Sign of the Moon
Omen of the Stars
Warriors
Sign of the Moon
Erin Hunter
Contents
Allegiances
Prologue
Water thundered down from the mountaintop, screening the entrance to…
Chapter 1
Dovepaw slid out through the thorn tunnel and stood waiting…
Chapter 2
Lionblaze pounded around the bramble thicket, wishing he was small…
Chapter 3
“Can you feel that?” Jayfeather prodded Briarlight’s hindquarters with a…
Chapter 4
For a heartbeat, pure joy flooded through Jayfeather. My sister…
Chapter 5
Ivypool thought her paws might drop off as she stumbled…
Chapter 6
Dovewing sat outside the apprentices’ den, giving herself a quick…
Chapter 7
As Jayfeather emerged from the barrier of thorns, he located…
Chapter 8
Lionblaze emerged from the thorns and trotted toward the old…
Chapter 9
Dovewing’s pelt prickled with excitement as she followed Squirrelflight past…
Chapter 10
Ivypool blinked open her eyes to see the pale light…
Chapter 11
Dovewing halted, her gaze going up and up. She thought…
Chapter 12
Lionblaze jumped onto a fallen tree trunk and arched his…
Chapter 13
Dark shapes flitted around Jayfeather, and from far away he…
Chapter 14
“Why did I ever want to leave the lake behind?”…
Chapter 15
“That’s enough.” Stone Song stepped between Jayfeather and Broken Shadows.
Chapter 16
“Come on, move your tail, Mousewhisker! We haven’t got all…
Chapter 17
A thick, heavy silence surrounded Jayfeather. Everything was dark and…
Chapter 18
“We have to get out of here!” Ivypool whispered, expecting…
Chapter 19
“Please,” Jayfeather begged. “Let me stay here with Half Moon.
Chapter 20
“Mouse dung! Which cat thought night training would be a…
Chapter 21
Dovewing’s ears ached from the snow that blocked them; snow…
Chapter 22
Jayfeather felt as if all the weight of the mountains…
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Other Books by Erin Hunter
Credits
Copyright
About the Publisher
ALLEGIANCES
THUNDERCLAN
LEADER FIRESTAR—ginger tom with a flame-colored pelt
DEPUTY BRAMBLECLAW—dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes
MEDICINE CAT JAYFEATHER—gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes
WARRIORS (toms and she-cats without kits)
GRAYSTRIPE—long-haired gray tom
DUSTPELT—dark brown tabby tom
SANDSTORM—pale ginger she-cat with green eyes
BRACKENFUR—golden brown tabby tom
SORRELTAIL—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with amber eyes
CLOUDTAIL—long-haired white tom with blue eyes
BRIGHTHEART—white she-cat with ginger patches
MILLIE—striped gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes
THORNCLAW—golden brown tabby tom
SQUIRRELFLIGHT—dark ginger she-cat with green eyes
LEAFPOOL—light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes, former medicine cat
SPIDERLEG—long-limbed black tom with brown underbelly and amber eyes
BIRCHFALL—light brown tabby tom
WHITEWING—white she-cat with green eyes
BERRYNOSE—cream-colored tom
HAZELTAIL—small gray-and-white she-cat
MOUSEWHISKER—gray-and-white tom
CINDERHEART—gray tabby she-cat
APPRENTICE, IVYPAW
LIONBLAZE—golden tabby tom with amber eyes
APPRENTICE, DOVEPAW
FOXLEAP—reddish tabby tom
ICECLOUD—white she-cat
TOADSTEP—black-and-white tom
ROSEPETAL—dark cream she-cat
BRIARLIGHT—dark brown she-cat
BLOSSOMFALL—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat
BUMBLESTRIPE—very pale gray tom with black stripes
APPRENTICES (more than six moons old, in training to become warriors)
DOVEPAW—pale gray she-cat with blue eyes
IVYPAW—silver-and-white tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes
QUEENS (she-cats expecting or nursing kits)
FERNCLOUD—gray (with darker flecks) she-cat with green eyes
DAISY—cream long-furred cat from the horseplace
POPPYFROST—tortoiseshell she-cat (mother to Cherrykit, a ginger she-cat, and Molekit, a brown-and-cream tom)
ELDERS (former warriors and queens, now retired)
MOUSEFUR—small dusky brown she-cat
PURDY—plump tabby former loner with a gray muzzle
SHADOWCLAN
LEADER BLACKSTAR—large white tom with one jet-black forepaw
