The First Battle

Chapter 18

“Keep your hackles down,” Gray Wing murmured as he descended the slope.

“What are you doing?” Thunder stared after him, paws rooted to the grass. “We’re outnumbered.”

“He won’t attack.” Gray Wing glanced over his shoulder.

“Why bring his whole camp if he doesn’t mean to attack?” And what about Pebble Heart’s warning? Thunder couldn’t believe that Gray Wing was being so reckless.

Tall Shadow padded after him. “What will he gain by harming us?”

Thunder watched her go. “Clear Sky hurts cats just because he can.”

“I don’t believe that.” Gray Wing paused and met Thunder’s gaze. “Are you coming or not?”

Thunder took a deep breath. I’m no coward. Forcing his fur to lie flat, he followed. The grass was slippery with dew beneath his paws. The musky scents of the forest cats filled the hollow. His gaze slid sideways as they reached the bottom. Shapes moved in the shadows on the slopes. He could see them slipping between the ferns like fish through reeds. But the moonlit clearing was deserted.

That’s just like Clear Sky. I bet he told them to stay hidden because he knows a hidden enemy is more intimidating. “Just face us, you cowards,” he muttered under his breath.

“Hush!” Tall Shadow’s hiss was sharp.

Gray Wing padded to the foot of the great rock looming at the end of the clearing. He slid around the side and a moment later appeared at the top, facing Clear Sky.

Thunder flexed his claws. He felt uncomfortable, exposed.

“Join us!” Clear Sky called down.

Something about this felt wrong. A chill ran down Thunder’s spine.

“Come on.” Tall Shadow headed toward the rock.

Thunder followed. At least, he told himself, up there, they’d be safe from the reach of claws and teeth.

“What do we do if they attack?” he whispered to Tall Shadow as she crouched, ready to jump.

“Let’s hope they don’t.” She leaped, landing on a narrow ledge halfway up before jumping to the top.

Thunder sighed. That wasn’t much of a plan. “I hope you’re right,” he muttered, bounding after her.

The top of the rock was smooth, still warm from the day’s heat. Gray Wing sat a tail-length from Clear Sky, who rested on his haunches, paws splayed as he washed his chest.

Tall Shadow circled Clear Sky slowly, her eyes never leaving him. She stopped and narrowed her eyes. “Why did you bring the others?”

Clear Sky lifted his head slowly and met her gaze, drawing his paws neatly in front of him. “Why did Gray Wing bring you?”

Thunder bristled. “Because we don’t trust you,” he growled.

Gray Wing nudged Thunder backward as Tall Shadow settled beside him. “Thank you for coming, Clear Sky,” he meowed evenly.

Clear Sky lifted his chin. “This meeting is long overdue.” His voice rang across the hollow.

Thunder scanned the shadowy slopes, searching for movement. Clear Sky seemed to be addressing every cat, as though he was leader of them all. His hackles lifted. “Stop acting like it was your idea.”

“Be quiet, Thunder,” Gray Wing growled softly.

“Yes, Thunder. Be quiet.” Clear Sky’s eyes flashed scornfully in the moonlight.

“Don’t tell me what to do!” Thunder flashed back at him.

“I forgot,” Clear Sky meowed silkily. “You were always Gray Wing’s cat.”

“That’s not true!” Claws seemed to rake Thunder’s heart. “I tried to be the son you wanted me to be.”

“Is that right?” Clear Sky stared at him coldly, the moonlight gleaming on his pelt.

“You wanted me to be cruel, like you!” Thunder thrust his muzzle toward his father. “But I’ll never be cruel!”

“Thunder!” Gray Wing hissed at him fiercely.

Tall Shadow wove past Thunder, nudging him backward, as Gray Wing shifted his paws.

“I’m sorry about Thunder,” said Gray Wing. “He’s young and impulsive.”

Thunder struggled to swallow his rage at the politeness in Gray Wing’s mew. How dare you apologize for me!

Gray Wing went on. “The silence between us has festered like warm prey. Talk will clear the air and perhaps we can go back to how things were when we first arrived from the mountains.”

