The First Battle

Chapter 19

Never follow stale air.

The words carried back to him from his kithood, when Gray Wing had begun to teach him the tunnels beneath the moor.

Distant yowls echoed along the tunnel behind.

“You moor cats aren’t cats! You’re worms!”

“Come out and fight, you mouseheart!”

Snake and Petal were calling into the darkness. At least they hadn’t followed.

Thunder picked up his pace, ignoring the musty, cold air of the tunnel, and the endless ache in his paws. He had to get back to camp. There was no turning back.

His heart lurched, as the ground sloped down steeply beneath his paws. Only follow a downward slope if you can retrace your steps.

“Sorry, Gray Wing,” Thunder muttered under his breath. There was no way he could follow the older cat’s advice now.

“We’ll guard the entrance.” Snake’s growl echoed along tunnel behind. “If he comes back out, we’ll get him!”

Thunder swallowed, hoping he was heading in the right direction. The camp must be this way. The tunnel hadn’t curved since he entered it. His forepaws slipped as the slope suddenly sharpened. What if it just keeps going deeper? No. It can’t, he told himself. It must lead somewhere. As he calmed himself, the slope flattened and began to widen. Hope sparked in his chest. He slowed to a trot. The tunnel was straighter than crow-flight. It’ll take me to the camp. As he began to imagine bursting out beside the hollow, the air changed.

Thunder halted. Damp scents bathed his tongue. Blind in the darkness, Thunder reached forward with his muzzle. His nose touched earth. A dead end? It couldn’t be. The damp smell must be coming from somewhere. And there was only stale air behind. He reached forward with one forepaw. It flapped in thin air. So did his other. He frowned, puzzled. His nose touched earth, yet each paw reached into empty space. The tunnel must split into two! Which way do I choose? Heart pounding, Thunder sniffed first this way, then that.

One tunnel smelled dry and musty, the other damp and fresh.

Could it be dew? If he could smell dew, there must be grass and sky and air. Thunder headed along the damp tunnel. His paws pattered over mud. Hope flashed fresh with every paw step. The trail must start to rise soon.

His whiskers brushed close to earth on one side. The tunnel was curving. Was it leading away from camp? He followed the bend, anxiety curling in his belly. Have I gone the wrong way? The curve tightened. Thunder slowed. Should I go back? Uncertainty weighted his paws. Gray Wing’s depending on me. Suddenly the tunnel turned back on itself. Now where? Disoriented, Thunder pressed on.

He could picture Gray Wing, Jackdaw’s Cry, and Tall Shadow on the rock. What if Clear Sky’s cats attacked? If enough of them climbed the ledge together, they might be able to push the moor cats back and overrun their sanctuary. Breath quickening, Thunder broke into a run, pulling up again as he felt the tunnel narrow around him. Within paw steps, it was pressing on his spine, then his flanks, until he was hauling himself through a narrow gap, earth dragging against his belly.

I should have taken the other tunnel. Fear crawled beneath his pelt. But the damp fresh scent of dew still bathed his muzzle. This tunnel must lead out onto the moor. Once he was in the open, he would be able to find his way back to camp. He dragged himself forward, relief flooding his fur as the space opened out, feeling like a great weight being lifted off his back.

He scrambled to his paws and raced onward, mouth open, hoping to smell a familiar scent. Had he been in this tunnel before?

Gray Wing’s mew sounded in his ears. Jackdaw’s Cry knows these tunnels as well as he knows the rabbit runs through the heather. You must learn them too. Who knows when you’ll need their shelter?

If only he hadn’t spent so much time in the forest with Clear Sky. Bitterness caught in his throat. I could have been learning these routes. I might have made it back to the camp by now.

Whiskers twitching as he felt for open space ahead, he hurried through the blackness. His heart lifted as light showed ahead. How? The tunnel hadn’t sloped upward. He couldn’t be near the surface. He hurried toward the brightness, realizing as he neared that moonlight was seeping through a deep crack in the earth. The scent of grass, rich with predawn dew, washed over him. He scowled with disappointment and halted, straining to see ahead.

A scuffling sound made him stiffen. Fur was brushing the earth. Thunder’s belly tightened as a familiar stench touched his nose.

