The First Battle

Chapter 1

Clear Sky narrowed his eyes. He could see Thunder’s bright ginger pelt threading through the ferns. His son was climbing the slope to the moor, leaving the forest with Frost.

I suppose that’s what he must do. Clear Sky tried to ignore the regret gnawing in his belly. Above him, a soft breeze whispered through the leaves. Warm sunshine dappled his pelt. Behind him, the gnarled trunks of ancient trees creaked. Musty scents pooled at his paws where leaf litter lay thick on the ground. This was his territory. If Thunder didn’t want to live here, then he could leave. Frost had to leave, but Thunder had chosen to. Frost was wounded—an injury that was not healing and might grow bad. An infected cat couldn’t stay in the camp. His weakness would burden the forest tribe. Doesn’t Thunder understand that? he thought, clawing the earth with frustration. Why did so few cats understand him? All he wanted to do was protect his cats in the forest—that was all he’d ever wanted to do, since setting up home here. But his own son had called him a monster for caring. Well, he must leave, then. I won’t have my authority undermined. If Clear Sky kept telling himself this, maybe the pain in his belly would fade…

Tribe! The word rang like a blackbird’s cry in Clear Sky’s mind. It was the first time he’d thought of the forest cats as a tribe. No! He pushed the thought away sharply. We’re not a tribe! After moons of rich prey, the forest cats were sleeker and better fed than the poor starvelings who’d chosen to stay in the mountains. With the right leadership, they could flourish in lush forest. They could become stronger than any mountain cat. They need never know cold or hunger again.

Flicking his tail, Clear Sky turned and headed through the trees.

White fur flashed at the edge of his vision. Falling Feather was stalking through the tall grass edging the forest.

Clear Sky’s pelt lifted irritably along his spine as he remembered Falling Feather’s parting words to Thunder. I almost wish I were coming with you. Thunder had tried to persuade the white she-cat to desert with him. And she’d actually considered it!

Clear Sky unsheathed his claws. “Falling Feather!”

Her head jerked up. “Clear Sky?” She looked surprised.

“I want to talk to you.”

She blinked at him over the grass. “What about?”

Clear Sky narrowed his eyes. Didn’t she realize he’d overheard her? “I was watching you say good-bye to Thunder and Frost.”

“Were you?”

She tried to sound innocent but he could see the fur around her neck rippling guiltily. “Come here.” He scowled at her. “Well?”

“I just wished them well, that’s all.” She pushed through the long grass toward him.

“Thunder asked you to leave with him.” He stared at her accusingly.

She bounded from the grass and landed on the leaf-strewn ground a tail-length away. “I told him no.”

“You told him you almost wished you were going with him.” He circled her, his tail twitching irritably. She was acting like she’d done nothing wrong.

“I decided to stay.” Her gaze sharpened. “What’s it to you? I can go anywhere I like.”

Clear Sky showed his teeth. Dumb cat! Didn’t she realize how much she needed his protection and guidance? “You are part of my tribe now. If I can’t rely on your loyalty, then you might as well leave for good.”

“Tribe?” Falling Feather’s eyes widened in surprise. “We’re not a tribe. Half our kin are in the mountains. Half the cats we traveled with live on the moor. We have no Stoneteller to guide us.”

Heat scorched beneath Clear Sky’s pelt. The word had slipped out accidentally. Did she have to humiliate him? “Okay, we’re not a tribe,” he snapped. “We’re better than a tribe. Who needs a Stoneteller? You have me.” He lashed his tail. “I guide you now. I found our camp. I decide our borders. You should be grateful. Because of me, you will never be hungry or cold again.”

“Because of you?” Falling Feather snorted. “You act like you brought us here! Have you forgotten that we made the journey from the mountains together? Who saved Quick Water from drowning? I did! Who saved Jagged Peak from the eagle? Gray Wing. We protected each other. No cat is more important than any other—no cat except Stoneteller. She speaks with the ancients. She’s wiser than you’ll ever be!”

Rage surged through Clear Sky’s belly. “Look at this place!” He swept his tail toward the trees. Birds sang in their branches. Prey scuttled among their roots. “If she’s so wise, why did she stay in the mountains to starve?”

Falling Feather thrust her muzzle close. “She was looking after her cats!”

“That’s all I’m doing!” Indignation surged through him. How could Falling Feather be so ungrateful? “Because of me you are safe and well fed.”

Falling Feather frowned. “It’s the forest that feeds us.”

