Shadow and Quiet Rain are weak from their journey from the mountains. I thought the moor would be easier to cross.”
River Ripple’s gaze glittered with interest. “You come from the mountains?”
“We come in search of kin,” Sun Shadow told him.
Thunder added quickly, “I’m taking them to Tall Shadow’s camp.” He nodded toward Sun
Shadow. “This cat is Moon Shadow’s son.”
River Ripple dipped his head. “Moon Shadow was a fine cat.”
Sun Shadow stiffened. “He… was…?”
River Ripple caught Thunder’s eye. “You haven’t told him.”
Thunder lifted his chin, looking solemnly at the black tom. “Moon Shadow was killed. He died bravely saving his friends from a fire.”
Sun Shadow swayed on his paws. “My father!”
Quiet Rain ducked in beside him, pressing her thin shoulder to his. “We always knew they were taking a risk when they left the mountains.”
“But I wanted a chance to know him.” Sun Shadow’s mew was thick with grief.
Thunder stared at the ground, his pelt hot. “I should have told you before. I’m sorry.”
Quiet Rain’s mew hardened. “What about the others?”
Thunder tried to drag his gaze from the grass, his heart pounding. What can I tell them? So many were dead. This wasn’t the time to share such sorrow. They still had to cross the moor. “Gray Wing and Jagged Peak are fine,” he told her softly. Then he mumbled, “So is Clear Sky.”
River Ripple wove past him and faced Quiet Rain. “There is much to tell you. But this is not the place. Let us lead you to Tall Shadow’s camp, where you can rest.” He caught Thunder’s eye. “I’ll accompany you.”
Thunder felt relief wash his fur. River Ripple understood that these cats needed shelter far more than they needed to hear the truth. As the silver tom headed onward, the mountain cats followed him wordlessly. Sun Shadow’s tail dragged along the ground, and Quiet Rain’s breath rattled in her chest as the slope steepened.
River Ripple slowed and put his shoulder against hers. “We’re nearly at the top.”
Sun Shadow fell in beside Thunder. “How long ago did he die?”
“Many moons.” Thunder kept his gaze fixed ahead. He wished he could ease the tom’s grief, but he didn’t know how.
“Did you know him well?”
“I was young.”
“But you know Tall Shadow and Gray Wing?”
Thunder’s pelt prickled uncomfortably. “Yes.”
Quiet Rain glanced at him. “What about Jagged Peak and Clear Sky? How well do you know them?”
“Well enough.” Thunder’s mew thickened. “I’m Clear Sky’s son.”
Quiet Rain stopped and stared at him. “Clear Sky’s son!” Delight flooded her gaze. “Where is he?
Where’s Bright Stream?”
Thunder faced her, puzzled. “Bright Stream?”
“Your mother!” Quiet Rain meowed. “Clear Sky and Bright Stream were destined to be mates.”
“Bright Stream died on the journey from the mountains.” The words blurted from Thunder’s mouth before he could stop them.
Quiet Rain’s eyes clouded. “She died too?”
“An eagle carried her off,” Thunder mumbled, guilt clawing at his heart.
“She left the mountains, only to suffer a mountain cat’s fate!” Anger tinged Quiet Rain’s mew.
“Who’s your mother then?” Her gaze scorched Thunder’s.
“Storm,” he answered quietly.
“She is Clear Sky’s mate?” Quiet Rain held his gaze.
“She was.”
“Was?” Quiet Rain stared in disbelief. “More death?”
Thunder could only nod.
“Why did we ever come here?” Quiet Rain pulled away from River Ripple and limped to Sun
Shadow’s side. “This is a place where cats come to die!”
“Not all cats.” River Ripple’s gentle mew carried on the wind that was gusting over the moortop and tugging at the cats’ fur. “It is a place where prey is rich and the greenleaf is long and warm.”
Thunder purred his agreement. “Gray Wing and Jagged Peak love it here. And Jagged Peak has kits now.”
Quiet Rain lifted her head. “Kits?”
“Storm Pelt, Dew Nose, and Eagle Feather,” Thunder told her, relieved to have some good news for the older she-cat.
Quiet Rain mewed approvingly. “Good, strong names.”
“Hawk Swoop had kits too.” River Ripple nudged her gently onward. “Let me tell you about them.”
Thunder felt a wave of gratitude toward the river cat as he steered the old she-cat across the moor, chattering easily.
They passed the rim of the four trees hollow and followed the moor as it sloped toward the Thunderpath. Beyond, the pines stood like a great dark wall, their tips scratching the pale sky.
Thunder stopped on the grass area at the side of the Thunderpath and gazed along the straight, black track. There were no monsters to be heard, but the foul stench in the air told him one had passed by recently. “We must be careful crossing here,” he told Sun Shadow.
Quiet Rain snorted beside River Ripple. “Do you think we haven’t seen plenty of these stinking tracks on our journey already?”
Thunder stepped back and let the she-cat approach the Thunderpath’s edge with Sun Shadow. She glanced both ways, then scuttled across it like a mouse. The black tom bounded after her.
Thunder padded to River Ripple’s side. “Do you think all mountain cats are as prickly as these two?”
River Ripple purred. “I’m sure they’re just tired from their journey.” He glanced along the Thunderpath, then darted across. Thunder chased his tail, pleased that there were no monsters.
Sun Shadow and Quiet Rain were waiting beside the pines, staring at the shadows beyond.
“Which way?” Sun Shadow asked.
“I’m not sure.” Thunder glanced hopefully at River Ripple. “Have you been here before?”
River Ripple shook his head. “Slate’s visited. She told me Tall Shadow made her camp deep in the pine forest.”
Thunder looked at the brambles crowding between the straight, dark trunks. “That might be hard to find.”
River Ripple padded into the shadows. “We won’t fail,” he promised.
“You must know their scents,” Quiet Rain sniffed. “Smell them out! In the mountains, a kit can track a mouse in the snow!”
“Tracking scents in a pine forest might be harder than tracking scents in snow,” Thunder warned.
The tang of pinesap swirled around them. He opened his mouth, searching for the familiar taste of his old campmates. Please let us find the camp soon. Quiet Rain’s eyes were dull with exhaustion, and her limping stride was getting worse. She needed to rest.
“Come on.” River Ripple beckoned the mountain cats forward and led them past a rotting log.
Pelt pricking with unease, Thunder headed into the forest. What would Tall Shadow say when she saw her old friends from the mountains? And how would she break the news of the rift between Quiet Rain’s sons—and the deaths of so many of her Tribemates?
Chapter 15
Thunder brought them to a stop at the edge of a clearing so Quiet Rain could catch her breath. He peered through the brambles and felt his heart surge with relief: he could see Tall Shadow inside, meowing something to Holly. We’ve found their camp!
The black she-cat pointed with her tail at a prey pile. The two mice and scrawny blackbird would surely not feed all her cats. Thunder felt his pelt prickle with sympathy. It seemed that every group was having trouble keeping their cats well fed.
Then Thunder noticed the shelter Holly stood beside: a large den woven from the brambles at the far end, with a high, arched roof. What an ingenious shelter, Thunder thought. He wondered if he could re-create something similar for his own cats.