“I think we should give it a try,” Tall Shadow decided. “I’m willing to lead a patrol over there and bring some of the plant back.”
Renewed excitement stirred among the cats now that they had a plan. But Gray Wing saw that Jagged Peak was still looking hurt. A brief pang of guilt clawed at him: he hadn’t allowed Jagged Peak to express his idea.
I still treat him like the careless kit I left the mountains to chase, he thought. Maybe I need to start taking him more seriously.
Holly leaned toward Jagged Peak and whispered something in his ear. Jagged Peak’s eyes widened and he let out a mrrow of laughter.
Holly managed to cheer him up, Gray Wing thought, impressed in spite of himself. She’s good for Jagged Peak; there’s no denying it. I just hope she doesn’t push him too far…
Chapter 9
Tall Shadow narrowed her eyes as she glanced up at the sun. “If we go now, we should make it back before nightfall,” she meowed.
The days are getting shorter. Thunder’s pads prickled with dread. And the nights are getting colder. Soon leaf-bare will be upon us.
But he pushed the thought away. Around him, his denmates were like a nest of bees, buzzing with curiosity.
“Come on!” Dappled Pelt meowed eagerly. “We’ve got to find this plant right away.”
“Yes, I’m sure it’s the answer!” Gorse Fur agreed.
Cloud Spots nodded thoughtfully. “It might even protect us against the sickness.”
“Okay, let’s go.” Tall Shadow beckoned Mud Paws, Holly, and Mouse Ear with a wave of her tail.
Thunder followed them as they climbed the slope out of the hollow, and realized that most of his denmates were crowding after him. Tall Shadow halted and turned to face them.
“Wait a moment.” Her voice was frustrated and her tail-tip twitched. “Not every cat can come.
We can’t leave the camp unprotected, can we? And how many cats does it take to pick a flower?”
“Why can’t we come?” Shattered Ice asked.
Immediately arguments started to break out, some cats agreeing with Tall Shadow that only a small patrol was needed, while others were insisting on their right to join in.
“That’s enough!” Thunder meowed, stepping forward. “I’ll go with Tall Shadow,” he continued decisively. “And we’ll need at least one of our new members to show us the way.”
Holly, Mud Paws, and Mouse Ear glanced at one another. “I don’t mind staying,” Holly murmured.
“Okay, I’ll go,” Mouse Ear offered.
“Perhaps I should go, too,” Gray Wing added, padding up to Thunder’s side.
Thunder turned to his kin, noticing the signs of strain and weariness in the older cat’s face. “No, you stay and rest,” he meowed. “It’s been a long day, and you’re not really needed for this.” He saw sadness flash into Gray Wing’s eyes, and quickly added, “Besides, a reliable cat should be left in charge of the camp—a cat we can all trust.”
Gray Wing looked unconvinced, but dipped his head in agreement. “Very well,” he mewed, turning away before Thunder could say any more.
Realizing there was no more he could do to reassure Gray Wing, Thunder headed after Tall Shadow, only to find Pebble Heart blocking his way.
“I want to go,” the kit pleaded, his eyes wide and anxious. “I know herbs, and maybe I can help.”
Thunder’s first instinct was to refuse. We don’t want kits distracting us. But then he reminded himself that Pebble Heart was no ordinary kit. There must be a special reason that he wants to come.
Thunder glanced at Gray Wing, who gave a nod. He turned back to Pebble Heart. “If Gray Wing thinks it’s a good idea, you can join us.”
Mouse Ear took the lead as the cats loped in silence across the moor, heading for the forest near the edge of the Twolegplace. Thunder kept an eye on Pebble Heart to make sure that the kit didn’t fall behind.
He’s so serious, so watchful. Why did he want to come on this trip? I know Gray Wing says he has dreams…
“Do many rogues live on the other side of the Thunderpath, where the Blazing Star grows?” Tall Shadow asked Mouse Ear as they reached the edge of the forest.
“Not many,” Mouse Ear replied. “It’s wet and marshy over there, and few cats enjoy the feeling of mud on their paws… not even Mud Paws,” he added with a snort of laughter.
“But you must have been—” Tall Shadow began, only to break off as a bundle of mangy fur erupted from a pile of dead leaves and brush, hurling itself on top of Thunder, striking out to claw him across the nose.
“I saw it first!” a raspy voice meowed.
Thunder recoiled, stunned at the speed of the attack, and swiped a paw over his stinging snout.
When he recovered he saw One Eye standing in front of him, his tail lashing and his lips drawn back in a snarl. A dead bird lay at his paws.
“We’re supposed to be at peace!” Thunder snapped, sliding out his claws as he braced himself for another attack. “I didn’t even see your wretched bird!”
One Eye took a threatening pace forward.
“Get back!” The shrill screech came from Pebble Heart. “Every cat get back!”
A thrill of fear ran through Thunder at the urgency in the kit’s voice. For the first time he looked closely at the bird and saw that its belly was swollen and some of its feathers were missing. Dried pus crusted the areas of exposed skin.
“Stop!” Pebble Heart squealed as One Eye stepped forward, about to sink his teeth into the prey.
Thunder sprang forward, barreling into the mangy tom, driving him back from the bird. One Eye fought back hard, digging his teeth into Thunder’s neck.
“Get off!” Thunder mewed through gritted teeth. “I’m trying to save your miserable pelt!” He flung One Eye away, then pinned him down with both forepaws on his chest. The tom glared up at him with hatred in his one eye.
At last Tall Shadow realized what had frightened Pebble Heart. “The bird is sick!” she yowled.
“Every cat stay away!”
While she was speaking, the undergrowth parted a few fox-lengths away, and Clear Sky appeared, followed by Petal and the two kits, Birch and Alder. “One Eye, what’s going on here?” he asked with a rapid glance around at the other cats.
Thunder stepped back, allowing One Eye to get up, seeing recognition and then fear creep into his eye as he surveyed the dead bird. “Nothing,” the rogue muttered, not meeting Clear Sky’s gaze.
I’m not letting him get away with that! Thunder thought. Clearing his throat, he dipped his head toward his father. “Actually,” he began, “One Eye attacked me for getting too close to his kill. I fought him off because the bird is sick. Whatever he says, I was trying to help.”
Clear Sky narrowed his eyes. “Sick?”
“Yes, it—” Thunder broke off as the two kits bounded forward and peered curiously at the bird.
“No!” he went on sharply, pushing them away with a gentle paw. “Stay back.”
But Birch dodged around him, stretched out his neck, and touched the dead bird with his nose.
“Yuck!” he exclaimed, his curiosity changing to disgust as he backed away. “It smells foul!”
Thunder let out a sigh and glanced at Clear Sky, who beckoned the kits with a jerk of his head.
“Get back here now!” he mewed commandingly. There was concern in his eyes, which surprised Thunder—it was a look he hadn’t seen from his father when he was a kit who needed him. He tried not to feel envious that Clear Sky cared for kits who weren’t even his own.