“We’ll take care of ourselves better than you ever did!” Fern squared her shoulders.
Dawn wrapped her tail around Pine and Drizzle, who were trembling, their fluffy fur spiked. “We shouldn’t have put up with you for so long.”
Thunder felt a rush of admiration for the rebelling rogues. And yet how would they recover from this? They were half-starved to begin with. And now they were wounded. They might say they wanted to look after themselves, but could they?
Whatever happened, at least they would be free from Slash. He met the rogue leader’s gaze. “I don’t think you’ll be missed.”
Slash glanced at Splinter. “Let’s get out of here. It reeks of fear.” He glanced once more around his campmates, then headed for the entrance.
Splinter, Beetle, and Snake followed.
An orange she-cat hurried after them. “Can I come too?”
Slash turned and looked at her through narrowed eyes. “Don’t you want to stay with these weaklings, Swallow?” he asked mockingly.
Swallow flattened her ears. “I don’t want to live like prey,” she growled. “I’m a hunter.”
Slash blinked at her approvingly. “Then you’d better come with us.”
He headed through the gap in the reeds. As Splinter, Beetle, Snake, and Swallow filed after him, Thunder’s claws itched. He wanted to chase after the heartless cowards and claw their ears off. But there had been too much fighting already. Too many cats were hurt. He didn’t want to drag them into another battle.
Fern’s mew took him by surprise.
“We should fetch Pebble Heart.”
He blinked at her.
“When I was with Tall Shadow’s group, he helped heal his campmates,” she went on. “And he tended to Quiet Rain when she was dying. He might be able to help here.”
“You’re right.” Thunder dipped his head to Fern. “I don’t know if he can help all these cats, but I know he’ll try.”
“I’ll fetch him.” Lightning Tail headed for the camp entrance.
Moss started after him. “Should I come too?”
Lightning Tail answered without stopping. “I know the forest,” he called. “I’ll travel faster alone.”
Thunder watched his friend race out of the camp, impressed by his decisiveness. Even after the battle with the dogs, the black tom was still fired with courage and determination. I’m lucky to have such strong support—and so is my group. He padded toward Stone and sniffed his muzzle. Scenting death, he backed away, his pelt pricking. He glanced at Beech’s body and shivered. These cats would still be alive if Slash had kept them well fed and had fought as their friend. Dogs were dangerous, but they were dumber than badgers. A loyal, united group could easily outthink and outfight them.
“Thunder?” Drizzle’s small mew made him turn. The young kit was staring at him. “Will Slash come back?”
Thunder hesitated. The kit looked frightened. He wanted to promise her that everything was safe now, but how could he? Who knew what Slash would do next?
Dawn leaned down and licked the she-kit’s head. “We don’t know, dear,” she murmured between laps. “But Moss and I will protect you, whatever happens.”
Thunder felt responsibility weigh like a stone in his belly. He must help these cats. But how? As he wondered what to do, the reed entrance rustled. Was Lightning Tail back already? He looked up, his heart jumping as Violet hurried into camp. A pigeon dangled from her mouth, and her eyes were wide with fear.
She dropped her catch. “We smelled blood!” She stared around the camp, her ears flattening as she saw her wounded campmates. She raced to Frog, who was lying in the shadow of the camp wall.
Blood stained the earth around him. “What happened?”
Before anyone could answer, Juniper and Raven followed her in. Each carried a mouse. They dropped their catch, their pelts bushing as they saw the ravaged camp.
Raven’s nose twitched. “Dogs!”
Juniper stiffened. “Have you seen Red? He was hunting with us in Twolegplace. He wanted to explore an alley. We told him we’d meet up with him later, but he never turned up.”
Willow narrowed her eyes. “He led the dogs here.”
“Here?” Juniper’s tail twitched fearfully. “Is he hurt?”
Fern glanced at Willow anxiously. “He ran away,” she murmured.
Juniper and Violet exchanged glances.
“Mouse-heart,” Willow hissed.
Violet looked past the pale tabby, her ears twitching as she saw Beech’s body. “Is she dead?” She hurried to sniff the she-cat’s matted fur.
“Stone was killed too.” Moss limped toward the burly tom’s body.
Juniper’s eyes widened. “Are the kits okay?” She scanned the camp frantically until her gaze reached Pine and Drizzle, huddling beside Dawn.
Dawn scooped them closer with her tail. “They were safely hidden, thanks to Thunder and Lightning Tail.”
“Who?” Juniper blinked at Thunder, but Thunder hardly noticed the tortoiseshell’s green gaze. He was watching Violet.
The beautiful she-cat was staring at him, her warm amber eyes brimming with gratitude. “You saved the kits? Are you Thunder or Lightning Tail?”
Thunder shifted his paws, his pelt suddenly hot. “I’m Thunder. But, er… Lightning Tail helped.”
He dropped his gaze. Looking at Violet made his heart beat too fast.
Fern padded forward. “They helped us fight off the dogs.”
Thunder stared at his paws. “I just wish we’d managed to save everyone.” He lifted his gaze to meet Violet’s, feeling suddenly shy.
She was watching him with soft eyes. “Thank you,” she murmured.
A striped yellow she-cat hobbled forward. Blood matted the fur on her shoulder. “Slash has abandoned us.”
An orange tom struggled to his paws at the edge of the clearing. “He called us mouse-hearts.” He sounded hurt.
Violet lashed her tail. “What would you expect from that fool? We’re not mouse-hearts, Ember.”
The striped she-cat blinked at Violet uncertainly. “Perhaps we should have tried harder to fight off the dogs.”
“Bee!” Violet padded toward the she-cat and sniffed her bleeding shoulder. “Look at you. Look at you all! You must have fought with the courage of eagles!”
Bee glanced at her anxiously. “But Slash is gone. What are we going to do now?”
Violet lifted her chin. “We’re going to take care of our injuries and share this prey.” She prodded the pigeon with her paw. “Tonight, no one will sleep with an empty belly.”
As she spoke, paws sounded outside the camp. Lightning Tail charged in, Pebble Heart at his heels, holding a thick wad of cobweb between his jaws. He paused and surveyed the cats, his eyes glittering with apprehension. Then he hurried to Frog. The mottled gray tom was the only cat who hadn’t struggled to his paws. Dropping his cobweb beside the rogue, Pebble Heart began sniffing his pelt. Then he ran his paw over his spine and down his legs. His gaze darkened.
Thunder hurried to Pebble Heart’s side. “Is it bad?” The scent of blood filled his nose.
“I can clean his wounds and stop the bleeding.” The gray tom lowered his voice. “But there’s a jagged lump in his spine.”
A chill crept into Thunder’s fur. For the first time since the fight he was aware of the cold wind whipping across the marsh. “Is it broken?”
“I hope not,” Pebble Heart whispered. “It may just be swollen. Only time will tell.”
Violet joined them. “How can I help?” She blinked at Pebble Heart.
Pebble Heart ripped a pawful of cobwebs from his wad and placed it at her paws. “We must make sure every wound is cleaned before the bleeding is stanched. Make sure that—”