Clear Sky’s ear twitched but he didn’t speak.

“Do you remember how it was?” Gray Wing prompted. “What it was like to be warm for the first time? To have full bellies? To feel soft grass beneath our paws instead of snow and rock? We were proud that we’d made such a dangerous journey. We were united in our determination never again to cower, hungry, in cold caves.” He reached his muzzle closer to Clear Sky. “Surely, you remember?”

Clear Sky cocked his head to one side. “I remember the cats who died on the way. Have you forgotten Bright Stream?” His gaze glittered like ice. “And, when we arrived, the rogues didn’t exactly welcome us to their land. We had to fight for it.”

“That’s not true!” Gray Wing objected. “What about Wind and Gorse?” He flicked his nose toward the shadows moving at the edges of the clearing. “What about Nettle and Fircone? All these rogues! They’re your allies now.”

“Like Fox?” There was a sneer in Clear Sky’s mew.

As Gray Wing flinched, Thunder leaned closer. He’d heard about the tom Gray Wing had killed. “Fox died defending boundaries that you created!” he snarled.

“Hush!” Tall Shadow breathed in his ear. “Control yourself, Thunder. Now isn’t the time to settle scores with your father.”

He met her dark gaze, anger churning in his belly. She was right. They were here to bring peace to the forest and the moor.

She stepped forward and lifted her face so that moonlight drenched her muzzle. “The stars have looked down on this place for countless seasons. The stone beneath my paws has stood for endless moons.”

Movement flickered at the corner of Thunder’s vision. The cats below were slinking from the shadows. Falling Feather’s white pelt glowed. He recognized the small frame of Quick Water at her side. Nettle and Fircone hurried closer, fur rippling. Petal, Leaf, and Snake jostled to get near. Thunder spotted a dull, black pelt moving like a shadow after the others. Was that Jackdaw’s Cry?

As silent as hunters, they gathered beneath the rock. Their eyes shone with curiosity. Above them, bats flitted, swooping this way and that like ghostly swallows. The cats ignored them and lifted their gazes to Tall Shadow.

She turned to them. “This great rock did not rise from the ground for me to sit on. These trees did not grow to give you shelter.” She flicked her muzzle toward the moor. “The grass did not cover the moor to soften our paw steps. The rabbits didn’t hollow burrows for us to shelter in.” She turned her gaze suddenly to Clear Sky. “The forest did not burn to destroy your home.”

Thunder saw him shiver. She’d reminded Clear Sky of how vulnerable he’d been when flames threatened to engulf his camp. He’d needed their help then. He’d never have survived without it.

Tall Shadow pressed on. “This land isn’t ours. We live here for a few short moons then disappear. But the land lives on. It isn’t ours to claw into morsels and share like prey. We must honor it and protect it. It feeds us and shelters us.” Her gaze swept back to the cats below. “Can we be united in that?”

Quick Water glanced at Falling Feather. Leaf rounded his eyes, intrigued. Fircone shifted his paws.

Were they considering Tall Shadow’s plea?

Thunder looked at Clear Sky. His father’s gaze had widened. Suddenly, he looked young, his ears pricked, his whiskers quivering. Had Tall Shadow convinced him that they could share the land in peace?

Hope surged beneath Thunder’s pelt as Gray Wing stepped forward, reaching his muzzle out to his brother.

“Got you!” A triumphant yowl sounded below.

Thunder spun, heart lurching as he saw Jackdaw’s Cry leap and swat a bat from the air. The black tom leaped on it and began gnawing, a warning growl rumbling in his throat.

“How dare you!” Petal turned on him, hissing. “That’s forest prey.”

“This is no cat’s land.” Jackdaw’s Cry looked up at her, bat flesh hanging from his jaws. He flicked it into his mouth and swallowed hungrily.

Petal leaped and hooked the bat away. “That belongs to us! Clear Sky forbid you from eating our prey!”

“No!” Gray Wing’s eyes rounded in horror.

