“You can show Moth Flight how to spot fresh rabbit trails.”
Spotted Fur’s gaze lit up. “Do you think she’d like that?”
Slate purred. “I think she’ll appreciate your company.”
Spotted Fur hared away, cutting across the slope to catch up to the young she-cat.
Gray Wing realized that Slate had gently steered him onto the trail that led to the hollow entrance.
Perhaps he should rest for a while and catch his breath. He could always go out again later. Dusk often lured fresh prey from its hiding places.
As they crossed the smooth grass outside the camp entrance, familiar scents touched his nose. His pelt prickled with curiosity. Clear Sky and Tall Shadow had passed this way. What had brought them here? He quickened his step, hurrying into camp.
His brother was pacing the clearing. Tall Shadow sat at the edge, her gaze dark. Reed and Minnow were working on their den beside the wall, their gazes flicking nervously toward the visitors as they wove heather into the rough frame jutting from the gorse. Dust Muzzle sat near them, his gray tabby pelt prickling as he stared at Clear Sky from beside a pile of heather sprigs.
Clear Sky jerked his gaze expectantly toward Gray Wing. “Is Wind Runner with you? I must speak with her.” He slid past Gray Wing and peered through the gap in the gorse. “Reed told me you were hunting together.”
“She’s on the moortop,” Gray Wing told him.
Slate blinked at Clear Sky. “Should I fetch her?”
“Fetch her?” Clear Sky echoed, his thoughts clearly distracted.
Gray Wing noticed his brother’s unkempt pelt. The fur around his neck clumped in thick spikes.
Something was wrong. He nodded to Slate. “Go and get Wind Runner.” She clearly recognized the urgency in his mew and dashed from the camp. Gray Wing searched Clear Sky’s gaze, alarmed to see fear sparking in its blue depths. Something was very wrong. “What’s happened?”
“They’ve taken Star Flower!” Clear Sky kept pacing.
“Who’s taken Star Flower?” Gray Wing’s heart quickened.
Tall Shadow padded forward. “Slash and his rogues.”
Gray Wing’s thoughts whirled. Slash! The cat who had been using Fern to spy on Tall Shadow’s group! He’d left Fern in Tall Shadow’s care, though he hadn’t told the black she-cat why. He hadn’t wanted to worry her. Had he been foolish to leave one of Slash’s rogues among the forest cats?
“Where’s Fern?”
“Fern?” Tall Shadow blinked at him. “She left us soon after you did.”
Alarm pricked beneath Gray Wing’s pelt. Had she been spying for Slash all along? “Did she say why?”
“No.” Tall Shadow tipped her head curiously. “She just disappeared. I wasn’t surprised. She couldn’t seem to settle. It was like she had something on her mind. As though she was frightened.”
Why hadn’t Fern stayed with Tall Shadow’s group? Hadn’t she felt safe, even there? Fear wormed beneath Gray Wing’s pelt. Slash was clearly more dangerous than he’d imagined.
Clear Sky stepped between Gray Wing and Tall Shadow. “Why are you talking about Fern?
What’s she got to do with this?”
“She was one of Slash’s campmates,” Gray Wing explained. “I tried to help her escape from him.”
Tall Shadow shot him a look. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Clear Sky flexed his claws. “I didn’t come here to talk about Fern!” he snapped. “They’ve taken
Star Flower! Don’t you understand?”
As he spoke, Wind Runner burst into the camp, breathless. Slate and Gorse Fur skidded to a halt at her heels. “What’s happened?” Wind Runner demanded.
Clear Sky turned to her eagerly. “I need your help,” he blurted. “A gang of rogues has taken Star
Flower. They’re holding her hostage.”
Wind Runner frowned, confusion clouding her gaze. “Why?”
“They want a share of our prey for her safe return.” Clear Sky stared at her urgently.
Wind Runner narrowed her eyes. “Who are these rogues?”
Gray Wing’s ear twitched anxiously. “Their leader’s called Slash. He’s an old friend of One
Eye.”
Wind Runner bristled. “And you want us to share our prey with them?”
“Just talk to him,” Clear Sky pleaded. “He wants all the group leaders to meet with him at half-moon to discuss terms.”
Gorse Fur padded forward, ears twitching warily. “Star Flower is One Eye’s daughter,” he reminded her. “How do we know she’s not a friend of Slash?”
Wind Runner’s tail quivered. “It might be her plan.”
“Never!” Clear Sky glared at the wiry she-cat. “She loves me. She’s carrying my kits! Her loyalty lies with her campmates.”
Wind Runner’s gaze slid past Clear Sky and rested on Tall Shadow. “Do you support Clear Sky?”
Tall Shadow’s gaze was dark. “Star Flower spent time in our camp while Quiet Rain was dying. I believe she has the heart of a forest cat, not a rogue. She has turned her back on the life she knew as One Eye’s daughter.”
Gray Wing nodded. “Tall Shadow’s right. I watched Star Flower care for Clear Sky with kindness and loyalty. She’s being held against her will, I’m sure of it.”
Wind Runner glanced at him uncertainly. “That doesn’t mean we have to share our prey with this bunch of fox-hearts.”
Panic flashed in Clear Sky’s gaze. “You have to help!”
Wind Runner looked at him coldly. “We don’t have to do anything for you.”
“What if it were you?” Clear Sky demanded. “Imagine they were holding Gorse Fur hostage. I’d help you free him.”
“Really?” Wind Runner sniffed. “You’ve never helped anyone but yourself.”
“That’s not true.” Gray Wing felt a surge of loyalty toward his brother. “He rescued Holly’s kits when they went missing!”
Wind Runner kept her gaze fixed on Clear Sky. “This is your problem, not ours.”
Gray Wing blinked at her. Surely they had to help save Star Flower.
Clear Sky’s eyes widened. “You’d let harm come to Star Flower and my kits?”
Wind Runner hesitated, her fur rippling.
Gray Wing sensed a moment of doubt. “I think we should help,” he murmured softly.
Slate moved closer to Gray Wing. “It’s too risky,” she breathed. “These rogues are dangerous.”
“So are we,” Gray Wing growled.
Gorse Fur stepped forward, tail flicking. “But we can’t spare any prey!”
“We don’t have to,” Gray Wing countered. He looked at Clear Sky. “Slash just wants to meet with the group leaders, right?”
Clear Sky nodded. “After he’s met with you, he’ll return Star Flower.”
“Then it’s simple,” Gray Wing urged.
Wind Runner stared at him. “Why should we get involved?”
Gray Wing returned her gaze gravely. “It is our duty to protect Star Flower and her unborn kits.”
Slate moved beside him. “But she’s not part of our group.”
Gray Wing met her amber eyes. “If it were you and our unborn kits in danger, I’d want every cat I knew to help save you.”
Her gaze softened.
Wind Runner grunted. “I guess there are kits involved.” She dipped her head. “Very well,” she conceded. “I trust your judgment, Gray Wing. We will meet with these rogues.”
Joy burst in Clear Sky’s gaze. “Thank you!”
Tall Shadow got to her paws and shook out her fur. “I’m glad you’ve chosen to help, Wind Runner.” She began to head for the entrance.
“Are you leaving straightaway?” Wind Runner glanced at her. “Shouldn’t we come up with a plan?”