Talltail didn’t move.
“Are you okay?” Jake’s gaze clouded with worry. “Are you feeling ill again?” He pressed anxiously against the mesh. “Should I fetch my housefolk?”
“No!” Talltail sat up and glared at him. “Just tell me how to get out of here!”
“Why do you want to leave so much?” Jake looked around the room. “It’s not bad here. There’s plenty of food, and it’s warm.”
“I’m not a kittypet,” Talltail growled.
“I didn’t say you were. But you might as well get better properly. You nearly died.”
Talltail flexed his claws. “I don’t have time to stay here any longer.”
“What’s the rush?”
“I’m on a mission, remember?”
Jake’s eyes widened. “Of course! What’s the mission?”
“I’m looking for someone.”
“Who?”
Talltail looked into Jake’s eager green eyes. How could he explain everything that had led him here?
“Is it really that important?” Jake prompted.
Talltail dug his claws into the blue pelt. “More important than you could imagine. I have to find a rogue,” he meowed. “He killed my father.”
Jake bristled. “Killed him?”
“My father, Sandgorse, was the best tunneler in WindClan. But Sparrow made Sandgorse take him into a tunnel that wasn’t safe and when it collapsed, he ran away.” Talltail’s breath quickened as the familiar dark fury rose in his belly. “He just left my father to die.”
“So you want revenge.”
Talltail blinked. Jake understood! “I have to catch up with Sparrow before he travels too far for me to find. I’m already at least two moons behind him.”
“Which means you really need to get out of here.”
“Yes!” Talltail pushed helplessly at the silver mesh.
Jake thought for a moment. “I can tell you how to escape, but on one condition.”
Talltail narrowed his eyes. “What?”
“You let me come with you.”
“I thought you liked being a kittypet!” Talltail glanced down at the soft, red nest. “There’s none of those out there.” He flicked his tail toward the window.
“I know that,” Jake told him. “I don’t want to join your Clan. But if you’re on a mission, I want to help.”
Talltail tipped his head on one side. “Why?”
“You need me.”
“No, I don’t!” Talltail bristled.
Jake leaned forward. “Who ate a poisoned rat and nearly died?” His eyes flashed. “It seems to me like you could do with some help.”
“But it’ll be dangerous,” Talltail meowed. “Why would you risk your life to help me?”
Jake puffed out his chest. “Just because I’m a kittypet doesn’t mean I don’t have dreams of something else.” His eyes gleamed. “I don’t want to spend my whole life in the wild, but I’d like to explore beyond the fences, see how other cats live. I know every paw step of the housefolk-place and I’d like to go farther.”
“Really?” Talltail’s ear twitched. Perhaps this kittypet could be useful. “Do you know how to get to the other side of the Twoleg dens?”
Jake eyed him suspiciously. “Can I go with you?”
“As far as the end of Twolegplace.”
“Okay.” Jake sat back. “It’s a deal.”
Talltail looked at him. “Now, how do I get out of here?”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” Jake stood up, arching his back.
“It is?” Talltail growled.
Jake rolled his eyes. “Just be nice to my housefolk,” he mewed. “Act like you’re completely better, and well enough to be let out. Most of all, be friendly. You can get anything out of most housefolk by being friendly.”
“Friendly?” Talltail narrowed his eyes. “How? You mean all that purring and winding around its legs?”
“Exactly.”
Talltail shuddered. “What if it tries to stroke me?” He imagined the Twoleg’s pink paw sliding along his pelt and shuddered.
“Just purr. You might even enjoy it.”
Talltail stiffened. If this was the only chance of getting out of here, he’d have to try. He watched the Twoleg flap, ears twitching uneasily. When it finally opened, his heart lurched. The Twoleg clattered in and shut the flap, then headed for the vet-basket. Talltail forced himself not to cower at the back when the Twoleg swung back the mesh. Instead he stepped out, purring.
The Twoleg’s eyes lit up with surprise. It rumbled something, moving back as Talltail jumped to the floor. It stared down in amazement as Talltail weaved around its legs.
Talltail tried to pretend that the Twoleg was a tree. I’m just leaving my scent. “That’s right,” Jake urged. “Don’t forget to keep purring.”
