“No, I—” Pebbleshine broke off. She had been feeling hopeless, realizing how far she had traveled from her Clan—so far that she wasn’t sure of the direction anymore. But these kittypets clearly knew their way around. They probably don’t ever wander that far from their nests. She remembered Bug’s reaction when she’d asked about the monster camp. These kittypets probably won’t know, either. But it has to be worth asking. “I’m looking for a monster camp,” she began. “A big space covered with that black Thunderpath stuff. There are Twoleg dens around part of it, and bushes along one side. Is there anywhere like that around here?”
“Hey, we know a place like that!” Milo exclaimed.
Olive nodded vigorously. “It’s not far from the Cutter’s—that’s where our housefolk take us when we’re sick,” she explained to Pebbleshine. “And for … well, other stuff.”
Shock jolted through Pebbleshine as if a rock had fallen on her head out of a clear sky. “Really?” she responded, her heart lifting. Maybe soon I’ll see Hawkwing again. “Can you tell me how to get there?”
The two young cats exchanged a doubtful glance. “It might be easier to show you,” Olive mewed. “But it’s a long way. We’d have to be gone overnight.”
Milo scrabbled in the grass with his forepaws. “Our housefolk will be really scared if we’re missing.”
“Please,” Pebbleshine begged. “It’s so important for me to get back there. My Clanmates—my friends, I mean—will be waiting for me.”
“Well … our housefolk could probably survive one night without us,” Olive responded, looking hopefully at Milo. “I mean, at least we have housefolk to keep us safe. You don’t have anyone—and you’re expecting kits!”
Thank … you? Pebbleshine thought, not sure what to make of that. I’d rather have Clanmates than housefolk any day. But the kittypet seemed determined to help her, so Pebbleshine tried to look encouraging.
“Come on, Milo,” Olive mewed to her friend. “We have so much … helping Pebbleshine is the least we can do! Besides, it’ll be an adventure!”
The orange tom hesitated for a moment longer. Then his eyes widened and he let out an excited purr. “Okay. We’ll go with you,” he promised.
Chapter 4
“We ought to eat first,” Olive meowed. “As much as we can, so we don’t get too hungry on the way.”
“I’m always up for that!” Milo purred, swiping his tongue around his jaws. “And we ought to say good-bye to our housefolk, too.”
“Are you sure you won’t eat with us?” Olive asked Pebbleshine, twitching her whiskers anxiously. “How will you manage overnight, if you don’t?”
Pebbleshine hid her amusement at the younger cat’s attempt to care for her. “No, thanks. I’ll hunt on the way,” she replied.
“Really?” Milo sounded impressed, but there was a doubtful look in his eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Quite sure.”
Though they still looked reluctant to accept Pebbleshine’s decision, the two kittypets bounded back up the slope and wriggled under the fence. Pebbleshine followed more slowly, in time to see them vanish into the nearest den, through a small opening like Coco’s.
She settled herself under a bush to wait, but she was so excited that she couldn’t stay still for more than a couple of heartbeats. She paced back and forth along the edge of the grass, wondering if she was really about to find her Clanmates again.
At last I’ve got an idea where to go. I just hope these kittypets really do know where to find the monster camp.
The sun was slipping down the sky by the time the two kittypets returned. Pebbleshine felt as if she had been waiting forever; she had begun to wonder if they had changed their minds. Finally the main door of the Twoleg den opened; Milo and Olive appeared with a female Twoleg. Pebbleshine quickly ducked back into the shelter of the bush and watched while the Twoleg crossed the garden and began to pick some of the brightly colored flowers that grew around the edge of the grass.
Maybe those are Twoleg herbs, Pebbleshine thought, interested. Could she be a medicine Twoleg?
Milo and Olive twined themselves affectionately around the legs of the Twoleg until she bent down and gave each of them a stroke. Cold shudders crept through Pebbleshine at the sight of them. I’d never want to get that close to a Twoleg! Not if I could help it!
Finally the Twoleg went back inside the den. The two kittypets waited until she was gone, then raced across the garden and joined Pebbleshine under the bushes. “Okay, we’re ready to go now,” Milo mewed. He looked around thoughtfully, then pointed with his tail. “It’s this way.”
He started to weave a path through the bushes, but Olive didn’t follow. “Are you sure?” she asked, with a doubtful glance in the other direction.
Milo halted and let out an exaggerated sigh. “It’s the way we go to the Cutter, fur-for-brains!”
Olive hesitated for a moment, then twitched her ears. “Okay. Have it your way.”
Pebbleshine felt her heart sink. Do they really know where to go, if they can’t even agree between themselves? But following the kittypets was the only choice she had, so she tried to crush down her doubts. It has to be worth a try.
Once they decided on a direction, the kittypets led the way confidently through the long grass on the edge of the Thunderpath that wound through the Twolegplace. Pebbleshine’s nose wrinkled at the acrid scent of monsters.
“Do we have to follow Thunderpaths all the way?” she asked.
“Sorry, we do,” Milo replied. “Almost, at least. This is the only way we know, because our Twolegs take us this way to the Cutter.”
Pebbleshine nodded, accepting his explanation. At least, she thought, the kittypets were young and strong, keeping a steady pace without getting scared about being away from their nest, or demanding a rest because they were tired.
Not all kittypets are weak, she reminded herself, thinking of the daylight warriors of SkyClan. But she was still surprised that cats with no Clan training had so much stamina. They even relaxed enough to chase butterflies and have a friendly scuffle along the way, Olive rolling with Milo among the roots of a tree. Pebbleshine’s spirits lifted as she watched their teasing and fun.
“So do you live in the … monster camp, was it?” Olive asked Pebbleshine after a while, shaking debris from her pelt. “It sounds a little scary.”
“Monsters can be scary, but I don’t live in their camp.” Pebbleshine sighed, struggling with another pang of homesickness for her den among the rocks. “My Clanmates and I are traveling. I used to live in a gorge, beside a stream, with the rest of my Clan.”
“What’s a Clan?” Milo asked.
Pebbleshine explained how she and her Clanmates lived together, how they trained to fight and hunt, and took care of one another. “My Clan is called SkyClan,” she finished.
“That sounds great!” Milo exclaimed.
“And what about your kits’ father?” Olive asked. “Is he part of your Clan, too?”
Pebbleshine nodded. “Yes, and that’s partly why it’s so important that I get back to them.”
“What’s his name? What is he like?” Olive’s questions were tumbling out of her.
“He’s called Hawkwing,” Pebbleshine replied. Her voice grew warm with memory, even though the pain of missing her mate felt like thorns piercing her heart. “He’s the best cat in the Clan.”
“Is he your leader?” Milo asked.
“Not yet,” Pebbleshine told him. “Maybe one day …”
Olive blinked, looking a bit wistful. “I wish we could be part of a Clan.”