“Give me a chance to persuade them,” Clear Sky begged.
Slash scowled. “Clearly your friends don’t care if Star Flower dies,” he snarled. “But don’t worry. You won’t be the only one to pay for this.” His claws scraped the stone. “None of you realize the danger you face. My rogues outnumber you. They are more savage than any of you can imagine. If you value your prey more than the lives of your kits and your campmates, then you are free to refuse me.”
Thunder lifted his chin. “You’re bluffing.”
Tall Shadow hissed at Slash. “Why should we believe a word you say?”
“For all we know,” Wind Runner added, “every one of your campmates is beside you right now.”
“Are you willing to take that chance?” Slash eyed her menacingly.
She didn’t flinch. “Yes.”
“Yes.” Thunder stepped forward.
“Yes.” Tall Shadow lashed her tail.
“No!” Clear Sky looked desperately at River Ripple. Surely he wouldn’t let this happen. “Don’t you understand? He’s going to kill Star Flower!”
River Ripple’s eyes rounded with sympathy. “We can’t give in to this bully,” he meowed softly. “He will only return with more demands until we all starve.”
“So you’re going to sacrifice my mate?” Clear Sky could hardly believe his ears. “The mother of my kits?”
“Very well.” Slash’s mew was hard with rage. “If that is your decision.”
“No!” Clear Sky looked up at him pleadingly. “I’ll hunt for you! You can have all my prey. Just give me Star Flower!”
Slash’s gaze flashed with contempt. Then he turned and disappeared down the back of the great rock. His rogues filed after him. Clear Sky stood, motionless as rock, as he listened to them swish away through the bracken. Star Flower!
Grief tore at his heart. Paws trembling, he stumbled and slumped onto his side. A sob choked his mew. Horror closed in around him so that he hardly heard the paw steps moving around him.
“Clear Sky.” River Ripple’s soft mew sounded in his ear.
“You’ve killed her. And my kits.” He buried his nose beneath his paw. “Leave me alone!” Everyone has betrayed me. Even my own son! “I never want to see any of you ever again.”
Sharp claws raked his ears. “Clear Sky!” Wind Runner’s breath billowed over his face. “Sit up and stop acting like a kit.”
Shocked, Clear Sky jerked up his head. Wind Runner, River Ripple, Thunder, and Tall Shadow were gathered around him, their eyes bright. “Don’t you understand?” he pleaded. “Star Flower’s going to die!”
“You fool,” Wind Runner hissed. “Do you think we have no hearts?”
Thunder leaned down and nudged Clear Sky’s shoulder with his muzzle. “Get up.”
“Why?” Bewildered, Clear Sky let Thunder help him to his paws.
Tall Shadow lifted her tail. “Come with us,” she told him. “We have something to show you.”
CHAPTER 5
Gray Wing peered through the shadowy pines. Scrubland stretched ahead of him, bathed in moonlight. In the distance, he could hear the rumbling of the Thunderpath. Beyond the scrub, the carrion place rose against the star-specked sky. Gray Wing shuddered as the stench of the mountain of Twoleg trash touched his nose. Was Slash really keeping Star Flower so close to such a filthy place?
Lightning Tail shifted beside him. The forest cat’s musky scent seemed strange to Gray Wing now. Leaf and Reed fidgeted in the shadows behind them.
Leaf and Lightning Tail had volunteered to join the patrol when Gray Wing had traveled to Thunder’s camp to discuss his plan. Reed had insisted on coming right from the start, and Gray Wing had been grateful to his campmate. The silver tom’s knowledge of healing might be useful. Who knew what state they’d find Star Flower in?
Lightning Tail wrinkled his nose. “Are you sure this is the place?”
Gray Wing kept his gaze fixed ahead. “Fern said it was.”
Leaf glanced over his shoulder uneasily. “Where is Fern? You said she’d meet us here.”
“She has to slip away from her campmates without being seen,” Gray Wing reminded him.
“Let’s hope she hurries,” Reed muttered. “We need to get Star Flower away before the meeting is finished and Slash leaves the four trees. If he’s willing to kidnap a queen, what in the stars will he do to us if he finds us trying to help her escape?”
Gray Wing glanced at the half-moon. It was still rising. How long would the meeting last? Wind Runner had promised to stretch it out as long as she could. Hopefully there was still plenty of time. He glanced back into the shadows anxiously. Was Fern coming? Perhaps they should start searching the scrubland for Star Flower without her.
