“Just rest there,” Slate soothed.
“Thank you,” Gray Wing wheezed. “For saving me.”
“I had to,” Slate purred. “I couldn’t let anything happen to the father of my kits.”
Gray Wing stiffened. “Your kits?” Confused, he stared at her. Turtle Tail was the mother of his kits. And they weren’t really his kits. Hazily, he tried to understand.
“I’m going to have your kits,” Slate explained softly.
Shock heated Gray Wing’s pelt.
“Is it so surprising?” Slate purred.
Gray Wing lifted his chin and gazed at her in wonder. “My kits,” he breathed. Joy flooded his heart like sunshine filling the sky. He was going to be a father. He purred a clumsy, wheezing purr. “My love,” he murmured, burying his nose in Slate’s thick, warm fur. “Thank you.”
CHAPTER 12
“It will be safe if we wait until dark,” Lightning Tail muttered.
Thunder glanced at his friend as they padded between the pines. He knew Lightning Tail was right, but his paws itched to return to Slash’s camp so much that he was willing to take the risk. “If we wait until dark, we might miss something.”
“What’s there to miss?” Thin shards of sunlight dappled Lightning Tail’s pelt. “We know that Slash is planning to steal our prey and drive us out of the forest.”
But I have to see Violet again! Thunder had hardly slept in the days following the attack on the moor cats. All he could think of was Violet. What if she’d been hurt in the struggle? When Gray Wing had visited the camp to share the news, his muzzle had been covered in scratches. He’d thanked Thunder for the warning—being prepared had helped them fend the rogues off—but even so, it must have been a vicious fight.
He avoided Lightning Tail’s gaze. “If you don’t want to come with me, that’s fine.” Why should he put his friend in danger?
“I’m not letting you go there alone. It’s not safe.” Lightning Tail sniffed. “I just wish you’d admit why you really want to go there.”
Thunder stopped walking. He flicked his ears self-consciously.
Lightning Tail turned and stared at him. “You want to see her again.” His whiskers twitched.
Thunder’s pelt grew hot.
“I don’t mind.” Lightning Tail shrugged and carried on toward the marsh. “Did you think I hadn’t noticed you talking about Violet every chance you get? You’re worried about her, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” Thunder hurried after him.
Lightning Tail quickened his pace. “Then let’s see how she is.”
Gratefully, Thunder followed the black tom through a narrow gap between the brambles. Light showed between the trunks ahead. They were nearing the marshland.
Lightning Tail lowered his voice. “I just hope we aren’t spotted.”
“Gray Wing said he rolled in rotting mushrooms to disguise his scent.” Thunder scanned the tree roots for old fungi.
Lightning Tail wrinkled his nose. “Let’s just stay downwind.” He slowed as they reached the edge of the pine forest.
Thunder peered out from the trees. “I guess we can always run away if we’re spotted. Most of the rogues are hopeless at running through woods. If we can get as far as the forest, we’ll be safe—”
“Shh!” Lightning Tail cut him off.
Thunder followed his friend’s alarmed gaze. Four rogues were filing between the marshy tussocks, heading for the woods. His heart lurched as he recognized Violet among them. “Hide!” Diving beneath a yew, he pressed his belly to the ground.
Lightning Tail shot in beside him. “They’re coming this way!”
Thunder wriggled deeper beneath the bush as the rogue patrol headed toward them. As they pattered past, one of them spoke. Through the branches, Thunder could see a black tom. He looked anxious.
“Do you think Slash saw us leave?” the rogue mewed.
“Don’t worry, Raven.” Violet walked beside him. “He was too busy teaching battle moves.”
A young tom followed her, his auburn pelt glossy. “Where are we going to hunt?”
A tortoiseshell she-cat hurried to catch up. “That’s the third time you’ve asked, Red.”
“He’s just asking because he’s nervous, Juniper,” Violet told her. “You know how Slash feels about us hunting for ourselves.”
“I’m not nervous.” Red sounded indignant.
Violet ignored him. “Let’s hunt near Twolegplace.”
“What about the dogs?” Red gasped.
“We can run faster than dogs,” Violet told him.
Juniper grunted. “We shouldn’t have to go hunting when there’s food rotting in camp.”