Thunder blinked. They were so close to an agreement. They mustn’t fight now. Not over prey!

Clear Sky growled from the edge of the rock. “Stop!”

Petal and Jackdaw’s Cry froze and backed away. The bat lay between them, pooled in blood.

Clear Sky’s gaze swung toward Jackdaw’s Cry. “What’s he doing here?”

Petal looked up at her leader. “We couldn’t leave him alone with Birch and Alder.”

Jackdaw’s Cry snarled. “You think I’d harm kits?”

Leaf showed his teeth. “Never trust a hungry cat.”

“Whose fault is it I’m hungry?” Jackdaw’s Cry threw an accusing glare at Clear Sky. “You haven’t let me eat since I got to the forest.”

What? Outrage pulsed through Thunder. He pictured the piles of prey in the forest camp, rotting because there was too much to eat. Hadn’t they shared any with Jackdaw’s Cry? “You starved him? But… you swore that you would never again see another cat go hungry.”

Clear Sky turned on him. “Don’t you dare speak! You’ve no right to be heard after everything you’ve done!” Hurt blazed in his eyes. “You’re disloyal and ungrateful. First, you left Gray Wing. And then you left me!”

Thunder shrank beneath his pelt. Disloyal? Was that how Gray Wing saw it, too? “You told me it was destiny.” His mew was barely a whisper.

Clear Sky’s eyes narrowed. “Your destiny has nothing to do with me.” He barged past Gray Wing and thrust his muzzle into Thunder’s face. “You betrayed Gray Wing and you betrayed me!” He drew back, teeth glinting. “Isn’t that right, brother?” He glared at Gray Wing.

“Leaving the moor wasn’t a betrayal,” Gray Wing protested. “He thought he was doing the right thing.”

Clear Sky snorted. “He can’t be trusted.” His gaze swung back to Thunder.

Thunder backed away, his paws trembling. He knew he’d come to despise Clear Sky… but he didn’t realize his father hated him.

“I know what you’ve been doing on the moor,” Clear Sky accused, leaning close to Thunder again. “You’ve been training cats for battle—”

“I haven’t!” Thunder defended himself. “I’ve been trying to persuade them not to fight!”

Clear Sky wasn’t listening. “You’ve been seen. Telling them how to turn hunting crouches into fighting moves! But don’t forget, you mean nothing to any cat, no matter how much you try to prove yourself. No cat trusts you anymore!”

Sudden darkness shrouded the hollow. Thunder jerked his gaze up. Past the towering oaks, he searched for the moon, but clouds had swallowed it and hidden the stars.

Clear Sky’s mew dropped to a whisper. “You may as well not exist.” His breath stirred Thunder’s ear fur.

Thunder gasped, shock pulsing through him as he saw coldness harden his father’s gaze.

Clear Sky turned his head toward the cats below. “Attack!” He reared and hooked his claws into Tall Shadow’s pelt and hauled her over the edge of the rock.

Yowls of excitement erupted as she landed among the forest cats.

“Tall Shadow!” Thunder stared in horror as they turned on her, claws flashing in the moonlight.

Jackdaw’s Cry plunged into the sea of writhing pelts, snaking his way to Tall Shadow’s side. Back to back, they reared and hit out at their attackers.

Petal hurled herself at Tall Shadow, hissing. Snake lunged low, nipping at her paws. With a hefty blow, Nettle caught Tall Shadow’s cheek. Tall Shadow staggered, unbalancing Jackdaw’s Cry. He teetered forward and Fircone grabbed his scruff and dragged him onto the ground.

“We have to help them.” Gray Wing’s panicked mew sounded in his ear.

“Let’s get them up here. It’ll be easier to defend ourselves,” Thunder hissed back.

“Then what?” Gray Wing’s gaze flashed with fear.

I don’t know! Thunder froze, staring down at the forest cats as Tall Shadow and Jackdaw’s Cry disappeared beneath them.

Clear Sky pushed past him. “That’s right,” he hissed. “Stay up here and watch your friends die.” He leaped down from the rock.