Gray Wing had spent the last quarter moon tracking Fern, scouring the pine forest for some sign of her scent as he tried to figure out where she’d gone after she’d left Tall Shadow’s camp. He’d ranged farther and farther, trekking through the oak forest and even beside the river in the hope that he could catch up with her. She was his only link to Slash and his only chance of finding out where Star Flower was being held.
At last, he’d found her scent, beyond the pines. He’d tracked it, growing wary as it mingled with rogue stench. The scents had thickened as he’d followed her trail, until he could smell nothing else. He had halted, his pelt pricking with fear. He had located the rogues’ camp. It was a dip where the pines thinned onto boggy land, hidden by a thick wall of marsh grass. He’d circled it gingerly, then climbed the slope beyond. Hazel thickets crowded between willow trees, which stretched toward denser forest. It was a perfect hiding place from which to observe the comings and goings of the rogues. Gray Wing had found a patch of rotting moss and rolled in it to disguise his scent, then crouched at the heart of the most tangled thicket and waited.
A long day and night passed before he glimpsed Fern. As dawn washed the marshland in watery light, he saw her. She was following a patrol along a trail toward the camp. Gray Wing’s heart had lurched as he wondered how to attract her attention without being spotted by her campmates.
He was lucky that she had such a keen sense of smell. She’d paused as she padded along the bottom of the slope, her nose twitching. She had pricked her ears. Gray Wing’s heart had quickened as she turned and glanced toward the willows.
“I’ll catch up to you!” she’d called to the patrol.
As soon as they were out of sight, Fern had hared up the slope, darting between the hazel thickets, her pelt rippling.
She’d guessed he’d come about Star Flower but swore she didn’t know where the queen was being held. “Slash won’t tell anyone but her guards,” she’d confided. “He’s keeping her away from the camp so no one can find her.”
“But we have to know where she is,” Gray Wing had pressed.
Fern had promised to find out where Star Flower was being held. “But you mustn’t come back here,” she had told him. “I’ll find you. It’s safer for both of us.” He’d left her, feeling more anxious than relieved. Was it fair to let Fern put herself at risk? He’d pushed the worry away. Clear Sky’s unborn kits were at greater risk.
Days had passed, with the meeting at the four trees looming ever closer. At last Fern had come, slinking at dawn from a patch of heather as he passed on hunting patrol, her eyes round with fear. “I know where she’s being held,” she’d breathed. “I can’t show you now. Slash will already be wondering where I am.”
They’d arranged to convene at the edge of the pine forest on the night of the meeting.
The night had arrived and Gray Wing glanced at the half-moon again. Where was she? Hadn’t she been able to get away? He shifted his paws, feeling stiff from crouching on the damp earth.
“What if Fern doesn’t come?” Lightning Tail glanced at him.
“We’ll find Star Flower ourselv—” Gray Wing broke off as the brambles rustled behind them.
He spun, signaling with a twitch of his tail-tip for the others to be si
lent.
“Gray Wing?” Fern’s frightened whisper sounded between the trees.
Gray Wing felt a flicker of relief, then stared anxiously into the shadows. “Are you alone?”
“Of course I am.” She slid from the tangled branches, wincing as the thorns tugged her black, knotted fur.
Leaf straightened. “We thought you weren’t coming.”
Fern glared at him. “I said I would, didn’t I?”
Reed dipped his head. “We’re just glad you made it here safely.”
Lightning Tail blinked at her expectantly. “Where’s Star Flower?”
“Follow me.” Fern brushed past him and padded from the trees. Keeping low, she led them across the scrubland.
Short, wiry grass jabbed between Gray Wing’s claws. Frost-blackened bushes crowded on either side. The stench of the carrion place grew stronger as they neared it.
Fern slowed her pace. She nodded toward a dense patch of bracken. “She’s in there,” she breathed. “Swallow and Snake are guarding her.”
Lightning Tail padded closer, tasting the air.
Gray Wing saw Fern hesitate, fear-scent wafting from her pelt.
“You’d better get back to your camp,” he whispered.
She glanced at him gratefully. “If Slash finds out I led you here—”
“I know.” Gray Wing touched his nose to her head gratefully. “You’ve been very brave, and we will remember your kindness and courage for many moons.”