“And who makes sure the forest belongs to us and no one else?” Clear Sky jerked his muzzle toward the boundary marking the edge of the trees.

“All you care about is boundaries,” Falling Feather accused. “You stretch them farther every chance you get. There’s more to life than territory!”

“Really?” Clear Sky spat. “Do you want to share our prey with every passing stray?”

“There’s enough prey in the forest to share!”

“But now we have kits! Have you forgotten Birch and Alder?” Clear Sky couldn’t believe how shortsighted she was being. “There’ll be more kits one day, and more! Do you want them to starve, like Fluttering Bird?” Grief echoed in the back of his mind as he recalled his young sister who’d died in the mountains. Guilt soured his memory. Would she have lived if I’d hunted harder? “I never want to watch a kit starve again.”

“Do you think I do?” Falling Feather hissed. “Stop pretending you’re moving boundaries for our sake. You’re just greedy!”

Rage roared in his ears. Fast as a snake, Clear Sky raked her muzzle with his claws.

Falling Feather jerked away, her paws slithering on the leaves, and stared as though she hardly recognized him.

He showed his teeth. “Everything I do, I do for all of us,” he snarled.

Falling Feather backed away, blood welling on her nose. “Okay,” she growled huskily.

“I’m sorry I hurt you,” said Clear Sky, “but when the cold season comes and there are new kits in camp, you’ll understand what I already know: any cat who questions my loyalty puts all of us in danger.”

With a whip of his tail, he turned and began to head farther into the forest.

Charred wood scents still wafted on the breeze as they trekked silently through the forest, despite the fact that several full moons had passed since the great fire. When they reached camp, Clear Sky climbed the steep bank edging one side and watched Falling Feather slink across the clearing to the tangled roots of an oak. There she crouched alone, her tongue flicking out to soothe the scratch on her muzzle. Quick Water hurried to join her and the two she-cats huddled, heads close, murmuring.

Clear Sky shifted his paws. Were they gossiping about him? Was Falling Feather complaining about the scratch he’d given her? He wondered whether to interrupt. He didn’t want cats to talk about him behind his back. But, if he drew attention to Falling Feather’s whining, he might make it worse. His pelt pricked uneasily but he held his tongue.

His gaze flicked to Fircone and Nettle. The two young toms had joined the forest cats only recently. Their loyalty was still as brittle as dry leaves. They’d persuaded Thunder to question Clear Sky’s decision to enlarge the forest boundaries. A growl rattled in his throat. He was going to have to strengthen their commitment. And teach them some courage! Brave cats would have questioned him themselves.

He straightened, leaping down the bank and padding into the center of the earth clearing.

Leaf, a black-and-white tom, looked up from where he’d been washing his belly at the foot of a smooth rock jutting at one end of the clearing. He searched Clear Sky’s gaze. “Is Thunder really leaving?”

“He already left.” Clear Sky flicked his tail. He didn’t want to think about the past. The future was all that mattered. “Gather to hear me speak.” He flashed his gaze around the forest cats.

Quick Water padded toward him. Falling Feather followed. Nettle and Fircone circled him and stopped a tail-length away. Leaf shook out his fur and joined Nettle, exchanging glances with the young rogue.

A yellow face peered out from beneath a low-spreading yew. “Is there a meeting?”

Clear Sky beckoned her with his tail. “Yes, Petal. Please join us.”

As the golden-pelted she-cat slid out from beneath the dark green branches, the faces of two kits peered after her, their round eyes shining.

“Don’t worry, Birch.” Petal turned and soothed the tom kit. She nodded to his sister, huddled beside him. “Alder, stay there. Make sure Birch stays with you.”

She whisked them back into the shadow with a soft flick of her tail-tip and crossed the clearing.

“What’s up?” She stopped beside Falling Feather.

Clear Sky hardly heard her. He was watching Birch and Alder as they stared from the yew. They weren’t Petal’s kits. She’d taken them in after their mother had died.

After I killed their mother.

The words rang unbidden in his head. Guilt moved like worms beneath his pelt. A growl rumbled in his throat. No! She attacked us! I was just defending my cats.

She was just defending her kits.

He ignored the reproach echoing in his ears and fought to steady his paws. They were trembling. I must stay strong if I’m to see my cats through the cold season. The forest was still blossoming as the warm season gave way to hot. But warmth never lasted. The forest would be frozen all too soon. Prey would go to ground and hunger would stalk the cats with the ruthlessness of a fox, just as it had in the mountains.

“Clear Sky?” Petal’s mew jerked him from his thoughts.

