The First Battle

Chapter 20

Thunder glanced at his camp mates. “Ready?”

Hawk Swoop met his gaze grimly. “How many cats does Clear Sky have?”

“More than us,” Thunder told her.

Lightning Tail squared his shoulders. “We have to save Gray Wing, Tall Shadow, and Jackdaw’s Cry.”

Shattered Ice glared into the hollow. “We have to show Clear Sky he can’t tell us what to do.”

Growls rumbled in the throats of his camp mates.

Frost showed his teeth. “Just let me get my claws into him.”

Thunder drew in a deep breath, fear darkening his thoughts. Clear Sky’s cats were ready for them. We’re ready for you.

“Attack!” He plunged down the slope, crashing through the ferns. Fear turned to energy fizzing in his paws as they hit the open clearing.

Pelts swarmed toward them. The air stank of the carrion scent of rogues. Didn’t Clear Sky care who fought for him? Shrieks seemed to claw at the night air as the moor cats raced among the forest cats.

Matted brown fur flashed at the edge of Thunder’s vision. He ducked as Snake leaped at him, dodging beneath the tom’s belly and slashing out with his forepaw as a tabby reared up. His claws pierced Snake’s fur, digging into flesh as he raked the tabby’s cheek.

“This is a battle you can’t win!” Snake hissed. “You’re outnumbered—and we’ve been training for this.”

“At least we know what we’re fighting for!” Thunder glanced at the great rock, relieved to see Gray Wing leap down into battle. He landed squarely on Dew’s back. The rogue she-cat yowled, eyes lighting with rage. Jackdaw’s Cry thumped onto the ground beside her. Tall Shadow slid into the sea of writhing pelts.

Pain sliced through Thunder’s muzzle. Snake had caught him with a vicious jab, and now blood sprayed the earth. He dodged low and sank his teeth into Snake’s forepaw, gasping as jaws clamped his neck. His heart lurched as he felt Snake bite down. Mind whirling, he tried to twist free before Snake could crush his spine like he would crush prey.

“Get off him!” Lightning Tail yowled. And then suddenly Snake was gone. Thunder leaped to his paws and saw Lightning Tail hauling Snake backward. The rogue’s hind paws churned the air as Lightning Tail lifted them off the ground, his claws hooked into Snake’s flanks. With a grunt, Lightning Tail heaved Snake away. Snake staggered backward and disappeared into the mass of writhing pelts.

“Are you okay?” Lightning Tail crouched beside Thunder.

Thunder straightened and shook out his fur. His scruff was wet with his own blood. “Yes,” he growled.

“They’re fighting to kill!” Lightning Tail’s eyes were wide.

“So will we.” Fury pulsing beneath his pelt, Thunder scanned the battle. Dappled Pelt reared to meet the slashing blows of a long-furred rogue. Shattered Ice struggled beneath a mottled brown-and-white she-cat. Wind Runner tore at Quick Water’s spine-fur with punishing hind claws. Gray Wing backed into the shadow of the great rock. Dew slashed at him, eyes slitted. Gray Wing fought back with a flurry of blows that sent the she-cat staggering, blood welling at her muzzle.

As he drove Dew toward her camp mates, Petal darted forward. The small yellow she-cat’s eyes flashed with hatred as she barged past Dew. “This one’s mine!” Hissing, she threw a hefty blow that caught Gray Wing on his ear.

He flinched.

“That’s for my brother, you murdering snake-heart!” Petal leaped onto Gray Wing’s back, sinking her teeth into his tail as she pounded his head with her hind paws. “You had no right to kill Fox!”

Dew lunged and bit Gray Wing’s forepaw. He stumbled and fell, Petal clinging to his back. Dew lunged again, claws outstretched, and raked Gray Wing’s flank, opening long, scarlet wounds in his pelt.

Thunder dived forward, shouldering his way between thrashing bodies. “Gray Wing!” Panic pounded in his ears. He reached out and dug his claws into Dew’s thick gray fur. Snagging flesh, he pulled her backward and tossed her to one side. She landed clumsily at Shattered Ice’s paws, eyes wide with surprise. Shattered Ice glanced down at her, then rearing, he slammed his paws hard into her exposed flank.

Thunder backed away as Gray Wing stretched onto his hind legs. Petal clung like a burr to his back. He twisted, snapping at her hind leg and she shrieked as his jaws clamped down on the bone, releasing her grip and thumping onto the ground.

Thunder leaped in beside Gray Wing. Tails to the rock, they faced the battling cats.