She blinked at him expectantly. “I hope you get her away from here. It’s no place for a queen who’s carrying kits.” Dipping her head quickly, she hurried back toward the cover of the pines.
Gray Wing turned to Lightning Tail. “Are you ready?”
“Of course!” Lighting Tail lifted his chin.
Gray Wing nodded toward Leaf. “Do you remember what to do?”
Leaf nodded.
Gray Wing tasted the air. Rogue scent touched his tongue. The bracken swished in the light breeze. He signaled Lightning Tail and Leaf forward with a flick of his tail, then crouched, pressing his belly to the earth. Reed dropped down beside him as the two forest cats padded closer to the bracken.
Gray Wing held his breath as they neared the shadowy fronds. Leaf glanced at him quickly, then ducked beneath the cover of a juniper bush. Lightning Tail lifted his chin and marched straight on.
“Who are you?” An angry snarl sounded from the bracken patch as Lightning Tail disappeared behind it.
“Just a loner looking for prey,” Lightning Tail answered breezily.
“Go hunt somewhere else!” A second snarl cut through the night air.
Lightning Tail sniffed. “Where’s the best place to hunt around here?”
A threatening growl sounded from behind the bracken.
Gray Wing stiffened as he saw Lightning Tail back away, his ears twitching uneasily. Two cats stalked toward him, hackles high. One was an orange tabby she-cat with amber eyes, the other a gray tabby tom with broad shoulders. Their tails twitched aggressively.
“I’m sorry I bothered you.” Lighting Tail was leading them farther away from the bracken. “I’ll leave you in peace.”
As he spoke, Leaf let out an anguished wail.
The rogues jerked around, pelts bristling.
“What’s going on?” The gray tom flattened his ears.
“I don’t know.” Worry flashed in the tabby’s eyes.
“Go find out what that noise was and I’ll get rid of this loner.” The gray tom turned toward Lightning Tail, his teeth glinting as he drew back his lips.
The tabby stalked cautiously toward the bush where Leaf was hiding.
Leaf let out another anguished wail.
“Who is it?” the tabby asked nervously. “What’s wrong?”
“Quick!” Gray Wing hissed in Reed’s ear. With both guards distracted, this was their chance. He slunk forward, keeping low, and crept toward the bracken. Reed’s breath warmed his tail-tip. He reached the wall of stiff fronds and pushed through, emerging into a small clearing.
Star Flower lay at one edge. Her matted fur clung to her body. Her swollen belly jutted out from a bony frame. Hadn’t they been feeding her? Gray Wing stared at her, shocked, as she lifted her head.
She gazed at him dully. “Who is it?” She sounded numb.
“It’s Gray Wing.” He hurried to her quickly and crouched at her side. “We’ve come to take you home.”
The bracken rustled as Reed slid in behind. “How is she?”
“She looks weak,” Gray Wing told him.
Star Flower was staring at him, confused. “Where’s Clear Sky?”
“He’s keeping Slash busy.” Gray Wing tucked his nose under her shoulder and began to nudge her to her paws. “We have to get you out of here. We haven’t got long.”
As he spoke, a yowl sounded outside camp. “If you want a fight, you’ve got one!” Lightning Tail’s snarl echoed through the air.
“Hurry!” Gray Wing urged.
A second shriek sliced through bracken wall. Leaf!
Star Flower’s eyes seemed to spark into life as she heard it. Suddenly she was hauling herself to her paws, “There are two guards,” she warned Gray Wing.
“I know,” he told her. “Lighting Tail and Leaf are taking care of them.”
“No.” Star Flower stared at him. “Two more! Slash sent extra because of the meeting.”
Gray Wing’s chest tightened. “Where are they?”
“They went to hunt rats in the carrion place.” Star Flower glanced fearfully at a gap in the bracken. “They’ll hear the fighting!”
“Come on.” Gray Wing nudged her toward the twisted fronds where he’d broken in.
As she pushed through, Gray Wing nodded Reed after her.
Paw steps were pounding over the ground outside.
He pushed through the bracken as Star Flower and Reed began to run for the pines. Lighting Tail was wrestling with the gray tom. Leaf was pummeling the tabby with churning hind legs.