Talltail realized he’d been concentrating so hard on winding around the Twoleg, he’d forgotten to purr. Did kittypets actually enjoy this or was it the only way to get what they wanted? He forced himself to purr loudly, his throat catching with the effort. The Twoleg rumbled and stepped carefully over Talltail before pouring food into Jake’s hollow stone.
“Eat it,” Jake ordered. “He’ll know you’re feeling better if you eat.”
Talltail hurried to the stone and started gulping down food. He ate till his belly was bursting, then forced himself to look up at the Twoleg. He used kit eyes, pretending he was Wrenkit begging for a badger ride. “Please can I go outside?” he mewed in his most plaintive voice.
The Twoleg’s face softened and it reached down with a paw. Talltail froze, forcing his claws to stay sheathed as the Twoleg ran its paw along his back. First kittypet smell, now Twoleg stench. Talltail gave his loudest purr, then padded toward Jake’s flap and gazed longingly up at the Twoleg. “Please?”
The Twoleg mewed back.
Jake snorted. “I told you it tries to speak our language.”
“Actually, I think it just called me a furball.” A real purr rumbled in Talltail’s throat.
The Twoleg bent down and touched the flap.
“Yes, please!” Talltail felt excitement welling as the Twoleg pulled at the side of the flap.
Jake padded closer. “Get ready.”
Talltail saw the flap spring free, and in a flash he burst through and hared across the grass. He heard the Twoleg hooting behind, and the flap rattle. He glanced over his shoulder. Jake was racing after him. Talltail leaped onto the fence at the end of the grass.
Jake clattered onto the top beside him. “Follow me!” He plunged down into the long grass beyond.
Talltail dropped down after him, his pelt bushing up as ThunderClan scent filled his nose. “We can’t go this way!”
Jake turned. “Why not?”
“If a ThunderClan patrol finds us, they’ll shred us.” Talltail nudged Jake’s soft pelt. “They don’t like kittypets, and they definitely don’t like WindClan. Let’s go back over the fence. We’ll be safer in kittypet territory.”
Jake looked disappointed. “But I thought we could escape into the woods.”
Talltail shook his head. “You said you’d show me to the other side of Twolegplace, remember? This just takes me back to the Clans.” He trotted along the edge of the trees for a few tail-lengths until he was sure he was clear of Jake’s nest, then sprang up onto the fence. Jake followed.
“Hello.” A soft mew made Talltail stiffen. A young, gray she-cat was staring up from the grassy square below.
“We’re not here to cause trouble,” he told her quickly.
Jake jumped up beside him. “Hello, Quince.” There was a purr in his mew.
“Hello, Jake.” Quince returned the purr. “Who’s this?” She turned her round, amber eyes on Talltail.
Jake hesitated. “This is Talltail,” he meowed.
“Talltail?” Quince leaped onto the fence beside them and sniffed Talltail’s pelt. “That sounds like a wildcat name.” She wrinkled her nose. “Ew! He smells of the cutter.”
/> “He accidently ate a pois—”
Talltail interrupted. He didn’t want every kittypet knowing he was a rabbit-brain. “I’m a WindClan warrior, actually.” He puffed out his chest.
“Really?” Quince eyed him suspiciously. “Why are you hanging around Jake’s home and visiting the cutter? I thought warriors were—”
“He’s on a mission.” It was Jake’s turn to butt in. “I’m helping him. We’re going to find the cat who killed his father.”
Quince’s eyes stretched wide. “Wow.”
Talltail weaved past her and headed along the fence. “Hadn’t we better be going?” He didn’t want Jake inviting another kittypet along. Besides, he could hear Jake’s Twoleg hooting over the fences.
Jake nodded. “Okay.” He nodded to Quince. “See you around.”
She watched Jake slide past. “You are coming back, aren’t you?”
“Of course he is.” Talltail hopped over the wooden stalk at the end and headed along the next fence.
“There’s an alleyway at the end of this row,” Jake called from behind.
“Great.” Talltail had no idea what an alleyway was but Jake seemed to think it was good. He glanced into the forest, wondering if a ThunderClan patrol was watching. Would they be gossiping to WindClan about him at the next Gathering? It would be full moon soon. Would Heatherstar tell the other Clans that he’d left?