“Quick!” Thunder slithered after him. Gray Wing landed heavily beside him. They exchanged glances, then Thunder hurled himself into the battle. He grabbed Petal, digging his claws deep into her pelt, and dragged her backward. She yowled and turned, lips drawn back. Thunder ducked as she snapped at his muzzle, feeling a fierce tug at his whiskers as her jaws slammed shut dangerously close to his cheek. He dodged forward, thrusting himself beneath Nettle’s belly. Pushing up, he heaved the tom off his paws and sent him sprawling.

“Thunder!” Jackdaw’s Cry exclaimed. The tom’s gaze lit with hope.

“Get to the rock!” Thunder ordered.

Tall Shadow jerked her head around, catching Thunder’s eye.

“Watch out!” Thunder’s heart lurched as he saw Fircone lunge for her.

Tall Shadow spun and met the tom’s attack with an outstretched paw. She raked his muzzle, then threw her full weight against him, sending him staggering back against Quick Water and Leaf.

Pain seared Thunder’s flank. He turned as Snake sunk his claws deep. Fury rose in his belly. He dragged himself free and snapped at the rogue’s throat. Snake dodged away. Thunder leaped after him, grabbed his scruff between his teeth and shook him hard.

Claws hooked his shoulders and dragged him backward.

“Did you really think this battle could be avoided?” Clear Sky hissed in his ear.

“This isn’t a battle!” Thunder grunted with pain as Clear Sky pinned him to the ground with outstretched claws. “It’s slaughter.” Thrashing desperately, he spotted Gray Wing dragging Jackdaw’s Cry free of Fircone and pushing him toward the rock.

“Use the ledge to jump to the top!” Gray Wing ordered. He turned back for Tall Shadow.

Thunder writhed in Clear Sky’s grip. “We’re not going to make it easy!” As fast as a rabbit, he tucked his hind paws under his father’s belly and thrust him backward. Clear Sky’s eyes lit in surprise as he staggered backward and tripped over Snake.

Thunder leaped to his paws.

Tall Shadow streaked past him.

Gray Wing was on her tail. “Come on.” He paused to nose Thunder toward the rock.

Thunder ran, following Tall Shadow as she leaped onto the ledge. He scrambled to the top of the great rock a moment after her. Jackdaw’s Cry was trembling at the top. Gray Wing landed beside him.

“Now what?” Tall Shadow’s eyes were wide.

A hiss sounded from the ledge. Thunder looked down and saw Snake, halfway up. The rogue jumped. But Thunder was quick. He lashed out and sent him sprawling to the ground. Scrambling to his paws, Snake threw a menacing look to the top of the rock. Around him, the forest cats circled, low growls rumbling in their throats.

“We’re trapped!” Jackdaw’s Cry blinked at Gray Wing.

“They can’t keep us here forever,” Gray Wing reasoned.

Clear Sky padded to the center of the clearing and called up. “What’s your plan now, Gray Wing?” he snarled triumphantly. “Are you going to let us watch you starve up there? Or are you going to come down and fight like real cats?”

Thunder glanced up at the oak branch swaying a tail-length above their heads. “We need help,” he said.

Jackdaw’s Cry followed his gaze. “Do you think the birds are going to come and teach us to fly away?”

“If I could just get back to camp, I could fetch more cats.” Thunder murmured.

“You’ll never get past them.” Tall Shadow nodded toward the cats below.

Gray Wing narrowed his eyes. “Are you thinking about climbing out of here?”

Thunder met his gaze. “If I could get into the tree and climb along that branch.” He nodded toward a bough stretching toward the slope. The moor rose beyond. “I might make it to the camp for help.”

“It’s dangerous.” Tall Shadow’s eyes darkened. “They’ll try and stop you.”

“We’ll distract them,” Gray Wing promised.

Thunder peered down at the circling cats. “Stay up here,” he warned. “I want you safe when I return with the others.”

“Will they come?” Jackdaw’s Cry stared at him anxiously.

Thunder straightened. “Do you think Acorn Fur, Lightning Tail, and Hawk Swoop would leave you here?”

