Warriors: Divided Loyalty

Chapter Fifty-Two

"This is the Glowing Moss Cave, Mosspaw." Meowed Nightstar as she and her apprentice passed the ancient cave. "That's where we will collect more moss after this."

The gray and white patched apprentice gaped at the cave, tail lashing in excitement and wonder. "Wow!" She breathed, her orange eyes wide. Mosspaw turned to her mother, head tilted to the side. "Why is it called the Glowing Moss Cave?" She asked.

Nightstar chuckled. "Because when the sunlight or moonlight hits the moss inside just right, it glows." She explained and Mosspaw's eyes widened like a full moon. "It's a beautiful sight to see, but it's nothing compared to the Moonpool."

Mosspaw flicked her tail and sat down. "What does the Moonpool look like?" She asked. "Is it inside the Glowing Moss Cave?"

Nightstar shook her head, amused. "Certainly not," she chuckled, jerking her muzzle beyond the trees. "It's in a cave in the crevices of highstones. I went there to receive my nine lives and it is gorgeous."

"What's it look like?" Mosspaw was lying down, listening intensely as though the Moonpool would disappear before she got to see it.

The leader sat down, tail flicking over her paws as she began to explain. "It a pool in the ground that reflects the stars when the moonlight shines down on it through the gap where you enter." She meowed. Unsheathing a claw, Nightstar drew a basic description of the ancient pool. "When you go to it, you crouch down and lap at the water."

Mosspaw broke it. "Is it warm or cold?" She asked, wiggling closer to her mother.

"Very, very cold." Purred Nightstar as she saw Mosspaw's mouth open. "However, the pool has never been frozen over before." She caught the question before her apprentice had to ask. "And I don't think it has or ever will." She added.

Mosspaw was quiet for a few heartbeats before asking. "Will I ever see it?" She gazed at her mother, tail flicking back and forth.

Nightstar shrugged. "In time you may see it. If you become a leader, you will see it to get your nine lives." She meowed and rose to her paws. "Come on, we'd better keep going before the sun starts to set."

Mosspaw sprang up and her energy returned. "Will you tell me more about the territory?" She asked, eyes shimmering with innocence.

Nightstar cracked a small smile and laughed. This young cat knows nothing of the harsh world. When leafbare takes its toll, she will know. "Of course, but hurry up."

**********

Nightstar padded into the camp, a wad of moss in her jaws as Mosspaw held her own. It was sunhigh and it had started to snow so the two decided a quick trip to the Glowing Moss Cave and headed home. She set down her moss and looked at her apprentice. "Go to the medicine cats and give the moss to them." She meowed. "Then, go clean out the nursery. Tell Stonepaw and Mistlepaw to help you and that I said so."

Mosspaw nodded and, with her mother's help, picked up Nightstar's moss and bounded to the medicine cat den. Nightstar watched her go and flicked her tail, seeing a few warriors in the camp. They were either reinforcing dens or waiting for patrols to come back so they could go on.

Two cats caught Nightstar's eye and she saw Dawnflame and Swiftsoul lying under a willow tree with a skinny sparrow between them. It was half-eaten and the pair were deep in conversation. She flicked her tail in annoyance and picked a scrawny mouse off the fresh-kill pile and ate it in three bites. She swiped her tongue over her jaws and began to wash her pelt.

As she reached a spot on her back, the camp entrance exploded with cats, all of which were panting and gasping for air. Nightstar saw Fennelfur and Lizardpaw at the front, eyes wide and gasping.