Flower was already stalking past him, heading for the shadowy gap between the nests. “Come with me.”
Thunder bounded after her. He heard Lightning Tail and River Ripple walking behind as he followed Flower along the gap and out into the sunshine. She padded to the edge of the Thunderpath, glanced both ways at the empty stone and raced across. He didn’t hesitate, pushing the memory of Turtle Tail from his thoughts. Flower was leading him to the kits. He sensed it. Her head was high, her paw steps purposeful. She knew exactly where she was going.
Lightning Tail’s pelt brushed his as the tom fell in beside him and they ducked into a passage beside a Twoleg nest. High wooden walls edged each side. The path was cracked. Grit jabbed Thunder’s pads. He glanced over his shoulder. River Ripple was keeping up.
The passage split into two. One opened onto a wide grassy slope, the other curved away between two rows of nests. Flower chose the curving path, following it until it split again. She headed on, choosing one split after another until Thunder wondered how they would ever find their way back. His pelt bristled as strange scents touched his nose. Beyond the wooden walls, Twoleg kits shrieked. Suddenly, a dog’s bark exploded a tail-length away. Claws scrabbled at the other side of the wall. Thunder froze, terror ripping though his chest.
“Don’t worry,” Flower called over her shoulder. “It can’t get over the fence.”
She quickened her pace, following another passage until it opened onto a wide stone path. A long row of low Twoleg nests lined one side. The other was walled by stone.
“Tom hangs around in one of those.” Flower nodded toward the nests.
“With his Twolegs?” Thunder frowned. “Isn’t it too small?” The nests they’d seen so far had been huge.
“His Twolegs live in the big nest behind it.” Flower nodded toward the larger den rising beyond the line of small ones. “The low ones are where Twolegs keep their monsters. Tom’s Twolegs don’t have one so he hangs out there instead.” She turned and began heading back along the passage.
Thunder blinked after her. “Aren’t you going to show us which one?”
Flower glanced back. “You can work it out.” Unease glittered in her gaze. “If Tom knew I brought you here, he’d be very angry. Good luck.” She nodded, then hurried back down the passage and disappeared around the corner.
Thunder ignored the fear sparking through his pelt as he stared at the row of dens. He lifted his muzzle. “Come on.”
Padding across the stone, he swiveled his ears, listening for monsters growling. He could only hear distant rumbling from beyond the large stone dens. Lightning Tail fell in beside him. River Ripple flanked his other side.
Thunder opened his mouth. He tried to ignore the sour Twoleg fumes coating his tongue, searching for a hint of Tom’s scent.
Lightning Tail froze beside him. “I smell something!”
“What?” Thunder halted.
Lightning Tail’s tongue showed pink below his nose. “Kit scent!” He quickened his pace.
“Wait!” Thunder hurried to keep up. “Those are monster dens!” What if one leaped out without warning?
River Ripple caught up. “Don’t worry. You’ll hear them if they’re awake.”
Lightning Tail headed past the first monster den, picking up speed as he reached the next. He broke into a run. Thunder bounded after, River Ripple at his heels. He opened his mouth. Tom’s scent drenched his tongue.
“Here!” Lightning Tail pulled up sharply. Thunder and River Ripple scrambled to a halt at his heels.
Ahead, an open den yawned onto the wide stone path. Lightning Tail crouched beside it and peered in.
“Do you see him?” Thunder crept forward.
Lightning Tail stretched until he was peering through the wide opening. “Yes.”
Thunder’s heart raced.
A kit’s mew echoed from inside. “I’m hungry!”
Owl Eyes! Thunder sucked back a gasp.
“Me too.” Sparrow Fur joined in. “Are you going hunting soon?”
Thunder slid past Lightning Tail and stared inside. Sunlight spilled in through the wide, square entrance, glinting off the clutter that crowded the den. Strong scents wafted out. Tom was pacing around the kits near the back wall. “We don’t have to hunt,” he told them. “Food will come soon.”
“Don’t we have to catch it?” Sparrow Fur asked.
“How soon?” Owl Eyes mewed.
“We can’t stay here long.” Pebble Heart’s eyes were round. “Turtle Tail will be worried.”
“She knows you’re with me,” Tom told him sharply.
Liar! Thunder’s blood burned beneath his pelt.
Tom went on. “Besides, you don’t want to go home. This is exciting, isn’t it?”
“I don’t like it here.” Owl Eyes was staring at the clutter, his nose wrinkling.
Tom froze. His ears swiveled toward a corner of the back wall. He’d clearly heard something.
Thunder strained to listen. Heavy paw steps were approaching the den.
Tom lifted his tail. “Why don’t you three hide and see how long it takes me to find you?”
Sparrow Fur began running for the entrance. “You’ll never find me!”
Thunder stiffened. “Let’s snatch the kits,” he hissed to Lightning Tail and River Ripple. “I’ll grab Sparrow Fur. You get the others.”
Sparrow Fur was hurtling closer. He hunkered down, heart racing.
“Sparrow Fur! Stop!” Tom’s yowl was edged with panic. “Stay in the den!”
Sparrow Fur skidded to a halt.
Foxdung! Thunder pressed River Ripple and Lightning Tail back. “Wait.”
“Why can’t I go out?” Sparrow Fur turned, blinking at Tom.
“Because I said so!” Tom’s glance flitted nervously toward the back of the den, where the paw steps were growing louder. “Just hide inside the den. Quickly!”
Pebble Heart scampered behind a pile of clutter. Owl Eyes squeezed under a massive stained pelt that lay crumpled on the ground. Sparrow Fur gazed quickly around before sliding behind a tall slice of wood. As her tail flicked out of view, an opening appeared in the back of the den.
A Twoleg appeared, framed by daylight, which streamed in behind.
Tom looked up. “Hi,” he meowed.
The Twoleg meowed back, then mumbled as it crossed the den and started stroking Tom.
Tom lifted his tail and purred loudly.
“Yuck!” Lightning Tail shuddered beside Thunder.
River Ripple squeezed in beside him, peering around the entrance. “Why’s he hiding the kits from his Twoleg?”
“He obviously doesn’t want it to know he has them.” Thunder narrowed his eyes. Why take them if he had to keep them secret? Had he just done it to torture Turtle Tail? Rage churned in his belly. His act had killed her!
Tom was weaving around the Twoleg as it bent to pour rattling berries into a small hollow stone at the end of the den.
“Is that food?” Lightning Tail asked, his nose twitching.
“Yes.” River Ripple curled his lip. “I’ve tried kittypet food. It tastes horrible.”
When the Twoleg stopped pouring, Tom yowled pitifully, reaching up to tug desperately at the Twoleg’s pelt.
The Twoleg mumbled again and poured more berries into the bowl.
He’s getting extra food for the kits. A growl rumbled in Thunder’s throat. He doesn’t even know how to hunt for them. He has to beg!
He watched as the Twoleg headed for its small entrance at the back and disappeared.
“You can come out now!” Tom called to the kits.
Owl Eyes ducked out from under the stained pelt. “But you didn’t even look for us.”
Pebble Heart padded from behind the pile of clutter. “Why was there a Twoleg here?”
“It brought us food,” Tom explained. “Just like I promised.”