Ember stared at him. “Just because I sleep in the same camp doesn’t mean I want to change who I am.”
Tall Shadow’s tail quivered. “I guess he doesn’t have to change his name,” she meowed cautiously. “Drizzle kept her old name.”
River Ripple ignored her. His gaze was fixed on Ember. “Are you part of Thunder’s group or not?” he asked softly but firmly.
Ember eyed him challengingly. “Thunder lets me sleep in his camp. Does that mean I have to act like we’re kin?”
Thunder shivered. Ember sounded hostile. Was it safe to let him stay in the ravine?
River Ripple hadn’t moved. “You’ve just promised to hunt for your campmates and protect them when they are weak and stand beside them when they are strong. Isn’t that a little like being kin?”
Ember snorted. “Slash never expected anything of us. Our lives were our own.”
Anger surged beneath Thunder’s pelt. He darted forward and faced the orange rogue. “Your lives were never your own with Slash. You had to obey every word he said!”
A vicious snarl sounded from the high rock.
Thunder spun, his eyes widening as he saw the thin, muscly outline of Slash. The rogue was glaring down at them, lit by moonlight at the top of the boulder. Thunder’s fur lifted along his spine.
Had the rogue come here to fight?
“No one ever had to obey me,” Slash hissed. “They could have left if they wanted.”
“That’s not true.” Fern limped forward and glared at Slash. “You said you’d hurt Beech if I didn’t come back.”
“So?” Slash curled his lip. “Beech died anyway.” As he spoke, Bee padded from behind Slash.
Fern recoiled, hissing.
More shapes moved at the bottom of the rock. Splinter, Beetle, and Snake emerged from the shadows and faced the gathered cats.
Thunder pushed his way through his campmates and glared at Slash. Anger churned in his belly.
“How dare you come here!”
Slash looked past him, his gaze flicking over his old campmates. Moss Tail and Dawn Mist moved closer to their kits. Willow Tail shifted her paws. Fear showed in Red Claw’s eyes. “Thank you for looking after the weakest members of my group,” Slash hissed. “But it’s time for them to come home now.”
Thunder stiffened. These rogues had just pledged loyalty to their new campmates. Surely they wouldn’t leave now? Could Slash bully them into returning to their old group?
Wind Runner backed away, her pelt spiking. Her distrustful gaze flicked over Willow Tail and Fern Leaf.
She thinks they will betray us! Thunder’s heart pounded in his ears. Prove her wrong! He stiffened as Ember barged his way through the gathered cats and padded toward the high rock. “I want to come back,” he told Slash.
Slash’s eyes lit up with triumph. “Of course you do. Bee’s told me what a bunch of simpering mouse-hearts these cats are.” He glared at Thunder. “Perhaps you’d like to join us. Your skills are wasted on these chattering pigeons!”
Thunder growled. “Never!” He braced himself, ready to defend his campmates. His thoughts quickened. Violet Dawn would fight beside him. Lightning Tail too. Every cat he’d grown up beside would face these rogues at his side.
But what about the others? He glanced toward Juniper Branch and Raven Pelt. He hardly knew them. What if they joined Slash? Gray Wing was clearly not as strong as he used to be. If a fight broke out, protecting him would be tricky. Suddenly Thunder felt vulnerable. The wind moaned through the branches overhead as the cats glared at one another.
“I will never share a camp with you again.” Moss Tail’s hiss cut through the icy air.
“Nor me!” Dawn Mist stiffened beside her mate.
“I belong to Clear Sky’s group now!” Red Claw padded forward and stopped at Clear Sky’s side.
“I am loyal to him.”
Thunder glanced at Juniper Branch, Raven Pelt, Willow Tail, and Fern Leaf as they lined up beside their new campmates, hackles high.
Relief swept through his fur. He stared at Slash. “Take Ember and go,” he snarled. “We didn’t take your weakest cats. We took your strongest.” Pride swelled in his chest.
Slash glared at him angrily. “You can keep them,” he hissed. “But don’t think you’ve won. Go back to your camps, you mouse-brains. You’ll learn quickly enough the price you’ve paid for defying me.”
Chapter 21
At Slash’s words, Gray Wing’s heart lurched. He blinked at Clear Sky. Where was Star Flower?
And the kits? Was Slash planning to kidnap her again?
Fear sparked in Clear Sky’s eyes. “Star Flower!” He raced for the slope. Acorn Fur, Nettle, and Birch tore after him, pelts bristling.
Breath tightening, Gray Wing looked up at Slash, who was watching the shocked cats, his whiskers twitching with delight. “If you’ve hurt Star Flower or her kits—”
Slash cut Gray Wing off. “Why should I bother with them? I’ve had enough of making Clear Sky suffer. It was you who led my cats away.” Hatred gleamed in the rogue’s slitted gaze.
Fear slipped icy claws beneath Gray Wing’s pelt. “What do you mean?”
Slash didn’t answer. Instead he signaled to his rogues with a flick of his tail and leaped from the great rock. Slinking into the shadows, they disappeared.
Gray Wing began to tremble. Slash was blaming him.
“Slate and the kits!” Wind Runner’s panicked mew shook Gray Wing from his thoughts.
He stared at her across the snowy clearing. “Spotted Fur’s with her.” Even as he spoke, he knew that Spotted Fur couldn’t fight a band of rogues single-pawed. “We have to get home!” He turned for the slope. Invisible jaws clamped his chest. He could hardly breathe.
Wind Runner raced to his side. She glanced at River Ripple. “Get back to your camp. Take shelter in your strongest den and protect Drizzle and Pine Needle until we know what Slash has planned next.” As River Ripple nodded, she turned to Thunder. “Take your cats home too. We’ll all be safest in our camps.”
Clear Sky’s cats had already disappeared into the forest. Only Sparrow Fur lingered, her pelt pricking along her spine.
Thunder lifted his chin. “If Slate and the kits are in danger, I’m staying with Gray Wing.” He nodded to Lightning Tail. “Take our campmates home. You’re in charge until I get back.”
Leaf’s eyes widened. “You can’t leave us now, Thunder! Slash is back and wants revenge.”
“Lightning Tail is in charge for now,” Thunder told the black-and-white tom. “He’s the strongest cat in the group, and I trust him completely. Do whatever he tells you.” Thunder leaned closer to Lightning Tail, lowering his voice until Gray Wing had to prick his ears to hear. “If I don’t return, you must be leader. I trust you to take care of our campmates. Keep the group together. The future lies in your paws.”
Lightning Tail blinked in surprise at his friend. “You’re coming back, aren’t you?”
Before he could answer, Violet Dawn pushed past Lightning Tail and pressed her nose to Thunder’s cheek. “You must come back!”
Thunder let her cheek rest against his for a moment, then pulled away. He whisked his tail. “I’ll be home as soon as I can,” he promised.
Gray Wing stared desperately up the slope. “We have to go!” Slash could be in the camp right now. Struggling for breath, he stumbled toward the bracken.
“Let me come.” Pebble Heart crossed the clearing and pushed his shoulder beneath Gray Wing’s.