Fox had reached the bank and was standing quietly beside the two newcomers. They haven’t attacked him . . . yet.
Petal braced herself for the leap onto the last rock. But she was so tense and tired that she misjudged the distance. Her forepaws hit the stone but her back legs landed in the river, and before she could scramble to safety the river swirled her away.
“Help me!” she shrieked, flailing her legs helplessly in the cold, angry water. “Fox! Help me!” There was nothing for her claws to grip, no way of keeping herself afloat as her pelt grew sodden and heavy.
Fox leaned dangerously far from the bank and stretched out a paw. His claws brushed through Petal’s pelt before the strong, rapid current snatched her out of reach. Petal’s screech of terror was cut off with a gurgle as her head went under. Water filled her mouth and nostrils. I’m going to drown!
She resurfaced to find herself a tail-length from the bank. Desperately she tried to push through the water but couldn’t make any headway. River water choked her; she couldn’t cry out anymore.
There was a yowl of despair from Fox. Then Petal caught a glimpse of the gray tom racing along the riverbank, outstripping her until she lost sight of him.
A moment later, still struggling to stay afloat, Petal spotted him again. He had halted beside a large rock on the riverbank, and as Petal was carried down toward it she heard his yowl of effort over the roar of the water as he pushed the rock into the river.
The surge from the splash swamped Petal. Her head went under again, but a heartbeat later the current threw her up against something hard. Scrabbling frantically, she realized it was the rock. She could get her head out again and she clambered painfully upward, away from the smothering water. Fox leaped from the bank to the top of the rock and helped her by leaning over and fastening his claws into her scruff.
Coughing and choking, Petal managed to scramble to the safety of the bank. Both the gray tom and the white she-cat were standing there, looking at her with concern in their eyes.
“Are you okay?” the white she-cat asked.
“Fine,” Petal gasped, and added to the gray tom, “You saved my life!”
The gray tom shrugged. “It was nothing. I’m Clear Sky, by the way, and this is Falling Feather.”
Petal sank shivering to the ground.
“I’m Fox,” her brother mewed, his voice shaky with relief. “And my sister is Petal.”
“Hey!” Falling Feather meowed, with a sudden startled look. “We know you, don’t we? You were in that fight when that idiot Moon Shadow was hunting a squirrel. And later on we chased you out of our clearing.”
“That’s right.” Clear Sky nodded. “And Falling Feather, you thought they might be cats we could invite to live with us one day.” He blinked thoughtfully. “Interesting . . .”
Petal was feeling too cold and exhausted to pay much attention. Feebly she started to groom herself, thinking she would never get the taste of river water out of her fur.
“Lie on either side of her,” Clear Sky instructed the other two cats. “That way she’ll get warm quickly.”
Fox and Falling Feather instantly settled themselves beside Petal, who let out a grateful sigh as the warmth of their bodies began to drive away the chill of the river. She was surprised at how easily Fox had obeyed Clear Sky’s command, but she wasn’t blind to the gray tom’s authority. He’s clever, too. He knew what to do to save me.
Clear Sky’s blue gaze ranged over her body, and Petal became painfully aware of how skinny she must look with her fur plastered to her ribs.
“When did you last eat?” he asked.
“We had a mouse apiece earlier on,” Fox replied, not pointing out that the mice had been the only prey they had managed to catch for days.
Suddenly Petal’s stomach gave a massive rumble. Clear Sky and Falling Feather both let out snorts of amusement.
“Okay,” Clear Sky meowed. “You need food. I’ll go and hunt.”
“If you go straight into the trees,” Fox told the gray tom as he turned away, “you’ll come to a heap of boulders with a spring trickling out. That’s a really good place for shrews.”
Clear Sky flicked his tail in acknowledgment, looking impressed. “You know the forest very well,” he commented.
“Not bad,” Fox responded, sounding encouraged. “And Petal is really good at climbing trees and coaxing out prey.”
“No, I—” Petal began to protest, embarrassment almost making her forget her shock and exhaustion.
“It’s true!” Fox interrupted. “You have more skills than you give yourself credit for. You just don’t use them as much as you could, because you’re so keen that we hunt together.”
Petal was aware of Clear Sky examining her with interest before heading off into the trees. Her pelt prickled uncomfortably, and she wished she knew what he was thinking.
When he had gone, the cats fell silent. Petal relaxed as Fox and Falling Feather leaned in to her.
“Lick her fur the wrong way,” Falling Feather instructed. “That’s the best way to get her warm quickly.”
Petal remembered being licked like that by her mother, when she was a tiny kit. Soon she began to feel warm and rested again. I was afraid of these cats, but they’re really kind. . . .
“Have you lived in the forest long?” Falling Feather asked eventually.
“We were born here,” Fox replied. “But our mother was killed by a badger when we were kits.”
“That’s terrible!” Falling Feather exclaimed. “What did you do?”
