A tiny movement caught his eye, a scuttling shadow in his father’s path.
A scorpion!
Barely pausing to think, Swiftcub sprang, bowling between his father’s paws and almost tripping him. He skidded to a halt right in front of Gallant, snarling at the small sand-yellow scorpion. It paused, curling up its barbed tail and raising its pincers in threat.
“No, Swiftcub!” cried his father.
Swiftcub swiped his paw sideways at the creature, catching its plated shell and sending it flying into the long grass.
All four lions watched the grass, holding their breath, waiting for a furious scorpion to reemerge. But there was no stir of movement. It must have fled. Swiftcub sat back, his heart suddenly banging against his ribs.
“Skies above!” Gallant laughed. Valor gaped, and Swift dragged her cub into her paws and began to lick him roughly.
“Mother …” he protested.
“Honestly, Swiftcub!” she scolded him as her tongue swept across his face. “Your father might have gotten a nasty sting from that creature—but you could have been killed!”
“You’re such an idiot, little brother,” sighed Valor, but there was admiration in her eyes.
Gallant and Swift exchanged proud looks. “Swift,” growled Gallant, “I do believe the time has come to give our cub his true name.”
Swift nodded, her eyes shining. “Now that we know what kind of lion he is, I think you’re right.”
Gallant turned toward the acacia trees, his tail lashing, and gave a resounding roar.
It always amazed Swiftcub that the pride could be lying half asleep one moment and alert the very next. Almost before Gallant had finished roaring his summons, there was a rustle of grass, a crunch of paws on dry earth, and the rest of Gallantpride appeared, ears pricked and eyes bright with curiosity. Gallant huffed in greeting, and the twenty lionesses and young lions of his pride spread out in a circle around him, watching and listening intently.
Gallant looked down again at Swiftcub, who blinked and glanced away, suddenly rather shy. “Crouch down,” murmured the great lion.
When he obeyed, Swiftcub felt his father’s huge paw rest on his head.
“Henceforth,” declared Gallant, “this cub of mine will no longer be known as Swiftcub. He faced a dangerous foe without hesitation and protected his pride. His name, now and forever, is Fearless Gallantpride.”
It was done so quickly, Swiftcub felt dizzy with astonishment. I have my name! I’m Fearless. Fearless Gallantpride!
All around him, his whole family echoed his name, roaring their approval. Their deep cries resonated across the grasslands.
“Fearless Gallantpride!”
“Welcome, Fearless, son of Gallant!”
About the Author
ERIN HUNTER is inspired by a love of cats and a fascination with the ferocity of the natural world. In addition to having great respect for nature in all its forms, Erin enjoys creating rich mythical explanations for animal behavior. She is also the author of the Seekers, Survivors, and Bravelands series.
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Books by Erin Hunter
SUPER EDITIONS
Firestar’s Quest
Bluestar’s Prophecy
SkyClan’s Destiny
Crookedstar’s Promise
Yellowfang’s Secret
Tallstar’s Revenge
Bramblestar’s Storm
Moth Flight’s Vision
Hawkwing’s Journey
Tigerheart’s Shadow
Crowfeather’s Trial
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Copyright
WARRIORS SUPER EDITION: SQUIRRELFLIGHT’S HOPE. Copyright © 2019 by Working Partners Limited. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Series created by Working Partners Limited
Map art © 2019 by Dave Stevenson
Interior art © 2019 by Owen Richardson
Cover art © 2019 by Owen Richardson
Series cover design by Ellice M. Lee
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019939329
Digital Edition SEPTEMBER 2019 ISBN: 978-0-06-269883-4
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-269880-3 (trade bdg.)
ISBN 978-0-06-269881-0 (lib. bdg.)
1920212223PC/LSCH10987654321
FIRST EDITION
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