He flicked his tail and leaped past Leaf onto the rock.

His cats turned their faces toward him.

“Thunder and Frost have left and they aren’t coming back.”

Fircone and Nettle exchanged glances.

“There’s no room in our forest for cats who aren’t loyal.” He snapped his gaze toward Falling Feather.

She straightened. “I’m loya—”

He cut her off.

“Falling Feather thought about leaving with them.”

“Only for a moment!” Falling Feather protested.

He was pleased to see guilt flashing in her wide green eyes. She looked anxiously around at the other cats. Clear Sky hoped they all saw the same guilt in her gaze. Then, they’d understand what he was about to do. “Even a single moment is too long,” he growled. “If we are to make it through the cold season we need to establish strong boundaries and unwavering loyalty now.” He stalked to the edge of the rock and glowered at Falling Feather. “When times are hard, I need to be able to trust you.”

Quick Water lifted her muzzle. “You have known Falling Feather since you were a kit,” she called up. “Of course you can trust her.”

Leaf’s gaze slid toward Falling Feather. “What about the rest of us, not born in the mountains? Can we trust her?”

Clear Sky scanned the cats’ faces eagerly. Did any other cat share Leaf’s doubt?

“Of course!” Quick Water stared angrily at Leaf.

Petal narrowed her eyes. “Clear Sky is right,” she murmured. “We need to be able to rely on each other even when times are tough. If we’d wanted to live as rogues, we’d have stayed rogues. But we chose to join Clear Sky because we believed he offered us a better life.”

“Exactly!” Clear Sky lifted his tail triumphantly. “I’m glad you understand, Petal. I only want what’s best. Loyalty will give us strength. It will let us trust one another. It will keep us safe.” His gaze flashed back to Falling Feather. “That is why she must be punished.”

Falling Feather’s snowy fur spiked along her spine. “Punished?” Her mew was barely a breath.

Clear Sky looked around the other cats. “If she shows any signs of disloyalty, it must be reported to me. Immediately!” He waited until Petal nodded and Leaf blinked in agreement.

Fircone and Nettle shifted their paws uneasily.

“Immediately!” Clear Sky showed his teeth.

They gave hasty nods.

“Quick Water?” Clear Sky glared at the gray-and-white she-cat.

“I won’t need to report her.” She glared back. “Falling Feather would never be disloyal.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Any cat may give Falling Feather orders. Any cat may take her prey if they wish. She is lower than a snake until she has earned our trust again.”

Falling Feather’s eyes sparked with hurt but she didn’t argue. Quick Water moved closer to her friend.

Clear Sky flicked his tail. “But we have more important things to discuss.” He looked down at Fircone and Nettle. “Some cats have been questioning my decision to expand our boundaries.” He saw Nettle unsheathe his claws defensively. His warning had been heard. Content, he softened his tone. “I want to put your minds at rest,” he soothed. “It’s for your own good. Can’t you see that?” He nodded toward the trees crowding the camp. Blackened trunks showed among them. “The fire destroyed much of our territory and it will take time for the forest to recover and prey to return. We need more land to hunt until it does. And with Thunder and Frost gone and small mouths to feed…” He glanced toward the yew. Birch had crept from the shadows and was staring up at him while Alder tugged his tail between her teeth, trying to haul him back beneath the branches. Clear Sky went on. “We need to claim as much territory as we can.”

Leaf frowned. “Claiming territory is one thing,” he called. “How do we keep it?”

Clear Sky flexed his claws. “We patrol our borders and we fight any cat who crosses them.”

“Even Gray Wing?” Quick Water tipped her head. “He’s your brother.”

Fury surged from Clear Sky’s belly. “He attacked me! He accused me of murdering the kittypet Bumble!” Outrage spiked his pelt. “Me! Murder a kittypet?” He flicked his tail toward Birch and Alder. “I rescue cats, I don’t kill them.” He pressed on before anyone could remind him how the kits had lost their mother. “These are dark times, and the cold season is not yet here. We must work together to build a strong, safe home!”

“Together! Together!” Petal chanted eagerly.

“Together!” Leaf joined her.

Fircone joined in with the black-and-white tom. “Together!”

Clear Sky’s chest flooded with pride as the cats yowled their support. Even Quick Water and Falling Feather joined in, though their eyes watched their new mates warily. So what? He knew that building loyalty and trust among his cats was going to take time. But it would be worth it. By next warm season, the forest would belong to them and they would be well fed and safe. We must be strong. Clear Sky lifted his chin. “Let us train until no cat can outfight us!”