“Thanks,” Gray Wing panted. Blood streamed from his flank. His ear tip hung, torn and loose.

Thunder could feel his own pelt matted with blood. The air was rich with its stone tang as the screeching cats fought. “We’re not finished yet.”

“You’re not finished until Gray Wing’s dead!” Petal reared in front of them, claws glinting in the half-light. A tabby rogue slid in beside her and glared at them. As Petal dove for Gray Wing, he lifted his forepaws. Thunder reared as the tabby leaped at him. Together, he and Gray Wing met their attackers with a flurry of blows, batting them backward, step by step. Gray Wing knocked Petal away with a swinging blow that sent her reeling. She collapsed onto Gorse Fur, who turned and met her with another swipe.

Thunder’s hind legs trembled beneath him as he hit out at the tabby. His muscles burned until, panting, he lost his balance and collapsed onto all fours. The tabby dropped heavily onto his shoulders, and agony scorched through Thunder’s pelt as claws dug into the wounds Snake had left. Thunder struggled, stumbling as Gray Wing tugged the tabby sharply away.

Flanks heaving, he watched Gray Wing wrestle the tabby to the ground, hind paws scrabbling at the rogue’s belly. Beyond them, Rainswept Flower fought two toms, snapping at one, then the other as they drove her backward, away from her camp mates to the edge of the clearing.

A yowl from the far side of the battle jerked his attention away. He recognized the agonized shriek.

Wind Runner!

Leaf was pinning her to the ground, drawing back his lips as he prepared to sink his teeth into her spine.

“No!” With a roar, Gorse Fur let go of Petal and pelted for Wind Runner. He charged into Leaf, knocking him away with such force that the thump of the tom’s flank on the hard earth sounded over the yowls of rage and pain. Wind Runner leaped to her paws beside Gorse Fur. Together they drove Leaf backward until, eyes bright with panic, he ducked past them and streaked into the heart of battle, his gray-and-white pelt disappearing among his camp mates.

Thunder’s mind whirled. How could this end? As he flattened his ears against the shrieking, paws slammed into his side. He staggered, gasping. Fircone. He recognized the tom’s mottled brown-and-white pelt. Turning to defend himself, he caught Fircone’s eye. “This must stop!”

“This is Clear Sky’s territory!” Fircone arched his back. “We’re just fighting to defend what’s ours.”

“The hollow belongs to no cat!” Thunder blinked. Fircone had been one of the cats to beg him to stop Clear Sky expanding his borders. Now he was fighting to protect land Clear Sky hadn’t even claimed! “You asked me to stop him!”

“Times change.” Fircone thrust a paw out, catching Thunder’s ear.

Thunder ducked away as he felt the tip tear. What had Clear Sky told these cats to persuade them to fight so bitterly?

Claws snagged his scruff and he fought to stay on his paws as Fircone hauled him sideways.

Black fur streaked past his vision. Tall Shadow crashed between them, shoving Fircone away. The tom’s eyes widened in surprise as Tall Shadow leaped on him. Thunder froze, watching Tall Shadow’s bristling pelt as she pressed Fircone onto his spine and sliced his belly with thrashing claws. The she-cat trembled with fury as she lashed out.

Fircone shrieked in pain, then fell still.

Tall Shadow leaped away and stared at the tom. Blood streamed from his lifeless body, coloring the earth.

Thunder’s mouth felt as dry as the dirt. He’d told Lightning Tail they would fight to the death. The idea had sent courage surging beneath his pelt. Was this what courage did? He stared at Fircone’s corpse. The rogue would never taste prey scent again or feel the sun on his back or the wind in his fur. “You killed him.”

“So?” Tall Shadow’s gaze raked the battling cats. “Clear Sky’s cats are showing no mercy. We must fight or die.”

Rainswept Flower was on her back, a tabby rogue pinning her shoulders to the ground while a tortoiseshell scraped at her flank. Thunder prepared to leap, but Acorn Fur was already racing toward her camp mate. She charged the tabby, bowling him over. Rainswept Flower leaped to her paws and, hissing with rage, began swiping at the tortoiseshell.

Lightning Tail rolled, shrieking, across the clearing. Thorn had him in a badger-grip, pulling his head backward and exposing his throat. His hind paws hacked lumps from Lightning Tail’s pelt. Yowling, Lightning Tail twisted in Thorn’s grip and, fast as a snake, sank his teeth into the rogue’s shoulder with a snarl.

As Thorn screeched and let go, Frost’s yowl rang across the clearing.

