Thunder’s mind whirled. How could this end? As he flattened his ears against the shrieking, paws slammed into his side. He staggered, gasping. Fircone. He recognized the tom’s mottled brown-and-white pelt. Turning to defend himself, he caught Fircone’s eye. “This must stop!”
“This is Clear Sky’s territory!” Fircone arched his back. “We’re just fighting to defend what’s ours.”
“The hollow belongs to no cat!” Thunder blinked. Fircone had been one of the cats to beg him to stop Clear Sky expanding his borders. Now he was fighting to protect land Clear Sky hadn’t even claimed! “You asked me to stop him!”
“Times change.” Fircone thrust a paw out, catching Thunder’s ear.
Thunder ducked away as he felt the tip tear. What had Clear Sky told these cats to persuade them to fight so bitterly?
Claws snagged his scruff and he fought to stay on his paws as Fircone hauled him sideways.
Black fur streaked past his vision. Tall Shadow crashed between them, shoving Fircone away. The tom’s eyes widened in surprise as Tall Shadow leaped on him. Thunder froze, watching Tall Shadow’s bristling pelt as she pressed Fircone onto his spine and sliced his belly with thrashing claws. The she-cat trembled with fury as she lashed out.
Fircone shrieked in pain, then fell still.
Tall Shadow leaped away and stared at the tom. Blood streamed from his lifeless body, coloring the earth.
Thunder’s mouth felt as dry as the dirt. He’d told Lightning Tail they would fight to the death. The idea had sent courage surging beneath his pelt. Was this what courage did? He stared at Fircone’s corpse. The rogue would never taste prey scent again or feel the sun on his back or the wind in his fur. “You killed him.”
“So?” Tall Shadow’s gaze raked the battling cats. “Clear Sky’s cats are showing no mercy. We must fight or die.”
Rainswept Flower was on her back, a tabby rogue pinning her shoulders to the ground while a tortoiseshell scraped at her flank. Thunder prepared to leap, but Acorn Fur was already racing toward her camp mate. She charged the tabby, bowling him over. Rainswept Flower leaped to her paws and, hissing with rage, began swiping at the tortoiseshell.
Lightning Tail rolled, shrieking, across the clearing. Thorn had him in a badger-grip, pulling his head backward and exposing his throat. His hind paws hacked lumps from Lightning Tail’s pelt. Yowling, Lightning Tail twisted in Thorn’s grip and, fast as a snake, sank his teeth into the rogue’s shoulder with a snarl.
As Thorn screeched and let go, Frost’s yowl rang across the clearing.
Thunder turned. The white tom was pressed against the trunk of an oak. Blood splashed the bark as Snake slashed at Frost’s muzzle. Frost ducked, hissing, and dived for Snake’s hind leg. His blue eyes flashed in the gloom as he tugged Snake’s leg from under him. Snatching his pelt with a forepaw, he hooked him onto his spine. Snake tried to roll away, but Frost lunged for his throat.
Thunder blinked. Let him go! None of this made sense. Did they need to kill each other? For what? A shriek jerked him from his thoughts. Snake had knocked Frost onto his side. He sliced the white tom’s throat with a flailing paw. Frost’s scruff darkened in the moonlight as blood spread through his fur. Groaning, he twitched, then fell limp.
Thunder’s heart dropped like stone, heavy in his chest. Tall Shadow was right. We must fight or die.
“Mouseheart!” Falling Feather chased Acorn Fur, lip curled and eyes shining with hate. She streaked past Thunder and leaped for the young cat, hauling her onto her side.
Dread hollowed Thunder’s belly. He wasn’t going to watch another tribe mate die. “Get off her!” He leaped for Falling Feather and sank his claws into her pelt. As he dragged her off Acorn Fur, she twisted, thrusting her muzzle forward to nip at his throat. But Thunder was quicker, heaving her onto her belly and scraping his hind claws along her spine.
Clear Sky’s pale gray pelt caught his eye as it flashed toward Rainswept Flower a tail-length away. Clear Sky hit her like a swooping eagle, sending her reeling.
Thunder stiffened, holding Falling Feather firmly. He ignored her snarls as she wriggled beneath him, his gaze fixed on Clear Sky.
“Is this worth it?” he heard Clear Sky hiss at Rainswept Flower.
Scrambling to her paws, she faced him. “What do you mean?”