“Train?” Leaf stared as the other cats fell quiet around him.

“We will practice fighting until we’re better than any rogue or moor cat!” Excitement rushed through Clear Sky like wildfire, his thoughts spiraling. If we share our skills and our strengths, we’ll be able to protect our territory. “Nettle!” Clear Sky leaped from the rock and circled the gray tom. “I want you to fight Fircone.” He padded toward Fircone and nudged his mottled gray shoulder. “Go on,” he urged. “Fight!”

“I don’t want to hurt my friend!” Nettle objected.

“Then keep your claws sheathed,” Clear Sky told him. “I just want you to show us your fighting technique.” He nodded to Leaf and Petal. “We can watch.” He beckoned Quick Water and Falling Feather closer with a flick of his tail. “And we can learn your skills, then show you ours.”

Leaf was nodding. “Great idea, Clear Sky. I bet they have moves we don’t know.”

Petal leaned forward. “And I have moves they can learn.”

“You can fight next,” Clear Sky promised, exhilarated to see his cats so eager to share their skills. He blinked at Fircone. “Are you ready?”

Fircone nodded, his amber eyes shining. “I’m ready.”

“Me too.” Nettle whisked his tail and dropped into a crouch.

Fircone narrowed his eyes and faced his friend.

Clear Sky padded across the clearing, nudging Leaf, Petal, Falling Feather, and Quick Water back until there was a clear, wide circle for the two young toms.

“Can we watch?” Birch was straining against Alder’s teeth as she tugged on his tail.

“Yes.” Clear Sky purred indulgently. “You’re never too young to learn.”

Quick Water flashed him a disapproving look. He ignored it. Hopefully, she’d change her mind when they grew into fearless, skillful fighters.

He stepped aside as Birch and Alder hurtled forward and skidded to a halt beside Petal.

Fircone’s tail was sweeping the earth behind him as he stared at Nettle.

Nettle narrowed his eyes, muscles twitching beneath his pelt.

Fircone leaped.

Nettle reared and met him in midair. The thump of their bodies as they clashed rang throughout the camp.

They dropped. Nettle landed on top of Fircone and, raising his forepaws, slammed them down onto his friend’s shoulders.

Breath burst from Fircone. He rolled, bunching his hind legs and kicking out as Nettle reared to hit him again.

His back paws caught Nettle on the chin and thrust him backward.

Petal darted out of the way.

Alder and Birch stared frozen as the huge tom careened toward them.

“Move!” Petal ordered.

Shrieking, they scattered like mice, escaping a moment before Nettle collapsed heavily onto the ground beside them.

“Finish him, Fircone!” Clear Sky goaded.

Fircone had already leaped to his paws, rage burning in his eyes. He clearly hadn’t expected Nettle to attack him so forcefully. Hissing, he leaped at his friend.

Nettle scrabbled to find his paws too late.

Fircone hit him hard, smashing him to the ground.

Growling, Nettle curled like a caterpillar and grabbed Fircone’s hind paws as the mottled tom reared. Clamping his jaws around his friend’s leg, he tugged until Fircone staggered and fell. “No one finishes me!” With a hiss, Nettle dived for Fircone’s throat, teeth bared.

“Enough!” Clear Sky darted forward and grabbed Nettle’s scruff. He tugged him back. “We don’t hurt each other.”

“He tried to hurt me.” Nettle glowered at Fircone.

Fircone glared back. “I was defending myself!”

“You both fought well,” Clear Sky praised. He was pleased to see such ferocity. If they were this fierce with friends, how fierce would they be with enemies? “That was a good move, Nettle.” He nodded approvingly at the gray tom. “Fircone wasn’t expecting you to grab his hind legs.” He turned to Fircone. “And you moved well in the air. You must teach us all how you managed to twist like that.”

“I used my tail,” Fircone told him.

Leaf tipped his head curiously. “How?”

“I’ll show you.” Fircone dropped into a crouch. “When you leap, the twist starts in the tail-tip. If you flick it right, it’ll alter your balance just enough.” He leaped, twirling as he streaked through the air, then landed gracefully on his paws.

Nettle leaned forward, rage giving way to curiosity. “I didn’t know you could do that.”

“Try it,” Fircone encouraged eagerly.

Clear Sky sat down. The friends’ anger was forgotten already. They were only interested in learning how to fight better. Satisfaction warmed his pelt. They were skilled cats. And, with training, they’ll be deadly.