Warriors #1: Moondance of Fate ✓

Chapter 26

I awoke, sputtering and coughing as smoke swirled around me. Some blood fell onto the nest, and I shook my head, trying to clear my senses. When I opened my eyes, I saw Jayfeather rushing toward me, nearly stumbling over his own paws in his haste.

"Are you alright?" he panted, his eyes searching mine, though I knew he couldn't see me clearly through the haze. I huffed out a breath, still feeling the acrid burn of smoke in my throat.

"Yes, I'm fine," I croaked through gritted teeth, though it felt as if claws were raking my throat.

"Don't speak too much. I'll get you some honey; it should soothe your throat," Jayfeather said, his touch gentle as he brushed his nose against mine. He then hurried over to his herb store, determined to ease my discomfort and heal the effects of our fiery ordeal.

I settled down, fatigue weighing heavily on me, and I was almost drifting off to sleep when Jayfeather nudged me gently with his paw.

"Here," he mewed, offering me a leaf-shaped bowl filled with honey. I lapped up the sweet, soothing liquid, and I could feel it gradually easing the pain in my throat. A sigh of relief escaped me, and I closed my blue eyes, breaking into a smile.

"Thank you, Jayfeather," I said with genuine gratitude, feeling the warmth of his care. He dipped his head in acknowledgment but seemed to grumble under his breath.

"You can thank me by not doing that in the future. I thought I'd lost you," he muttered, and a hint of concern lingered in his words. He quickly turned his attention back to his herbs, as if trying to dismiss his momentary vulnerability.

Then, Jayfeather's voice shifted, and he called out, "Oh, yes, there's another one who wants to meet you. Lionblaze, you may come in!"

Soon enough, the golden tom I had grown fond of, Lionblaze, came bursting into the den. "Moonfall!" he squeaked, his eyes wide with worry. He rushed over to me, almost bowling over his brother in his haste, and immediately began licking me all over. I squeaked as he bathed my nose and ears with affection.

"Never do that again," he whimpered, his eyes filled with concern and love. He held me with an intensity that spoke of his fears. "I thought I'd lost you!"

I snorted and gave him a gentle prod. "I'm not that easy to sway, Lionblaze. Anyway, the fire wouldn't hurt me," I said, beginning to feel slightly uncomfortable under the watchful gaze of Jayfeather.

"What?" Lionblaze asked, staring at me with wide eyes. He had noticed my unscorched fur, though I was slightly bloodied on my paws. "I swear I saw you hurt," he muttered under his breath, and then he turned to his brother. "She was hurt when she came in, wasn't she?"

Jayfeather snorted. "By the way you fussed over her, I guessed she was injured, but now that I see her again, I sense no other injuries apart from her sore pads." He turned to face me, his blind eyes inquisitive. "You said the fire didn't hurt you, so either you're immune or just lucky."

I shrugged, my thoughts briefly wandering. Then, I recalled the words Bluestar had spoken to me in her prophetic message. "Find the jay, the lion, and the dove. They will all come fluttering before you soon enough," I muttered, and my eyes widened as the pieces began to fall into place.

Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Dovewing! They were the three cats who were supposed to help me defeat a great evil. But what was this evil? I pondered, my claws working absentmindedly on my nest.

"Well," Jayfeather prompted, sensing my hesitation. I blinked at him and found the courage to speak. "I... I think I might be one of the four," I squeaked out in a weak voice. Jayfeather stared long and hard at me, and after a moment, he said, "Hmm, you might."

Lionblaze, still in disbelief, let out a bewildered question. "How can she?"

"Don't ask me," I replied, shaking out my fur to warm myself. "I thought Hollyleaf was the fourth cat," Lionblaze muttered, and I hummed in agreement. The mystery of the prophecy and my role in it weighed heavily on my mind, leaving me with more questions than answers.

Lionblaze sighed deeply as he spoke, "Well, if you are, then your powers might be controlling fire." I nodded, considering his words. "That could be it."

"Or it could be her compassion. Ashfur was about to kill us all, but you didn't, from what I saw," he added. I jumped up, my heart racing. "Where is he?" I asked urgently. "Where is Ashfur?"

Jayfeather pointed with his tail toward a gray bundle in the darkest corner of the nursery. Ashfur's form was rising and falling as he breathed. "I barely had time to save him before I had to work on you, but he is fine," Jayfeather reassured me. "Leafpool is tending to him, but she's out with Squirrelflight to find more herbs and help the other cats who need restocking. Wrestling the fire took out a significant portion of our hollow."

I sighed, my paws trembling. "I'm sorry I didn't come earlier," I mewed, my gaze filled with regret. Lionblaze and Jayfeather exchanged glances before Lionblaze shook his head. "There was nothing you could've done. You stopped him before Squirrelflight told him anything and before he could take any lives," he said, his eyes warming with gratitude. Tenderly, he touched his nose to my ear. "Thank you, by the way."

A deep blush painted my cheeks, and I shuffled back a bit. "W-well, I'm just relieved you're all right," I stammered, my voice still shaky. Lionblaze's gaze remained soft as he spoke, "We are now, thanks to you."

For the rest of the evening, we worked tirelessly to help the others and restore the hollow to its rightful state. Ashfur remained in the nursery for the day, and I was secretly relieved. I wasn't sure I could face him again, not after what had transpired.

But as I labored alongside my newfound allies, those I was meant to work with to thwart the looming threat of the Dark Forest, I felt a glimmer of hope. The future didn't seem as bleak anymore. There was strength in unity, and together, we would face whatever challenges lay ahead.