Badger!

He backed away. Had he stumbled into a set? Heavy paws scuffed the ground in the shadows farther down the tunnel. Thunder’s pelt lifted as eyes glinted in the muted moonlight streaming from the crack. He could make out the white stripes of a badger face.

A growl rumbled toward him.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to—”

Claws scraped the earth as the badger lunged. Fighting panic, Thunder turned and raced back along the tunnel. As it narrowed around him, he dived forward, reaching out with his forepaws to haul himself through. Behind, he felt hot breath on his tail and heard jaws snap, an angry snarl following him as he dragged himself forward.

Heart thrumming against the earth, he heard heavy paws scraping the earth behind. The badger was too big to fit through.

Unsheathing his claws, Thunder heaved himself through the narrowest part of the tunnel, gasping for breath as he scrambled out the other side.

He stopped and pricked his ears. Trembling like prey, he listened as the badger snorted before lumbering away. Thunder’s thoughts began to race. Petal and Snake were at the entrance. A badger blocked this way. There was only one way to go.

He raced back to the split and headed down the other tunnel. Please let it lead to the camp! Ignoring the stale air, he raced through the darkness, fur bristling as he braced every moment to hurtle headlong into a dead end. But the tunnel seemed to open before him like a fern leaf unfurling. It twisted this way and that, but a deep sense in his belly told Thunder that it had to be heading for the hollow. As the ground began to slope up beneath his paws, sharp night air touched his nose. There must be an opening ahead. He kept running until he saw moonlight. He raced for it, bursting out onto grass.

A cool breeze ruffled his fur and he breathed it deep into his chest. Relief washed his pelt. Above, the clouds had cleared and the moon shone, full and bright. He gazed around, searching for familiar markers. The hillside was dappled with heather, gorse, and grass so that it looked like a tortoiseshell’s pelt in the moonlight. But Thunder could still recognize the dark shadow that betrayed the dip where the camp nestled. The hollow! He raced toward it, crossing a swath of grass and plunging through heather. He zigzagged along a rabbit trail and burst out the other side. With a rush of excitement he recognized the heather wall of the camp.

He raced for it and leaped through the gap, skidding to a halt in the clearing.

The eyes of his camp mates swiveled toward him, flashing in the moonlight.

“Thunder!” Lightning Tail jumped up in alarm. But Thunder was heading for Gray Wing’s nest. He had to speak to Pebble Heart.

He stopped at the edge of the nest. Owl Eyes, Sparrow Fur, and Pebble Heart were nestled against Rainswept Flower. They stared at him with bright round eyes.

Thunder looked right at Pebble Heart. “What was your dream?” he demanded.

Rainswept Flower leaped to her paws behind the kits and hissed: “Thunder, what is this about? You’re scaring them!”

Sparrow Fur scanned the shadows behind Thunder. “Where’s Gray Wing?”

“He’s still at the hollow,” Thunder told her quickly, his gaze fixing on Pebble Heart. “What was your dream?” he repeated sharply.

Owl Eyes jumped up and shielded his brother. “Leave him alone!”

“It’s okay.” Pebble Heart nosed Owl Eyes softly aside and hopped out of the nest, meeting Thunder’s eyes. “Did Gray Wing tell you about it?”

“Thunder!” Shattered Ice’s mew sounded across the camp. Frost’s white pelt glowed at the corner of Thunder’s gaze. Paw steps scuffed the grass behind him. The cats were gathering in the clearing.

“Why did you come back alone?” Gorse Fur asked uneasily.

Thunder faced him. “Gray Wing, Tall Shadow, and Jackdaw’s Cry are in trouble.” He searched the anxious gazes of his campmates. Would they be prepared to fight to protect their friends? “I came back to get help.”

“Help?” Gorse Fur murmured.

Cloud Spots slid from beneath the gorse. “What’s the trouble?”

Shattered Ice growled. “I knew Clear Sky couldn’t be trusted.”

“He’s a fox-heart,” Frost hissed bitterly.

Thunder turned to Pebble Heart. “I must know what your dream was about.” He lowered his voice as the moor cats murmured behind him.

