“He’s sleeping,” Quiet Rain told him. “It’s the first time he’s had a full belly and a safe nest for quite some time.”
Gray Wing blinked anxiously at his mother. “Are you okay?” The tang of the herbs filled his nose.
“I’m here,” she murmured. “That’s all that matters.”
Emotion tightened Gray Wing’s throat. He thrust his muzzle against Quiet Rain’s cheek.
She relaxed at his touch, and his pelt rippled with pleasure as he breathed in the scent of her. For a moment he was a kit again, nuzzling beside her belly in the warmth of their mountain nest.
Suddenly, she pulled away. “I smell blood!” Fear lit her gaze as she saw Gray Wing’s injured paw. “What happened to you?”
“I got caught in a Twoleg trap.”
Her blue eyes clouded. “Why did you ever come to this place?” Her wail was thin, like the mewl of a kit. “There is nothing but death and danger here! You should have stayed in the mountains!”
CHAPTER 17
Thunder watched Gray Wing lean close to Quiet Rain, trying to comfort her with soft purrs as flakes of snow drifted through the thick pine canopy, settling on their pelts. She’d wailed like a kit, though Thunder couldn’t make out her words. Perhaps sleep and good forest prey would ease the old she-cat’s distress.
He dragged his gaze away and surveyed the camp. Should I leave now? Unease spiked in his pelt. Mud Paws and Mouse Ear were staring suspiciously at Fern. Tall Shadow’s gaze flashed in the half-light. Jagged Peak’s pelt was rippling across his shoulders. He should stay until he knew she’d be welcome here.
Fern shifted beside him. “Maybe I should go.”
“Just keep your fur flat and look friendly,” he whispered.
“That’s easy for you to say,” she hissed back. “These cats know you.”
Tall Shadow was the first to approach. She padded across the clearing, chin high. “Who’s this?”
Fern dipped her head. “I’m Fern,” she meowed politely. “Gray Wing said I could come back to the camp with him.”
Tall Shadow’s ears twitched. “Did he?”
Fern glanced at the entrance. “I can leave if you like.”
“No.” Tall Shadow’s gaze moved slowly over the black she-cat. “If Gray Wing said you could come, he had a reason.”
Jagged Peak limped toward them. “Has Gray Wing been rounding up strays?”
“I’m a friend.” Fern’s eyes sparked indignantly.
Should I tell them about Slash? Thunder glanced at Gray Wing. No. Let Fern tell them if she wants. Or Gray Wing. It’s none of my business.
Holly padded from her den, exchanging looks with Mud Paws and Mouse Ear as she passed them.
Storm Pelt and Dew Nose raced behind her, Eagle Feather at their heels.
Fern silently met Holly’s curious gaze as the she-cat stopped in front of her. Thunder could feel her trembling.
“Her pelt’s all knotted!” Dew Nose scrambled to a halt.
“Is she another mountain cat?” Storm Pelt asked.
“What are those scars?” Eagle Feather paced around Fern, sniffing her pelt.
Holly flicked her tail angrily. “Be polite! This cat is a visitor, and your elder.” She dipped her head to Fern. “I’m sorry about my kits. They speak before they think.”
“They have spirit,” Fern meowed stiffly. “They will grow into fine hunters.”
Holly puffed her fur out proudly.
Jagged Peak narrowed his eyes. “You say you are a friend. Can you prove it?”
Holly glared at her mate. “This poor cat is half-starved! Let her prove her friendship once she’s rested and eaten.” She nodded toward the prey pile. “Mud Paws dug up a mouse nest today, so there’s enough for all of us. Come and choose one.” She beckoned to Fern with a flick of her tail.
“Yes,” Tall Shadow agreed. “Eat and rest, Fern. We can talk in the morning.”
Jagged Peak rolled his eyes. “Are we going to take in every stray that walks into camp?”
Thunder curled his claws into the snow. “Why not? Strays are no less loyal than mountain cats.” He thought of Milkweed and Pink Eyes. They brought prey home whenever they could. Even Leaf, despite his temper, hunted for his campmates before himself.
Jagged Peak snorted and turned away as Holly led Fern to the prey pile.
Dew Nose, Eagle Feather, and Storm Pelt bounced after them.
“I can help groom the knots from your pelt, Fern,” Dew Nose squeaked.