Clear Sky flattened his ears menacingly. “Are you ready to die just to stop me from making borders?”
Rainswept Flower curled her lip. “You’ll keep stealing land as long as we let you.”
“Stealing land?” Clear Sky’s mew trembled with rage. “I’m just making sure my cats never starve.”
Rainswept Flower’s gaze flitted around the lush slopes of the hollow. “How could any cat starve here? There’s so much. Wanting more is just greedy!”
“How dare you!” With a snarl, Clear Sky leaped for her, grabbing her throat between his jaws. Her paws flailed desperately, lashing out at thin air as he shook her like prey. Then she hung still.
Clear Sky dropped her, gazing coldly at her lifeless body. “You never understood. I’m not greedy. I’m just strong.”
The whole forest seemed to fall silent around Thunder. All he could hear was rage pounding in his ears. He let Falling Feather go. She scrambled from beneath him and backed away, hissing. He barely heard her over his chaotic, fighting thoughts.
Clear Sky was glad he’d killed another cat. I’m not greedy. I’m just strong. He’d rejected Jagged Peak and thrown Frost out of his territory because he thought they were weak. You’re wrong! Frost had given his life defending his camp mates. Jagged Peak was guarding kits and Thunder knew he would fight to the death to protect them.
A growl rumbled in Thunder’s throat. Clear Sky had only ever caused misery. He’d driven away any cat who had ever loved him. Thunder stalked toward his father, his belly burning.
“You killed her!” Dark fur barged past Thunder as Gray Wing leaped for Clear Sky. “You killed Rainswept Flower!” He swiped his brother viciously across the muzzle.
Clear Sky staggered back, shaking his head, before turning to face his littermate. His eyes were as cold as stars. “If I hadn’t, some other cat would have.”
With a roar, Gray Wing leaped for him.
Clear Sky ducked, rolling sideways, but Gray Wing was ready, as though it was a move he knew well. He turned as he landed and slashed at his brother’s cheek. Clear Sky hissed, taking the blow without flinching. The fur on his spine spiked into a ridge. Tail lashing, ears flat, he lunged forward.
Gray Wing tried to leap clear of the attack, but Clear Sky grabbed his hind paw as he skidded beneath his belly.
Thunder felt like he was watching a fight rehearsed for moons. They play fought as kits. He narrowed his eyes. They knew each other’s moves better than any cat. But now they weren’t playing. Now they were out for blood.
Clear Sky flicked Gray Wing’s hind paws from beneath him. Gray Wing landed on his flank with a grunt.
Clear Sky was on him in a moment, pressing his cheek to the ground with a wide-stretched paw. “Why do you always have to challenge me?” he demanded. “You should have just let me make my boundaries as I wanted! Instead, you bring me war.” He pressed harder, drool hanging from his lips.
“You’ve betrayed the cats who were once your kin,” Gray Wing grunted, his mew muffled. He spat earth from his mouth. “The cats who traveled here with you from the mountains. Is that what you wanted?” His words turned into a groan as Clear Sky pressed harder, but Gray Wing went on. “Is this why we left the mountains? To kill each other?” Gasping with effort, he pushed his shoulders up. Clear Sky stumbled, unbalanced, and Gray Wing scrambled to his paws.
“I’m glad Storm is dead,” Gray Wing hissed. “She would never have wanted to see this!”
Clear Sky’s gaze darkened. “Don’t mention her name!” He hurled himself, hissing, at Gray Wing.
Thunder rushed forward, but claws grasped his tail. He spun around. Falling Feather was staring at him, h
er eyes gleaming with malice. “We’ve not finished,” she snarled, hurling herself at him.
Thunder staggered back, shocked by the force of her attack. His mind was whirling as he fell. “But Gray Wing!” He landed with a thump on his back and felt claws curling into his chest. “You traveled from the mountains with him—you can’t let him be killed by Clear Sky!”
Falling Feather’s muzzle was a whisker from his. He saw her eyes narrow and felt her hot breath as claws raked deep across his belly.
Pain spiraled into panic as he felt blood well where she’d struck. She’s ripped out my belly! As terror rose in his throat, green eyes glinted beside him. Black fur brushed across his face. The strong scent of Jackdaw’s Cry filled his nose.
Falling Feather yowled as the black tom knocked her sprawling onto the ground.
Gasping, Thunder scrambled to his paws and found himself facing Leaf.