Thunder turned. The white tom was pressed against the trunk of an oak. Blood splashed the bark as Snake slashed at Frost’s muzzle. Frost ducked, hissing, and dived for Snake’s hind leg. His blue eyes flashed in the gloom as he tugged Snake’s leg from under him. Snatching his pelt with a forepaw, he hooked him onto his spine. Snake tried to roll away, but Frost lunged for his throat.

Thunder blinked. Let him go! None of this made sense. Did they need to kill each other? For what? A shriek jerked him from his thoughts. Snake had knocked Frost onto his side. He sliced the white tom’s throat with a flailing paw. Frost’s scruff darkened in the moonlight as blood spread through his fur. Groaning, he twitched, then fell limp.

Thunder’s heart dropped like stone, heavy in his chest. Tall Shadow was right. We must fight or die.

“Mouseheart!” Falling Feather chased Acorn Fur, lip curled and eyes shining with hate. She streaked past Thunder and leaped for the young cat, hauling her onto her side.

Dread hollowed Thunder’s belly. He wasn’t going to watch another tribe mate die. “Get off her!” He leaped for Falling Feather and sank his claws into her pelt. As he dragged her off Acorn Fur, she twisted, thrusting her muzzle forward to nip at his throat. But Thunder was quicker, heaving her onto her belly and scraping his hind claws along her spine.

Clear Sky’s pale gray pelt caught his eye as it flashed toward Rainswept Flower a tail-length away. Clear Sky hit her like a swooping eagle, sending her reeling.

Thunder stiffened, holding Falling Feather firmly. He ignored her snarls as she wriggled beneath him, his gaze fixed on Clear Sky.

“Is this worth it?” he heard Clear Sky hiss at Rainswept Flower.

Scrambling to her paws, she faced him. “What do you mean?”

Clear Sky flattened his ears menacingly. “Are you ready to die just to stop me from making borders?”

Rainswept Flower curled her lip. “You’ll keep stealing land as long as we let you.”

“Stealing land?” Clear Sky’s mew trembled with rage. “I’m just making sure my cats never starve.”

Rainswept Flower’s gaze flitted around the lush slopes of the hollow. “How could any cat starve here? There’s so much. Wanting more is just greedy!”

“How dare you!” With a snarl, Clear Sky leaped for her, grabbing her throat between his jaws. Her paws flailed desperately, lashing out at thin air as he shook her like prey. Then she hung still.

Clear Sky dropped her, gazing coldly at her lifeless body. “You never understood. I’m not greedy. I’m just strong.”

The whole forest seemed to fall silent around Thunder. All he could hear was rage pounding in his ears. He let Falling Feather go. She scrambled from beneath him and backed away, hissing. He barely heard her over his chaotic, fighting thoughts.

Clear Sky was glad he’d killed another cat. I’m not greedy. I’m just strong. He’d rejected Jagged Peak and thrown Frost out of his territory because he thought they were weak. You’re wrong! Frost had given his life defending his camp mates. Jagged Peak was guarding kits and Thunder knew he would fight to the death to protect them.

A growl rumbled in Thunder’s throat. Clear Sky had only ever caused misery. He’d driven away any cat who had ever loved him. Thunder stalked toward his father, his belly burning.

“You killed her!” Dark fur barged past Thunder as Gray Wing leaped for Clear Sky. “You killed Rainswept Flower!” He swiped his brother viciously across the muzzle.

Clear Sky staggered back, shaking his head, before turning to face his littermate. His eyes were as cold as stars. “If I hadn’t, some other cat would have.”

With a roar, Gray Wing leaped for him.

Clear Sky ducked, rolling sideways, but Gray Wing was ready, as though it was a move he knew well. He turned as he landed and slashed at his brother’s cheek. Clear Sky hissed, taking the blow without flinching. The fur on his spine spiked into a ridge. Tail lashing, ears flat, he lunged forward.

Gray Wing tried to leap clear of the attack, but Clear Sky grabbed his hind paw as he skidded beneath his belly.

Thunder felt like he was watching a fight rehearsed for moons. They play fought as kits. He narrowed his eyes. They knew each other’s moves better than any cat. But now they weren’t playing. Now they were out for blood.

Clear Sky flicked Gray Wing’s hind paws from beneath him. Gray Wing landed on his flank with a grunt.

Clear Sky was on him in a moment, pressing his cheek to the ground with a wide-stretched paw. “Why do you always have to challenge me?” he demanded. “You should have just let me make my boundaries as I wanted! Instead, you bring me war.” He pressed harder, drool hanging from his lips.

