Pouncekit was already racing across the shiny floor. “Did Tigerheart say we could go out?”
Lightkit charged after her sister. “I want to go first.”
“Won’t it be cold outside?” Shadowkit trailed them doubtfully.
“That’s what you’ve got fur for, silly!” Pouncekit called over her shoulder.
Dovewing’s tail drooped. “I guess we can take them out,” she conceded. “But only for a while.”
Lightkit tried to haul herself up the leg of the wooden ledge. Dovewing scooped her up and carried her up to the entrance. “Don’t go outside until I’ve got Shadowkit and Pouncekit,” she warned. As she jumped down to fetch them, Tigerheart noticed Spire. The healer had wandered into a pool of sunshine at the far end of the den and was staring at the air, his eyes glazed. Was he having a vision?
“I’ll join you in a moment,” Tigerheart called to Dovewing as she dropped Shadowkit beside his littermates.
“Don’t be long,” Dovewing answered, nosing them through the gap in the wall.
Tigerheart padded toward the skinny black tom. Spire didn’t shift his gaze from the shaft of light that seemed to have hypnotized him. Tigerheart wondered whether to disturb him, but as he neared, Spire spoke, his gaze still distant.
“Take care of Blaze.”
For a moment, Tigerheart wondered who the healer was talking to, but there was no cat left in the den aside from Feather and Scowl, and they were hidden among the furless pelts of their nests. Was he talking to an imaginary cat?
“I will not live beside the widewater. But Blaze will.”
Widewater? Instantly Tigerheart thought of the lake. Was he talking about their journey there? “Are you saying Blaze will travel home with us?”
Spire’s yellow gaze flashed toward him, focusing suddenly. “Of course.”
He’s talking to me. Tigerheart leaned closer. “So widewater means the lake?”
“That’s where the Clans live, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” Surprise set Tigerheart’s fur prickling. “How do you know?” Had Dovewing mentioned the lake?
“I told you.” Spire shook out his pelt. “I see things.”
“Do you see our journey? Do we make it home safely?”
Spire looked away. “Go teach battle moves, like you promised.”
Unease wormed in Tigerheart’s belly. The healer was avoiding his question. “Do you know if we get home safely?” he pressed.
Spire padded past him, heading for the sick cats’ nests. “I don’t see everything,” he meowed briskly.
Tigerheart hurried from the den, suddenly anxious to see Dovewing and their kits. Did the black tom know something? Something he didn’t dare tell?
Pouncekit, Lightkit, and Shadowkit were bouncing over the grass beside a stone slab. Dovewing watched them protectively, her gaze flitting beyond them, as though checking for danger. She caught sight of him and blinked at him, purring. “They like the grass.”
“It’s so soft,” Lightkit squeaked.
“And tickly.” Pouncekit rolled over in it, mewling with delight.
Shadowkit stayed in the shelter of the slab and watched anxiously.
“I want to explore,” Pouncekit mewed.
“I want to play.” Lightkit called to Tigerheart. “Are you going to play with us?”
Tigerheart looked to where the guardian cats were already practicing the battle moves he’d taught them to fight foxes. “I have to go and help Fierce,” he told Lightkit. “We can play another time.”
Lightkit wasn’t listening. She was following Pouncekit as the gray kit sniffed her way to the next stone slab like a fox following scent.
Tigerheart purred. It was good to see the kits with grass beneath their paws and sky overhead. For the first time, he could imagine them as warriors. He turned toward the guardian cats. Cobweb and Ant were stalking around Rascal. Rascal eyed them sharply. As Cobweb dived for Rascal’s forepaw and Ant lunged for his tail, Rascal ducked and rolled. Cobweb and Ant landed clumsily as Rascal tumbled out of reach.
“Nice move, Rascal!” Tigerheart was pleased the guardian cats had remembered the skills he’d taught them.
Blaze bounded toward him. “I want to learn a new move!” he mewed. “I already know all the old ones.”
“You do, do you?” Tigerheart purred at him proudly. “Show me one.”
Blaze arched his back and flattened his ears. Hissing, he approached Tigerheart side-first, looking as big as he could. Tigerheart shot out a paw to tumble the kit onto his back, but his sheathed claws swiped thin air. Blaze had ducked beneath his chest and was clinging to his hind leg, churning his paws against it energetically.
“Very good!” Tigerheart purred. “You’re a natural fighter.”
“I am?” Blaze leaped to his paws and stared excitedly at Tigerheart.
Tigerheart cuffed his ear playfully. You’ve a long way to go before you’d make a warrior. But the kit definitely had talent. He was quick-thinking as well as fast.
Movement near the trees caught his eye. Fog and Tuna were stalking through the grass there. Streak and Growler were heading the other way. They’re still checking out our territory. Tigerheart’s pelt prickled. He wished the guardian cats would admit this was their land and mark some borders. It would make it easier to challenge Fog and her gang. And yet how could he confront her now? He needed her to help them fight the foxes. As Fog caught his eye, he looked away. Focus on training the guardian cats.
Fierce lifted her muzzle. “What do we do if we’re attacked by two foxes at once?”
Tigerheart flicked his tail approvingly. She was thinking like a warrior. “If we fight the foxes, we’ll stay in pairs. That way we can be more prepared for an attack on two sides.” He beckoned Rascal and Mittens forward. “Stand tail to tail,” he told them. As they shifted into position, he padded around the circle of watching cats and nudged Pipsqueak forward with his nose. “You can be one fox,” he mewed, then moved on to Dotty. “You can be the other.” He guided her past Rascal and Mittens, who were facing outward, their tails touching. “If two foxes attack from two sides, get straight into a tail-to-tail position. Foxes will instinctively go for your legs. Duck down and claw their muzzle as they come in for the attack. Aim for their eyes if you can. Then rear up fast, so your backs are touching, and use each other to push off. Leap clear of the fox’s muzzle, onto its back. The foxes will crash into each other while you’ve got your claws around their spines. Try it.” Tigerheart stepped back to watch. “Remember,” he told Pipsqueak and Dotty, “you’re foxes. Aim for their legs. Everybody, keep your claws sheathed. We don’t want injuries.”
He watched, concentrating, as Dotty and Pipsqueak circled Rascal and Mittens.
“Keep your faces toward the fox at all times,” Tigerheart warned. “When you’re fighting large enemies, your teeth and claws are more important than your strength.”
Rascal and Mittens shifted to keep their muzzles pointed toward Pipsqueak and Dotty as they continued to circle. Then Dotty caught Pipsqueak’s eye and lunged forward. Pipsqueak followed. Rascal and Mittens threw a flurry of blows at their denmates’ muzzles, then reared together and pushed away from each other. They sailed over their attackers, flattening them as they landed squarely on their backs.
Pipsqueak grunted as his paws collapsed beneath him. “Rascal, you’re heavy!” He wriggled indignantly from under the tabby tom.
Dotty scrambled from under Mittens. “It seems like a good strategy.”
“Let’s all practice it.” Fierce waved Ant, Cobweb, Blaze, and Rascal into group with a flick of her tail.
Cobweb hesitated, his gaze flicking toward Blaze. “He’s too young to fight foxes,” he pointed out.