“We’re lucky that the rogue cats like Wind and Gorse have been so welcoming,” he gently reminded his brother. “Things could have been very different.”
Clear Sky let out a snort of scornful laughter. “Those two bags of bones! I don’t know why you bother with them. They just take up precious prey.”
Gray Wing remembered what Wind and Gorse had told him. “But . . . you allow them to hunt in the forest, don’t you?” he asked. “I mean, they were here before any of us.”
A heartbeat passed before Clear Sky replied, not meeting Gray Wing’s gaze. “No,” he responded slowly. “They don’t hunt in the forest anymore.”
“Because you won’t let them?” Gray Wing demanded.
Once again Clear Sky didn’t reply immediately. Then he spun around to face Gray Wing. “Look—you have to understand,” he began. “Thunder is coming with me.” Gray Wing opened his jaws to protest, but Clear Sky kept speaking. “I know I sent him away when he was a kit, but I just wanted to test him. He’s grown into a brave and clever cat, and that’s all thanks to you—I know it is—but I am his father. I’m going to make amends now.” He peered into Gray Wing’s face as if he was trying to read his thoughts. “You won’t try to stop me, will you?”
What can I say? Gray Wing asked himself.
“Good,” Clear Sky said. “I knew I could trust you not to get between father and son.” He started to walk away.
It can’t end here! Gray Wing tried to call his brother back, but as he opened his jaws he felt the breath leave his body. His belly felt tight, as though his rib bones were growing smaller and crushing it. The taste of smoke filled his mouth, and he couldn’t speak.
Fear crawled through Gray Wing’s pelt from ears to tail-tip. He gasped for breath, and to his relief the crushing sensation faded. But by then, Clear Sky had gone.
Trying to force down his deep uneasiness, Gray Wing returned to the hollow. Clear Sky was standing in the middle, beginning to gather his group of cats around him. At first Gray Wing couldn’t spot Thunder; then he noticed him at the far side of the hollow with Lightning Tail. The two young cats were pretending to stalk a pebble, creeping forward with their belly fur brushing the ground. Slowly . . . slowly . . . then pounce!
Pleasure tingled through Gray Wing’s paws as he watched them, but the feeling was followed by sadness. Lightning Tail adores Thunder. . . . How will he cope when he’s gone?
Gray Wing bounded down into the hollow and called to Thunder. As the young ginger tom padded toward him, Lightning Tail started to follow, as he often did. Gray Wing raised a paw to halt him. “I need to talk to Thunder alone.”
Lightning Tail looked faintly surprised, then nodded and dashed off to join Acorn Fur, who was batting a feather around at the entrance to their den.
Gray Wing led Thunder to a quiet spot behind the leader’s rock. “Clear Sky and his cats will be leaving soon,” he began. “I take it you’ll be going with them?”
Thunder studied his paws. “How do you know that?” he asked.
Gray Wing reached out a paw and patted Thunder gently on the nose. “I know you better than you know yourself. I raised you from a kit—or have you forgotten that?”
Thunder looked up, his eyes blazing. “I’ll never forget that, never!” More quietly he added, “But I’m not a kit anymore, and I think Clear Sky understands that. He’ll help me become the best cat I can be.”
And you think I wouldn’t? Pain clawed through Gray Wing, but he did his best to push his feelings to one side. It wouldn’t help Thunder to get upset now.
“I’m sure he will,” Gray Wing responded, after a pause. “And I want you to know that you leave with my good wishes.”
Thunder’s tail went straight up in surprise. “Really?” he asked, sounding relieved.
“Yes,” Gray Wing assured him, “but you must do one thing for me. I want you to say good-bye properly to Hawk Swoop. She’s done a lot for you. She’s treated you as her own son.” Gray Wing angled his ears to where Hawk Swoop sat outside her den, watching Acorn Fur and Lightning Tail wrestling together. “Go on, now.”
Thunder dipped his head in understanding. “Thank you for everything,” he meowed, then padded over to Hawk Swoop.
Gray Wing couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he felt that his heart would break when he saw Hawk Swoop’s expression change and heard a desolate wail rise up from Lightning Tail.