“Why doesn’t Slash share it?” Raven growled angrily. “He gives the best pieces to Splinter and Beetle and leaves the rest to turn sour while we’re eating scraps.”
Fury surged through Thunder’s pelt. Cats were going hungry because of Slash, and he was letting food rot!
“Slash is just mean.” Violet’s tail flicked against a yew branch. “Since Star Flower escaped, he has been worse than ever.”
“I’m glad she got away,” Juniper commented.
“I wonder how her kits are doing,” Violet murmured. “Fern said she had three.”
The rogues padded deeper into the forest. Thunder pricked his ears as their voices were swallowed by the pines. His heart was pounding. Rage bristled in every hair on his pelt. How dare Slash let food rot? He slid from beneath the yew. “Let’s go and check the camp.”
“Why?” Lightning Tail scrabbled after him. “You’ve seen that Violet’s okay.”
Thunder blinked at him “Didn’t you hear? Slash is training his campmates to fight. We need to learn their new moves.”
Lightning Tail’s pelt rippled. “You’re pushing your luck,” he warned. “We’ve almost been spotted once. What if Violet had seen us?”
Thunder wished Violet had seen him. He couldn’t believe the sleek gray she-cat would betray him, and he longed to meet her.
“Thunder?” Lightning Tail was staring at him.
He jerked his thoughts away from Violet. “If Slash is too busy to notice a hunting patrol leaving camp, he’ll never see us.” He ducked out from under the trees and headed onto the marsh.
Lightning Tail followed.
Keeping low, Thunder made for the patch of grass that walled the rogues’ camp. He slowed as he neared and tasted the air, relieved to feel the wind ruffling his fur. It carried the smell of rogues and whisked his scent into the pines.
Weaving between the tussocks, he led the way to the hiding place they’d used last time. As he crouched low, Lightning Tail squeezed in beside him. He peered through the gaps between the stems.
Slash was pacing the edge of the clearing. Splinter was facing a brown, mottled she-cat in the middle. Fear shone in her eyes, and blood welled on her muzzle.
Slash padded closer. “This time, remember to block his first blow.”
The mottled she-cat nodded stiffly, not taking her eyes from Splinter.
Splinter showed his teeth. “Should I go gentle on her this time, Slash?” he asked sarcastically.
“No!” Slash snapped his gaze toward the tom. He smirked as he saw amusement spark in Splinter’s eye, then purred. “Beech has to learn that if she’s slow, she gets hurt.”
A pale tabby padded closer to the edge of the clearing. “Let me take her place.”
“Go away, Willow.” Slash gave her a warning look. “Your friend needs to learn.”
Pity jabbed at Thunder’s heart as he watched Willow back reluctantly away and Beech brace herself for Splinter’s attack.
The black-and-white tom crouched, his eyes slitted. Beech flattened her ears.
Slash stared at Beech mockingly. “Is that as scary as you can look?”
Beech fluffed out her fur and showed her teeth.
“That’s better.” Slash flicked his tail.
Splinter leaped. Paws flailing, he crashed into Beech. She ducked to one s
ide to escape a swinging blow. Splinter’s claws caught her ear tip, and Thunder saw pain flash in her eyes as she rolled away.
Splinter reared and slammed his paws down, but he was too slow. Beech leaped up and ducked behind him. Thunder’s heart quickened. He found himself willing the brown she-cat to outwit the bullying tom. He held his breath as Splinter turned to face a flurry of blows. He backed away, wincing, but Beech kept lashing his muzzle.
Suddenly she stopped and glanced behind in surprise. Slash had pressed a paw onto her tail, pinning her to the spot. As she blinked at the rogue leader, Splinter leaped at her. Digging his claws into her pelt, he kicked her paws from beneath her and rolled her to the ground.
Willow started forward, her eyes wide with fear, but Slash hissed at her. “Stay back.” The pale tabby looked on, anguish brimming in her gaze as Splinter battered Beech with merciless swipes.
Thunder trembled with rage, longing to barge through the grass and defend the she-cat.
“Enough.” At last Slash signaled with his tail, and Splinter backed away from Beech.
She staggered to her paws. Fur stuck out in clumps around her neck. Blood matted her pelt.
Willow hurried forward and guided her campmate toward the edge of the clearing.
