Graypaw scampered through the shallows. “Can we fish?”
Oakheart shrugged. “If you want to carry what you catch for the rest of the morning.”
Graypaw sighed. “We could eat it now,” she mewed hopefully. “Just a little minnow wouldn’t be breaking the warrior code, would it?”
“Yes, it would,” Mudfur answered sternly. “Besides, we should check the bridge. Then look for the dog.”
Graypaw bounded ahead, her tail swishing. As they rounded a bend in the river, Crookedjaw glimpsed the Twoleg bridge. Trees crowded the bank beyond it. Their leaves whispered in the breeze. They could fish from there and eat, shaded from the hot sun.
“Wait.” He signaled to the patrol with his tail and called Graypaw back. They were approaching the path that crossed the bridge. “Can anyone detect Twolegs?”
Brightsky was already tasting the air. “The wind’s blowing upstream.”
Mudfur pricked his ears. “I can’t hear anything.”
Crookedjaw stalked forward, keeping low. “Follow me.” He crept up the bank where the legs of the bridge dug into the shore and padded on to the wooden pathway. The river splashed beneath as he sniffed the warm timber. His Clanmates crept after him, padding from side to side of the bridge and checking for scents.
“Come back!” Brightsky’s alarmed call made Crookedjaw look up. Graypaw had crossed the bridge and was sniffing the bank on the far side.
“But it’s our territory!” Graypaw called back. “Right up to the waterfall!”
A growl rumbled in Brightsky’s throat. “I don’t know why Fallowtail didn’t raise that kit to do as she’s told!”
Mudfur purred. “Apprentices never do as they’re told.” His eyes sparkled as he glanced at Crookedjaw. “Do they?”
Crookedjaw whisked his tail. “Only fish-brains follow rules without question!” With a lurch, he suddenly realized that Oakheart had dropped into a crouch and was growling.
“What?” Crookedjaw followed his brother’s gaze and felt his hackles lift.
A flash of white showed between the trees on the other shore. Then a flash of red. Then green and blue.
“Twolegs!” Crookedjaw froze, heart racing. Twoleg kits were scampering between the trees on the other side of the bridge, only a few tail-lengths from Graypaw.
Brightsky had already darted forward, hissing to her apprentice. “Run!”
Graypaw was staring at the Twoleg kits, her fur bushed up, eyes glittering.
“Run!” Mudfur yowled.
The kits turned. With a whoop, they spotted Graypaw.
Crookedjaw’s heart rose in his throat. “Run!”
The dumb ’paw was rooted to the spot. Crookedjaw charged forward, darting past Brightsky. “Come on!”
The bridge trembled as she dashed after him. One of the Twoleg kits was holding out a paw. Graypaw stared at it, stiff with terror. Crookedjaw raced between the Twoleg kit’s paws, spitting with fury. The Twoleg yelped and hopped away. Brightsky raced past Graypaw, grasping her scruff and dragging her along until the apprentice squealed and struggled free.
“Run!” Brightsky yowled.
Shaken from her moment of terror, Graypaw hurtled back across the bridge. Brightsky pelted after her. Crookedjaw ducked back past the Twoleg. With a jolt of horror, he felt its paws grasp his pelt. Struggling wildly, he broke free, yowling with pain as the Twoleg ripped out a clump of fur. His paws slipped on the wood as he hit the bridge. Unsheathing his claws, he dug them deep and pushed hard. He crossed the bridge in two breaths.
“Come on!” he called to his patrol as he raced past them. Glancing over his shoulder, he made sure his Clanmates were following, then leaped on to the shore. He slowed to let them pass and fell in behind as they raced downstream. There was no way he was going to let any of them out of his sight till they were back in the safety of camp.
The cries of the Twoleg kits faded as they neared camp. Spotting the reed bed, Crookedjaw slowed. His lungs were splitting. He slowed to a stop and hung his head, gulping air. Brightsky pulled up, too, alongside Oakheart and Mudfur. Graypaw kept running until she reached the reed bed and she plunged in, splashing through the river as she pushed her way home.
Brightsky watched her go. “Don’t worry,” she mewed. “She’s a strong swimmer.”
Crookedjaw nodded, too winded to speak.
Oakheart was still bristling and Mudfur paced, catching his breath and letting his pelt smooth. As they slowly recovered, paw steps sounded beside the shore. Crookedjaw looked up the bank as Graypaw led Hailstar and Echomist out of the marsh grass.
Hailstar’s fur was pricking. “Graypaw told us what happened.”
Fallowtail pressed her cheek to Crookedjaw’s. “Thank you for saving my kit,” she whispered.
Crookedjaw twitched. “She could have done more to save herself,” he muttered as he followed the she-cat into the clearing.
It looked like the whole Clan was waiting for them, their eyes bright with worry. Graypaw had clearly told them about her near-capture.
“Why can’t Twolegs stay on their own territory?” Troutclaw protested. “When I was a kit, we hardly ever saw one. Now they’re here every greenleaf, making a nuisance of themselves.”
Hailstar shook his head. “It’s just the way it is,” he sighed. “We must be more cautious.”
Echomist wrapped her tail over Graypaw. “Perhaps we should shrink our borders, just while the Twolegs are around?”
“Shrink our borders!” Whitefang was awake now and spitting with anger. “Why should we? We’re not scared of Twolegs!”
Crookedjaw paced beside the reed bed lashing his tail. I’m not scared of anything that threatens my Clan!
Chapter 21
“Brambleberry!” Mudfur yowled as he hurried past the reed bed.
Crookedjaw hauled himself out of the river, water streaming from his pelt. He tipped his head on one side. The brown warrior’s call had been edged with worry.
Brambleberry poked her head out of her den. “Is Brightsky still uncomfortable?”
Mudfur’s tail trembled. “She keeps saying she’s thirsty and then she won’t drink.”
Brambleberry ducked back into her den. “Wait there.”
Crookedjaw knew they were worried about Brightsky. She’d moved to the nursery half a moon ago, expecting Mudfur’s kits. But fever had struck and she’d been sick for days. Crookedjaw picked his way across camp. The clearing was littered with his Clanmates stretched out in the bright sunshine, too sleepy to move. It was pointless hunting with the sun so high. It was too hot to eat and any fish caught now would be stinking by evening. Even the reeds were drooping under the scorching greenleaf sun.
Crookedjaw hopped over Rippleclaw, who was fast asleep, and landed beside Graypaw. The gray apprentice was huddled in the shade of the fallen tree. “Where’s Willowpaw?”
“She’s out training with Owlfur.” Graypaw gazed wistfully at the nursery. “I shouldn’t have crossed the bridge.” She tucked her tail tighter. “Then Brightsky wouldn’t have had to rescue me.”
“That didn’t make her ill,” Crookedjaw reassured her. “She knew she was expecting kits. It was her choice to carry on with her warrior duties as long as possible.”
“Why didn’t she tell me?” Graypaw sighed. “I would have come back when she told me.”
Are you sure? Crookedjaw bit his tongue, remembering his own days as an apprentice. “When are her kits due?”
“Claw-moon.”
“That soon?” Crookedjaw was surprised. It was only a few days away. “She’ll be fine,” he meowed.
Rippleclaw lifted his head and looked at Graypaw, sympathy lighting his gaze. “Are you still worrying about Brightsky?” He got sleepily to his paws. “Can’t Piketooth take you training?” Piketooth had been made Graypaw’s mentor when Brightsky had moved to the nursery. “It’ll take your mind off things.” Rippleclaw glanced across the clearing to where Piketooth and Voleclaw were playing moss-ball with Sunkit and Frogkit. “I could teach you some moves while he’s busy.”