Did I make the right choice? Gray Wing wondered if he should be traveling to the forest. But how could he call the forest home? The hollow felt like home; it was where he had made his nest with Turtle Tail. It felt strange to be leaving it behind, but that was exactly what he had chosen. No cat had voted to stay in the hollow. It will be empty now. The thought was like a cruel claw of regret in his belly fur, but he knew he had to shake it loose. He knew he needed to stay close to Pebble Heart.
From the start, the young tom had been special. He was a gifted healer and had dreams that were often uncannily true. A deep sense of duty pulled Gray Wing toward him. He couldn’t ignore the feeling that the destiny of the cats was bound up with Pebble Heart’s fate. I must protect him.
Gray Wing tried to take a deep breath to steady himself, but his chest was tight. Since he’d breathed the smoke from the forest fire, he often struggled for air. Now the chill of leaf-bare and the strain of leaving the hollow seemed to crush his chest like a stone. He closed his eyes for a moment, pulling in a shallow breath, then headed across the camp.
“You look excited,” he meowed as he neared Sparrow Fur and Owl Eyes. Too late, he realized he’d made it sound like an accusation. “I mean… you look happy. You must have made the right choice.”
Sparrow Fur met his gaze anxiously. “We didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I’m not hurt,” Gray Wing lied.
Owl Eyes blinked at him. “You’re wheezing.”
“It’s just the cold.” Gray Wing lifted his chin. He looked from Sparrow Fur to Owl Eyes, suddenly surprised by how grown-up they looked. Their soft kitten fluff was gone. Their pelts were sleek. Delicate muscle showed beneath. Sparrow Fur had the same pretty markings as her mother’s tortoiseshell pelt, and Owl Eyes had his mother’s lean, lithe shape. “Will you remember Turtle Tail, even in your new home?”
“Of course we will!” Sparrow Fur’s mew was sharp. “We’ll never forget her.”
Owl Eyes’s tail trembled. “I can still remember her scent.”
Will you remember it even in the musty dampness of the forest? Gray Wing swallowed back a sigh. “Your mother was a brave cat,” he meowed, “and kinder than any cat I’ve ever known. She’d be proud to see you face your future with such courage.”
Owl Eyes tipped his head. “Will you be proud of us too?”
Gray Wing leaned forward and touched his muzzle to Owl Eyes’s head. “I will always be proud of you.” He licked Sparrow Fur’s ears. “If you ever need me, come and find me.”
He turned, struggling to breathe as sadness swamped him. Slowly, he walked away, feeling their gazes hot on his pelt.
“Come on, you two!” Lightning Tail’s breezy mew rang out behind him. “Let’s go!”
“Shouldn’t we wait for Clear Sky?” Sparrow Fur called back.
Clear Sky padded from beside the rock. “I’ll catch up.” He stepped into Gray Wing’s path. “I’ll look after them,” he promised.
Gray Wing narrowed his eyes. His brother had seemed so desperate when he’d begged the cats to join together. And the badger attack had clearly shaken him. But now his chest was puffed up as usual.
And yet Gray Wing thought he saw a trace of fear darken the tom’s blue gaze. He suddenly realized that he’d never seen his brother look scared before. It unnerved him. What was he scared of? He tipped his head thoughtfully. “Are you okay, Clear Sky?”
“Of course!” Clear Sky shook out his pelt.
“Are you still worried about what Fluttering Bird said?” Gray Wing understood the power their dead sister’s words must have had on Clear Sky. He alone shared the guilt of her death. If only they’d hunted better or longer, she might not have died. But we were young, he reasoned. And yet—“I’m not worried,” Clear Sky insisted. “I just wish the other cats had listened to me.”
Gray Wing didn’t argue. Clear Sky would never stop wanting to tell everyone what to do. He’d learned long ago that arguing with his brother was a waste of breath, and right now he had little breath to waste.
“Are you sure you won’t come with us?” Clear Sky urged.
Gray Wing shook his head. “I have been through so much with Tall Shadow; I can’t leave her now. And Pebble Heart needs me.”
Clear Sky dipped his head. “Very well.” He headed toward the gorse entrance. It still shivered where Lightning Tail, Sparrow Fur, and Owl Eyes had charged through.
Jagged Peak and Holly were herding their kits toward it. They stopped to let Clear Sky pass.
Jagged Peak looked over his shoulder. “Come on, Gray Wing. It smells like more snow is on the way.
The sooner we reach the pines, the better.”
Tall Shadow padded forward and scooped up Dew Nose in her jaws.
Dew Nose wriggled like a caught fish. “I want to walk!” she squeaked.
“It’s a long way,” Holly told her. “And the snow outside camp is probably deep.”
Eagle Feather stuck his nose in the air. “No one’s carrying me!”
“What about a badger ride?” Mouse Ear called.
“All the way?” Eagle Feather glanced excitedly at the burly tom.
“All the way,” Mouse Ear purred, crouching.
Eagle Feather scrambled onto his broad shoulders.
“Can I have a ride too?” Storm Pelt asked shyly.
Mud Paws trotted toward him. “Climb up!” He nosed the kit up onto his back and waited while
Storm Pelt straddled his shoulders, clinging on with his small paws and squishing low into his thick fur.
Dew Nose squealed louder, churning her paws with annoyance. “I want a ride too!”
“Okay.” Tall Shadow put her down and leaned low to let her scramble onto her back.
Gray Wing longed to help, but he knew he needed to save his breath. Jagged Peak was right: there was a scent of fresh snow in the air. The chill of it pierced his chest.
Dappled Pelt and Shattered Ice were talking in low voices beside the gorse wall of the camp.
“What if River Ripple sends us away?” Dappled Pelt asked.
“If he does, we can join another group.” Shattered Ice looked at Tall Shadow. “You’ll take us in, won’t you?”
“Of course!” Tall Shadow purred. Dew Nose was fidgeting on her shoulders.
“Come on.” Jagged Peak was the first through the entrance.
A panicked look flashed in Pebble Heart’s eyes. “What about my herbs?” He glanced toward the jutting gorse. It trembled, shaking snow from its branches, and Cloud Spots slid out. He held a wad of leaves in his jaws.
He crossed the snowy grass and dropped it at Pebble Heart’s paws. “Take these. They’ll keep you going for now. There are plenty of herbs left for you to get later.” Pebble Heart blinked at the black tom gratefully. “What about you?”
“I’ll make myself a fresh bundle.” He began to turn back to his den, then paused. “There may even be better herbs in the forest.”
Pebble Heart nodded, his eyes lighting up. “And the pines.”
“I’ll come and tell you if I find anything new,” Cloud Spots promised.
“Me too.”
Gray Wing saw them exchange a look so warm, he felt a sudden flash of jealousy. Pebble Heart was clearly fond of the tom who had taught him so much.
“Perhaps we should meet regularly to share what we’ve learned,” Cloud Spots suggested.
Pebble Heart nodded eagerly. “Next new moon? At the four trees?”
Cloud Spots swished his tail. “I’ll see you then.” He disappeared back into his den.
“Come on, Pebble Heart,” Gray Wing called to the young tom. The others were already filing out of camp.