Tucking his paws underneath him, Clear Sky waited. Sooner or later, he knew, one of his own cats would appear on a patrol. I just hope they’re alone, and not with One Eye’s rogues, he thought gloomily.
“Clear Sky! Clear Sky, is that you?”
A tremor of anticipation ran through Clear Sky at the sound of Acorn Fur’s voice. Taking a breath, he distinguished her scent, but it took a moment to spot her crouching underneath a thick clump of bracken at the very edge of the trees.
“Clear Sky?” she called out again, her voice low and urgent.
For a heartbeat Clear Sky hesitated. Is she luring me out so that One Eye and his rogues can finish me off? Then he took a calming breath. He would never believe that the brave chestnut brown she-cat could be such a traitor. I trust her completely, even though she had only just joined my group when One Eye took over.
Pressing himself to the ground and using the long grass for cover, Clear Sky crawled forward until he could join Acorn Fur beneath the bracken.
“Oh, Clear Sky, I was so relieved when I picked up your scent!” the young cat mewed, trembling as she pressed herself against his side. “It’s terrible here with One Eye. Every heartbeat I’m scared he’s going to claw me.”
“Then why stay?” Clear Sky found it hard to feel sympathetic. “Escape; go back to the hollow on the moor. You could have come with us when One Eye attacked us by the Thunderpath.”
Acorn Fur’s eyes widened and her trembling was replaced by the stiffness of fury. “You don’t imagine I want to be here?” she demanded. “I’m only staying to see if I can find some way to help you. I’ve been volunteering for border patrols so that I might see you or some cat to take a message to you.”
“I’m sorry.” Clear Sky gave her ear a quick lick. “And have you found out anything?” he added hopefully.
Pacified by his apology, Acorn Fur shook her head. “No, but I’ll keep trying.” Nervously she angled her ears back toward the forest. “I’m with a patrol now,” she murmured. “They must be somewhere around. We don’t have much time. Tell me what I can do.”
“There is something.” Clear Sky couldn’t believe his luck, finding a faithful cat like Acorn Fur in the middle of his enemies. “I’m going to fight One Eye,” he explained in a rapid undertone. “I need you to take my challenge to him. Claws out—a fight to the death. Just him and me, one-on-one. Tell him I’ll be waiting for him on the moor at sunhigh.”
“Are you mouse-brained? You can’t fight One Eye alone!” Acorn Fur protested, horror in her eyes. “He’ll claw you to pieces. I’m not taking a message like that.”
“I won’t be alone,” Clear Sky reassured her. “The other moorland cats are going to help, and River Ripple, and maybe Wind Runner and Gorse Fur. You’ll have to lie to One Eye,” he added. “Do you think you can convince him?”
Acorn Fur took a deep breath, bracing herself. “I’ll do anything to get rid of that mange-ridden excuse for a cat,” she promised.
“Acorn Fur!” A harsh voice, unknown to Clear Sky, rang out from deeper within the forest.
“Where are you? Get your flea-bitten tail over here before I have to teach you a lesson.”
Acorn Fur shuddered. “I’ve got to go. You can trust me, Clear Sky. I’ll do my best.”
Before Clear Sky could respond, she had vanished into the undergrowth.
“What have you been up to?” the same voice growled. “I can scent that flea-pelt Clear Sky. I hope you haven’t been talking to him.”
“Yes, I have.” Acorn Fur’s voice reached Clear Sky’s ears, steady and undaunted. “And you can put your claws away. He gave me an important message to take to One Eye.”
“What message?”
“I’ll tell that to One Eye,” Acorn Fur retorted. “And if you’re not careful, I’ll tell him you were nosing around in his private business.”
No response followed, only the sound of retreating paw steps and the rustle of cats brushing through long grass. Clear Sky breathed a sigh of relief.
It’s done. Now there’s no going back.
Chapter 24
Sunhigh had almost come. In the cold, clear light of approaching leaf-bare, Thunder peered out at the expanse of the moor from behind an outcrop of rock. Lightning Tail crouched beside him on one side, but the space on the other side felt terribly empty.
Where is Star Flower? he wondered.
The golden tabby had promised to help him in the battle, but Thunder hadn’t seen her since she left the hollow, telling him she was going to find some rogue recruits. Thunder shifted uneasily, hoping she hadn’t run into trouble.
“Missing your precious Star Flower?” Lightning Tail asked, an edge to his voice.
“Don’t start.” Thunder let out a sigh. “Today is too important.”
Lightning Tail was silent, a look of shame creeping over his face. “You’re right. It’s just… I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Thunder turned to him, thankful that his best friend’s hostility was fading. “Star Flower would never do anything to hurt me,” he assured Lightning Tail, briefly resting his tail-tip on the younger cat’s shoulder. “We understand each other!”
The twitch of Lightning Tail’s whiskers told Thunder that his friend wasn’t convinced, but to Thunder’s relief he said nothing.
A soft paw step behind Thunder announced the arrival of Gray Wing. “Tall Shadow, Cloud Spots, and Shattered Ice are hiding in the hollow over there,” he muttered, angling his ears toward a dip in the moor partly screened by gorse bushes. “Mud Paws and Mouse Ear are with them. And see that thorn tree over there?” he added with a purr. “Owl Eyes and Sparrow Fur are hiding in the branches—”
“What?” Thunder protested, stiffening. “They’re only kits! They shouldn’t be part of this!”
Gray Wing gave him a long look. “Have you tried controlling kits who are just about to be grown cats? I remember another kit with big paws who was keen to get involved in everything.”
Thunder nodded, admitting that Gray Wing was right. If I were their age, I’d want to help, too. At least Pebble Heart has stayed behind to care for Holly.
“Jagged Peak and Dappled Pelt took the messages to River Ripple and Wind Runner,” Gray Wing went on. “River Ripple said he’d keep watch on the riverbank, and Wind Runner… well, she didn’t say no this time. We can only hope that she and Gorse Fur will come and do what they can to help.”
Thunder glanced across the moor in the direction of the sandy dip and the rocks where Wind Runner lived, but he couldn’t see any sign at all of approaching cats.
A gasp from Lightning Tail drew Thunder’s attention and he squinted into the bright sunlight.
Clear Sky was padding into the center of the moor.
He’s clever! Thunder thought admiringly as he watched his father’s stride, self-assured yet wary.
No cat would ever know that he feels his friends all around him.
Clear Sky reached the top of a small hillock, turned to face the forest, and sat down. Motionless, he waited.
Thunder realized that he was holding his breath as he gazed into the distance for the approach of One Eye. The sun beat down on his pelt. Beside him, Lightning Tail flicked his tail impatiently.
“Where is he?” he muttered.
Movement flashed in the corner of Thunder’s eye. Whirling around, he spotted One Eye. But the rogue hadn’t come from the forest. Instead he exploded out of a nearby rabbit hole.
“The tunnels!” Gray Wing hissed in frustration. “Why didn’t we think of those?”