Thunder blinked. Let him go! None of this made sense. Did they need to kill each other? For what? A shriek jerked him from his thoughts. Snake had knocked Frost onto his side. He sliced the white tom’s throat with a flailing paw. Frost’s scruff darkened in the moonlight as blood spread through his fur. Groaning, he twitched, then fell limp.
Thunder’s heart dropped like stone, heavy in his chest. Tall Shadow was right. We must fight or die.
“Mouseheart!” Falling Feather chased Acorn Fur, lip curled and eyes shining with hate. She streaked past Thunder and leaped for the young cat, hauling her onto her side.
Dread hollowed Thunder’s belly. He wasn’t going to watch another tribe mate die. “Get off her!” He leaped for Falling Feather and sank his claws into her pelt. As he dragged her off Acorn Fur, she twisted, thrusting her muzzle forward to nip at his throat. But Thunder was quicker, heaving her onto her belly and scraping his hind claws along her spine.
Clear Sky’s pale gray pelt caught his eye as it flashed toward Rainswept Flower a tail-length away. Clear Sky hit her like a swooping eagle, sending her reeling.
Thunder stiffened, holding Falling Feather firmly. He ignored her snarls as she wriggled beneath him, his gaze fixed on Clear Sky.
“Is this worth it?” he heard Clear Sky hiss at Rainswept Flower.
Scrambling to her paws, she faced him. “What do you mean?”
Clear Sky flattened his ears menacingly. “Are you ready to die just to stop me from making borders?”
Rainswept Flower curled her lip. “You’ll keep stealing land as long as we let you.”
“Stealing land?” Clear Sky’s mew trembled with rage. “I’m just making sure my cats never starve.”
Rainswept Flower’s gaze flitted around the lush slopes of the hollow. “How could any cat starve here? There’s so much. Wanting more is just greedy!”
“How dare you!” With a snarl, Clear Sky leaped for her, grabbing her throat between his jaws. Her paws flailed desperately, lashing out at thin air as he shook her like prey. Then she hung still.
Clear Sky dropped her, gazing coldly at her lifeless body. “You never understood. I’m not greedy. I’m just strong.”
The whole forest seemed to fall silent around Thunder. All he could hear was rage pounding in his ears. He let Falling Feather go. She scrambled from beneath him and backed away, hissing. He barely heard her over his chaotic, fighting thoughts.
Clear Sky was glad he’d killed another cat. I’m not greedy. I’m just strong. He’d rejected Jagged Peak and thrown Frost out of his territory because he thought they were weak. You’re wrong! Frost had given his life defending his camp mates. Jagged Peak was guarding kits and Thunder knew he would fight to the death to protect them.
A growl rumbled in Thunder’s throat. Clear Sky had only ever caused misery. He’d driven away any cat who had ever loved him. Thunder stalked toward his father, his belly burning.
“You killed her!” Dark fur barged past Thunder as Gray Wing leaped for Clear Sky. “You killed Rainswept Flower!” He swiped his brother viciously across the muzzle.
Clear Sky staggered back, shaking his head, before turning to face his littermate. His eyes were as cold as stars. “If I hadn’t, some other cat would have.”
With a roar, Gray Wing leaped for him.
Clear Sky ducked, rolling sideways, but Gray Wing was ready, as though it was a move he knew well. He turned as he landed and slashed at his brother’s cheek. Clear Sky hissed, taking the blow without flinching. The fur on his spine spiked into a ridge. Tail lashing, ears flat, he lunged forward.
Gray Wing tried to leap clear of the attack, but Clear Sky grabbed his hind paw as he skidded beneath his belly.
Thunder felt like he was watching a fight rehearsed for moons. They play fought as kits. He narrowed his eyes. They knew each other’s moves better than any cat. But now they weren’t playing. Now they were out for blood.
Clear Sky flicked Gray Wing’s hind paws from beneath him. Gray Wing landed on his flank with a grunt.
Clear Sky was on him in a moment, pressing his cheek to the ground with a wide-stretched paw. “Why do you always have to challenge me?” he demanded. “You should have just let me make my boundaries as I wanted! Instead, you bring me war.” He pressed harder, drool hanging from his lips.
“You’ve betrayed the cats who were once your kin,” Gray Wing grunted, his mew muffled. He spat earth from his mouth. “The cats who traveled here with you from the mountains. Is that what you wanted?” His words turned into a groan as Clear Sky pressed harder, but Gray Wing went on. “Is this why we left the mountains? To kill each other?” Gasping with effort, he pushed his shoulders up. Clear Sky stumbled, unbalanced, and Gray Wing scrambled to his paws.
“I’m glad Storm is dead,” Gray Wing hissed. “She would never have wanted to see this!”
Clear Sky’s gaze darkened. “Don’t mention her name!” He hurled himself, hissing, at Gray Wing.
Thunder rushed forward, but claws grasped his tail. He spun around. Falling Feather was staring at him, her eyes gleaming with malice. “We’ve not finished,” she snarled, hurling herself at him.
Thunder staggered back, shocked by the force of her attack. His mind was whirling as he fell. “But Gray Wing!” He landed with a thump on his back and felt claws curling into his chest. “You traveled from the mountains with him—you can’t let him be killed by Clear Sky!”
Falling Feather’s muzzle was a whisker from his. He saw her eyes narrow and felt her hot breath as claws raked deep across his belly.
Pain spiraled into panic as he felt blood well where she’d struck. She’s ripped out my belly! As terror rose in his throat, green eyes glinted beside him. Black fur brushed across his face. The strong scent of Jackdaw’s Cry filled his nose.
Falling Feather yowled as the black tom knocked her sprawling onto the ground.
Gasping, Thunder scrambled to his paws and found himself facing Leaf.
The rogue growled at him as Jackdaw’s Cry and Falling Feather rolled away, snarling. “I’ll finish you,” he hissed.
Fury roared louder in Thunder’s ears. Falling Feather and Jackdaw’s Cry were littermates, just like Gray Wing and Clear Sky! This had to stop. He lashed out at Leaf. “Get out of my way!”
Leaf blocked him, slamming his paws down onto Thunder’s shoulders. Growling, Thunder shrugged off Leaf and headed toward Gray Wing.
Claws dug into his flanks.
“Get off, Leaf,” he snarled as the tom attacked again.
“Never!”
Thunder turned and lashed out. Leaf gasped as claws raked his throat, his fur and flesh ripping, blood spurting from the wound like water, turning to a glistening pool on the ground.
Leaf stared at him, eyes glazing with shock, then dropped to his belly.
Thunder froze. What have I done? He was trying to stop the killing. “Dappled Pelt! Help him!” he cried desperately to his camp mate. She knew how to heal.
The tortoiseshell looked up. Blood stained her muzzle. At her paws, a panting rogue clawed weakly at her. She struggled free and raced around the battling cats. Crouching beside Leaf, she sniffed his wound. “It’s okay. This is bleeding that will stop.” She pushed Leaf onto his side and pressed her paws against his neck.