“I’m great at catching fleas,” Storm Pelt boasted. “Do you want me to catch yours?”
Fern glanced at the kit. “I’m not sure I have fleas.”
“But if you do, I’ll be able to get them,” Storm Pelt assured her.
Holly stopped at the prey pile, swung a mouse from the top, and dropped it at Fern’s paws. “Take this and find a sheltered spot. You look like you haven’t eaten in days.”
Fern gazed at her gratefully, then snatched up the mouse and carried it to the camp wall, where she settled onto the snow-flecked ground.
Dew Nose scampered after her.
“Let the poor cat eat in peace!” Holly called.
“I will! I promise.” Dew Nose flopped down beside Fern and stared at her as she ate.
Thunder glanced toward at the heap of fresh-kill. Snow dusted the top. He licked his lips and looked hopefully at Tall Shadow. “Can you spare some prey for me? I haven’t had a chance to hunt today.” I gave the one catch I made to Quiet Rain.
“Of course.” She blinked at him kindly. “I haven’t thanked you for bringing Gray Wing back to us.”
“That’s okay.” Thunder hurried across the clearing, his belly growling. “He wasn’t hard to find.”
At the prey pile he grabbed a mouse and, crouching, gulped it down in a few bites. As he swallowed, he watched Gray Wing sitting beside Quiet Rain. What must it be like to see his mother after so long? He wondered, with a pang, how he’d feel if Storm suddenly padded from between the trees.
“I want to see Clear Sky!” Quiet Rain’s querulous mew sounded across the clearing.
Gray Wing’s gaze swept around and stopped at Thunder. “Will you get your father?”
Thunder froze, the mouse suddenly sitting heavy in his belly. “Now?” Dusk had given way to night. Beyond the forest, the snow would be falling heavily.
“You only have to cross the Thunderpath,” Gray Wing pressed.
But I don’t want to see Clear Sky yet! Fur bristled along Thunder’s spine. He pushed himself to his paws and glared at Gray Wing. “Can I speak with you in private?”
Gray Wing straightened and padded toward Thunder. “What’s wrong?”
Thunder lowered his voice. “I told you I left Clear Sky’s camp,” he hissed. “That wasn’t easy to do. I’m not going back this quickly.”
“I’m not asking you to live with him again.” Gray Wing’s gaze hardened. “Just to get him.”
“Send some other cat!” Thunder glanced around the camp. Mud Paws and Mouse Ear were sharing tongues. Tall Shadow was sitting in the clearing, watching Fern as she ate beside Holly and the kits. Pebble Heart was sniffing at Quiet Rain’s wound, while Jagged Peak paced outside his den.
Gray Wing flattened his ears. “Quiet Rain is your kin—she is kin to all of us. Clear Sky is your father. You should be the one to tell him.”
“No!” Thunder growled. “I’ve spent all day taking cats from one camp to another. I’m tired.”
“Stop acting like a kit!” Gray Wing snapped. “Clear Sky will want to know that Quiet Rain is here. He’ll be grateful you told him. It might put an end to your conflict.”
Thunder glared at Gray Wing. “And what if I don’t want to put an end to it?”
“There’s no time to sulk!” Gray Wing lashed his tail. “My mother is sick. Her wound is serious. You can quarrel with your father another time. Go and get Clear Sky while Quiet Rain’s still well enough to talk.”
Thunder stared at Gray Wing. Was Qu
iet Rain that ill? “Okay,” he growled. “I’ll go.” Ignoring the frustration hardening in his belly, he headed for the camp entrance. At least he’d had something to eat.
Clearing the camp, Thunder hurried between pines creaking under the weight of snow. He scanned the shadows until he reached the Thunderpath. It cut a dark gorge between the neat pines and rambling oaks. No fresh monster tracks showed in the thick snow, and he crossed the path easily and slipped into the forest beyond.
Irritation still itched beneath his pelt. Gray Wing could have sent someone else. Thunder veered off the path to Clear Sky’s camp, heading instead for the ravine. He had his own cats to take care of—and he’d made a promise to Milkweed that he’d be back by nightfall. He’d check on them; then he’d visit Clear Sky.
By the time he reached the top of the ravine, his paws ached. Snow swirled into the small valley and settled on the brambles and gorse below. He scrambled carefully down the slippery stones, landing with a soft thump in the snow at the bottom.