The rogue growled at him as Jackdaw’s Cry and Falling Feather rolled away, snarling. “I’ll finish you,” he hissed.
Fury roared louder in Thunder’s ears. Falling Feather and Jackdaw’s Cry were littermates, just like Gray Wing and Clear Sky! This had to stop. He lashed out at Leaf. “Get out of my way!”
Leaf blocked him, slamming his paws down onto Thunder’s shoulders. Growling, Thunder shrugged off Leaf and headed toward Gray Wing.
Claws dug into his flanks.
“Get off, Leaf,” he snarled as the tom attacked again.
“Never!”
Thunder turned and lashed out. Leaf gasped as claws raked his throat, his fur and flesh ripping, blood spurting from the wound like water, turning to a glistening pool on the ground.
Leaf stared at him, eyes glazing with shock, then dropped to his belly.
Thunder froze. What have I done? He was trying to stop the killing. “Dappled Pelt! Help him!” he cried desperately to his camp mate. She knew how to heal.
The tortoiseshell looked up. Blood stained her muzzle. At her paws, a panting rogue clawed weakly at her. She struggled free and raced around the battling cats. Crouching beside Leaf, she sniffed his wound. “It’s okay. This is bleeding that will stop.” She pushed Leaf onto his side and pressed her paws against his neck.
Shaking with relief, Thunder started to turn back to Gray Wing.
“No!” Falling Feather’s horrified yowl caught his ear. He glanced sideways to see Jackdaw’s Cry bite hard into his sister’s spine. She jerked, flinging out her paws, then slumped onto her belly. Thunder recognized the prey-look of death. He stared at Jackdaw’s Cry. The tom’s black pelt was slick with blood. He staggered, eyes glazing, then collapsed lifeless onto his sister’s body.
Thunder staggered as grief sliced though him. They killed each other!
“Clear Sky! Don’t!” Acorn Fur’s panicked yowl jerked him back from despair.
Clear Sky stood over Gray Wing. “Just give in!”
Gray Wing lay on the ground, gasping for breath. His flanks heaved desperately as he stared up at his littermate. “Never.” He aimed a weak blow at his brother’s muzzle, but it missed clumsily.
“Give in!” Clear Sky growled threateningly. He lifted a paw.
Thunder froze.
Gray Wing pushed himself onto his paws, his legs trembling. “Kill me,” he rasped at Clear Sky. “Kill me and live with the memory. Then tell the stars that you won.”
Clear Sky held his gaze. “Don’t make me do this, brother.” His mew quivered. “All I want is for every cat to be safe. To have borders to protect us and make sure we have prey.”
Gray Wing staggered closer. “You want to tell every cat what to do,” he wheezed. “You always have and you always will. You’re so greedy for power, you’ll kill your own littermate to get it.”
Clear Sky let his paw drop and turned away. “I can’t . . .” His gaze flitted over the bodies littering the clearing. Cats fought on weakly, staggering more unsteadily with every blow.
“Stop!” Clear Sky yowled. “This battle is over.”
CHAPTER 21
A voice buzzed in Clear Sky’s mind, blocking everything else out. You’re weak. You don’t deserve to lead other cats. You can’t even kill.
“Clear Sky?” Petal was staring at him.
Clear Sky returned her gaze numbly. “Just go,” he growled.
Snake cocked his head, eyes clouding with confusion. “It’s over?”
“Who won?” Nettle padded toward his leader.
Clear Sky hissed at him. “No cat won!”
Nettle glanced at Petal uncertainly. “Now what?”
She shrugged. “I guess we go back to camp.” She turned and headed for the slope.
Clear Sky hardly heard her. He was watching Thunder pick his way between the bodies.
“What would Stoneteller say?” The young tom stared hollow-eyed at the fallen cats, stiffening as his gaze fell on an orange pelt, sticky with blood. “Hawk Swoop?” He stopped, nudging her with his muzzle. “You can’t be dead. . . . How can you be dead?”
Lightning Tail raced to Thunder’s side, while Acorn Fur hung back, her eyes brimming with grief.
“Hawk Swoop?” Lightning Tail crouched beside his mother, his flanks trembling.
Clear Sky looked away. “They’re acting like kits,” he muttered.
“They are kits.” Gray Wing’s mew sounded beside him. His brother had staggered to his side and was staring at Thunder and Lightning Tail. “They’re her kits.”
“Thunder is Storm’s kit,” Clear Sky snapped.
