Eye. She’d told him she truly cared for him, but only after One Eye had died.
The anger burned in his belly. Why had she told him that? When she’d reappeared last half-moon, a tiny hope had sparked in his heart that she’d returned to the forest for him.
He watched, his pelt bristling, as Star Flower lay down, her tail swishing over the stone. She looked up at Clear Sky, her radiant green eyes catching the light. “Enjoy the sunshine with me.”
Thunder turned away and marched through the forest, growling under his breath.
Lightning Tail bounded after him. “Thunder!”
“I should have known,” Thunder snarled. “She never felt anything for me.”
Lightning Tail barged across his path. “Wait!”
Thunder glared at him. “Are you going to say that you told me so?”
Hurt sparked in Lightning Tail’s gaze, and Thunder felt instantly guilty. “I’m sorry.” He hung his head.
“I’m just glad you saw this before you did something mouse-brained like telling her you loved her.” Lightning Tail suddenly leaned closer. “You didn’t, did you?”
“No!” Thunder snapped. “I’m not that dumb.”
Lightning Tail glanced back toward the rocks. “It looks like Clear Sky is.”
Thunder’s heart lurched. He’d been so wrapped up in his own feelings, he hadn’t considered his father. “She’s using him!”
“What for?” Lightning Tail’s eyes darkened with worry.
“Because she can,” Thunder growled bitterly. “Because he’s the leader, and becoming his mate would give her power and influence.”
“But he knows she’s treacherous,” Lightning Tail reasoned. “He must realize what she’s doing and why. Perhaps he’s just seeing how far she’s willing to go.”
Thunder nodded slowly. Clear Sky’s main goal had been bringing the cats together, not finding a mate. “Of course. He’s letting Star Flower play her stupid games, making a fool of herself.” He stared blankly at Lightning Tail, his gaze clouding. Was that all it was with me too? A stupid game? Pain seared his heart. He shook out his pelt, fighting grief. “Leave me alone, Lightning Tail. I need to think.”
Lightning Tail stared at him anxiously. “You’re not going back there to confront them?”
“No.” Thunder retuned his friend’s gaze solemnly. “Clear Sky can make his own decisions. I don’t want anything to do with Star Flower.” He saw Lightning Tail’s fur smooth.
“Don’t stay out too long,” the black tom urged.
Thunder dipped his head. “I just need to clear my thoughts.”
He watched Lightning Tail head away until he was no more than a shadow moving through the wilting undergrowth. Making for the river, Thunder broke from the trees and gazed over River Ripple’s marshes. The reeds stirred and bent in the breeze. A gust whipped Thunder’s whiskers against his cheeks. As he glanced downstream to where the boulders rose above the water, a deep ache twisted his heart.
I really thought she had come back for me. But there’s only one cat Star Flower cares about, and that’s Star Flower.
Chapter 11
The weak leaf-bare sun was sliding toward the treetops before Clear Sky returned to camp.
Thunder had been watching out for him. His pelt twitched with annoyance as his father padded across the clearing and jumped past his nest among the oak roots onto the short steep bank beyond.
He’d been trying to ignore the anger churning in his belly all afternoon, but he couldn’t push Clear Sky and Star Flower from his thoughts.
He swallowed back a growl as Thorn nudged past him.
“Sorry.” The gray she-cat dipped her head. “I’m heading for the prey pile, but the camp’s a bit crowded.”
Thunder snorted. “Is it worth the effort?” He glanced at the meager pile of fresh-kill. Three mice and a squirrel weren’t going to feed so many mouths. It was mouse-brained of Clear Sky to keep every cat in camp when there was a whole forest full of prey.
Thorn picked her way past Pink Eyes and Quick Water, who were lounging beside the holly bush.
She nodded politely to Milkweed, who sheltered beneath the yew, coughing from time to time. Cloud
Spots crouched beside the sickly queen, chewing leaves into a pulp, while Thistle and Clover scrambled through the branches above them.
Lightning Tail was sharing tongues with Acorn Fur while Birch and Alder badgered them with questions about life on the moor.
“Did you really hunt in rabbit tunnels?” Alder’s eyes were wide.
Lightning Tail shrugged. “I preferred hunting above ground.”
Acorn Fur shivered. “Not me. I liked the shelter of the tunnels—there’s no wind to ruffle your fur.”
“But how could you see what you were doing?” Birch asked.
“With our whiskers, ears, and noses, of course,” Acorn Fur told him.
“I never got a chance to hunt in the tunnels.” Sparrow Fur sprawled sleepily at the edge of the clearing while Owl Eyes paced around her. “I was too young.”
“Now we never have a chance to hunt anywhere!” Owl Eyes flashed a look at Clear Sky. He was clearly still angry that he had spent the day in camp.
Blossom wove past him. “I’m sure Clear Sky will let you hunt tomorrow.”
“Yeah, right.” Owl Eyes didn’t look convinced.
Thunder felt a flash of satisfaction. Clear Sky’s dumb hunting rules were ruffling fur among his campmates. They weren’t even effective. He glanced at the prey pile again. Nettle and Leaf were lying like guards beside the pitiful collection of fresh-kill, eyeing their campmates warily.
Clear Sky called from the bank. “Thunder! Are both hunting patrols back?”
“Can’t you tell?” Thunder snapped. The camp was overflowing with cats!
Clear Sky narrowed his eyes. “Is something wrong?”
Lightning Tail flashed Thunder a warning gaze.
It’s not the time to confront him about Star Flower, Thunder thought, puffing out his chest and heading for his father. Leaping up the muddy bank, he landed beside Clear Sky and gave a curt meow.
“It’s not working.”
“What’s not working?” Clear Sky tipped his head.
“Sending out two hunting patrols each morning and then wasting the rest of the day with everyone cooped up in camp.” Thunder felt righteous anger rising in his chest. “It’s mouse-brained.”
The fur bristled on Clear Sky’s shoulders.
“Look at that prey pile.” Thunder nodded toward it. “Most cats will go hungry tonight.”
Clear Sky padded away from the edge of the bank, moving closer to the bracken. “Keep your voice down,” he cautioned. “We’ve already discussed hunting. You know why I have to organize it so carefully.”
“Because you don’t trust us.” Thunder followed his father out of hearing of their campmates. “But that doesn’t explain why you only send out two patrols a day. I could be hunting right now. If you’re scared that I’ll eat half my catch, send Leaf and Nettle with me to keep watch.” He snorted. “It would give them something to do. And what about Owl Eyes? He’s been desperate to go hunting all day, but instead he’s had to stay here, and tonight he’ll sleep with an empty belly. I bet he’s starting to wish he’d joined Tall Shadow’s group—they probably hunt from dawn to dusk.” He stared straight into
Clear Sky’s piercing blue eyes, hoping he’d touched a nerve. How could his father be so dumb?
Dumb about hunting, and even dumber about Star Flower!
What a rabbit-brain!
Clear Sky returned his gaze steadily. “Do you want to hunt the forest dry in the first moon of leaf-bare?”