Thunder shifted to rebalance himself. He could hear prey rustling the leaves between the beech roots. Owl Eyes’s pelt showed in the shadows beyond. “Clear Sky’s just doing what the spirit cats asked of him,” he whispered to Leaf. “They’re the ones who want us to unite.”
“Spirit cats don’t get hungry.” Leaf gazed ahead, his eyes flicking one way, then the other, as he scanned for prey. “Why don’t they look after the sick and the weak? Here in the real world, strength is the only thing that counts. What’s the point in hunting for cats who can’t hunt for themselves? They just sap the strength of the whole group.”
Thunder glanced at his campmate. Does he really believe that? Of course, strength was important. But surely it was possible to be strong and look after the weak? “Everyone has their own strengths,” he pointed out. “No one hears as well as Pink Eyes. And Jagged Peak has grown tough and practical because he’s had to fight every paw step of the way.”
“He may be tough, but can he hunt?” Leaf meowed darkly. “You’ve forgotten how long leaf-bare is. There are lean moons ahead, and it’s not so easy to be softhearted when your belly’s empty.”
Thunder flexed his claws. Leaf was sounding like Clear Sky in the days before the battle. “All we have to do is persuade Clear Sky to change the hunting patrols. Then there’ll be enough prey for all of us. You’ll see.”
A tiny shape scuttled through the leaves and darted over a root.
Mouse! Excitement surged through Thunder’s muscles. Before Leaf could move, he raced for it.
The mouse was heading for a gap where the root burrowed into the earth. Leaping, Thunder hooked it with a claw. He landed awkwardly, bending his other forepaw beneath him. Pain flashed through his flank as he hit the root, feeling the wind knocked from his body.
Squeaking, the mouse wriggled free of his grasp.
Leaf barged past and slammed his forepaws down hard on the ground. “Got it!”
As the black-and-white tom spoke, leaves exploded a tail-length away. Thunder jerked up his head and saw a rabbit racing away between the trees. They must have startled it when they caught the mouse. He struggled to his paws, his flank aching where the root had bruised it. His injured paw folded limply beneath him. Mouse dung!
“It’s okay! I’ve got it!” Owl Eyes’s triumphant yowl rang through the trees. He was on the rabbit’s tail. He lunged fast and caught it between his forepaws.
Thunder shook out his weak paw until the pain eased. The scent of fresh-kill touched his nose.
Leaf paced around him, tail high. The mouse dangled from his jaws. Owl Eyes trotted toward them, the rabbit swinging beneath his chin.
“I told you!” Thunder purred. “With enough hunting patrols, there’ll be prey enough for everyone.”
Thunder led the way into camp, his fur fluffed with pride. On the way back, he had spotted a squirrel rummaging beneath the sycamore. He’d caught it as it tried to scoot up the trunk. Now he crossed the clearing and dropped it on the prey pile. “No hungry bellies tonight,” he meowed loudly, scanning the camp for his father. Clear Sky had to see now that more hunting patrols would keep the group well fed.
Lightning Tail hurried to meet him, his gaze dark.
“Where’s Clear Sky?” Thunder asked.
Lightning Tail scowled. “He left the camp,” the black tom growled softly. “With Star Flower.”
Thunder bristled. Clear Sky had ignored his warning. He just sent me hunting to get me out of the way! Blood roared in his ears. “Did he say when he’d be back?”
Lightning Tail glanced toward the bramble entrance, keeping his mew low. “All he said was that he’d be back later.”
Then I’ll wait. Trembling with rage, Thunder swallowed back a growl. I have something to tell him. Something he will not want to hear.
Chapter 12
Clear Sky pounded down the slope, swerving between the trees. The ground had dried since the morning’s rain, but the leaves were still slippery underpaw, and he skidded as he dodged around a bramble spilling across his path.
Star Flower was ahead. He could see her golden pelt glowing as she ran like a patch of sunshine moving between the trees.
Digging his claws into the soft earth, he regained his balance and pushed harder. He reached the bottom of the slope a moment after Star Flower.
“Do you still think you know the forest better than I do?” Her words came in gasps as she caught her breath. “I bet you’ve never been here before.”
“Yes, I have,” Clear Sky puffed.
Wilted ferns clumped between slender rowans. Beyond them, he could see a grassy clearing.
Have I been here before? He narrowed his eyes. Of course! He recognized the wall of rocks on the far side of the clearing. As he padded into the clearing, wet grass brushed his paws. It was getting late, and dew glittered in the late sunshine. If the skies remained clear, it would turn to frost.
Star Flower stopped beside him as he gazed at the sun dipping behind the rocks. Its orange rays melted on top of the stones for a moment before disappearing. Clear Sky felt chilly shadows swallow him. “Come on.” Chasing the setting sun, he leaped onto a jutting stone. He scrambled from boulder to boulder until he reached the top.
Star Flower looked up from the clearing below. “Watch out for the snakes.”
“Snakes?” Clear Sky peered over the edge, his pelt prickling.
“They hide in the crevices between the stones.” Star Flower leaped nimbly after him. He watched her, expecting any moment for a snake to dart from a gap and bite her.
She stopped beside him, her whiskers twitching as she met his anxious gaze. “Don’t worry. One
Eye taught me how to kill snakes.”
Clear Sky blinked at her in surprise.
“Have you ever killed one?” A mischievous glint flashed in her eye.
“I’ve never had to.”
“You should try it.” She shrugged. “They don’t taste bad, especially in the middle of a long leaf-bare. One Eye would bring me hunting here when there was no other prey in the forest. Snakes are sluggish when it’s cold. Easy to catch, if you can find them.”
Clear Sky stared at the she-cat, his tail twitching. What other secrets of the forest did Star Flower know? With this wily she-cat at his side, who knew what he might achieve. She might be able to help him work out a way to unite all the cats. Sunshine warmed his back. They had escaped the shadows below and caught up to the setting sun, which glittered between the trees as it slid toward the far horizon.
Star Flower wove around him. “So?”
“So, what?” Had he missed something?
She stopped, her muzzle close to his. “Have you decided to trust me yet?”
Clear Sky shifted his paws. “Thunder thinks that I shouldn’t.”
Star Flower’s green eyes softened. “Poor Thunder,” she murmured. “I’m sorry that I hurt him. But he’s a young cat. He’ll get over it.”
“Do you think?” Clear Sky searched her gaze hopefully. He’d never met a cat like Star Flower before; she was clever, tough, and self-assured. A strange, strong urge to be with her pressed in his chest.
But what about Thunder?
He’s a young cat. He’ll get over it.
Star Flower’s warm breath washed his muzzle. He nudged her cheek with his nose. Should he ignore Star Flower just to please his son? Does he really want me to be alone?