Hawk Swoop darted a panicked glance over to Gray Wing, who shook his head gently. Don’t try to fight it, he told her silently. The best thing we can do for Thunder now is to send him on his way with our good wishes.
“Forest cats, come on!” Clear Sky called, striding across the hollow to round up the stragglers. “We’re leaving now.”
His cats gathered quickly, looking confused and startled, exchanging hasty good-byes with the moorland cats. Gray Wing looked around for Tall Shadow, but she was bending over Moon Shadow, and paid no attention to Clear Sky.
Of course, Moon Shadow will be staying here, Gray Wing thought with a hint of bitterness. Clear Sky has no use for injured cats.
As the forest cats headed up the slope, Clear Sky gazed across the hollow toward Thunder, who still stood uncertainly beside Hawk Swoop. “Are you coming or not?” he asked.
“I . . . er . . . I thought I’d have more time to say good-bye to the others,” Thunder replied.
The fur on Clear Sky’s shoulders began to bristle. “Sentiment will get you nowhere,” he meowed. “Walk by my side, or stay here in the cozy hollow with the other kits.” He turned and followed the rest of his cats without waiting.
Thunder cast a single, regretful glance at Gray Wing, then leaped forward to chase after his father.
Gray Wing watched as he caught up to the others and disappeared over the top of the hollow. I have no idea when I’ll see Thunder again.
CHAPTER 16
The sun had gone down and stars began to appear in the night sky. A breeze blew across the moor, carrying the smell of smoke and ash from the burnt forest.
Weariness had overwhelmed Gray Wing again as the daylight faded, but he tried to keep his head and tail high as he headed up the slope to the top of the hollow.
“Where are you off to?” Rainswept Flower asked as she passed him with a mouse dangling from her jaws.
“I feel like sleeping in the open tonight,” Gray Wing replied.
Rainswept Flower gave a cheerful nod and padded on.
Gray Wing continued out onto the moor. He hadn’t lied to Rainswept Flower, but he hadn’t told her the whole truth. His instincts told him that the fresh moorland air might help to clear the taste of smoke from his mouth, and he might breathe more easily. But in addition to that, he didn’t want the other cats to see him quivering with pain, or licking his injured hind paws.
Now that Tall Shadow has given me the leadership, I can’t afford to seem weak.
Once Gray Wing had left the hollow safely behind, he found a comfortable spot to sleep, in a mossy dip sheltered by a boulder. After giving himself a soothing lick he curled up, but for a long time sleep wouldn’t come. His body was tired, but his head was full of racing thoughts.
Will Thunder be okay? He’s still so young! And what about Clear Sky? There was something in his eyes—and his tone was so cold when he insulted Jagged Peak, and told Thunder why he should come along with him.
A storm of regret and worry churned through Gray Wing and fought off any tiredness that tried to creep up on him.
Then Gray Wing froze. Tiny sounds warned him that something else was creeping up on him. He opened his jaws to taste the air. It smells like another cat. . . .
“Surprise!” Turtle Tail purred, leaping down into the dip to join him.
Gray Wing gazed at her with delight, though he could see the concern in her eyes as she settled beside him.
“Tell me more about what happened in the forest,” she meowed.
As briefly as he could, Gray Wing described their struggles during the fire.
The pain in his paws, and his anxiety over Thunder’s leaving made it hard for him to talk.
“You’re scorched and aching, aren’t you?” she murmured. “Let me help you lick your pads.”
Gray Wing relaxed as he felt Turtle Tail’s tongue rasping gently over his burnt paws. That feels so good. . . .
“Where are the kits?” he asked after a few moments. Turtle Tail would never leave them alone.
“Don’t worry; they’re fine.” Turtle Tail paused in her licking. “They’re asleep in my den, and Rainswept Flower and Jagged Peak are keeping an eye on them.”
“Are you okay with that?” Gray Wing asked. “I mean, that Jagged Peak is showing so much interest in your kits?” He’d noticed that his younger brother spent a lot of time involved in the kits’ care. Was Jagged Peak in danger of treading on Turtle Tail’s claws? He knew it was important for Jagged Peak to find a role, but not if it meant unsettling other cats.