DEPUTY ROWANCLAW—ginger tom
MEDICINE CAT LITTLECLOUD—very small tabby tom
WARRIORS OAKFUR—small brown tom
APPRENTICE, FERRETPAW (cream-and-gray tom)
SMOKEFOOT—black tom
TOADFOOT—dark brown tom
APPLEFUR—mottled brown she-cat
CROWFROST—black-and-white tom
RATSCAR—brown tom with long scar across his back
APPRENTICE, PINEPAW (black she-cat)
SNOWBIRD—pure-white she-cat
TAWNYPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
APPRENTICE, STARLINGPAW (ginger tom)
OLIVENOSE—tortoiseshell she-cat
OWLCLAW—light brown tabby tom
SHREWFOOT—gray she-cat with black feet
SCORCHFUR—dark gray tom
REDWILLOW—mottled brown-and-ginger tom
TIGERHEART—dark brown tabby tom
DAWNPELT—cream-furred she-cat
QUEENS KINKFUR—tabby she-cat, with long fur that sticks out at all angles
IVYTAIL—black, white, and tortoiseshell she-cat
ELDERS CEDARHEART—dark gray tom
TALLPOPPY—long-legged light brown tabby she-cat
SNAKETAIL—dark brown tom with tabby-striped tail
WHITEWATER—white she-cat with long fur, blind in one eye
WINDCLAN
LEADER ONESTAR—brown tabby tom
DEPUTY ASHFOOT—gray she-cat
MEDICINE CAT KESTRELFLIGHT—mottled gray tom
WARRIORS CROWFEATHER—dark gray tom
OWLWHISKER—light brown tabby tom
APPRENTICE, WHISKERPAW (light brown tom)
WHITETAIL—small white she-cat
NIGHTCLOUD—black she-cat
GORSETAIL—very pale gray-and-white tom with blue eyes
WEASELFUR—ginger tom with white paws
HARESPRING—brown-and-white tom
LEAFTAIL—dark tabby tom with amber eyes
ANTPELT—brown tom with one black ear
EMBERFOOT—gray tom with two dark paws
HEATHERTAIL—light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes
APPRENTICE, FURZEPAW (gray-and-white she-cat)
BREEZEPELT—black tom with amber eyes
APPRENTICE, BOULDERPAW (large pale gray tom)
SEDGEWHISKER—light brown tabby she-cat
SWALLOWTAIL—dark gray she-cat
SUNSTRIKE—tortoiseshell she-cat with large white mark on her forehead
ELDERS WEBFOOT—dark gray tabby tom
TORNEAR—tabby tom
RIVERCLAN
LEADER MISTYSTAR—gray she-cat with blue eyes
DEPUTY REEDWHISKER—black tom
APPRENTICE, HOLLOWPAW (dark brown tabby tom)
MEDICINE CAT MOTHWING—dappled golden she-cat
APPRENTICE, WILLOWSHINE (gray tabby she-cat)
WARRIORS GRAYMIST—gray tabby she-cat
APPRENTICE, TROUTPAW (pale gray tabby she-cat)
MINTFUR—light gray tabby tom
ICEWING—white she-cat with blue eyes
MINNOWTAIL—dark gray she-cat
APPRENTICE, MOSSYPAW (brown-and-white she-cat)
PEBBLEFOOT—mottled gray tom
APPRENTICE, RUSHPAW (light brown tabby tom)
MALLOWNOSE—light brown tabby tom
ROBINWING—tortoiseshell-and-white tom
BEETLEWHISKER—brown-and-white tabby tom
PETALFUR—gray-and-white she-cat
GRASSPELT—light brown tom
QUEENS DUSKFUR—brown tabby she-cat
MOSSPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes
ELDERS DAPPLENOSE—mottled gray she-cat
POUNCETAIL—ginger-and-white tom
THE TRIBE OF RUSHING WATER
TRIBE-HEALER teller of the pointed stones
(STONETELLER)—brown tabby tom with amber eyes
PREY-HUNTERS (toms and she-cats responsible for providing food)
GRAY SKY BEFORE DAWN (GRAY)—pale gray tabby tom
WING SHADOW OVER WATER (WING)—gray-and-white she-cat
STORMFUR—dark gray tom with amber eyes, formerly of RiverClan
FLIGHT OF STARTLED HERON
(FLIGHT)—brown tabby she-cat
SCREECH OF ANGRY OWL (SCREECH)—black tom
SPLASH WHEN FISH LEAPS (SPLASH)—light brown tabby she-cat
CAVE-GUARDS (toms and she-cats responsible for guarding the cave)
CRAG WHERE EAGLES NEST (CRAG)—dark gray tom (Brook’s brother)
SHEER PATH BESIDE WATERFALL
(SHEER)—dark brown tabby tom
SWOOP OF CHESTNUT HAWK (SWOOP)—dark ginger she-cat
MOSS THAT GROWS BY RIVER (MOSS)—light brown she-cat
PEBBLE THAT ROLLS DOWN MOUNTAIN (PEBBLE)—gray she-cat
KIT-MOTHERS (she-cats expecting or nursing kits)
BROOK WHERE SMALL FISH SWIM (BROOK)—brown tabby she-cat (two kits: Lark That Sings at Dawn—Lark—pale tabby she-cat, and Pine That Clings to Rock—Pine—light brown tom)
NIGHT OF NO STARS (NIGHT)—black she-cat (expecting Sheer’s kits)
TO-BES (Tribe apprentices)
DARK SHADOW ON WATER (DARK)—black tom (prey-hunter)