“Is Beech okay?”
Thunder blinked as two kits scampered out from between the reeds and hurried to meet the injured she-cat.
The black tom-kit reached her first. “She looks hurt.”
A gray-and-white she-kit scrambled to a halt beside him. “You fought really well, Beech!”
An orange-and-white she-cat hurried behind them. Her green eyes shone with worry as she saw Beech. “That’s not training,” she hissed under her breath. “That’s cruelty.”
“Dawn!” Willow gave her a pleading look, as though begging her to be quiet. “Don’t frighten your kits.”
Thunder pricked his ears as the orange-and-white queen replied. “I’m not going to hide the truth from them.” Dawn glared at Slash. “Pine and Drizzle need to know what sort of group they belong to.”
Thunder tensed as Slash met the queen’s gaze. “If you don’t like my group, you can leave and take your kits with you.”
Dawn narrowed her eyes. “We might just do that.”
A dark brown tom slid from the shadows. “Hush, Dawn,” he murmured anxiously. “We need the safety of the group.”
Dawn turned on him. “Do you call this safe?” She glanced toward Beech. The battered she-cat was washing her wounds stiffly.
Slash’s eyes glittered. “Perhaps you want to train next, Dawn?”
The dark brown tom moved in front of the queen. “She’s still nursing,” he growled.
Slash’s ears twitched. “In that case, Moss, why don’t you come and show us your moves.”
The black tom-kit’s eyes lit up with alarm.
His sister pressed herself against Moss. “Don’t go. He’ll hurt you.”
Moss touched his nose to the she-kit’s head. “No one’s going to hurt me, Drizzle.” He padded to the clearing and faced Slash. His gaze darted toward Splinter, then to Beetle, who was crouching at the edge of the clearing. “Which one of you am I going to train with?”
Thunder heard no fear in the tom’s mew. Admiration warmed his pelt.
Lightning Tail fidgeted beside him. “I wish I could ‘train’ with one of those fox-hearts,” he growled under his breath.
Slash motioned Beetle forward with a jerk of his muzzle.
Beetle got to his paws and crossed the clearing. His eyes shone with disdain as he looked at Moss.
Moss returned his gaze, unflinching.
Thunder tensed as he watched the two rogues face each other.
Moss threw Slash a look. “What move do you want me to practice?”
“Choose whatever you like,” Slash sneered. “I’m sure Beetle can counter it.”
Moss narrowed his eyes. Shifting his paws, he squared his shoulders.
Dawn watched anxiously while Pine and Drizzle huddled against her. Beech washed blood from her muzzle.
“Be carefu—”
Dawn’s warning was cut off by a screech. It rang across the marshland like the desperate cry of an owl.
Thunder jerked his head up. The screech sounded again, followed by the howl of a dog.
Then Red shot from the pines, as fast as a hawk. He pelted across the marshland, his fur bushed with terror. As he hared for the camp, three dogs bounded after him. Their eyes glittered with excitement as they raced between the tussocks.
Thunder stiffened, fear surging beneath his pelt. “He’s leading the dogs straight to the camp!”
“The kits!”
Before Thunder could stop him, Lightning Tail plunged through the camp wall. He raced across the clearing and bundled Pine and Drizzle toward the shadowy reeds beyond.
Dawn’s eyes widened in in shock.
“Dogs!” Lightning Tail yowled. “They’re heading this way.”
As he spoke, Red streaked into the camp.
The heavy paw steps of the dogs pounded over the ground outside. A barrage of vicious barks seemed to shatter the air.
Blood roaring in his ears, Thunder leaped through the gap Lightning Tail had made and raced to his friend’s side.
Lightning Tail had scooped up Drizzle by her scruff and was pushing her between the reed stems.
Dawn was nosing Pine after his sister. “Hide!” she hissed. “Don’t come out, whatever happens.”
“I’ll defend them.” Lightning Tail turned his back to the kits’ makeshift hiding place and faced the clearing.
Dawn squared up beside him. “Who are you?”
“I’m Lightning Tail.” He bushed out his pelt.
“I’m Thunder.” Thunder scanned the camp. “We’re forest cats.” Moss was backing away from the clearing. Beetle and Splinter had leaped in front of Slash. An orange tom raced from the shadows. A mottled tabby followed.