“There it is!” Jake squeezed past him as they reached the last enclosed section of grass and jumped down from the fence into a passageway lined with red stone.
Talltail landed beside him. “Do you know where we are?”
“Yes.” Jake quickened his pace, following a thin stream of water that ran along the crack in the middle of the path. He hopped back and forth over it, avoiding piles of clear, sharp stones. “Don’t tread on the broken glass,” he warned, stopping to point his nose toward shards of shiny, green ice. “If it sticks in your paw, you’ll cut your tongue trying to lick it out, and the wound can turn bad easily.”
Talltail nodded. He’d never seen glass before, but he’d take care to avoid it.
“This way.” Jake veered toward a low wall as the sides of the alley ended. He jumped onto it and down the other side. Talltail followed, his paws stinging from the hard ground. The tall dens opened out onto a wide stretch of stone. Talltail’s heart quickened as a monster rumbled past. A Thunderpath!
“Stay close to me,” Jake called over his shoulder. He followed a wide, flat trail that cut between the Thunderpath and a row of Twoleg dens fronted with large windows. Monsters growled slowly beside them, their eyes beginning to light up as the sun slid behind the dens. Thin, silver trunks lining the Thunderpath flickered and blazed at their tips, throwing pools of light onto the stone below.
Talltail blinked up at them. “What are they?”
“Thunderpath lights.” Jake didn’t slow down, and Talltail quickened his pace. The noise and light and unfamiliar scents alarmed him, making his fur stand up and his ears swivel toward every new sound. Jake seemed unworried, his pelt smooth, his mouth open as though following a scent trail. Talltail could only smell monster fumes and carrion heaps.
“Wait.” Jake stopped suddenly and pressed Talltail back with a nudge. He’d stopped beside a gap between two dens. Black sticks crisscrossed it. “Don’t move. You’re safe.” A moment later barking exploded from the gap and a snarling muzzle poked between the black sticks. Dog! Talltail unsheathed his claws. Teeth glinted in the dazzling Thunderpath lights. A Twoleg growl sounded from farther down the gap, and the dog turned and ran into the shadows.
“We can pass now.” Jake strolled past the gap.
Talltail hurried after him, his pelt spiking. “How did you know that dog would be there?” he gasped.
“It does that every time I come this way.” Jake trotted past more windowed dens before veering away from the Thunderpath. Dusk was falling as they reached yet another row of dens, backed by tiny fenced-in meadows.
“Do you know where you’re going?” Talltail wondered if Jake was just wandering aimlessly.
Jake jumped up onto a fence. “Of course.”
Talltail scrambled after him. “How?” He tasted the air. Now that the Thunderpath was behind them, there was a chance of scenting whether the rogues had passed this way. He dropped down the other side of the fence and began sniffing at the bushes crowding the edge of the grass.
Jake stared down at him. “What are you doing?”
“Searching for the rogues.” Kittypets were so dumb. Didn’t they know that a nose was the best tracker a cat had?
Jake landed beside him. “Don’t waste your time sniffing,” he mewed. “I’m taking you to a cat who knows everything that goes on around here. If the rogues have passed by here, she’ll know.”
Talltail blinked at him. “Who is she?”
“Just a stray.” Jake flicked his tail and raced across the grass to the next fence.
Stars specked a black sky by the time they’d reached the far end of the row of dens. Jake jumped down from the last fence and turned along a wide alleyway. There were low dens here like the ones where Jake had been cornered by the dog.
“What are these dens for?” Talltail asked. “Are they for Twoleg kits?”
“Housefolk keep monsters in them,” Jake explained, using a wall to jump up onto one of the roofs. Talltail sprang up after him. Ahead of them, rough stone stretched like a raised Thunderpath. He fell in beside Jake as they padded along it.
“This is the perfect place to walk.” Jake sniffed the air. “No dogs or housefolk or monsters, and a clear view in every direction.”
Talltail gazed around, amazed to see red stone and the lights of Twolegplace stretching as far as he could see. “Where does Twolegplace end?” he breathed.