SNOW FALLING ON STONES (SNOW)—white she-cat (cave-guard)
RAIN THAT PASSES QUICKLY (RAIN)—gray speckled she-cat (cave-guard)
ELDERS (former prey-hunters and cave-guards, now retired)
TALON OF SWOOPING EAGLE (TALON)—dark brown tabby tom
BIRD THAT RIDES THE WIND (BIRD)—gray-brown she-cat
CLOUD WITH STAR IN BELLY (CLOUD)—pale gray she-cat
OTHER CATS IN MOUNTAINS
FLORA—dark brown-and-white she-cat with green eyes
THE ANCIENTS
BROKEN SHADOW—slender orange she-cat with white paws and amber eyes
WHISPERING BREEZE—silver-gray she-cat with blue eyes
STONE SONG—dark gray tabby tom with blue eyes
CHASING CLOUDS—gray-and-white tom with blue eyes
FURLED BRACKEN—dark ginger tabby tom with amber eyes
CLOUDY SUN—pale ginger she-cat with green eyes
RUNNING HORSE—dark brown tom with yellow eyes
RISING MOON—gray-and-white she-cat with blue eyes
JAGGED LIGHTNING—black-and-white tom with amber eyes
SHY FAWN—dusty brown she-cat with amber eyes
DAWN RIVER—tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes
FISH LEAP—brown tabby tom with amber eyes
HALF MOON—white she-cat with green eyes
OWL FEATHER—wiry brown she-cat with yellow eyes
JAY’S WING—gray tabby tom with blue eyes
DOVE’S WING— pale gray she-cat with blue eyes
PROLOGUE
Water thundered down from the mountaintop, screening the entrance to the cave with a shimmering cascade. Gray light filtered through it and shadows gathered in the corners of the cavern like soft black wings. Near the sheet of falling water, two kits were scuffling over a bunch of feathers, batting it back and forth and letting out shrill squeals of excitement. The pale tabby fur of the little she-cat and the tom’s brown pelt almost blended into the dark stone floor.
At the back of the cave, an old brown tabby tom was crouching in the mouth of a tunnel. His eyes were narrowed, and his amber gaze never left the kits. He was motionless, except for the occasional twitch of his ears.
The tabby kit leaped high into the air, clawing at the feathers; as she landed with the bunch in her paws her brother flung himself on top of her, rolling over and snapping at the feathers with teeth like tiny white thorns.
“That’s enough.” A gentle voice came from close by as a graceful brown tabby she-cat rose to her paws and padded across to the kits. “Mind you don’t get too close to the water. And Pine, why don’t you try jumping high like Lark? You need to practice for when you’re a prey-hunter.”
“I’d rather be a cave-guard,” Pine mewed. “I’d fight every cat that tried to trespass on our territory.”
“Well, you can’t, because I will,” Lark retorted. “I’m going to be a cave-guard and hunt prey, so there!”
“That’s not how we do things,” their mother began; a swift glance over her shoulder showed that she was aware of the old cat watching from the shadows. “Every Tribe kit has to—”
She broke off at the sound of paw steps coming from the narrow path that led behind the waterfall and into the cave. A broad-shouldered gray-furred cat appeared, followed by the rest of his patrol. Instantly the kits let out squeals of welcome and hurled themselves at him.
“Careful!” Their mother followed and gathered the kits in with her tail. “Your father has been on border patrol. He must be tired.”
“I’m fine, Brook.” The gray tom blinked at her affectionately and gave her ear a quick lick. “It was an easy trip today.”
“Stormfur, I don’t know how you can say that!” a black tom put in, shaking water from his pelt as he left the cliff path. “We waste our time and wear out our paws patrolling that border, and for what?”
“Peace and quiet,” Stormfur replied, his voice even. “We aren’t going to get rid of those cats, even though we do think they’re intruders. The best we can hope for is to protect our own territory.”
“The whole of the mountains should be our territory!” the black tom spat.
“Give it a rest, Screech,” a dark ginger she-cat meowed, with an irritable twitch of her tail. “Stormfur’s right. Things aren’t like that anymore.”