Pebble Heart gazed at him solemnly. “I saw a fight beneath a great rock,” he breathed.

“How did it end?” Thunder ignored the panic throbbing through his chest.

Pebble Heart blinked at him. “I don’t know.” Confusion clouded the young cat’s gaze. “It didn’t make sense.”

Thunder flicked his tail in frustration.

“I’m sorry,” Pebble Heart mewed.

“It’s not your fault.” Thunder turned away. There wasn’t time to worry—he needed to act. He leaped onto the flat rock. The smooth stone felt strange beneath his paws. This was Tall Shadow’s place, not his. But Tall Shadow wasn’t here.

He gazed down at the moor cats. “Clear Sky has betrayed us!”

Shattered Ice flattened his ears. “I told you—”

Thunder cut him off. “He brought his cats with him. Too many to count. Rogues and loners I’ve never seen before. Tall Shadow, Gray Wing, and Jackdaw’s Cry are stranded on the great rock in the hollow. I don’t know how long they can hold Clear Sky’s cats off. I’m going back to help them. Who will come with me?”

Gorse Fur stepped forward, chin high. “I will!”

“Me too!” Shattered Ice stood beside his friend.

“I’m coming!” Lightning Tail lashed his tail.

“So am I!” Frost’s blue eyes sparkled like ice. “If there’s a fight with Clear Sky, I want to be part of it!”

Acorn Fur paced beside him. “We’ll all go!” she yowled.

Thunder shook his head. “Someone must stay with Wind Runner and the kits.” He could hear mewling from Wind Runner’s nest in the long grass. He narrowed his eyes, waiting for someone to offer to remain in the camp.

Rainswept Flower met his gaze wordlessly. Jagged Peak stepped from the shadows, his face grim with determination. Dappled Pelt joined Cloud Spots and stared at Thunder, unflinching.

Pride surged beneath Thunder’s pelt—every cat wanted to fight for their friends. “You are brave,” he yowled. “And I’m honored to fight beside you, but someone must stay behind.” What if the battle ended in death? He pictured Owl Eyes, Pebble Heart, and Sparrow Fur trying to comfort Wind Runner and her kits as they waited in vain for someone to come home. Wind Runner couldn’t hunt for them all. “Jagged Peak.” He stared at the lame tom. “You’ll be more use here.”

Jagged Peak glared back at him stubbornly. “But I want to fight!”

Thunder ignored him, turning to Dappled Pelt. “Wind Runner and the kits need you more than Gray Wing and Tall Shadow do.”

Dappled Pelt’s hackles lifted. “But—”

Cloud Spots pushed past her. “If Dappled Pelt wants to go, then she must. She’s nimbler than me. It’ll make her a good fighter. I’ll stay behind with Wind Runner and the kits.”

Dappled Pelt glanced gratefully at her friend. “Are you sure?”

Cloud Spots nodded. “I’ll be more use here.”

“Jagged Peak?” Thunder turned back to the tom.

Jagged Peak’s eyes were still blazing with indignation. “I’m coming with you! This is as much my battle as yours.” He limped forward. Thunder could see his shoulders rippling with muscle. The weakness in his hind leg had given him strength in his forelegs. But he was slow. Clear Sky’s cats would shred him the moment he set paw in the hollow.

“I know you are strong, Jagged Peak,” Thunder told him. “And brave. But this is a fight to the death. Clear Sky will take advantage of any weakness.” Guilt pricked through him as he saw hurt sharpen Jagged Peak’s gaze. “Your strength is in guarding the kits. Wind Runner will need prey if she’s to feed them. You can hunt better than you can fight. You are needed here.”

Jagged Peak held his gaze for a moment, then dipped his head. “Okay.”

Thunder felt a rush of gratitude. “Thank you.”

“Tell Clear Sky I would fight by your side to the death,” Jagged Peak growled. “But I wouldn’t lift a claw to help him.”

“I will,” Thunder promised, his heart swelling.

Sparrow Fur circled Rainswept Flower anxiously. “Are you going with Thunder?”

Rainswept Flower met the young she-cat’s gaze solemnly. “I have to help Gray Wing.”