“We’re getting close,” Jake answered. “But first we have to find that cat.”
“The one who knows everything?”
“She lives near the end of these dens.” Jake spoke with respect, and Talltail wondered if kittypets had leaders, too.
As they reached the end of the roof, Talltail peered over the edge. “Down there?” An open space—half-lit by Thunderpath lights, half-lit by the moon—stretched ahead of them. It was crisscrossed by high, mesh fences. To one side, yellow flames burned. Talltail bristled. “Fire!”
“It’s just some Twolegs keeping themselves warm,” Jake explained. “There’ll be cats too, hoping for food, but we’ll steer clear.” He fluffed out his fur. “They’re not that friendly.”
“Who? The Twolegs or the cats?”
“Neither,” Jake told him grimly.
Talltail shivered. This felt like walking into ShadowClan territory all over again. He followed Jake from the roof, jumping down onto a hard, square ledge, then to the ground. The soil underpaw was stony. Grass poked in clumps here and there. Smashed glass was strewn everywhere and Talltail watched where he put his paws, relieved that the glinting shards were easy to spot in the half-light. He halted while Jake scrabbled through a tight gap beneath one of the high, mesh fences, then squeezed under, grit scraping his belly. Tall, gray dens loomed ahead, jagged and unlit, their windows broken, their walls cracked.
Talltail unsheathed his claws as Jake led him into the shadows and began to follow a narrow alleyway that cut between two dens. Light glowed at the end and Talltail quickened his pace, eager to be out of the pressing gloom. It felt too much like a tunnel. As he broke into a trot, Jake hissed behind him. “Slow down!”
Talltail spotted movement at the end of the alley. Shapes slid from the shadow and stood silhouetted against the light beyond. Cats. A tom and a she-cat, from the scent that drifted down to him. Talltail could make out the ragged ends of their ears and their clumped fur. These were fighters. He stopped. “What now?” he whispered.
Before Jake could answer, the tom growled. “We have trespassers.”
“That’s not good,” sneered his companion.
“You’re wrong, Pixie.” There was mali
ce in the tom’s snarl. Talltail’s belly tightened. “That’s very good. We might have some fun with them. Let’s take them to Jay and see what she suggests.”
Talltail glanced at Jake, his pelt lifting along his spine. You stupid kittypet! You’ve led us into a trap!
CHAPTER 32
“Why are you bothering me with trespassers?” A mangy, old black-and-white she-cat looked up from a dead pigeon.
This must be Jay. Talltail shifted his paws nervously. The cats had ushered him and Jake into a clearing surrounded by unlit dens and dotted with piles that stank of crow-food.
Feathers stuck to Jay’s graying muzzle. She shook them away. “I’m trying to eat.” As she curled her lip, Talltail saw she had no teeth. If she were in a Clan, she’d be an elder by now.
Pixie nudged him forward. “We found these two nosing around the alley,” he explained.
Talltail flashed her a look. Unease was creeping beneath his pelt, but he wasn’t going to show these ragged strays that he was scared. He flexed his claws. “You don’t have to push.”
“Are you planning on pushing back?” Pixie challenged with a hiss.
“Not yet.” In the moonlit clearing he could see her scarred muzzle and thin, yellowing tail. He guessed she’d been white once.
Jake padded past Talltail. “We haven’t come to start a fight,” he mewed to Jay.
Talltail saw movement at the edge of his vision. He jerked his head around, scanning the shadows. Cats were creeping forward, their eyes glinting in the moonlight. Some wore collars, but they couldn’t be kittypets; their pelts were ragged and flea-bitten, their ears nicked, their noses scratched. Talltail eyed them warily, wondering if Jake understood how much danger they were in.
A russet-furred she-cat padded to Jay’s side. “What are they doing here?” she asked, her narrow gaze fixing on Talltail.
Talltail stiffened. Were they going to have to fight their way out of here?
Jay shrugged. “Don’t ask me, Red. It was Marmalade and Pixie who brought them.” She bent down stiffly and tried to wrestle a piece of flesh from the pigeon with her gums.
The ginger tom who’d helped Pixie escort them here pushed past Talltail. “We caught them.”