Instantly suspicious, Clear Sky narrowed his eyes as he gazed at Tom. “What have you heard?” he demanded sharply.
Tom hesitated, as if he sensed Clear Sky’s tension. “Well… that you make tough decisions when it’s necessary.”
“Times have changed,” Clear Sky responded, wondering if Tom was referring to his behavior before the battle. “All the cats live peacefully now. Really, there’s no particular reason to join a group of cats. You should be able to survive pretty well on your own.”
Tom twitched his ears. “True,” he mewed. “But I can also bring benefits to your group.”
“What would those be, exactly?” Clear Sky asked, his interest piqued. What could a kittypet offer real cats?
“I may not be as skilled at hunting as you,” the ginger tom replied. “But I can learn quickly. And I have my own ways of fighting.” He studied his paws, and Clear Sky couldn’t decide if he looked modest or guilty. “I know how to fight with cunning,” he added.
“Do you mean fight dirty?” Clear Sky asked sharply.
Tom didn’t reply. Instead he looked up at Clear Sky with wide, pleading eyes. “There is much that I can teach you, I promise. Won’t you take me in?” he begged.
Guilt throbbed through Clear Sky. Facing the truth about himself, he knew that he had caused so much unhappiness in the past. Perhaps it’s time to make amends.
“Okay,” he meowed. “You can come back to the camp with me, if you think you can prove yourself. But I’m warning you: We can’t support any cat who doesn’t contribute.”
Tom puffed out his chest, his expression suddenly proud and happy. “You won’t regret this,” he promised. “We won’t let you down.”
Clear Sky, who had turned away and taken a couple of paw steps back toward his camp, halted and turned back again. “‘We’?” I agreed to take in one cat, he thought, his pelt beginning to prickle with anger. Is this ginger flea-pelt trying to cheat me?
Tom let out a pleased mrrow. “I have a friend with me.”
As he spoke, there was a loud rattling of twigs and leaves from up above and another cat landed on the ground. Clear Sky fought the urge to leap away, his pelt crawling at the thought that the newcomer had been lurking in the very tree where he had hidden to keep an eye on Tom—and he’d had no idea the cat was there.
They must have been following me. They arranged this meeting!
Sizing up the new arrival, Clear Sky realized that he had never seen a rogue like this before. The fur that covered his scrawny body was knotted and his claws were broken. One eye was missing, and in the one that remained was a look that was pure wild. He paid no attention to Clear Sky, but circled on the spot, hissing and spitting as if he was facing a whole group of enemy cats.
“This is One Eye,” Tom announced proudly. “He’s the bravest rogue cat in the whole forest.”
When Clear Sky didn’t respond, Tom added, “He may look like a sick, skinny old thing on his last legs, but he’s the perfect addition to your group. You won’t have to worry about being attacked with him around. I invited him here today—”
Tom broke off with a screech of pain as One Eye pounced onto his back, digging his jagged claws in. Jerking away, he turned a shocked stare on One Eye as the rogue jumped down again. “What was that for?” he asked.
“I can speak for myself!” One Eye hissed.
Clear Sky thought that Tom was right to look shocked. What is he thinking, hanging around like this?
Tom sat down and started to groom his pelt, his pride clearly ruffled. Meanwhile, Clear Sky watched One Eye as he circled languidly, his tail high in the air. He was becoming more and more intrigued to hear what the rogue had to say for himself.
“I remember this forest when all the trees were saplings,” One Eye began. “I lived here before any of your group were even born.”
So how old is he? Clear Sky asked himself. If he’s as old as these trees, he should hardly be able to walk!
While Clear Sky was trying to decide how to respond, One Eye whipped around and confronted him. “Are you the leader, then?” he asked.
Surprised by the direct question, Clear Sky raked the ground with his forepaws. “Well… of this part of the forest, yes.”
“Then you’re the cat I want to speak to,” One Eye continued. “Tom’s told me all about you. I’m here to offer my services to your group of cats, and trust me, this is not an offer that you want to turn down.”
Momentarily stunned, Clear Sky was acutely aware that he had to take control of this situation.
“What do you think you can bring to my group?” he asked.
One Eye looked thoughtful for a moment. Before he could reply, the sound of fluttering wings in the tree above distracted all three cats. A plump pigeon had alighted on the lowest branch.
“Excuse me,” the mangy rogue drawled.
With a massive leap he hurled himself into the tree, his claws sinking into the body of the pigeon.
It struggled wildly, its feathers falling like snow, then went limp. One Eye thumped back to the ground and dropped the prey at Clear Sky’s paws as if shaking dirt from his fur.
“Will that do?” he asked.
Clear Sky gazed down at the dead bird, impressed in spite of himself.
“I’ll show you my hunting and fighting techniques anytime you like,” One Eye offered.
“We don’t need to learn any fighting techniques,” Clear Sky retorted sharply. “Just the hunting skills will do.” For a few heartbeats he hesitated, then added, “Have either of you ever heard of the Blazing Star?”
One Eye and Tom glanced at each other. Tom shook his head, but after a moment One Eye muttered, “It could be a plant.”
It could be anything, Clear Sky thought, disappointed not to have discovered any useful information. I guess it was a bit of a long shot.
“Okay. You can follow me back to camp,” he meowed to One Eye and Tom, some instinct telling him it was better to have these cats as friends rather than enemies.
But as Clear Sky turned to head toward home, One Eye padded ahead of him, leading the way as if he already knew where the camp was. The pigeon dangling from his jaws, Tom brought up the rear.
Why do I feel as though they always knew they’d be coming back with me? Clear Sky thought.
There was more to these cats than they were letting on.
Chapter 6
A stiff breeze was blowing, whipping dead leaves from the trees. Leaf-fall is nearly on us, Clear Sky thought as he headed along his border with Tom and One Eye by his side. Acorn Fur padded in their paw steps a couple of tail-lengths behind.
Privately Clear Sky held on to his reservations about admitting the mangy rogue and smelly kittypet to his group. But he had to admit that, so far, they were contributing. One Eye was a ruthless hunter, and was helping to keep the cats well fed—even if most of them were still a little wary of him.
They’ll probably get used to him in time, Clear Sky told himself. And isn’t it better to have a cat like One Eye by my side rather than wandering free?
The sound of crackling behind him made Clear Sky halt and turn, his shoulder fur beginning to bristle at possible danger. The sound reminded him too clearly of the flames that had devoured the forest. I don’t want to go through anything like that again.