Sparrow Fur gasped. “Owl Eyes!” She charged toward him. “I’ll save you!”
Jagged Peak’s whiskers twitched as he spotted her. “Hurry up!” he teased. “I’m going to squash him flat!”
“Where’s Pebble Heart?” Gray Wing hardly listened for an answer. He stared toward the distant moor, scanning the horizon for movement while worry spiraled in his belly.
“He’s helping Cloud Spots make ointment for Frost.” Turtle Tail nudged his cheek with her muzzle. “Can you see them?”
Gray Wing knew she was talking about Thunder and Jackdaw’s Cry. They should be home by now. He remembered Jackdaw’s Cry’s parting words. We’ll be back before the sun’s burned away the mist. The sun was high. The fog had melted away long ago.
“Are you wheezing again?” Turtle Tail pressed closer.
“A little.” His chest was tight. He’d been trying to ignore it. Since breathing smoke from the forest fire, Gray Wing sometimes struggled to find breath. Especially when he was anxious.
Turtle Tail touched her flank to his. “They’ll be fine,” she promised. “They’re both strong, brave cats.”
He wanted to believe her, but knew she was just trying to soothe him. Fear edged her mew. She thought that Clear Sky had murdered her friend Bumble. Why would she believe he would spare two intruders from the moor?
I should have gone with them. Gray Wing shivered, cold despite the scorching sunshine. He dragged his gaze from the far slopes and glanced around the camp, taking comfort from the familiar faces.
Lightning Tail and Acorn Fur sat beside the gap in the heather, watching for their father’s return. Hawk Swoop paced beside the flat rock where Tall Shadow was sitting. The black she-cat was staring across the moor, ears pricked.
Wind Runner lay at the edge of the clearing, her bulging belly rising and falling. Her eyes were closed against the bright sunshine but her ears twitched each time grass swished beyond the heather wall.
Rainswept Flower crouched beside her, nudging a ball of soaked moss closer. “Have a drink,” she urged. “You must be thirsty.”
As Wind Runner lapped at the moss, Gorse Fur paced behind them, his long tail twitching. “Shall I go hunting?” he called to Tall Shadow. “I could head for the forest border and see if there’s any sign of them.”
“Don’t go alone,” Tall Shadow answered.
Hawk Swoop crossed the clearing toward Gorse Fur. “I’ll come with you.”
“Me too.” Shattered Ice ducked out from beneath the bramble, his green eyes sharp with worry.
“Wait!” Tall Shadow suddenly stretched onto her hind legs, eyes fixed on the moor. “I can see Thunder!”
Gray Wing darted across the clearing, Turtle Tail at his heels, and rushed through the gap in the heather.
Lightning Tail called after him. “Is Jackdaw’s Cry there too?”
Gray Wing didn’t answer. There was no sign of the black tom. But Thunder was racing toward the hollow.
Gray Wing met him on the grassy clearing outside, scrambling to a halt as Thunder reached him. “What did Clear Sky say? Will he meet me?”
“Yes.” Thunder skidded on the grass.
Gray Wing saw the young tom’s gaze flick nervously toward Turtle Tail. Something’s wrong. Before he could ask, Hawk Swoop barged past.
“Where’s Jackdaw’s Cry?” She scanned the heather.
Gray Wing tasted the air. No scent of the black tom. Thunder had returned alone.
Thunder stared at Gray Wing. “Clear Sky will meet you at full moon by the four trees.”
Gray Wing’s heart quickened. “That’s great news!” Dare he hope that battle could be avoided? His mind started to whirl. What if he couldn’t find the right words to persuade Clear Sky to see reason and stop moving his boundaries? What if he made battle come sooner by saying the wrong thing?
“Where is Jackdaw’s Cry?” Hawk Swoop’s mew was urgent. She paced past Thunder.
Thunder dipped his head. “Clear Sky asked him to stay in the forest camp until after the meeting at the four trees.”
“What?” Hawk Swoop’s eyes widened in shock.
Turtle Tail’s fur spiked. “How dare he keep one of our cats!”
Gray Wing forced his fur to stay flat, though fear sparked through it like lightning. “Is he safe?” He searched Thunder’s gaze.
Thunder swallowed. “He promised that Jackdaw’s Cry would be fine until after the meeting.” His gaze slid toward Hawk Swoop.
“And then what?” she demanded.
“He’ll let him return to the moor.” Thunder’s ears twitched nervously.
“Is that what he said?” Hawk Swoop glared at him.
Thunder stiffened. “He just said he’d be safe until after the meeting.”
Turtle Tail hissed. “We must fetch him. Now!”
Gray Wing met her gaze. “But Clear Sky’s agreed to meet,” he protested. “We have to tread carefully.”
Turtle Tail growled. “That’s what he wants!” she spat. “He wants us to slink around like mouse-hearts while he does what he wants. He’s a bully and you know it!” She headed for the camp.
Gray Wing closed his eyes. He could understand her anger. Why hadn’t Clear Sky just agreed to meet? Doesn’t he trust me? Or was Turtle Tail right about him enjoying having power over other cats?
Hawk Swoop growled as though in pain. “What should we do, Gray Wing?”
Gray Wing looked at her. “Let’s ask Tall Shadow.” He led the cats back into the hollow where Tall Shadow, Acorn Fur, and Lightning Tail waited.
Turtle Tail was already at Tall Shadow’s side. Wind Runner was on her paws, Rainswept Flower beside her. Gorse Fur stood, tail lashing, while Shattered Ice paced around him.
In the long grass Jagged Peak looked up. Owl Eyes and Sparrow Fur tumbled around him, play fighting. They hadn’t even noticed Thunder was back. He slid from between them and crossed the clearing.
“Has Turtle Tail told you everything?” Gray Wing looked at Tall Shadow.
“Clear Sky’s holding Jackdaw’s Cry.” Her gaze flitted around the others.
“But he’s agreed to the meeting,” Gray Wing told her.
Hawk Swoop padded forward. “Turtle Tail thinks we should get Jackdaw’s Cry back.”
“I know,” Tall Shadow told her calmly.
Gray Wing flattened his ears. “If we do that, Clear Sky will call off the meeting.”
Wind Runner lashed her tail. “We can’t let him bully us.”
“Avoiding battle is more important!” Gray Wing felt frustration flash beneath his pelt.
Gorse Fur growled. “Is it more important than Jackdaw’s Cry’s life?”
“He’s not in danger!” Gray Wing turned on the gray tabby. Did every cat believe Clear Sky was a monster?
Tall Shadow stepped between them and lifted her muzzle. “Jackdaw’s Cry can take care of himself,” she meowed calmly. “He will stay in the forest if that’s what it takes to get Clear Sky to agree to talk. We must do everything in our power to make sure we can live in peace.”
Acorn Fur padded forward. “Falling Feather is with him.” Her mew trembled but she kept going. “Jackdaw’s Cry isn’t alone. He’ll be okay.” She glanced at her brother.
Lightning Tail nodded. “Jackdaw’s Cry would never forgive us if we tried to bring him home.”
Hawk Swoop’s shoulders drooped. “You’re right,” she conceded.
Relief seeped beneath Gray Wing’s pelt. The meeting would go ahead. There would be peace. He gazed gratefully at Hawk Swoop, not daring to look at Turtle Tail. He wasn’t sure she’d be so easily convinced that they were making the right decision.
Fur brushed his flank.
“Lightning Tail is right.” Turtle Tail pressed against him. “Jackdaw’s Cry would never forgive us if we sent a rescue party. He’s a proud cat.”