“Thunder!” Lightning Tail’s happy mew greeted him as he squeezed beneath the gorse. “Where have you been?”
“Didn’t Milkweed tell you?” Thunder crossed the clearing.
“Yes, but we thought you’d be back before now.”
“It took longer than I thought.” Thunder glanced around the snowy clearing. Milkweed was peering from the den she’d woven for her kits. He could see Clover’s and Thistle’s eyes shining in the darkness beside her. Pink Eyes crouched at the edge of the clearing, chewing on a scrawny starling.
Leaf bounded across the camp, a squirrel dangling from his jaws. He nodded to Thunder as he passed.
“It looks like you’ve had good hunting today,” Thunder called after him.
Lightning Tail puffed flakes from his nose. “Pink Eyes smelled the snow coming, so we’ve been hunting all day. It might be our last chance for a while.” He flicked his tail toward the prey pile, which was nearly as full as the one at Tall Shadow’s camp.
Leaf carried the squirrel to Milkweed’s den and dropped it at the entrance.
Thunder blinked. Was he actually taking food to the queen and her kits?
“Thanks, Leaf.” Milkweed blinked gratefully from the shadows and hauled the squirrel into the brambles. “Do you want to come in and share it?”
“If there’s room,” Leaf answered.
Leaves rustled as Milkweed and the kits squeezed together and Leaf slid inside.
Thunder glanced at Lightning Tail.
Lightning Tail shrugged. “I think he feels guilty for saying she couldn’t hunt. She brought back as much prey as he did today.” He flicked his tail toward the prey pile. “You must be hungry. Have something to eat.”
“I ate at Tall Shadow’s camp,” Thunder told him.
The bracken rustled beyond the prey pile. Owl Eyes nosed his way through, shaking snow from his muzzle. “Thunder! You’re back!” He hurried across the camp.
“But I have to leave again,” Thunder explained. “I have to get Clear Sky and take him to Tall Shadow’s camp. One of the mountain cats is his mother, and she wants to see him.”
Cloud Spots had pushed through the bracken now. He looked at Thunder, blinking in surprise. “Quiet Rain came all the way from the mountains just to see him?”
Thunder shrugged. “She wants to see Gray Wing and Jagged Peak too.”
Lightning Tail swished his tail over the snow. “I’ll travel to Clear Sky’s camp with you.”
Thunder shook his head. “I want you to guard the camp. There might be hungry foxes around.”
“Then Lightning Tail should go with you,” Owl Eyes urged. “We’ll be okay. Pink Eyes can smell a fox as far away as the moor, and Leaf and Milkweed will help me protect the kits if there’s trouble.”
Thunder stared into the young tom’s eager eyes. “Okay.”
“You can trust me to keep the camp safe.” Puffing out his chest, Owl Eyes trotted away and sat down beside Pink Eyes.
“We should leave now,” Thunder told Lightning Tail. “Clear Sky’s mother is sick. We can’t waste time.”
Lightning Tail stared at him. “Why did you come back here first?”
“I promised Milkweed I would.” Thunder avoided his friend’s gaze.
But the black cat had clearly guessed that Thunder was reluctant to return to his father’s camp. “Don’t worry,” he mewed, nudging Thunder’s shoulder with his nose. “We’ll just tell Clear Sky about Quiet Rain and escort him to Tall Shadow’s camp. It’s the right thing to do.”
“I know,” Thunder muttered wearily. “I just wish some other cat could do it.” He headed for the gorse and wriggled underneath. Thorns scraped his pelt and snow showered onto his muzzle as he emerged on the other side. He climbed the rocks to the top of the ravine, pausing to let Lightning Tail catch up, then headed into the forest.
They made the trek to Clear Sky’s camp in silence. Thunder’s ears were pricked for foxes. Lightning Tail’s gaze was fixed on the forest floor as he picked his way over snow-covered roots and fallen twigs. By the time they reached the bramble wall that shielded Clear Sky’s camp from the forest, Thunder was cold to the bone. He paused at the entrance and turned back to Lightning Tail. “Let’s make this as quick as we can.”
Lightning Tail nodded, and Thunder nosed his way into the camp.
The clearing was empty. Soft snores sounded around the edge.
“Thunder?” Acorn Fur sat up in her nest. “What are you doing . . .” The young she-cat’s mew trailed away as she caught sight of Lightning Tail. “Have you come back?” Hope flashed in her gaze.