“You’ve betrayed the cats who were once your kin,” Gray Wing grunted, his mew muffled. He spat earth from his mouth. “The cats who traveled here with you from the mountains. Is that what you wanted?” His words turned into a groan as Clear Sky pressed harder, but Gray Wing went on. “Is this why we left the mountains? To kill each other?” Gasping with effort, he pushed his shoulders up. Clear Sky stumbled, unbalanced, and Gray Wing scrambled to his paws.

“I’m glad Storm is dead,” Gray Wing hissed. “She would never have wanted to see this!”

Clear Sky’s gaze darkened. “Don’t mention her name!” He hurled himself, hissing, at Gray Wing.

Thunder rushed forward, but claws grasped his tail. He spun around. Falling Feather was staring at him, her eyes gleaming with malice. “We’ve not finished,” she snarled, hurling herself at him.

Thunder staggered back, shocked by the force of her attack. His mind was whirling as he fell. “But Gray Wing!” He landed with a thump on his back and felt claws curling into his chest. “You traveled from the mountains with him—you can’t let him be killed by Clear Sky!”

Falling Feather’s muzzle was a whisker from his. He saw her eyes narrow and felt her hot breath as claws raked deep across his belly.

Pain spiraled into panic as he felt blood well where she’d struck. She’s ripped out my belly! As terror rose in his throat, green eyes glinted beside him. Black fur brushed across his face. The strong scent of Jackdaw’s Cry filled his nose.

Falling Feather yowled as the black tom knocked her sprawling onto the ground.

Gasping, Thunder scrambled to his paws and found himself facing Leaf.

The rogue growled at him as Jackdaw’s Cry and Falling Feather rolled away, snarling. “I’ll finish you,” he hissed.

Fury roared louder in Thunder’s ears. Falling Feather and Jackdaw’s Cry were littermates, just like Gray Wing and Clear Sky! This had to stop. He lashed out at Leaf. “Get out of my way!”

Leaf blocked him, slamming his paws down onto Thunder’s shoulders. Growling, Thunder shrugged off Leaf and headed toward Gray Wing.

Claws dug into his flanks.

“Get off, Leaf,” he snarled as the tom attacked again.

“Never!”

Thunder turned and lashed out. Leaf gasped as claws raked his throat, his fur and flesh ripping, blood spurting from the wound like water, turning to a glistening pool on the ground.

Leaf stared at him, eyes glazing with shock, then dropped to his belly.

Thunder froze. What have I done? He was trying to stop the killing. “Dappled Pelt! Help him!” he cried desperately to his camp mate. She knew how to heal.

The tortoiseshell looked up. Blood stained her muzzle. At her paws, a panting rogue clawed weakly at her. She struggled free and raced around the battling cats. Crouching beside Leaf, she sniffed his wound. “It’s okay. This is bleeding that will stop.” She pushed Leaf onto his side and pressed her paws against his neck.

Shaking with relief, Thunder started to turn back to Gray Wing.

“No!” Falling Feather’s horrified yowl caught his ear. He glanced sideways to see Jackdaw’s Cry bite hard into his sister’s spine. She jerked, flinging out her paws, then slumped onto her belly. Thunder recognized the prey-look of death. He stared at Jackdaw’s Cry. The tom’s black pelt was slick with blood. He staggered, eyes glazing, then collapsed lifeless onto his sister’s body.

Thunder staggered as grief sliced though him. They killed each other!

“Clear Sky! Don’t!” Acorn Fur’s panicked yowl jerked him back from despair.

Clear Sky stood over Gray Wing. “Just give in!”

Gray Wing lay on the ground, gasping for breath. His flanks heaved desperately as he stared up at his littermate. “Never.” He aimed a weak blow at his brother’s muzzle, but it missed clumsily.

“Give in!” Clear Sky growled threateningly. He lifted a paw.

Thunder froze.

Gray Wing pushed himself onto his paws, his legs trembling. “Kill me,” he rasped at Clear Sky. “Kill me and live with the memory. Then tell the stars that you won.”

Clear Sky held his gaze. “Don’t make me do this, brother.” His mew quivered. “All I want is for every cat to be safe. To have borders to protect us and make sure we have prey.”

Gray Wing staggered closer. “You want to tell every cat what to do,” he wheezed. “You always have and you always will. You’re so greedy for power, you’ll kill your own littermate to get it.”

Clear Sky let his paw drop and turned away. “I can’t…” His gaze flitted over the bodies littering the clearing. Cats fought on weakly, staggering more unsteadily with every blow.

“Stop!” Clear Sky yowled. “This battle is over.”