“But are we safe?” asked Brook. She glanced at the kits, who were now tussling over a morsel of rabbit fur.
“The borders are holding, mostly,” Stormfur told Brook, a worried look in his amber eyes. “But we did pick up the scent of other cats in a couple of places. And there were eagle feathers scattered on the rock. They’ve been stealing prey again.”
The ginger she-cat shrugged. “There’s nothing we can do about that.”
“We can’t just let it go, Swoop,” Stormfur murmured. “Otherwise they’ll think they can do exactly what they like, and there was no point in setting the borders in the first place. I think we should increase the patrols and be ready to fight.”
“More patrols?” Screech lashed his tail angrily.
“It makes sense to—”
“No!”
Stormfur jumped as a voice rasped out from the shadows and he saw the old tabby cat standing a tail-length away.
“Stoneteller!” he exclaimed. “I didn’t see you there.”
“Evidently.” The old cat’s neck fur was bristling and there was a trace of anger in his eyes. “There will be no more patrols,” he went on. “The Tribe has enough to eat, and with the thaw approaching, there will soon be more prey: eggs and young birds stolen from nests.”
Stormfur looked as if he wanted to argue, but he picked up a flickering glance from Brook and a tiny shake of her head. Reluctantly he dipped his head to Stoneteller. “Very well.”
The old cat stalked away. Making an effort to flatten the ruffled fur on his neck, Stormfur turned to his kits. “Have you behaved yourselves today?”
“They’ve been very good,” Brook told him, her eyes warm. “Lark is growing so strong and sturdy, and Pine jumps really well.”
“We’ve been hunting,” Lark announced, pointing with her tail toward the bedraggled lump of feathers. “I caught three eagles!”
“Didn’t,” Pine contradicted her. “I killed one, or it would have flown away with you!”
Brook met Stormfur’s eyes. “I can’t seem to make them understand that they’ll have separate duties when they’re to-bes.”
“They shouldn’t have to decide now,” Stormfur began, only to break off as Brook flicked her tail toward Stoneteller, who was still in earshot. He let out a sigh. “They’ll learn,” he murmured, a trace of regret in his tone. “Is there any fresh-kill left? I’m starving!”
As Brook led Stormfur over to the fresh-kill pile, to-bes and their mentors headed back into the cave, and Stormfur’s kits shot across the cavern floor to intercept them.
“Tell us about outside!” Lark squeaked. “Did you catch any prey?”
“I want to go out,” Pine added.
One of the to-bes butted his shoulder gently with his head. “You’re too small. An eagle would eat you in one bite.”
“No it wouldn’t! I’d fight it,” Pine declared, fluffing up his brown fur.
The to-be let out a mrrow of laughter. “I’d like to see that! But you still have to wait until you’re eight moons old.”
“Mouse dung!”
Stoneteller stood watching the to-bes and kits romping together for a few heartbeats before he headed back toward his tunnel. As he approached it, a gray-brown she-cat rose to her paws and padded up to him.
“Stoneteller, I must talk to you.”
The old tabby glared at her. “I’ve said all I have to say. You know that, Bird.”
Bird did not reply, merely stood there waiting, until the old cat let out a long sigh. “Come, then. But don’t expect any different answers.”
Stoneteller led the way into the second tunnel, and Bird followed. The sounds of the young cats died away behind them, replaced by the steady drip of water.
The tunnel led into a cave much smaller than the one the cats had left. Pointed stones rose up from the floor and hung down from the roof. Some of them had joined in the middle, as if the cats were threading their way through a stone forest. Water trickled down the stones and the cave walls to make pools on the floor; their surface reflected a faint gray light from a jagged crack in the roof. All was silent except for the drip of water and the distant roaring of the falls, now sunk to a whisper.
Stoneteller turned to face Bird. “Well?”
“We’ve spoken about this before. You know you should have chosen your successor long ago.”
The old cat let out a snort of disgust. “There’s time yet.”
“Don’t tell that to me,” Bird retorted. “My mother was your littermate. I know exactly how old you are. You were chosen from that litter by the Tribe’s previous Healer, the last Teller of the Pointed Stones. You have served the Tribe well, but you can’t expect to stay here forever. Sooner or later you will be summoned to the Tribe of Endless Hunting. You must choose the next Stoneteller!”
“Why?” Bird flinched at the harshness of the old cat’s retort but Stoneteller continued. “So that the Tribe can go on, generation after generation, scrabbling their lives from these uncaring stones?”
Bird’s voice quivered with shock when she replied. “This is our home! We have earned the right to live here many times over! We fought off the trespassers, remember?” She padded closer to Stoneteller and held out one paw appealingly. “How can you think of betraying our ancestors by not preserving what they began?”