“Come on.” Lightning Tail turned and raced across the grass. “Let’s catch up to the kits.”
Thunder hared after him as he crashed through the bushes. Beyond, he recognized the narrow strip of woodland that opened onto the marsh meadow. He opened his mouth and tasted the air. Kit scent hung fresh just ahead. He pushed into the wall of thick stems.
A mew sounded ahead. “My paws are wet!”
Owl Eyes! Quickening his pace, Thunder shouldered on until he glimpsed a short, splotchy tail snaking through the grass ahead. “Sparrow Fur!”
The tail slid from view and her face poked out between the stalks. “Thunder!” She stared at him, eyes sparkling. “Pebble Heart said we’d make it back to camp before you, but I knew you’d catch up.” Her gaze flitted to Lightning Tail. “Did you bring Tom?”
Lightning Tail shook his head. “Tom didn’t want to come,” he mewed softly. “He wanted to stay with his Twolegs.”
“Hurry up!” Pebble Heart’s mew sounded from farther ahead. “I want to see Turtle Tail!”
“There’s the river!” Owl Eyes called out happily, pointing with a forepaw. “We’ll be on the moor soon.” Sparrow Fur turned and disappeared into the grass.
Thunder caught Lightning Tail’s eyes. The black tom’s gaze was dark with grief. Thunder guessed what he was thinking. How will we tell them about their mother?
Heart aching, Thunder pushed after the kits. He stretched his head up and saw River Ripple’s silver tail poking above the stems. Pebbles crunched ahead and a moment later he emerged onto the shore.
The river glimmered beneath the moon, which was rising high above the moor.
The kits raced to the water’s edge and began lapping thirstily.
River Ripple dipped his head to Lightning Tail. “You were brave today,” he murmured.
“So were you.” Lightning Tail glanced past the rogue toward the kits. “Thanks for getting them away. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
Thunder nodded. “Yes, thank you, River Ripple. We can take it from here.”
“I’m glad I could help.” River Ripple turned to the kits. “Take care!”
Three pairs of eyes turned and flashed through the moonlight.
“Where are you going?” Owl Eyes asked the silver rogue.
“Back to my nest.” He stretched. “I’m worn out. Aren’t you?”
“Yes, but we’ll be home soon.” Pebble Heart licked droplets from around his mouth.
“I bet Turtle Tail and Gray Wing are already there waiting for us,” Sparrow Fur mewed excitedly. “They’ll be so surprised when they hear where we’ve been.”
Thunder’s breath caught in his throat. How was he going to tell them the truth? Turtle Tail wasn’t waiting for them. They’re never going to see her again.
Chapter 16
Gray Wing stared out over the moonlit grass. Wind Runner’s vicious snarl rang in his ears. You think you know what it’s like? He didn’t want to know what it was like to lose a kit. He strained to see through the shadows, hope sparking beneath his pelt every time the wind ruffled the heather.
The other cats were still awake. Tall Shadow paced beside the flat rock while Jagged Peak watched.
Shattered Ice’s nest rustled. The tom was clearly trying to get comfortable. Eventually, he snorted and hopped out, then sat beside Cloud Spots and Dappled Pelt. “It started as such a good day,” he muttered.
Cloud Spots’s fur brushed the ground. “Thunder will be back soon with Turtle Tail and the kits.”
Acorn Leaf called across the clearing. “What’s taking them so long?”
“Hush!” Hawk Swoop chided gently. “Let Wind Runner grieve in peace.” Her eyes flashed in the darkness as she looked toward the bramble.
What is taking them so long? Gray Wing began pacing. “Perhaps I should go and look for them.” He looked questioningly at Tall Shadow.
“Save your strength,” Tall Shadow glanced at the round, white moon. “The meeting with Clear Sky is tomorrow night.”
“They must have gone all the way to Twolegplace,” Gray Wing fretted.
“Turtle Tail knows her way around there,” Jagged Peak reminded him. “She’ll bring them back.”
Gray Wing halted beside the gray tom. “What if Tom persuades her to stay? What if he uses the kits to keep her?”
Jagged Peak met his gaze. “Do you really think Turtle Tail would let that happen?”
The heather rustled. Gray Wing pricked his ears. Was that a faint mew in the distance? He jerked his head around.
“Turtle Tail!” Owl Eyes’s mew sounded from the darkness. “We’re coming!”
Gray Wing dashed to the edge of the hollow as shadows emerged onto the moonlit grass. Thunder and Lightning were flanking the three kits. He raced to meet them, joy flooding his pelt. “You’re back!”
“Turtle Tail!” Sparrow Fur raced past him and hurtled into the camp.
Pebble Heart chased after her. “Guess where we’ve been!”
Owl Eyes was on their heels. “We went to Twolegplace. We saw where you lived.” He called toward the tunnel entrance where Turtle Tail’s nest sat in shadow.
“Turtle Tail?” Sparrow Fur stumbled to a halt, blinking through the gloom. “Where are you?” Her head jerked around as she scanned the camp. Owl Eyes and Pebble Heart clustered beside her.
“I can’t smell her.” Pebble Heart’s mew was tinged with worry.
Sparrow Fur lifted her tail. “She must be out looking for us.”
Gray Wing snapped his gaze toward Thunder. Why were his eyes hollow with grief? Had they left her behind? “Where is she?” Perhaps they’d missed each other while they were searching for the kits. She must still be out there in Twolegplace. “I’ll go and find her.” He started toward the gorse, but Thunder blocked his way.
“She’s dead, Gray Wing.”
Gray Wing stared at the young tom. “Don’t be mouse-brained.” How can she be dead? She’d never leave her kits. “She can’t be. I’ll find her.”
Lightning Tail lowered his head. “We saw her body,” he murmured. “She was killed by a monster in Twolegplace. We had to leave her behind.”
“Leave her?” Gray Wing struggled to understand.
“Killed?” Sparrow Fur’s gasp made him turn. The kit was staring from the clearing, her eyes round with horror.
Owl Eyes stared. “Isn’t she coming home?”
Pebble Heart moved closer to his brother. “No.” His mew cracked. “She’ll never come home now.”
Rage flared in Sparrow Fur’s eyes. “Why did you bring us back?” She marched past Gray Wing and glared at Thunder. “You took us away from our father when you knew our mother was dead.”
Thunder froze, pain glazing his eyes.
Lightning Tail leaned toward the kit. “Turtle Tail would have wanted you to grow up here with Gray Wing.”
She backed away. “You brought us home to nothing!”
Gray Wing flinched. “You have me,” he ventured softly. “You are like my own kits. I’m still here.”
Sparrow Fur turned to meet his gaze.
His throat tightened as he saw anguish wash over her and rushed to curl himself around her as she collapsed, her body shuddering with grief. Wrapped tightly around her, he sank into the grass. Tiny paws scrambled over his back as Owl Eyes and Pebble Heart buried themselves deep in his embrace. “I’ll look after you just as Turtle Tail would have,” he murmured thickly. “We will never forget her.” His heart broke, misery pulsing through him. “I’m glad Thunder brought you home.”