“No,” Lightning Tail told her softly.
Acorn Fur’s ear twitched irritably. “Then why are you here?”
“We have a message for Clear Sky,” Thunder told her.
Nests rustled around the clearing and eyes blinked from the darkness.
“Is that Thunder?” Blossom nosed her way sleepily from beneath the holly.
Alder and Birch hopped from their nests beneath the bramble. Nettle, Quick Water, and Sparrow Fur padded from the shadows into the snowy clearing.
“What do you want?” Birch eyed Thunder suspiciously.
“I hope you haven’t come to recruit more cats,” Nettle growled. “Because none of us are joining you.”
Thunder narrowed his eyes and lifted his chin. “I’m just here to get Clear Sky.” He’d been prepared for Clear Sky’s anger, but not for the hostility of his former campmates.
Sparrow Fur padded forward. “How is Owl Eyes?”
“He’s fine,” Thunder told her. “I left him guarding our camp.”
“What about Pink Eyes?” Blossom’s tortoiseshell splotches stood out against the snow.
Lightning Tail moved beside Thunder. “He likes his new home. He’s happy there.”
“He was happy here,” Alder muttered.
Thunder returned her gaze. “So why did he leave?”
Lightning Tail stepped between them. “We didn’t wake you for gossip.”
“We came to get Clear Sky.” Thunder glanced toward the oak roots where Clear Sky’s nest lay. It was empty.
“He and Star Flower have made a nest up in the bracken.” Acorn Fur nodded toward the steep mud bank and the shadows beyond.
“Clear Sky!” Thunder raised his voice. He stiffened as the bracken rustled and Clear Sky’s gray pelt showed in the shadows.
“What do you want, Thunder?” Clear Sky stopped at the top of the bank.
Thunder stared at him. “Quiet Rain has come down from the mountains. She is in Tall Shadow’s camp. She wants to see you.” He watched Clear Sky’s eyes widen, satisfaction at his father’s surprise rippling through his pelt. “I promised Gray Wing I’d get you. You need to hurry; she’s sick.” As he turned and headed for the entrance, a soft mew sounded beside Clear Sky.
“Wait, Thunder.” Star Flower was calling him.
He stopped. “What for?”
“This is a shock for your father. Won’t y
ou show him a little kindness?”
Like the kindness he’s always shown me? Bitterness rose in Thunder’s throat, but he was aware of the other cats’ gazes on him. “Okay.” He waited as Clear Sky scrambled down the bank.
“How sick is she?” Clear Sky stopped beside him.
Thunder avoided his gaze. He didn’t want to feel sorry for his father. “She’s half-starved and has a wound on her hind leg. Pebble Heart’s treating it, but he says the infection has gone deep.”
Star Flower jumped down the bank. “I’m coming with you.”
Thunder stiffened. The she-cat smelled different. And there was a gentle glow in her eyes, which he’d never seen before.
“Please stay here,” Clear Sky told her gently. “It’s cold. You should rest. You’re expecting our kits.”
Shock stabbed like icicles into Thunder’s chest. Expecting his kits! He dug his claws into the snow, trying to hide his disbelief. “Clear Sky’s right,” he growled. “You should stay here. Besides, this isn’t your concern—Quiet Rain is our kin, not yours.”
Acorn Fur stepped forward. Her eyes flashed in the dark. “What’s done is done, Thunder. Don’t be cruel.”
Thunder glanced at her. What do you know about cruelty? Your mother didn’t die when you were a kit. Your father didn’t send you away.
“Come on,” Lightning Tail murmured in his ear. “We’re wasting time.”
Thunder faced Clear Sky. “Are you ready to leave?”
Clear Sky’s tail trembled. “Yes.”
By the time they reached Tall Shadow’s camp, the snow had pierced the pine canopy and was falling in heavy clumps onto the forest floor. An icy wind sliced between the dark trunks. Thunder ducked through the bramble entrance, relieved to reach the shelter of the high camp walls.
He waited for Clear Sky and Lightning Tail to follow him through.
The clearing looked deserted. The cats must have taken to their nests to escape the cold. Only Gray Wing lay in the open. He was curled into a ball outside Pebble Heart’s den. Snow flecked his pelt. He leaped to his paws as soon as he saw Clear Sky and hurried across the camp to meet him.