“I like it, too,” Stream said. “There’s no point in getting attached, though. In two moons, we’ll go on our wander. And the Sisters will move on, too.”
Earth shivered a little, the breeze suddenly feeling colder. Toms born to the Sisters only stayed with their mothers and sisters for the first six moons of their lives. Toms were meant to wander the world and find their own paths while the she-cats stayed together. It was just the way things were. Two of the other young toms would be sent on their wander tonight. Earth couldn’t stop thinking about it, how someday he’d be the one leaving everything he knew behind.
The world seemed like a big place to wander. Earth knew it went past the garden where he’d been born, over Thunderpaths and rivers, farther than any cat could see, even from the top of the tallest hill.
“Maybe we could come back here,” he suggested to Stream. “After the Sisters move on. We could live here.” He looked around again, at the blue sky and the open grasses and flowers. “This would be a good home.”
Stream’s blue eyes opened wide. “Earth!” he yowled. “That’s the opposite of wandering. That’s not what toms do!”
“I guess.” Earth tucked his tail closer to his body. “But it’s a good territory. What if when we travel, we end up somewhere worse? I like it here.”
“That’s because we haven’t been many other places,” Stream said. “Just wait. Once we’re on our own, we’re going to travel everywhere. It’ll be fun.”
“You’re probably right,” Earth agreed, feeling a little happier. At least he wasn’t going to be alone on his wander. Stream would be with him. Maybe it would be fun, as long as they were together. “Let’s try meditating again,” he suggested. “Moonlight wants us to really try to talk to the land.”
“Okay,” Stream agreed, settling more comfortably on his haunches. “I’m not sure what that means, though.”
“Me either,” Earth said. “Maybe if we focus hard enough, it’ll just happen?”
“Let’s try.” Stream took a deep breath and shut his eyes. Earth shut his own eyes and reminded himself again what Moonlight had told them.
Concentrate. Be one with the soil and the grass, the rocks and the trees. Toms were the guardians of the earth, while she-cats spoke to the skies. It was very important to get this right. Earth dug his claws into the dirt beneath him and listened hard, his ears trembling as he strained them.
Nothing.
Focus.
Wait. He pricked up his ears, a thrill of excitement running down his spine. Was that a voice he heard? Distant, but there. Was he hearing the voice of the growing grass? He strained, his ears aching with the desire to just hear …
“—a chipmunk, but it was the size of—”
Earth sighed, slumping with disappointment. It was the voice of his sister Ice. Without opening his eyes, he knew the breeze had carried her voice faintly to him from the valley below. He hadn’t heard the grass after all.
This is pointless, he thought, and opened his eyes again. Turning toward Stream to meow his annoyance, he stopped with his mouth half open.
Stream was sitting perfectly still, his face calm but his mouth moving. He was muttering softly to himself, a low purr of words that Earth couldn’t quite make out. He paused now and again as if to listen for an answer. No, thought Earth, amazed. He’s not muttering to himself. It’s to the grass and the soil. He’s talking to the land, just like we’re supposed to.
Earth closed his eyes once more, tense and determined. He strained his ears, but, other than the rustle of the wind in the trees and the meows of the Sisters in the distance, he couldn’t hear a thing.
What’s wrong with me, that he can do it and I can’t?
He opened his eyes and waited, his tail twitching restlessly, until Stream finally looked at him, his eyes wide and peaceful. “I’m ready now,” the other kit said.
Walking back down to camp, Earth peeked at Stream out of the corner of his eye. The other kit didn’t look any different. Earth badly wanted to ask Stream what had happened. Had he really spoken to the grass? How? And how did it feel? What did the grass say?
Earth hesitated. He didn’t want to sound stupid. Stream had meditated the right way, had spoken with the ground and plants beneath their paws … and Earth hadn’t. Even though he’d really tried, he’d gotten it wrong. Did he want to tell Stream that?
He’ll think there’s something wrong with me. But he’s my best friend… .
Earth was still worrying about whether to tell Stream the truth as they reached camp. The Sisters were busy but peacefuclass="underline" Tempest and Furze were just back from a hunting patrol, fat voles dangling from their mouths as they strode toward the prey-hole. Petal and Hawk were sharing tongues in the sunshine while Snow, Moonlight, and Haze talked quietly by the bush that was Moonlight’s den.
“Earth! Stream!” His littermate Sunrise burst out of the nursery and raced toward him, their sister Ice behind her. “Did you do it?” she panted as she halted beside them. “Did you talk to the land? What did it sound like?”
“Um.” Earth gave a quick, embarrassed lick to the fur on his chest. “It went fine.”
“Mm-hmm.” Ice’s green eyes narrowed as she sauntered up behind Sunrise. “You didn’t hear anything, did you?”
“Well, it’s hard!” Earth said defensively.
“It is hard,” Stream agreed. “You should try it yourself before you start teasing Earth.”
Sunrise flicked her tail. “Sisters don’t talk to the land,” she said. “We sing to the stars.”
Ice sat down and tucked her paws neatly beneath her. “It’s really important that you get this right, Earth,” she said, mock seriously. “Did you do something to offend the land? Is that why it won’t talk to you?” She lowered her voice and glanced around. “Did you … make dirt in the wrong place, maybe?”
“You’d better get the land back on your side before you go on your wander!” Sunrise added, joining in on the teasing. “What if you fall asleep in a mud puddle and it just swallows you up?”
“Oh, ha-ha,” Earth replied with as much dignity as he could muster, while the two she-cats purred with laughter. He wasn’t going to let his sisters bother him. It’ll be okay, he told himself. The land isn’t angry at me. Is it? He shook his pelt, feeling as if he were shaking away his worries. “I’m hungry.”
The prey-hole was full. His mouth watered as he caught the scent of rabbit, and he began to head across the camp toward it.
“Wait,” Sunrise meowed, serious for once, and blocked his path. “Chestnut and Snail get first choice today.”
That’s right. Earth’s appetite disappeared, his stomach dropping. Chestnut and Snail would start their wander tonight. They were only a couple of moons older than he was, and they were going to leave the Sisters and find their own path. Soon it’ll be my turn. Will I be ready by then?
Stars hung low in the sky, the Claw Stars pointing to the setting sun. The stars would guide the young toms on their first journey. The shadows deepened, and the full moon rose, cold and pale. At last, Moonlight got to her feet and padded silently across the camp toward the hills. The other she-cats, the mothers and sisters of the Sisters, followed. Chestnut and Snail walked close beside their mother, Hawk, but their tails were high and their steps light, as if they were excited to begin their wander. Earth and Stream glanced at each other, then trailed after the other cats.