Sparrow Fur’s ears flattened with terror. “What if you don’t come back?”

Like Turtle Tail. Thunder leaped from the rock and padded toward her. “Gray Wing needs us,” he told her softly.

Sparrow Fur stared at him. “Will you bring him home?”

Thunder nodded. “I promise.” The words caught in his throat. He’d made the same promise about Turtle Tail. This time he would keep his word.

“I want to come.” Owl Eyes flicked his fluffy tail.

“You’re too young.” Thunder touched his muzzle to the young tom’s head.

Owl Eyes scowled. “But I know how to fight.”

“Hurry!” Shattered Ice was pacing the gap in the heather. Acorn Fur kneaded the ground beside him.

Overhead, clouds were surging toward the moon, driven by a rising wind. Thunder felt it lift his fur as he left the kits and headed past Shattered Ice, breaking into a run as his paws touched the soft grass outside camp.

“I’m coming too!”

Wind Runner’s yowl made him freeze. He turned, shocked to see the queen racing out of the camp.

Gorse Fur skidded to a halt beside Thunder and stared at his mate. “What about the kits?”

Shattered Ice, Hawk Swoop, Lightning Tail, and Acorn Fur streaked past, heading for the heather. Rainswept Flower and Dappled Pelt followed, Frost at their heels.

Wind Runner held her ground. “Our kits are tough,” she growled, glancing back into the camp. “Besides, they’ll have Jagged Peak and Cloud Spots.”

Gorse Fur flattened his ears.

Wind Runner’s growl was determined. “Don’t try and stop me. I want my kits to grow up somewhere safe, and the moor will never be safe as long as Clear Sky thinks he can tell any cat what to do!”

Thunder eyed the queen. “We have enough orphans already,” he told her grimly.

“They won’t be orphans.” Gorse Fur lifted his chin, his gaze flashing as it caught Wind Runner’s. “She will not die today. I won’t let her.”

Wind Runner’s eyes glistened as she stared at her mate. “Thank you,” she murmured.

Thunder pricked his ears. Paw steps were thrumming away over the moor. Hawk Swoop and Lightning Tail were already leading the others toward the battle. “Come on.” He dived into the heather. The bushes shook around him as Gorse Fur and Wind Runner followed.

As he burst out on the far side, he saw his camp mates already crossing the slope toward the hollow. Their pelts moved like shadows over the grass. He pushed harder to catch up. They had to meet Clear Sky and his rogues side by side and fight together if they were to stand a chance of winning this battle. At his side, Gorse Fur matched him paw step for paw step; just in front, Wind Runner’s lithe body moved easily over the grass.

Ahead, Hawk Swoop reached the top of the slope first. Lightning Tail, Rainswept Flower, and Shattered Ice pulled up beside her and waited motionless in the starlight. Acorn Fur and Dappled Pelt scrambled to a halt and paced around their camp mates while Frost peered over the edge. As he neared, Thunder could see that the white tom’s pelt was bristling.

His heart lurched as he strained to hear sounds from the hollow. It was silent. Had the battle already been fought? He swallowed back dread. What if he reached the top of the slope to find the bodies of Tall Shadow, Gray Wing, and Jackdaw’s Cry—plucked from their perch and slaughtered in the clearing?

He scrambled the last few paw steps and slowed, weaving past Lightning Tail and Hawk Swoop. Holding his breath, he stared down. Where are they? Clouds swallowed the moon. Flanks heaving, Thunder strained to see over the ferns. He narrowed his eyes. Beneath the branches of the oaks, he could make out the great rock. Three figures sat like stone at the top. They’re alive!

“Welcome back, Thunder.” Clear Sky’s yowl rang from below.

Thunder froze. His father stared at him from the middle of the clearing.

“I can smell your fear-scent,” Clear Sky sneered. Ripples of amusement sounded from the cats collected behind him.

“I’m not scared of you!” Thunder’s tail bushed with anger.

“Really?” Clear Sky padded to the bottom of the slope. “Then why did you bring so many cats?”

“We’re here to rescue Gray Wing and the others.”

Clear Sky lifted his tail. “Then come and get them.”