“Yes, it’s fine,” Turtle Tail replied, looking faintly surprised. “I’m glad of any help. Being a mother is hard work. Besides, I . . . I wanted some time alone with you.” She sat up, her green eyes soft and warm as she met Gray Wing’s gaze. “I’m so grateful to you, for everything,”
Now that Thunder had left, Gray Wing felt even closer to Turtle Tail and her kits. “I’m glad to help you,” he told her, touching her shoulder with his tail.
Turtle Tail let out a contented sigh. Curling up against Gray Wing, she closed her eyes and soon drifted into sleep.
The she-cat’s drowsy purring was soothing and comforting to Gray Wing. I don’t want to be on my own anymore, he realized as he listened to her. He tried to tell himself that it was because he was missing Thunder, but this was something different. Being with another cat like this felt right. And Turtle Tail is so kind and good-hearted, so smart and resourceful. . . .
Gradually the night air grew colder. Gray Wing still couldn’t sleep, but he felt relaxed. His weariness had melted away like frost in sunlight. He couldn’t stop looking at Turtle Tail.
At last she stirred and opened her eyes. “You’re thinking about Thunder, aren’t you?” she murmured. “Go to sleep. It’s not your fault, you know: You couldn’t stand in the way of Thunder wanting to be with his father.”
Sorrow and relief surged through Gray Wing all at once. He still felt sad that Thunder wasn’t with him anymore, but hearing Turtle Tail tell him it wasn’t his fault lifted an enormous burden from his back. She’s right. There wasn’t anything I could have done.
A pleasant tiredness crept over him. As his eyes closed and he sank into sleep, he could still hear Turtle Tail’s purring.
Low, murmuring voices roused Gray Wing from a dream of brushing through long grass under a bright sun. Struggling awake, he realized that the voices were familiar, not threatening. He opened his eyes, blinking, to see Rainswept Flower with Owl Eyes, Sparrow Fur, and Pebble Heart standing around the edge of the dip in a half circle, gazing down at him, their fur buffeted by a brisk wind.
Rainswept Flower’s eyes were alight with mischief. “So there you are!” she exclaimed. “I’m glad you’ve finally figured out what was obvious to the rest of us.”
Gray Wing’s gaze slid to one side and he saw Turtle Tail, remembering instantly how they had bedded down together the night before. Embarrassed, he dipped his head.
“You look so cozy, all curled up there,” Rainswept Flower mewed teasingly.
“Are you coming to live in our den now?” Sparrow Fur asked.
Turtle Tail was awake, gazing at Gray Wing, happiness sparkling in her green eyes. The three kits let out excited squeaks and launched themselves into the dip, scrambling over Gray Wing and Turtle Tail and burrowing into their fur.
“You’ve got your paws full there,” Rainswept Flower commented, padding off with a whisk of her tail.
A sudden, unexpected warmth flooded over Gray Wing. Maybe Turtle Tail and I do belong together, he thought.
CHAPTER 17
Thunder struggled to wake up, like a fish rising from the dark depths of a pool. Even before he opened his eyes he could feel tension and a subtle hostility from the cats around him. For a couple of heartbeats, that confused him, until he remembered . . . I’m in my father’s camp.
Ever since Thunder had returned to the forest with Clear Sky and his cats the day before, he had been aware of suspicious glances from some of the others. He guessed that they had picked up on Clear Sky’s concerns about the future. They seem relieved to be back home, but I couldn’t call them happy. Thunder had tried to ignore the atmosphere, but it was hard when many of the other cats would only speak to him in a few curt words.
Thunder scrambled out of his nest and arched his back in a good long stretch. Bright sunlight shone through the leaves above him, casting patterns on the forest floor as the branches swayed in the breeze, and dazzling on the pool at the center of the camp. Clear Sky’s cats were already on the move, though none of them paid Thunder any attention.
Thunder shrugged, trying not to mind their unfriendliness, and settled down to groom himself. He was tugging at an obstinate tangle in his pelt when Clear Sky padded up to him, followed by the black-and-white tom named Leaf.
“You’re coming with me and Leaf on the morning patrol,” Clear Sky announced.
Thunder tried hard not to show his dismay. The night before, Leaf had been particularly harsh to him, sliding out his claws and snarling when Thunder had accidentally brushed against his tail.