The paw steps grew louder. Two burly shapes loomed from the shadow of the carrion place. One veered toward Star Flower and Reed with a yowl of rage. The other leaped for Gray Wing.
Paws slammed into his side. He lost his footing and fell to the ground. Claws raked his muzzle. Teeth sank into his hind leg. Pain seared like fire through him as a ginger tom bit down through his fur.
He strained to see if Star Flower had gotten away.
Reed was rolling across the ground, writhing with a tortoiseshell she-cat. Beyond him, Star Flower had stopped and turned back to look.
“Run!” Gray Wing wailed. As he spoke, the ginger tom let go and hared away, charging after Star Flower.
Gray Wing scrambled to his paws and chased after him. He felt a twinge in his chest. It sharpened as he saw the tom reach her first. Star Flower’s eyes lit with fury. She reared and met the attack with outstretched claws, but the tom hit her like a barreling wind. Grunting, Star Flower staggered backward and fell, her swollen belly thumping onto the ground.
“You thought you could escape.” The ginger tom lunged, his claws flashing in the moonlight. Star Flower tried to find her paws, her eyes wild with fear, but the rogue hooked his claws into her neck.
Gray Wing’s pelt bristled. “Get off her!” He grabbed the tom’s scruff between his teeth and hauled him away.
Star Flower shrieked as fur tore from her pelt.
The tom struggled free and leaped again at Star Flower. “You won’t escape!”
Moving as fast as a snake, Gray Wing darted between them.
The ginger tom crashed into him, his gaze flaming. He stretched a paw around Gray Wing, reaching for Star Flower, but Gray Wing thrust him away and sent him reeling backward.
He threw Star Flower a quick, desperate look and saw her freeze, panic showing in her eyes. Blood dripped from her cheek. Clumps of fur stuck out of her pelt.
“Run!” Gray Wing yowled. “We can hold them off!”
She stared at him fo
r a moment, then turned and fled for the pines.
Reed struggled from beneath the tortoiseshell. “Is Star Flower hurt?”
“Go with her!” Gray Wing ordered. He reached out a paw and swiped at the tortoiseshell’s tail.
The tortoiseshell turned on him as Reed raced away, but Gray Wing hardly saw her. The ginger tom had found his paws. He dived for Gray Wing, knocking him down. As the rogue spun to chase after Star Flower, Gray Wing hooked a paw around his leg. Sinking in his claws, he held on tight, the claws of his other paw holding fast to the tortoiseshell’s tail. “Lightning Tail!” Panic flared through Gray Wing. The rogues were struggling from his grip.
Lightning Tail was driving the gray tom back with a flurry of blows. He turned just as the ginger tom broke free and chased after Star Flower and Reed.
Lightning Tail pelted after the rogue.
Gray Wing twisted around and slammed a paw into the tortoiseshell’s flank. He dug in his claws and scrambled up. Pinning her with one paw, he slashed her nose with the other. Terror shone in her eyes. She fell limp beneath his grip.
“If I let you go, will you leave Star Flower alone?” he hissed.
The tortoiseshell blinked at him desperately. “Yes!”
Backing off, he let her go. She scrambled to her paws, her pelt bushed. Her gaze flitted from him to the others. Lightning Tail writhed on the ground, the ginger tom in his grasp. Leaf battered the tabby’s muzzle as he cowered against the earth. The tortoiseshell blinked at Gray Wing in disbelief.
“Go home,” he snarled.
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment; then she turned and fled toward the carrion place.
Gray fur flashed at the edge of Gray Wing’s vision. The gray tom was zigzagging between the bushes, heading for the pines.
Gray Wing plunged after him, his lungs screaming as his chest tightened. The world seemed to close around him, but he pushed onward, his vision narrowed to a tunnel, fixed only on the gray tom.
The tom slowed as he reached the pines, stumbling on the brambles that snaked between the trees. Gray Wing began to catch up. He raced into the shadow of the trees, leaping easily between the brambles. He’d spent too much time in forest to let them trip him. The tom raced on, but Gray Wing was gaining. As the trees opened into a clearing, Gray Wing flung himself forward. Stretching his claws, he dug them deep and dragged the tom to a screeching halt. Blood roared in his ears, but he kept his claws curled deep into the gray tom’s pelt. The tom shrieked and tried to struggle free, but Gray Wing held him hard.