Jackdaw’s Cry lifted his tail. “Never!”

“Be careful,” Tall Shadow warned, her eyes glistening with fear.

Thunder dipped his head. “I’ll do my best.”

Gray Wing padded to the edge of the rock and called down to the forest cats. “Look at your leader,” he growled. Clear Sky was in the middle of the clearing, his eyes gleaming. “Does he make you proud? Watching while you fight his battle for him.”

“How dare you?” Clear Sky lashed his tail.

As every cat’s gaze flicked toward Clear Sky, Thunder leaped for the branch. He hooked it with his forepaws, his hind paws churning the air desperately. Panic flashed though him. He had to make it before the cats noticed. Leaves showered around him as the branch shook under his weight. Swinging his haunches, he hooked a hind paw onto a jutting twig. Growling under his breath, he heaved himself upward, gasping as he dragged himself onto the branch.

He peered through the leaves.

Clear Sky was padding toward his cats. “Why are you even listening to a cat who only left the mountains because he was following his littermate? He was born to follow. I was born to lead!”

Thunder growled. Arrogant fox-heart!

He crept along the ancient branch, the bark rough beneath his pads. It thickened as he neared the trunk. He paused at the crook, relieved to see another branch jutting half a tail-length away. He leaped onto it, following the branches around the wide trunk like crossing stones in a river. Before he knew it, he was balancing on the branch that stretched toward the slope. He padded along it, his heart pounding, hoping that the leaves would conceal him. As he neared the end, his paws spilled over the sides of the branch—it was growing thinner. He unsheathed his claws, curling them into the thick bark as it quivered beneath his weight. He dropped to his belly and slithered forward. Gazing down, he saw the slope several tail-lengths below. Could he risk jumping down yet? He pulled himself farther along the fast-thinning branch. Suddenly, it dipped. His chest tightened in terror. I’m too heavy! With a crack, it snapped, sending him hurtling him toward the ground. He twisted clumsily, sucking in a yowl of alarm, and landed with a thump on his side.

Am I hurt? Fear pulsed through him as he lay winded, checking for pain. Nothing. Just the dull shock of landing. He drew in a shuddering breath.

“Where’s Thunder?” Clear Sky’s alarmed mew sounded from the clearing.

“He’s gone!”

“Where is he?”

He glanced down into the clearing. The forest cats were scanning the hollow, ears pricked.

Thunder leaped to his paws and raced uphill.

“He’s heading for the moor!” Nettle’s cry ripped through the night air.

Thunder ran harder, cresting the top of the slope, and hared onto the moor. Angry yowls rose from the hollow. He tore over the grass. Glancing back, he saw two shapes appear at the hollow’s rim. The moonlight glinted off sleek pelts. Snake and Petal. Their eyes flashed as they saw him. More cats loomed behind them.

Panic raging, Thunder fled. He could hear the yowls of the cats behind him as they gave chase. Gulping air, he looked back.

Snake was gaining on him. Small and wiry, the rogue moved fast over the grass. Thunder would never outrun him as far as the camp.

If they catch me, the others are lost! Scanning the moorside, he spotted a dip in the grass. A burrow?

I can use the tunnels!

Gray Wing had shown him the maze beneath the moor when he was younger and told him how to tell a good tunnel from a bad. Would a forest cat dare follow him into the darkness?

I hope not. Chest burning, pelt on end, Thunder skidded to a halt beside the dip and dived into the tunnel.

Earth scraped his flanks, soil crumbled beneath his paws. Scrambling inside, his nose wrinkled at the rank air. As moonlight faded behind him, the tunnel grew damp. Where am I heading? Slick mud walls slid past his pelt. Just keep going! He wasn’t even sure where the tunnel led. You have to save Gray Wing and the others!

How could this have happened? They’d gone to reach an agreement. Instead they faced battle. How could his father have betrayed his own brother? How could he have betrayed me? Rage burned beneath Thunder’s pelt. He growled as he pelted through the darkness. You’ll pay for this, Clear Sky. With blood.