As they set out from the camp, Thunder deliberately stayed at the back of the group, not wanting Leaf to feel that he was trying to threaten him or take his place.
Then Clear Sky glanced over his shoulder. “Well done, Thunder,” he meowed. “It’s a brave cat who takes the rear position. A cat who is confident that he can fight off any sneak attacks. Isn’t that right, Leaf?”
Leaf muttered reluctant agreement, his amber eyes burning with quiet fury. Thunder gulped. That’s not what I intended at all.
Clear Sky led the way around bramble thickets and through tight clusters of ferns. Thunder couldn’t spot any damage from burning here; the camp had been untouched, too. “How come you were all trapped by the fire?” he asked his father. “You would have been safe if you’d stayed in camp.”
Leaf glared at him. “Are you calling us stupid?” he growled. “Or cowards?”
“No!” Perhaps Thunder’s question hadn’t been the most tactful.
Clear Sky flicked his tail at Leaf. “That’s enough. Thunder, you’re quite right. We would have been safe if we’d stayed in camp. But it didn’t look like that at the time. The wind was blowing the fire toward our camp; the only thing we could do was get out, fast. But then the wind changed, and we were cut off.”
“Satisfied?” Leaf demanded.
Thunder nodded. “Yes, thanks, that makes sense. But I didn’t mean—”
“We’re wasting time.” Clear Sky padded on, and Thunder followed.
Maybe it would be better for me to keep my mouth shut from now on.
Thunder took up his position behind Leaf again, noticing patches of burnt undergrowth and swathes of charred bracken. He realized how terrifying it must have been for Clear Sky and his cats to feel that the fire was hunting them in their own home.
“Look—a squirrel!” Leaf’s hissed exclamation roused Thunder from his thoughts.
Clear Sky raised his tail in a signal for them to halt. Gazing past him, Thunder noticed a squirrel climbing headfirst down the trunk of a beech tree some way ahead. Leaf had already flattened himself to the ground and was creeping forward with cautious paw steps.
“No,” Clear Sky rumbled, his voice deep in his throat. “I want Thunder to catch it. I’ve seen what he can do; this is his chance to prove himself to you.” More quietly, he added to Thunder, “The best way for you to fit in with the rest of them is to show what a valuable asset you are to us.”
Leaf sat up with an irritable flick of his tail, and fixed Thunder with an amber glare.
Thunder gazed back at him, trying to look apologetic. It should be Leaf’s prey; he saw it first.
Clear Sky twitched his ears impatiently. “Come on then,” he mewed to Thunder. “Are you waiting for it to walk into your paws?”
A prickle of nervousness ran through Thunder’s pads, and he tried to ignore the black-and-white tom’s hostility. The squirrel had reached the bottom of the tree by now, and was scrabbling about among the roots. Thunder launched himself toward it, crashing through the outside of a bramble thicket, forcing his legs to drive him on faster and faster.
But he wasn’t fast enough. Long before he reached the beech tree the squirrel started, took one glance in his direction, then fled back up the trunk, its tail floating out behind it.
Thunder skidded to a halt at the foot of the tree. The squirrel had disappeared; only the rustling of the leaves told him where it was. He thought of climbing the tree, but the bark was smooth and the lowest branch was many tail-lengths above his head.
Discouraged and furious with himself, Thunder trudged back to where his father and Leaf were waiting. His tail was drooping and his pelt felt hot with embarrassment. What’s the matter with me? I know that’s not the way you hunt in woodland!
“I . . . I guess I’ve still got a lot to learn,” he stammered as he approached the other cats.
“You’re right; you have.” Clear Sky’s blue eyes showed his disappointment. “Maybe I should have brought you into the forest much earlier,” he grumbled. To Leaf, he added, “I’ve got other things to do. You two can finish the patrol, and don’t come back to camp until you’ve caught something.”
He stalked into the undergrowth.
Leaf turned to Thunder, his amber eyes narrow. “Follow me,” he snapped. “And don’t be so clumsy next time.”
Thunder padded after the black-and-white tom as they headed farther into the forest. All his senses were alert; his jaws open to taste the air, his ears pricked, and his gaze flicking from side to side. He was determined to make up for his failure with the squirrel.