As the dogs crashed through the grass wall, cats burst from their nests. Terror burned in their eyes. The dogs leaped and twisted in the clearing, their tails wagging as though they couldn’t believe their luck. They snapped at the cats darting between their massive paws.
Thunder raced forward as a terrier thrust its sharp snout toward a striped she-cat. Rearing, he slashed its cheek. The dog turned on him, growling angrily. Fear scorched through Thunder as its foul, hot breath washed over him. He lashed out with both paws. It yelped, diving closer.
Fur brushed Thunder’s flanks as Moss reared beside him. Fern dashed from the edge of the camp and ducked beneath the terrier’s chin. Hissing, she rolled onto her back and scrabbled beneath the dog’s belly. With a yowl, she began churning her hind paws. Thunder smelled the stone tang of blood and clawed the dog on the ear as it turned to bite at the hissing cat beneath him.
On the other side of the clearing, Slash, Splinter, and Beetle fought beside a yellow-eyed tabby, driving a russet-colored mongrel toward the camp entrance. They swiped at it, one after another, in a relentless barrage until the excited gleam in the dog’s eyes turned to confusion.
Frog raced past Thunder, nearly unbalancing him as he fled a black dog. Slavering, it barged past Thunder, its greedy gaze fixed on the gray tabby tom. A burly brown tom leaped from the reeds, raking the dog’s muzzle as he soared past. The dog scrabbled to a halt, yelping with rage. Frog reared and, while the brown tom found his footing, aimed a vicious blow at the dog’s snout. Beech raced to help, blood still streaking her nose from her fight with Splinter. She ducked beneath the dog and fell in beside Frog. The brown tom joined them, and together they lashed out at the dog’s snapping jaws.
“Thunder! Look out!” As Lightning Tail’s cry sounded in his ear, paws shoved him aside. Teeth snapped beside his cheek. He turned. Fern had pushed him clear as the terrier had lunged for him. Fear surging through his muscles, he flung blow after blow at the dog’s face. Moss was clinging like a tick to its back. Thunder flattened his ears as the camp rang with the shriek of
battle.
Across the camp, the mongrel yelped with pain as Slash, Beetle, Splinter, and the tabby tom drove it away. Eyes blazing with hate, Slash swung his paw at the dog’s nose. Blood sprayed his pelt as he sliced its muzzle open.
Yowling in agony, the mongrel turned and fled toward the pines.
Hope flared in Thunder’s chest. He slashed at the terrier, his eyes slitted. Fern pressed against him. She reared and sank her claws into the dog’s cheek. It tried to bite her, but as it opened its jaws, she pulled hard on its flesh and it howled with pain. Ducking low, it tried to shake Moss from its back. Panic sparked in its gaze. Backing away, it stared in terror at the cats. Then it turned and leaped the grass wall. As it fled across the marsh, Moss jumped off its back and raced back to camp.
We’re winning! Thunder turned to the black dog.
He froze.
A chill rippled along his spine. The burly tom lay unmoving at the edge of the clearing. Blood spattered the ground around him and oozed from his body, turning the earth red.
Frog batted desperately at the dog’s muzzle. It snarled and snapped, drool bubbling at its lips. Limping on three paws, the gray tom lurched clumsily with each swipe. Beech stumbled beside him, her pelt scratched and matted. Pain gleaming in her eyes, she swung blow after blow at the dog.
It snapped its jaws around Frog’s flanks. Thunder heard bone crunch. Beech swiped at its nose. The dog let go, its eyes blazing with rage. As Frog dropped to the ground, it turned on Beech.
“Frog!” Willow raced across the clearing. Grabbing his scruff, she pulled him clear of the dog’s hefty paws.
Beech faced the dog alone.
Thunder and Lightning Tail raced to help.
Gray fur crossed Thunder’s path. Slash was blocking his way.
“What are you doing?” Thunder stared at him. “She needs help!” He glanced at Lightning Tail. Splinter and Beetle were holding him back, pinning him to the ground with their paws.
Slash snarled at Thunder. “Don’t move, or I’ll kill you.”
Thunder’s thoughts whirled. “Why?”
Slash stared at Beech, curling his lip. “It’s time she proved she’s not a burden.”