Pebble Heart tipped his head. “Now?”
Thunder nodded. “Gray Wing is waiting for you.” He ignored the pang in his heart. But not Turtle Tail.
“Okay.” Sparrow Fur lined up beside River Ripple. “I’m ready.”
“So am I.” Owl Eyes fell in beside her.
“Pebble Heart?” Thunder gazed at the solemn kit. “Are you ready to go home?”
Pebble Heart nodded. “You’ll come too, won’t you?”
Thunder purred. “As soon as I’ve freed Lightning Tail from the Twolegs.”
“Come on.” River Ripple began nosing the kits toward the wide opening of Tom’s den. “I’ll take them over the crossing stones,” he whispered to Thunder.
“Be quick,” Thunder urged. He wanted the kits as far away from here as possible before Tom noticed. If there was a fight, they mustn’t see it. Tom was their father. He flexed his claws. He watched River Ripple hurry the kits onto the dusk-shadowed stone and headed for the Twoleg opening at the back of Tom’s den.
Lightning Tail was still curled in the embrace of the Twoleg, while Tom struggled, hissing with rage, in the paws of the other.
The Twoleg grunted and then dropped Tom, confusion wrinkling its smooth, pink face. It glanced anxiously at the other Twoleg as Tom growled at Lightning Tail.
Thunder padded across the grass. “What’s the matter, Tom? Don’t you like sharing?”
Tom turned on him with a hiss and flung out a paw. His claws sliced the air a whisker from Thunder’s nose.
“You don’t want your Twolegs to see you in such a temper,” Thunder growled. How was he going to persuade the Twoleg to let Lightning Tail go? As Tom hissed at him, the Twoleg held Lightning Tail closer, eyes flashing with alarm. It began to back toward its nest.
No! It mustn’t take Lightning Tail inside!
He blinked up at the Twoleg, forcing himself to purr as Lightning Tail had done. His purr stuttered, his throat tight with fear.
The Twoleg murmured back at him.
Thunder tipped his head, pleadingly. “Let Lightning Tail go.”
Tom’s eyes flashed with sudden malice. “You want him back now, do you?” He glanced toward the opening in the Twoleg nest, where light flooded out. “Perhaps I should persuade my Twolegs to keep him. It’ll be fun having him locked up inside with me for the night.” Tom showed his teeth.
Thunder felt cold as dread hollowed his belly. The cruel kittypet would rip Lightning Tail to shreds. His breathing quickened as he saw the taller Twoleg back through the opening. It called to its mate, who was still holding Lightning Tail.
“Get me down from here!” Lightning Tail glanced toward the opening, eyes flashing with fear as the Twoleg turned toward its mate.
Tom had trotted inside, tail high. His Twoleg bent to stroke him and he purred, blinking up at Lightning Tail, his gaze wide and friendly.
He’s pretending! Why were Twolegs so dumb! Can’t you see he’s tricking you? Panic sparked beneath Thunder’s pelt. He dashed for the Twoleg. He had to stop it before it entered the nest. He barged past it as roughly as he could, then doubled back and knocked it from the other side. It stumbled and he nudged it again, winding forcefully around its legs, purring desperately. The Twoleg staggered. With a yelp, it dropped Lightning Tail, and grabbed the side of the opening to steady itself.
“Run!” Thunder shoved Lightning Tail forward and sprinted after him. They hurtled for Tom’s den. Streaking through it, they burst out into the night. Thunder’s paws skidded from under him as he swerved toward the passageway. He scrambled to regain his balance. Lightning Tail was racing ahead. Thunder found his paws and hared after, catching up as Lightning Tail flew into the shadowy passageway.
“Can you remember how to get back?” Lightning Tail called over his shoulder.
Panic sparked through Thunder. Which way had Flower brought them? Ahead, the passage split.
“Thunder?” Lightning Tail’s mew was sharp with fear as he slowed to a halt and stared one way, then the other.
Thunder stumbled into his flank, his paws burning as he skidded to a halt. He tasted the air. The kits! He could smell their scent clearly. “This way.” Taking the closest opening, he raced along it. Lightning Tail chased after.
They zigzagged through the maze of passageways. Thunder ran, mouth open, letting the kits scents guide him until he burst out beside the Thunderpath that Flower had led them across. He felt sure he knew how to get back to camp from here.
A monster swished past, its eyes shooting light ahead of it. Thunder flinched as its glare streaked over his pelt.
Lightning Tail froze beside him. “Can you see the kits?” He squinted into the darkness as the monster hurtled away.
“Not yet.” Thunder dashed across the wide stone path and ducked into a gorge between two nests. It opened onto grass and bushes and he saw, with a surge of relief, that open sky lay beyond. They’d reached the edge of Twolegplace!
He bounded across the grass, his flanks heaving.
“Tom’s following us!” Lightning Tail’s alarmed call shattered the air.
Thunder glanced over his shoulder and saw Tom burst into the moonlight.
“Give them back!” Rage pulsed through Tom’s yowl.
Lightning Tail turned to face the kittypet. “We can’t risk leading him to the kits!”
Thunder stumbled to a halt and spun around. “We’ll have to fight him.”
Standing shoulder to shoulder, they confronted the kittypet.
Tom stopped and stared, his narrowed eyes gleaming in the moonlight. “I suppose you think you’re clever, getting them away while you distracted me.”
“You’re not the only one that can steal kits,” Thunder snarled through gritted teeth.
“They came with me willingly,” Tom snapped.
Lightning Tail took a step forward. “They belong on the moor.”
“I know where your camp is.” Tom lashed his tail menacingly. “I can come and take them anytime I want.”
Thunder lifted his chin. “Not now they’ve seen what it is to be a kittypet.” He glanced at Lightning Tail. “How did it feel to picked up and stroked?”
Lightning Tail shuddered. “Horrible.”
Thunder’s whiskers twitched. “The kits are wild,” he told Tom. “They’ll never choose your life. They’ll always find their way back to the moor.”
“Like their mother,” Tom snarled in disgust.
“She had the heart of a mountain cat,” Lightning Tail hissed.
“Had the heart of a mountain cat?” Tom tipped his head. “Has something happened to her?”
Grief seared Thunder’s heart. They’d lost Turtle Tail forever. “She got killed by a monster, following you and her kits.” He glared at Tom, blood roaring in his ears as he saw triumph spark in the kittypet’s gaze.
“Will her kits thank you for taking them to a home with no mother?” Tom asked nastily.
Fury exploded in Thunder’s chest. “You fox-hearted—”
He leaped for Tom but Lightning Tail blocked his path. “Will they thank you for leading her to her death?”
Tom blinked.
Thunder stumbled.
Lightning Tail went on. “Never come near the moor again. You’ll regret it. Your kits will remember you as the cat who killed their mother. They won’t follow you next time, and if any of us see you again, we’ll shred you.”
Thunder showed his teeth. “We’ll shred you now, if you like.”
Tom backed away, growling. “Keep the dumb kits,” he snarled. “Let them grow up wild. I don’t care.” Tail flicking angrily, he turned and stalked away, the shadows swallowing him as he padded into the gorge.