“We’re lucky that the rogue cats like Wind and Gorse have been so welcoming,” he gently reminded his brother. “Things could have been very different.”
Clear Sky let out a snort of scornful laughter. “Those two bags of bones! I don’t know why you bother with them. They just take up precious prey.”
Gray Wing remembered what Wind and Gorse had told him. “But… you allow them to hunt in the forest, don’t you?” he asked. “I mean, they were here before any of us.”
A heartbeat passed before Clear Sky replied, not meeting Gray Wing’s gaze. “No,” he responded slowly. “They don’t hunt in the forest anymore.”
“Because you won’t let them?” Gray Wing demanded.
Once again Clear Sky didn’t reply immediately. Then he spun around to face Gray Wing. “Look—you have to understand,” he began. “Thunder is coming with me.” Gray Wing opened his jaws to protest, but Clear Sky kept speaking. “I know I sent him away when he was a kit, but I just wanted to test him. He’s grown into a brave and clever cat, and that’s all thanks to you—I know it is—but I am his father. I’m going to make amends now.” He peered into Gray Wing’s face as if he was trying to read his thoughts. “You won’t try to stop me, will you?”
What can I say? Gray Wing asked himself.
“Good,” Clear Sky said. “I knew I could trust you not to get between father and son.” He started to walk away.
It can’t end here! Gray Wing tried to call his brother back, but as he opened his jaws he felt the breath leave his body. His belly felt tight, as though his rib bones were growing smaller and crushing it. The taste of smoke filled his mouth, and he couldn’t speak.
Fear crawled through Gray Wing’s pelt from ears to tail-tip. He gasped for breath, and to his relief the crushing sensation faded. But by then, Clear Sky had gone.
Trying to force down his deep uneasiness, Gray Wing returned to the hollow. Clear Sky was standing in the middle, beginning to gather his group of cats around him. At first Gray Wing couldn’t spot Thunder; then he noticed him at the far side of the hollow with Lightning Tail. The two young cats were pretending to stalk a pebble, creeping forward with their belly fur brushing the ground. Slowly… slowly… then pounce!
Pleasure tingled through Gray Wing’s paws as he watched them, but the feeling was followed by sadness. Lightning Tail adores Thunder… How will he cope when he’s gone?
Gray Wing bounded down into the hollow and called to Thunder. As the young ginger tom padded toward him, Lightning Tail started to follow, as he often did. Gray Wing raised a paw to halt him. “I need to talk to Thunder alone.”
Lightning Tail looked faintly surprised, then nodded and dashed off to join Acorn Fur, who was batting a feather around at the entrance to their den.
Gray Wing led Thunder to a quiet spot behind the leader’s rock. “Clear Sky and his cats will be leaving soon,” he began. “I take it you’ll be going with them?”
Thunder studied his paws. “How do you know that?” he asked.
Gray Wing reached out a paw and patted Thunder gently on the nose. “I know you better than you know yourself. I raised you from a kit—or have you forgotten that?”
Thunder looked up, his eyes blazing. “I’ll never forget that, never!” More quietly he added, “But I’m not a kit anymore, and I think Clear Sky understands that. He’ll help me become the best cat I can be.”
And you think I wouldn’t? Pain clawed through Gray Wing, but he did his best to push his feelings to one side. It wouldn’t help Thunder to get upset now.
“I’m sure he will,” Gray Wing responded, after a pause. “And I want you to know that you leave with my good wishes.”
Thunder’s tail went straight up in surprise. “Really?” he asked, sounding relieved.
“Yes,” Gray Wing assured him, “but you must do one thing for me. I want you to say good-bye properly to Hawk Swoop. She’s done a lot for you. She’s treated you as her own son.” Gray Wing angled his ears to where Hawk Swoop sat outside her den, watching Acorn Fur and Lightning Tail wrestling together. “Go on, now.”
Thunder dipped his head in understanding. “Thank you for everything,” he meowed, then padded over to Hawk Swoop.
Gray Wing couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he felt that his heart would break when he saw Hawk Swoop’s expression change and heard a desolate wail rise up from Lightning Tail.
Hawk Swoop darted a panicked glance over to Gray Wing, who shook his head gently. Don’t try to fight it, he told her silently. The best thing we can do for Thunder now is to send him on his way with our good wishes.
“Forest cats, come on!” Clear Sky called, striding across the hollow to round up the stragglers. “We’re leaving now.”
His cats gathered quickly, looking confused and startled, exchanging hasty good-byes with the moorland cats. Gray Wing looked around for Tall Shadow, but she was bending over Moon Shadow, and paid no attention to Clear Sky.
Of course, Moon Shadow will be staying here, Gray Wing thought with a hint of bitterness. Clear Sky has no use for injured cats.
As the forest cats headed up the slope, Clear Sky gazed across the hollow toward Thunder, who still stood uncertainly beside Hawk Swoop. “Are you coming or not?” he asked.
“I… er… I thought I’d have more time to say good-bye to the others,” Thunder replied.
The fur on Clear Sky’s shoulders began to bristle. “Sentiment will get you nowhere,” he meowed. “Walk by my side, or stay here in the cozy hollow with the other kits.” He turned and followed the rest of his cats without waiting.
Thunder cast a single, regretful glance at Gray Wing, then leaped forward to chase after his father.
Gray Wing watched as he caught up to the others and disappeared over the top of the hollow. I have no idea when I’ll see Thunder again.
Chapter 16
The sun had gone down and stars began to appear in the night sky. A breeze blew across the moor, carrying the smell of smoke and ash from the burnt forest.
Weariness had overwhelmed Gray Wing again as the daylight faded, but he tried to keep his head and tail high as he headed up the slope to the top of the hollow.
“Where are you off to?” Rainswept Flower asked as she passed him with a mouse dangling from her jaws.
“I feel like sleeping in the open tonight,” Gray Wing replied.
Rainswept Flower gave a cheerful nod and padded on.
Gray Wing continued out onto the moor. He hadn’t lied to Rainswept Flower, but he hadn’t told her the whole truth. His instincts told him that the fresh moorland air might help to clear the taste of smoke from his mouth, and he might breathe more easily. But in addition to that, he didn’t want the other cats to see him quivering with pain, or licking his injured hind paws.
Now that Tall Shadow has given me the leadership, I can’t afford to seem weak.
Once Gray Wing had left the hollow safely behind, he found a comfortable spot to sleep, in a mossy dip sheltered by a boulder. After giving himself a soothing lick he curled up, but for a long time sleep wouldn’t come. His body was tired, but his head was full of racing thoughts.