Moth Flight's Vision/Chapter 3

Chapter Summary
Moth Flight's PoV
 * Gorse Fur pulls up sharply as the slope steepens toward the moortop. Moth Flight is out of breath and relieved when Wind Runner halts, though Dust Muzzle, hardly pants. Wind Runner surveys the moor, and Moth Flight stares at the wide valley that dips behind them to Highstones. She watches the sun as it sinks, and Wind Runner mewing her name makes her jump. She asks what, and her mother asks if she had not heard her; Moth Flight had not. Wind Runner says that she told her to go with Dust Muzzle and hunt out the prey around a gorse patch, while she and Gorse Fur would check the high burrows for rabbits. Dust Muzzle wants to hunt rabbits too, but Wind Runner tells him to stay with his sister, as Moth Flight is not fast enough for rabbits and will probably bring home nothing but leaves if left alone. Moth Flight turns away and stomps down the slope.


 * Dust Muzzle catches up to her and advises her not to mind Wind Runner, whose bad mood won't last long. Moth Flight doesn't look at her brother as she says that it is her fault that Wind Runner is in a bad mood, and that she would torture her all day for falling asleep. Dust Muzzle gently reminds her that she was supposed to be looking after Slate's kits. Moth Flight argues that they were okay because she rescued them, and lashes her tail, asking why Wind Runner can't be pleased with that. Dust Muzzle doesn't answer but brushes his pelt against Moth Flight's, and recommends forgetting about it and catching something tasty.


 * As they near the gorse, Moth Flight flattens her ears to block out the sound of the wind and tastes the air for prey, realizing that Wind Runner must be pleased if she took home some prey. Dust Muzzle halts and wonders out loud if Willow Tail caught up with Red Claw. Moth Flight responds that she hopes not, and asks what would happen if she started a fight and got hurt. Dust Muzzle tastes the air and replies that she's not a rabbit brain and wouldn't attack him on her own. Moth Flight frets that she was so angry with him, and says that he was on their land but wasn't hunting, and it was like Willow Tail was trying to start a fight. Dust Muzzle agrees, but notes that they have sunny clearings in SkyClan, and he may have been up to something. Moth Flight murmurs maybe, but doesn't believe it, and wonders if she is crazy to trust Red Claw.


 * Dust Muzzle goes on that the next Gathering is the day after tomorrow, and they could see if she would cause more trouble then. Moth Flight recalls that they were rogues together, but Dust Muzzle drops into a crouch as she speaks. She freezes and follows his gaze; a shrew roots in the grass below a gorse branch. Moth Flight is excited and whispers if she can catch it, and Dust Muzzle gives a tiny nod.


 * Sinking low, Moth Flight creeps forward, delighted that the shrew has no idea that she is there. She leaps, pushing hard with her hind legs, but sails into the gorse, crashing through the branches. The prickles stab her nose and she screws up her eyes, tripping over Dust Muzzle as he darts past her. She rubs her nose and winces, and a moment later Dust Muzzle scrambles from beneath the bush, the shrew dangling from his jaws, dead. Moth Flight exclaims that he caught it, blinking at him proudly, and wishes aloud that she was as good at hunting as him.


 * Dust Muzzle lays the shrew at her paws and comforts her that she will be one day, offering Moth Flight to tell Wind runner that she caught it. Moth Flight bristles and snaps that she doesn't need her help, then instantly feels guilty as hurt flashes in her brother's eyes. She apologizes that it is really kind of him, but she is not going to be something she is not, and that she is useless at hunting. Dust Muzzle comforts her that she just needs practice, and licks her nose, mewing that she is bleeding. Moth Flight asks if she is and sighs, knowing that Wind Runner would guess she crashed into the gorse bush. Dust Muzzle suggests giving it a wash, and that it will hardly show. He scoops up the shrew and heads upslope, but Moth Flight asks if they won't hunt anymore. Dust Muzzle mews that he thinks they frightened away all the prey around there, and suggests helping Wind Runner and Gorse Fur for rabbits. Moth Flight follows, knowing that she ruined the hunt.


 * As they near the burrows, Moth Flight is surprised to see her parents sitting side by side, heads bent in conversation. She overhears them as she and Dust Muzzle near. Gorse Fur pleads Wind Runner not to be hard on her, and Moth Flight and Dust Muzzle slow. Wind Runner snaps that it's time she grew up and took responsibility, as she is not a kit anymore. She adds that she doesn't make allowances for the rest of her Clan, so can't make them for her. Dust Muzzle glances at Moth Flight and she is uncomfortable that her parents are talking about her.


 * Gorse Fur argues that she is not irresponsible, but notices things other cat's don't, and get's distracted. Wind Runner counters that with mouths to feed and kits to protect, she shouldn't be distracted. She adds that Dust Muzzle doesn't get into trouble, and wonders why she can't be more like him. Gorse Fur presses that Dust Muzzle will make a fine hunter, but that Moth Flight is special. Wind Runner objects that WindClan doesn't need special cats, but needs hunters and fighters.


 * Moth flight growls and softly says that they think she is rabbit-brained. Dust Muzzle drops the shrew and responds that Gorse Fur is just trying to explain that she's different. Moth Flight glares at him, asking if he thinks she is different too. Her brother responds that she is, but not in a bad way. Moth Flight hisses that she doesn't want to be different, but Gorse Fur turns and exclaims Moth Flight's name, surprised that they are back already. Wind Runner stares at the shrew and asks if that was all they caught. Dust Muzzle dips his head and replies that it was all there was, but Wind runner snorts that Moth Flight must have tripped over her tail and scared the other prey away.


 * Moth Flight doesn't meet her mother's gaze, as she had guessed right away that it was her fault. Moth Flight is angry and hurt, and is determined to be as good as any other Clan cat. She scans the moortop for something to catch, and is relieved to spot a lapwing.

Major

 * Moth Flight

Minor

 * Gorse Fur
 * Wind Runner
 * Dust Muzzle

Mentioned

 * Slate
 * Silver Stripe (Unnamed)
 * Black Ear (Unnamed)
 * White Tail (Unnamed)
 * Willow Tail
 * Red Claw