhisker was bristling. “You think we’ll be able to survive leaf-bare if we let WindClan hunt on our territory?” the tabby warrior hissed. “And what if those Twolegs destroy their land? Where will they go?”

“Not here!” Blackclaw sniffed. “I won’t stand for that!”

The Clan clamored. Mothwing looked up at Leopardstar, hoping and praying that her mother might say something to soothe the tensions – but found that Leopardstar was staring at Falcontail, looking just as hopeless as Mothwing felt. Was she shocked at her own son’s words, too?

“RiverClan has starved in the past!” Shadepelt yowled over the din, her voice hoarse with age. “The other Clans helped us then. I think it’s time we paid that debt forward.”

“I agree,” Tawnypelt meowed, raising her voice firmly. “A lot of us wouldn’t be here today if ThunderClan hadn’t helped us when the river flooded seasons ago.”

Falcontail bristled. “WindClan has always had problems like these, and they’ve pulled through on their own.”

“You wouldn’t be here without WindClan’s help!” Mudfur snapped, bristling. “If they hadn’t come with medicine when you were a kit you and Mothwing would’ve died of greencough, and who knows how many more would have joined you! How can you throw that debt away?”

Falcontail’s ears pinned in response, his eyes blazing with hostility. Mothwing stared at her brother – why did he have to look like he was ready to attack Mudfur?! She edged herself forward, shielding Mudfur with her younger, stronger body.

“Tallstar should ask ThunderClan,” Blackclaw stated firmly. “They’re the ones that like sticking their whiskers into every Clan’s business!”

“Definitely,” Leafwhisker agreed, nodding. “Tallstar and Tinystar have always been friends. Neither have respected the warrior code much!”

Mothwing trembled, watching as her Clan parted like a river with a stone thrown into it. Both sides looked ready to raise their claws to defend their opinions, and Mothwing’s stomach churned even harder.

What do I do? She thought, looking up at the sky. The stars that sparkled there were silent. StarClan, tell us what to do!

It wasn’t StarClan, but Leopardstar, who called an end to the debate. Her sharp, wordless yowl cut through the fighting like the roar of a beast, causing the entire Clan to fall into a shocked silence and turn their eyes to where she stood upon the Clan Root.

“That is enough,” Leopardstar stated firmly, her eyes passing over the Clan. Many looked embarrassed to be caught in her gaze. “At this time, RiverClan cannot aid WindClan – that is the end of it.”

Mothwing stared up at her mother, shocked. How could she say that? “Leopardstar, why?” she pleaded. “They need our help, and with the Twolegs-”

Leopardstar silenced her with a hard glare and a sweep of her tail. “The Twolegs are temporary – they will do their business and then be gone, and all will go back to normal. RiverClan cannot afford to share hunting rights with WindClan with leaf-bare right around the corner, especially when we cannot trust that they will give those rights back.”

“But-”

“I have made my decision,” Leopardstar declared. “And I will not change my mind. Tawnypelt, ensure that no rabbits are on the fresh-kill pile, and make sure everyone in the Clan knows not to touch any we find. Send a message out to ThunderClan about the rabbits – hopefully they can spread word to ShadowClan before any of their own cats fall ill.”

Tawnypelt blinked. “Of course,” she meowed. Mothwing stared at the Clan deputy. She didn’t look happy with Leopardstar’s decision either, so why wasn’t she saying anything? Tawnypelt, speak up, please! You can make Leopardstar see reason, if no other cat can!

“As for the rest of you…” Leopardstar’s piercing gaze scanned the clearing once more. “You are dismissed.”

The Clan dispersed into groups of muttering cats, eyes flashing everywhere. Mothwing felt their gazes on her, and when she saw how many looked doubtful, hostile, even, she felt like retching.

Mothwing sank her claws into the earth, looking up at the stars. Why didn’t StarClan send a sign? Why were they so quiet? What did they have to gain by letting WindClan starve without aid?

Please, tell me! She begged. How can you watch as we fall apart?