“But Hawk Swoop was the cat who raised him,” Gray Wing murmured.
Clear Sky’s heart twisted. I did this to my son. He pushed the thought away and glared at Snake. The rogue was lingering beside Fircone’s body. “Why are you still standing there? I said leave,” he growled sharply. “All of you—get back to camp!”
Snake heaved Fircone over with a paw. “What about the dead?”
“They’re not going anywhere,” Clear Sky muttered.
Snake padded across the clearing and nosed Dappled Pelt away from Leaf. “We can look after our own.”
As Dappled Pelt backed off, Snake helped Leaf to his paws. Taking Leaf’s weight against his shoulder, he helped him limp toward the slope.
Dappled Pelt called after them. “Put some spider’s web on the wound to stop the bleeding.”
Quick Water eyed her warily and followed Snake. Nettle, Dew, and Thorn padded after her, the other rogues at their heels. Their tails dragged over the dry earth, leaving blood in their wake.
“Gray Wing? Are you okay?”
Clear Sky stiffened, his heart quickening, as Shattered Ice padded toward them. He suddenly realized he was alone with the moor cats.
Gray Wing lifted his head, his chest trembling as he struggled for breath, which rattled like dry grass. “I’ll be okay,” he growled. “I just need to rest.”
“I’ll get you some coltsfoot.” Dappled Pelt hurried across the clearing and began to climb the slope.
“Go with her,” Gray Wing told Shattered Ice. His gaze flicked to Lightning Tail. Clear Sky saw that tufts of fur hung from the young tom’s pelt, which was matted with blood. “Go back to the hollow and get Cloud Spots to treat your wounds.”
Lightning Tail nodded and pulled himself away from Hawk Swoop. Acorn Fur watched him, quivering. He padded slowly past the bodies and touched his nose to her cheek. “Come on.” Gently, he began to guide her up the slope.
Tall Shadow crossed the clearing and stopped in front of Gray Wing. “I’m not leaving you with him.” She shot a look at Clear Sky.
He flinched at the hate in her gaze.
Thunder looked up from Hawk Swoop’s body, his eyes glistening in the darkness. “I’m not leaving until she’s buried,” he growled.
Gray Wing dipped his head.
Wind Runner stepped forward. “Nor me.” She glanced around the bodies.
Gorse Fur stood beside her. “Then I’m staying too.”
Clear Sky stared at him bleakly. “What for?”
Wind Runner answered. “We will sit with our camp mates while there is warmth in their bodies,” she growled. “We owe them that much.”
Clear Sky swallowed. This battle was supposed to prove that he could decide his own borders, and take as much territory as his cats needed to survive. But it hadn’t proven a thing, except that the moor cats were as willing to fight to the death as the forest cats. He watched Thunder rest his chin on Hawk Swoop’s flank. Then he spotted Falling Feather’s body; Jackdaw’s Cry was slumped across it. He’d known these cats since kithood. He’d traveled from the mountains with them. Had they really come here only to die?
A leaf drifted down and landed on Rainswept Flower’s body. Did I kill you? Clear Sky’s thoughts blurred as he tried to remember the battle. Rage had pulsed through him so fiercely, it felt like another cat had been fighting, not him. Then he had come face to face with Gray Wing. He was at my mercy. And I couldn’t kill him.
Clear Sky swayed on his paws, dizzy with confusion.
Ferns swished near the top of the hollow. He jerked up his gaze. Was Dappled Pelt back already? The fronds rippled as a pelt moved through them. Clear Sky narrowed his eyes, glancing at Gray Wing. “Who’s coming?”
Gray Wing lifted his head numbly. His nosed twitched. “River Ripple.”
Clouds still covered the moon and shadow gripped the hollow but, as the long-furred tom stepped into the clearing, Clear Sky recognized his silver pelt. “What are you doing here?” he asked gruffly. This was none of the rogue’s business.
River Ripple glanced around the bodies. “I watched the battle.”
Thunder stared at the rogue. “And you didn’t try to help?”
“Who would I have helped?” Sadness glistened in River Ripple’s eyes as he leaned down to sniff Fircone’s body. “This battle was not mine.” He turned to Clear Sky, his gaze sharpening. “Why did you leave the mountains? Did you need something to fight over so badly? Before you came, we hunted and slept and lay in the sun. We fought over prey, but no cat ever killed another.” He blinked. “You brought death here.”