Gorse met her gaze for a moment. “It’ll do,” he decided, then licked his paw and drew it across his spiky head fur. “Thanks.”
Lightning Tail blinked thoughtfully at the two rogue cats, and let out a long sigh. His earlier excitement had vanished like mist in sunlight.
“What’s the matter?” Gray Wing asked.
Lightning Tail hesitated, as if he was reluctant to share his thoughts. “I wish Thunder could be here to see this,” he mewed at last. Trying to sound optimistic, he added, “At least now there are new cats here in the hollow who will help to lead the group.”
Gray Wing felt his fur begin to bristle with hostility. “Lead?” he asked. “I thought that was my job now.”
Even as he spoke, he realized that however much he had fought against taking over the leadership from Tall Shadow, his position already was important to him.
“I didn’t mean—” Lightning Tail began to protest.
“Then what did you mean? Gorse Fur and Wind Runner aren’t even part of our group yet, and you talk about them leading?”
Lightning Tail looked injured, and Gray Wing wondered if he had been too harsh with the young tom. “I only meant…” Lightning Tail cast a glance toward Wind Runner and Gorse Fur; they were standing in the middle of a group of cats, who were all eagerly congratulating them on their new names. “Well, the more strong cats we have, the better, right?”
Gray Wing still felt unsettled. “What do you mean by strong?” he asked.
Lightning Tail scrabbled at the ground with his forepaws, looking more uncomfortable with every heartbeat that passed. Glancing around, he suddenly exclaimed, “Look, there’s Acorn Fur! I have to talk to her.”
Gray Wing stretched out a paw to halt the young cat as he sprang to his paws. “You haven’t answered my question,” he meowed. “What do you mean by strong?”
Lightning Tail turned back to Gray Wing, his whiskers quivering with indignation. His claws raked the ground as if he had to let out some inner turmoil. “I mean cats who can stand up to Clear Sky!” he blurted out at last. “There, I’ve said it! I can’t believe Thunder went away with him, after all the stories we’ve heard.” His neck fur fluffed up in anger as he met Gray Wing’s gaze. “Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about,” he growled. “Every cat knows that Clear Sky is trying to push other cats around.”
As Gray Wing stood staring at him, too astonished to speak, Acorn Fur came bounding up to them. She glanced uncertainly from Gray Wing to her brother and back again. “What’s going on?” she asked. “Are you two arguing?”
“Oh, no,” Gray Wing replied. Between shock and anger, his voice was cold. “Why would I stop to argue with such a young cat, barely out of his nest?”
Lightning Tail reared back at the insult. He opened his jaws to respond, then clearly thought better of it. Whipping around, he stalked off toward Wind Runner and Gorse Fur, followed by his sister, who still looked bewildered.
Gray Wing stood where he was, watching. As his anger ebbed, he realized that he might be missing an opportunity. If I’m going to lead, I need to know that these cats are on my side.
Racing across the camp, barely thinking about Cloud Spots’s advice not to exert himself, he leaped onto the top of the rock beside Tall Shadow. The black she-cat gave him a surprised glance, then edged back to make room for him.
Facing the gathered cats, Gray Wing sought out Wind Runner and Gorse Fur, and dipped his head to them. “Congratulations on your new names,” he began. “We hope that they will bring us closer together in friendship in the seasons to come.”
I’d like to welcome them as full members of the group, he thought to himself. But I’m not sure every cat is ready for that yet. And I want to be certain of myself as leader before I let Wind Runner in, because as sure as snow falls in the cold season, she’ll try to take over.
“Thank you,” Wind Runner responded to his words.
By now all the cats had realized that something unexpected was happening. They turned toward the rock and gazed up at Gray Wing while he waited for silence to fall. It wasn’t a long wait; he could see that every cat was eager to listen to what he had to say. He spotted Turtle Tail at the back of the group, looking surprised.
I never told her I was going to make a speech. I didn’t know it myself until a moment ago.
Standing as tall as he could on top of the rock, Gray Wing cleared his throat. “When my brother left here with Thunder,” he began, “he said that sentiment didn’t count for anything. I’m not sure that I agree with him.”
Pausing, he let his gaze travel over the assembled cats. His three kits were huddled together with Jagged Peak, while Acorn Fur stood protectively beside Lightning Tail, whose fur was still ruffled from their argument. Gorse Fur and Wind Runner stood side by side.
At last Gray Wing’s gaze settled on Turtle Tail. Strong feelings began to surge through him at the sight of her, powerful as the waterfall that crashed into the pool outside the mountain cave.
“Sentiment counts for everything,” he went on, letting his voice ring out clearly across the camp. “Where would we be without each other? I’m so proud of you all for making friends with Wind Runner and Gorse Fur.”
For a moment he could feel Tall Shadow’s stare boring into his back from where she sat behind him at the edge of the rock. He knew she had always been cautious around the two moorland cats, but he also knew she would have to accept them eventually, and he paid no attention to her now.
“But if I’m to truly lead,” he continued, “I need to know that you’re all with me.” He paused before he asked the question that meant everything to him. “Are you?”
When he had finished speaking Gray Wing closed his eyes and waited. His belly began to churn as the silence seemed to stretch out for seasons. What if I’ve got it all wrong?
Then his eyes flew open again as the air was split with yowls of delight and enthusiastic support.
“Yes, Gray Wing!”
“We’re with you!”
“Gray Wing! Gray Wing!”
Gray Wing blinked down at them, stunned and overwhelmed. He was aware of Tall Shadow padding up behind him, and felt her breath warm in his ear as she murmured, “I think you should get down now.”
For a heartbeat Gray Wing felt as though his paws were frozen to the rock. Then he pulled himself together and leaped down into the crowd of his friends. They all pressed around him, brushing their pelts against his, resting their tails on his shoulders or pushing their noses into his fur. Hawk Swoop, Jackdaw’s Cry, Shattered Ice, Rainswept Flower… Confidence thrilled through Gray Wing, filling him from ears to tail-tip, at this proof of their loyalty.
At last he found himself facing Lightning Tail. “This is what it’s about,” Gray Wing told him. “This is true strength.”
Lightning Tail dipped his head in understanding, his hostility gone. “Where you lead, we will all follow,” he meowed.
And that’s all I need to hear, Gray Wing thought.
Chapter 20
Dawn light woke Gray Wing where he lay in the den with Turtle Tail and the kits. They were still sleeping, the kits sprawled over their mother’s body. Turtle Tail’s tail was wrapped against her nose, its fur riffling with every breath she took.
Gray Wing watched her, his heart swelling with affection. He remembered how pleased she had been when he caught up to the others on their journey from the mountains. She had observed him silently when he fell in love with Storm. Now Gray Wing understood why she had left the moor to go and live with Bumble and the Twolegs.