Thunder tensed as Slash met the queen’s gaze. “If you don’t like my group, you can leave and take your kits with you.”
Dawn narrowed her eyes. “We might just do that.”
A dark brown tom slid from the shadows. “Hush, Dawn,” he murmured anxiously. “We need the safety of the group.”
Dawn turned on him. “Do you call this safe?” She glanced toward Beech. The battered she-cat was washing her wounds stiffly.
Slash’s eyes glittered. “Perhaps you want to train next, Dawn?”
The dark brown tom moved in front of the queen. “She’s still nursing,” he growled.
Slash’s ears twitched. “In that case, Moss, why don’t you come and show us your moves.”
The black tom-kit’s eyes lit up with alarm.
His sister pressed herself against Moss. “Don’t go. He’ll hurt you.”
Moss touched his nose to the she-kit’s head. “No one’s going to hurt me, Drizzle.” He padded to the clearing and faced Slash. His gaze darted toward Splinter, then to Beetle, who was crouching at the edge of the clearing. “Which one of you am I going to train with?”
Thunder heard no fear in the tom’s mew. Admiration warmed his pelt.
Lightning Tail fidgeted beside him. “I wish I could ‘train’ with one of those fox-hearts,” he growled under his breath.
Slash motioned Beetle forward with a jerk of his muzzle.
Beetle got to his paws and crossed the clearing. His eyes shone with disdain as he looked at Moss.
Moss returned his gaze, unflinching.
Thunder tensed as he watched the two rogues face each other.
Moss threw Slash a look. “What move do you want me to practice?”
“Choose whatever you like,” Slash sneered. “I’m sure Beetle can counter it.”
Moss narrowed his eyes. Shifting his paws, he squared his shoulders.
Dawn watched anxiously while Pine and Drizzle huddled against her. Beech washed blood from her muzzle.
“Be carefu—”
Dawn’s warning was cut off by a screech. It rang across the marshland like the desperate cry of an owl.
Thunder jerked his head up. The screech sounded again, followed by the howl of a dog.
Then Red shot from the pines, as fast as a hawk. He pelted across the marshland, his fur bushed with terror. As he hared for the camp, three dogs bounded after him. Their eyes glittered with excitement as they raced between the tussocks.
Thunder stiffened, fear surging beneath his pelt. “He’s leading the dogs straight to the camp!”
“The kits!”
Before Thunder could stop him, Lightning Tail plunged through the camp wall. He raced across the clearing and bundled Pine and Drizzle toward the shadowy reeds beyond.
Dawn’s eyes widened in in shock.
“Dogs!” Lightning Tail yowled. “They’re heading this way.”
As he spoke, Red streaked into the camp.
The heavy paw steps of the dogs pounded over the ground outside. A barrage of vicious barks seemed to shatter the air.
Blood roaring in his ears, Thunder leaped through the gap Lightning Tail had made and raced to his friend’s side.
Lightning Tail had scooped up Drizzle by her scruff and was pushing her between the reed stems.
Dawn was nosing Pine after his sister. “Hide!” she hissed. “Don’t come out, whatever happens.”
“I’ll defend them.” Lightning Tail turned his back to the kits’ makeshift hiding place and faced the clearing.
Dawn squared up beside him. “Who are you?”
“I’m Lightning Tail.” He bushed out his pelt.
“I’m Thunder.” Thunder scanned the camp. “We’re forest cats.” Moss was backing away from the clearing. Beetle and Splinter had leaped in front of Slash. An orange tom raced from the shadows. A
mottled tabby followed.
As the dogs crashed through the grass wall, cats burst from their nests. Terror burned in their eyes. The dogs leaped and twisted in the clearing, their tails wagging as though they couldn’t believe their luck. They snapped at the cats darting between their massive paws.
Thunder raced forward as a terrier thrust its sharp snout toward a striped she-cat. Rearing, he slashed its cheek. The dog turned on him, growling angrily. Fear scorched through Thunder as its foul, hot breath washed over him. He lashed out with both paws. It yelped, diving closer.
Fur brushed Thunder’s flanks as Moss reared beside him. Fern dashed from the edge of the camp and ducked beneath the terrier’s chin. Hissing, she rolled onto her back and scrabbled beneath the dog’s belly. With a yowl, she began churning her hind paws. Thunder smelled the stone tang of blood and clawed the dog on the ear as it turned to bite at the hissing cat beneath him.
On the other side of the clearing, Slash, Splinter, and Beetle fought beside a yellow-eyed tabby, driving a russet-colored mongrel toward the camp entrance. They swiped at it, one after another, in a relentless barrage until the excited gleam in the dog’s eyes turned to confusion.
Frog raced past Thunder, nearly unbalancing him as he fled a black dog. Slavering, it barged past
Thunder, its greedy gaze fixed on the gray tabby tom. A burly brown tom leaped from the reeds, raking the dog’s muzzle as he soared past. The dog scrabbled to a halt, yelping with rage. Frog reared and, while the brown tom found his footing, aimed a vicious blow at the dog’s snout. Beech raced to help, blood still streaking her nose from her fight with Splinter. She ducked beneath the dog and fell in beside Frog. The brown tom joined them, and together they lashed out at the dog’s snapping jaws.
“Thunder! Look out!” As Lightning Tail’s cry sounded in his ear, paws shoved him aside. Teeth snapped beside his cheek. He turned. Fern had pushed him clear as the terrier had lunged for him.
Fear surging through his muscles, he flung blow after blow at the dog’s face. Moss was clinging like a tick to its back. Thunder flattened his ears as the camp rang with the shriek of battle.
Across the camp, the mongrel yelped with pain as Slash, Beetle, Splinter, and the tabby tom drove it away. Eyes blazing with hate, Slash swung his paw at the dog’s nose. Blood sprayed his pelt as he sliced its muzzle open.
Yowling in agony, the mongrel turned and fled toward the pines.
Hope flared in Thunder’s chest. He slashed at the terrier, his eyes slitted. Fern pressed against him. She reared and sank her claws into the dog’s cheek. It tried to bite her, but as it opened its jaws, she pulled hard on its flesh and it howled with pain. Ducking low, it tried to shake Moss from its back. Panic sparked in its gaze. Backing away, it stared in terror at the cats. Then it turned and leaped the grass wall. As it fled across the marsh, Moss jumped off its back and raced back to camp.
We’re winning! Thunder turned to the black dog.
He froze.
A chill rippled along his spine. The burly tom lay unmoving at the edge of the clearing. Blood spattered the ground around him and oozed from his body, turning the earth red.
Frog batted desperately at the dog’s muzzle. It snarled and snapped, drool bubbling at its lips.
Limping on three paws, the gray tom lurched clumsily with each swipe. Beech stumbled beside him, her pelt scratched and matted. Pain gleaming in her eyes, she swung blow after blow at the dog.
It snapped its jaws around Frog’s flanks. Thunder heard bone crunch. Beech swiped at its nose.
The dog let go, its eyes blazing with rage. As Frog dropped to the ground, it turned on Beech.
“Frog!” Willow raced across the clearing. Grabbing his scruff, she pulled him clear of the dog’s hefty paws.
Beech faced the dog alone.
Thunder and Lightning Tail raced to help.