Gray Wing’s gaze flicked over the prey and rested on Thunder, examining him closely. “What have you been up to?” he demanded. “No rabbit bleeds that much.”
“Wouldn’t you like to congratulate Thunder on hunting down food for us all?” Clear Sky interrupted sharply. “He’s done well—can’t you acknowledge that?”
“Of course Thunder has done well,” Gray Wing responded. “I’m just concerned about him, that’s all. You took off without giving us any warning.”
“Oh, sorry,” Clear Sky meowed. “I didn’t realize a father had to ask permission to hunt with his son. Come on, Thunder. Let’s take the rabbit over to the others.”
Clear Sky strode off with the rabbit, and Thunder followed him, not daring to look at Gray Wing’s face. His buoyant mood had vanished completely.
I’ve done nothing wrong. So why do I feel like I’ve betrayed Gray Wing?
Chapter 14
Gray Wing watched Thunder and Clear Sky pad down into the hollow. His relief that they had returned safely was mingled with pain at Clear Sky’s renewed hostility, and even greater uneasiness at the bond that seemed to have sprung up so easily between his brother and Thunder.
Yes, he’s your son. But he meant nothing to you until now!
Another worry was tugging at Gray Wing’s heart, and he guided his paws toward Turtle Tail’s den. He had told her not to follow the other cats into the blazing forest, and he hoped she had been sensible enough to stay in the safety of the camp with her kits.
His anxiety vanished like dew in sunlight as he reached the den and poked his head inside. Turtle Tail was curled up in her nest, her belly curved around her kits, who were asleep in a tangled heap of fur.
Turtle Tail looked up, her eyes glowing in the dawn light, and raised her tail-tip for silence, angling her ears toward the sleeping kits. Gray Wing’s throat was tight with emotion; he would have liked to stay with her, but instead he nodded and turned away.
Glancing around the hollow, Gray Wing saw that Jagged Peak was welcoming the forest cats, pointing out places where they could make nests, and doling out bracken and moss for bedding.
Gray Wing padded over to him. “How was everything, while we were away?”
“Fine,” Jagged Peak replied. He was looking much more like himself, and Gray Wing realized what a good idea it had been to give him some responsibility. “Everything was quiet.” He glanced around at the other cats. “It looks as if you had it tough over there.”
Gray Wing nodded. “You could say that. But at least no cat died.”
By this time all the cats had settled down and were sharing prey: the rabbit that Thunder had killed, and a hare that Hawk Swoop had caught on the previous day. Gray Wing noticed with a jolt of tension that the two groups of cats were sitting separately; even Falling Feather and Quick Water, who had come from the mountains with the others, had chosen to stay with the forest cats. The only exception was Moon Shadow, who was crouching beside Tall Shadow, twitching with pain and feebly licking at his injuries.
There was a sense of coldness, too, between the two groups; Gray Wing caught a furious glare from Petal, and guessed that she was still angry with him for killing her brother Fox. When Hawk Swoop padded across with a portion of the hare and offered it to Frost, the big white tom nodded stiffly, seeming grateful but unwilling to be friendly.
This is all wrong, Gray Wing thought. The fire should have brought us together, but it seems as if nothing has changed. We risked our lives to help them, and this is how they repay us.
He headed toward Clear Sky, in the faint hope that he might be able to do something to dispel the hostility. But he spotted Tall Shadow signaling to him with her tail.
Gray Wing padded up to his leader, who sat beside her injured brother. Seeing Moon Shadow more closely, he became painfully aware of the black tom’s suffering. His eyes were glazed, and his breath came in shallow pants; Gray Wing wasn’t sure that he realized where he was.
“Sit down, Gray Wing,” Tall Shadow mewed. “There’s something I have to say to you.” Her gaze was fixed on her brother as Gray Wing settled down beside her. “I have to concentrate on Moon Shadow now,” she continued. “He needs me to care for him.” Turning her head, she looked Gray Wing in the eyes, and apprehension tingled in his paws. “Gray Wing,” she asked, “can you take over as leader?”
Shock crackled through Gray Wing, as fierce as the spreading fire.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
His leader’s eyes were full of pain and regret. “Can’t you see why I have to do this?” she asked. “The other cats don’t want me as leader any longer. Even Wind thought it was okay to take over when Bumble wanted to join us.” She let out a deep sigh. “Where was I when it came to true leadership during the fire?” she continued. “Cowering behind the flames. If it wasn’t for Thunder and Jackdaw’s Cry, I would be dead.”
“That was because you wouldn’t leave Moon Shadow,” Gray Wing protested. “How would you feel now, if you’d left him to burn?”
Tall Shadow only flicked her tail in a gesture of denial; Gray Wing could see that guilt was almost overwhelming her.
“You’ve been a good leader,” he argued. “You’ve always been brilliant at strategy, and you helped lead us down from the mountains. You were the obvious choice to take over when Shaded Moss was killed.”
“That was then.” Tall Shadow’s shoulders sagged. “Can’t you see how tired I am? The only thing I’ve had strength for is watching over the camp.” She shook her head helplessly. “No, this is the right time. Gray Wing, you should take over.” With a wry twist of her mouth she added, “Just don’t rub my nose in it, okay?”
“You should know me better than that,” Gray Wing responded gently. “I would never dream of hurting you.” He wanted to tell her that he had been injured in the fire too; his paws still hurt and his breathing didn’t feel right.
But Tall Shadow had already turned back to her brother, licking his ears in an attempt to comfort him. How can I refuse? Gray Wing thought sadly as he moved away, leaving the brother and sister to care for each other. Is this what Stoneteller was trying to say in my dream? That I should take the leadership despite my doubts?
Cloud Spots and Dappled Pelt were moving among the other cats, checking for injuries. Gray Wing noticed that Frost had a bad burn on one leg. A sense of responsibility crashed over him, but he realized there was nothing he could do that Dappled Pelt and Cloud Spots weren’t doing already.
I need to get some sleep. Even though the sun was high and bright, Gray Wing staggered toward his nest. He was almost thankful for the exhaustion pulling at his body; it dampened the pain in his paws. Maybe things will look better after a rest, and I’ll feel more like taking over the leadership from Tall Shadow.
But before Gray Wing reached his nest, he noticed that Clear Sky was standing at the top of the hollow, gazing out across the moor. Jagged Peak was hovering nearby, clearly trying to pluck up courage to talk to him, but he might as well have been on the other side of the moor for all the attention Clear Sky was paying him.
Gray Wing couldn’t see Clear Sky’s expression because his brother was facing away from him. But I know he must be unhappy to be forced from his home in the forest. I should go and talk to him…