The First Battle

Chapter 22

Gray Wing stared at his brother. How could it be Storm? I saw her die. Heart racing, he followed Clear Sky’s gaze.

It was Storm.

She stood beyond the littered bodies, her silver pelt seeming to sparkle as though the stars were woven through her fur.

He struggled to his paws, his chest tightening until it hurt to breathe.

“What’s happening?”

Gray Wing jerked back as Thunder leaped up with a wail of terror. The young tom was staring at Hawk Swoop’s limp body as a glittering, silvery shape rose from it and drifted around him.

“Hawk Swoop?” Thunder gasped, eyes wide. “Are you… alive?”

She purred. “No, my dear Thunder. But don’t grieve. I will never truly leave you.”

As she spoke, more spirits rose, glittering, from the other broken bodies.

Gray Wing swallowed, fear spiraling through his belly as he gasped for breath. What’s happening? He glanced down at his paws, half expecting to see his own fur sparkle with starlight. Am I dying?

Gray Wing reasoned with himself. Thunder wasn’t dying. Nor were Clear Sky and Wind Runner—he could tell by their bristling fur. Around them, Gorse Fur backed away, while River Ripple was shaking his head as if to clear his thoughts.

Tall Shadow padded forward, muzzle stretched, her nose twitching. “Rainswept Flower?”

“Hello, Tall Shadow.” The brown tabby she-cat faced her camp mate, eyes bright, as she stepped away from her body. There was no wound at her throat, and no blood matting her pelt.

The spirit-cats did not carry the wounds that had killed them. Their pelts were sleek and thick. Frost’s white pelt shone brighter than in life. Fircone, Falling Feather, and Jackdaw’s Cry gazed about themselves, as if trying to figure out where they were and what had happened to them.

“Falling Feather.” Jackdaw’s Cry stared at his sister, his round eyes glistening with grief. “I’m sorry.”

She padded forward and touched her muzzle to his. “I forgive you. I hope you forgive me, too…”

Thunder picked his way past the bodies, his gaze flitting around the spirit-cats. He stopped beside Gray Wing and pressed against him, trembling. “What’s happening?”

“I don’t know,” Gray Wing whispered, unable to drag his gaze from the spirit-cats.

“Stoneteller would know,” Clear Sky whispered.

“But Stoneteller isn’t here.” Gray Wing fought panic. This didn’t make sense. He stiffened as he saw more cats appear on the slope.

Bright Stream!

Shaded Moss, Fox, and Moon Shadow padded into the clearing after her. Every cat who had died since they’d left the mountains. His mind whirled until a single thought made him gasp. “Pebble Heart’s dream!”

Thunder moved beside him. “Did he know this would happen?”

“He knew something would happen,” Gray Wing murmured. “He just couldn’t put it into words. This must be it.” As he spoke, a familiar pelt appeared from beneath the great rock. A tortoiseshell crossed the clearing toward him. His heart rose like a bird. “Turtle Tail!”

A kit scampered ahead of her.

“Emberkit?” He reached down his head to meet the tiny tom as it skidded to a halt in front of him.

“Hi, Gray Wing.” The kit glanced around the hollow. “Where’s Wind Runner?”

“I’m here!” The lithe she-cat was already bounding across the clearing. Scrambling to a stop, she stared at her kit. “You’re safe!”

The kit purred. “I have Turtle Tail.”

Wind Runner purred back, sniffing Emberkit’s starry pelt.

Turtle Tail lifted her chin. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she gazed at Gray Wing. “Aren’t you going to say hello?”

Gray Wing fumbled for words. He could hardly believe how well she looked—plump and sleek, her tortoiseshell markings more beautiful than ever. Was she really here, or was he dreaming? The tightness in his chest began to loosen. He drew in a deep gulp of air. “I never thought I’d see you again.”

Thunder pushed past him. “I’m sorry we left you in Twolegplace, Turtle Tail. We should have given you a proper burial.”

Turtle Tail dipped her head. “You left me among the petals where my kits wouldn’t see me. I could ask for no more than that.” She turned to River Ripple. “Thank you for helping them. Without you they might never have found Sparrow Fur, Owl Eyes, and Pebble Heart.” Her mew lingered on their names, her eyes glistening with loss.

Gray Wing’s heart ached—he could not imagine just how much she missed them.

River Ripple dipped his head. “Thunder would have found them,” he murmured. “It might have taken a little longer, that’s all.”

Turtle Tail swung her gaze around the living cats. “You think of River Ripple as just a rogue. But he is more than that. He has an old soul. He walked this land before the mountain cats arrived. He has seen more of life than you think—and what he hasn’t seen, he has the power to imagine.” She turned back to River Ripple. “Did you imagine our coming?”

River Ripple shook his head. “What cat could?”

Clear Sky stepped forward. “You’re a dream! You have to be.” He blinked at Gray Wing. “They can’t be real.”

Turtle Tail narrowed her eyes. “You fool, Clear Sky,” she hissed. “When did you forget where you came from?” She glanced over her shoulder at Rainswept Flower. “When did you decide it was okay to kill the cats you were raised beside?”

Clear Sky backed away, his tail low. “I only wanted to protect my own.”

Turtle Tail showed her teeth. “Killing only ever leads to more killing. Let your mistakes teach you.” She whisked her tail. “Leave us now. I must speak with Gray Wing.”

Clear Sky backed away. Thunder followed. Wind Runner guided Emberkit toward the edge of the clearing, where Gorse Fur hurried to greet him.

Gray Wing shifted his paws as Turtle Tail stepped closer. He reached out his muzzle, feeling for her warm breath and the musky smell of prey. But the air shimmering around her was cold and scentless. Anxiety stirred in his belly. “Can you stay?” he asked. “The kits will want to see you.”

“You’re not foolish enough to believe that, Gray Wing,” she told him softly.

“But how can I go on without you?” His eyes blurred but he dared not blink in case she disappeared.

Turtle Tail’s ear twitched disapprovingly. “Don’t be a mouseheart! Of course you can go on. The kits need you. Your camp mates need you.”

“But you’re here now! Can’t you stay?” He reached closer, desperate to feel the soft fur of her cheek, but his nose passed through her as though she wasn’t there. He drew back, shock sparking through his pelt. It’s too cruel! She’s here but she’s not! “It’d be better if you’d never come at all,” he growled bitterly.

Turtle Tail’s eyes narrowed. “I never thought you were a selfish cat, Gray Wing. Don’t prove me wrong. Don’t you realize I’m not here just for you? We came to tell all cats what they must know if they are to survive here.”

“What?” Gray Wing pricked his ears.

But Turtle Tail was backing away. Behind her, the spirit-cats gathered, reflecting starlight.

Storm padded forward, her gaze fixed on Clear Sky.

Clear Sky moved toward her.

“You can’t touch her,” Gray Wing warned. He didn’t want his brother to suffer as he had. He must know these cats weren’t real.

“I don’t want to,” Clear Sky called back. “I just want to hear what she has to tell us.” He faced Storm, chin high. “What message do you bring?”

Gray Wing looked back to Turtle Tail, his belly fur trembling. He wasn’t sure if he really wanted to hear what the ghost cat had to say…