He told Skystar this, and the older cat brightened. “Let’s try to follow the scent,” he said.
Stopping and sniffing the breeze, following each hint of dog-scent, Thunderstar and Skystar passed through ThunderClan’s territory as far as the Thunderpath that marked their border with ShadowClan. Thunderstar pressed his paws against the Thunderpath, feeling for the vibration that would mean monsters were approaching, and then they quickly crossed.
Skystar was as fast as ever, Thunderstar noted. His long legs still moved surely and steadily, covering as much territory with each stride as Thunderstar’s could. His father wasn’t really getting old, not yet.
Skirting ShadowClan’s territory, Thunderstar wrinkled his nose in disgust as they passed the foul-smelling Carrionplace. “I can’t smell anything here except the usual stench,” he said.
“This way, I think,” Skystar said.
They walked a long way, the sun climbing to sunhigh and then beginning its descent on the other side of the sky. They had passed out of Clan territory, and out of anywhere Thunderstar had traveled before. Thunderstar’s paw pads were beginning to ache, but the dog-scent was getting stronger.
As they topped a hill, the valley below came into view and both cats froze.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Thunderstar murmured, and Skystar nodded.
Below them, a vast stretch of land, made of the same black stuff as the Thunderpaths, spread out behind a glittering silver fence. All over it, as still as if they were sleeping, were Twoleg monsters. Not normal monsters, though.
“They’re dying,” Thunderstar whispered. “Or already dead.” These monsters would never race down a Thunderpath again. No Twoleg would ride inside them. The eyes of one of the great beasts were broken into pieces. Another gaped open, the top of what must have been its mouth torn off completely. Others were missing their round black feet or were only strangely shining bones.
This was the source of the strange acrid smell Thunderstar had not been able to identify, the smell the dogs had carried with them that was almost like the scent of the Thunderpath, but not quite. Mixed in with it came the stench of dogs and, in the distance, a faint, fierce barking.
“This is it,” Thunderstar meowed. “This is where they come from.”
Chapter Five
“I never thought that Twoleg monsters could die,” Violet Dawn mewed, twitching her tail thoughtfully. Thunderstar had pulled her and Lightning Tail aside as soon as he returned to camp, and now all three were sitting outside Thunderstar’s den and discussing his and Skystar’s discovery.
“So we’ve found where the dogs live, but now what?” Lightning Tail asked. “Do you really think we should move ThunderClan’s camp? If that’s what we’re going to do, we should do it soon so we have all of greenleaf to settle into a new camp.”
Thunderstar shook his head. “I don’t want to move until it’s clear we don’t have any other choice. There’s no other place in ThunderClan’s territory that would make as good a camp as the ravine.” He hesitated. Violet Dawn wasn’t going to like what he was going to say next, but he was sure it was the right thing to do. “Before we think about moving, I want to learn more about these dogs. If I go into that Twolegplace where they live, maybe I can find out more about them.”
Lightning Tail cocked his head curiously. “You’re going to walk all that way just to look at a bunch of dogs? What good will that do?”
“I don’t know,” Thunderstar said. “I’m not sure anything will come of it, but it’s better than just sitting here waiting for them to come back. Or moving the whole Clan when we don’t know if a new camp would be any safer.”
Violet Dawn twitched her ears. “Are you hoping a good idea will just suggest itself once you’re there?”
Thunderstar hunched his shoulders, feeling stubborn. “I want to do something. The more I learn about these dogs, the easier it will be to figure out the best way to fight them.”
Violet Dawn stroked her tail along Thunderstar’s side, looking worried. “I’m afraid you’re going to get hurt. Those dogs are so dangerous.”
“If you’re going, you’re not going alone,” Lightning Tail said fiercely. “The two of us will be stronger together. I’m your deputy; I should be with you, supporting you.”
It would be so much better to have Lightning Tail with me, Thunderstar thought. From their kithood adventures to the fiercest battles of carving out the Clans’ territory, Thunderstar had always fought better, climbed higher, thought more quickly, with Lightning Tail by his side. But when he looked at Violet Dawn, her sides rounded with his kits, he knew he had to refuse. “I need you to look after Violet Dawn,” he said. “You’re the only one I trust to make sure she’s safe. You’re right, you are my deputy—so you’re the one who has to keep the Clan safe when I’m not there.”
“I can keep the Clan safest by going with you to where the danger is. Owl Eyes can watch out for the Clan, and Cloud Spots will make sure Violet Dawn’s healthy,” Lightning Tail argued. “She doesn’t need me.”
Thunderstar shook his head. “They’re good cats, but I’ll feel better if you’re in charge. Cloud Spots isn’t a fighter, and Owl Eyes isn’t as experienced as you are. I need Violet Dawn to be safe.”
“Do I get a say in this?” Violet Dawn huffed. “I’m having kits, not becoming one.”
Thunderstar licked at his chest, embarrassed. Violet Dawn had fought off one of the dogs herself so that she, Snail Shell, and Owl Eyes could escape. She wasn’t fragile or helpless. “You’re right,” he agreed. “I’m sorry. I’m just worried about you, and I’ll feel better if Lightning Tail is here.”
“Well, I’m worried about you, too,” Violet Dawn mewed, the end of her tail twitching. “You’re walking into some kind of weird Twoleg camp. All we know is that a pack of vicious dogs lives there. And I will feel much better if Lightning Tail is with you.” She looked at him pleadingly. “You’re my Clan leader as well as my mate, and I respect you, but please don’t walk into this alone. I want you to come home.”
Thunderstar hated to leave Violet Dawn without the very best protection she could have in his absence, but he had to admit to himself that she was right.
Leaping lightly to the top of the Highrock, he called out to his Clan. “All cats gather here beneath the Highrock! I have something to tell you.” He saw Beech Tail and Patch Pelt, about to be bundled into the nursery, turn toward him with sleepy faces, and amended, “I mean, all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather here beneath the Highrock.”
He waited as his Clan, ears perked with interest, gathered in the clearing below him.
“Tomorrow morning, Lightning Tail and I are going to travel out of the forest for a couple of days,” he announced when they had all settled down and given him their full attention. “We’re going to figure out what to do about the dogs that attacked our camp. While we’re gone, Violet Dawn will be in charge.” He found Owl Eyes in the crowd and continued, “Owl Eyes will act as her deputy, and you should listen to him just like you’d listen to Lightning Tail. And Cloud Spots will advise them just like he would us.” Cloud Spots nodded to him across the clearing while Owl Eyes sat up straight, proudly holding his head high.
“Good luck, Thunderstar,” Apple Blossom called enthusiastically, and there were yowls of agreement from the crowd of cats.