“It was tough,” Petal began. “We couldn’t hunt properly, and we thought we would starve. Then we smelled some other cats. . . .” The terrible memory of that rejection surged over her, as powerful as the river water, and she couldn’t go on.
“They didn’t want anything to do with us,” Fox finished for her. “Since that happened, we mostly just stay with each other.”
“I’m so sorry,” Falling Feather murmured. Petal felt the white she-cat’s tongue rasping around her ears. “I know what it’s like to lose a cat you care for.” She hesitated and then went on, “We traveled here from the mountains, a long way away. The cold season is harsh up there, and there wasn’t enough prey for all of us.” Her voice quivered as she added, “Clear Sky’s sister, Fluttering Bird, died because she didn’t have enough to eat. She was only a kit.”
Petal pressed her muzzle against Falling Feather’s shoulder, pain clawing at her for the kit she had never met. “That’s hard,” she whispered.
“Her death gave us the determination to come here and find a better life,” Falling Feather continued. “We didn’t want any cat to suffer like that again.”
Warmth crept through Petal from ears to tail-tip as she listened to Falling Feather. That’s exactly how I feel!
“Some of our friends have stayed on the moor,” the white she-cat meowed. “But we like it best here in the forest, so we’re settling in that clearing with the pool. The one we chased you away from.” She gave Fox a long, sparkling look from blue eyes. “I’ve always thought that was a mistake. It would be good if both of you could join us.”
Fox was gazing at Falling Feather with the same intensity, as if he couldn’t tear his glance away. Before Fox or Petal could reply to Falling Feather’s offer, the ferns at the edge of the forest parted and Clear Sky reappeared. Two shrews and a vole dangled from his jaws. “You were right about the shrews,” he commented, dropping his prey in front of the others.
Clear Sky and Falling Feather each took a bite from a shrew and then exchanged the rest before finally digging in.
“Why do you do that?” Petal asked, her pads pricking with curiosity.
“This is how we eat in the mountains,” Falling Feather explained between mouthfuls. “It reminds us that we always need to share.”
“We don’t exchange like that,” Fox responded, as he and Petal tackled the plump vole. “But we do share. Petal and I share everything.”
Petal felt her stren
gth returning as she gulped down the succulent prey. Living with these cats could be good, she thought. I’m not scared of them anymore.
“Clear Sky, I asked Petal and Fox if they want to join us,” Falling Feather meowed when she had finished eating. “You know what we were saying, about being stronger if our group was bigger.”
“I don’t know . . .” Fox began.
Petal wasn’t sure why he sounded reluctant. He seemed smitten with Falling Feather. Maybe he’s worried that we won’t be able to contribute, she told herself. But he’s a good hunter, and so am I. . . .
“You already said how tough you’ve found it, living alone,” Falling Feather reminded Fox.
“And now that more cats are moving into the forest, you’ll need the protection of a group,” Clear Sky agreed. “You’ll be able to protect the other cats in your turn.”
Fox nodded slowly. “That seems good. . . . What do you think, Petal?”
“I think it sounds great,” Petal replied, warmed by the strange cats’ kindness. “Can we come and meet the others?”
Falling Feather let out a yowl of pleasure, while Clear Sky gave Fox and Petal an approving glance. “Right away,” he agreed. “Are you feeling strong enough to walk back into the forest?” he asked Petal.
Petal sprang to her paws, shaking the last drops of water from her glistening pelt. “I feel strong enough for anything!”
As the other cats rose and headed back into the shadows of the trees, Petal heard the robin singing once again. Somehow the thought of the little bully bird didn’t bother her anymore. She was sure that everything in the forest was about to change.
I’ll work hard and improve my hunting skills. And I’m pretty sure that in the future no cat will be able to push me around. . . .
Other Books in This Series
Book One: Into the Wild
Book Two: Fire and Ice
Book Three: Forest of Secrets
Book Four: Rising Storm
Book Five: A Dangerous Path
Book Six: The Darkest Hour
THE NEW PROPHECY
Book One: Midnight
Book Two: Moonrise
Book Three: Dawn
Book Four: Starlight
Book Five: Twilight
Book Six: Sunset
POWER OF THREE
Book One: The Sight
Book Two: Dark River
Book Three: Outcast
Book Four: Eclipse
Book Five: Long Shadows
Book Six: Sunrise
OMEN OF THE STARS
Book One: The Fourth Apprentice
Book Two: Fading Echoes
Book Three: Night Whispers
Book Four: Sign of the Moon
Book Five: The Forgotten Warrior
Book Six: The Last Hope
Warriors Super Edition: Firestar’s Quest
Warriors Super Edition: Bluestar’s Prophecy
Warriors Super Edition: SkyClan’s Destiny
Warriors Super Edition: Crookedstar’s Promise
Warriors Super Edition: Yellowfang’s Secret
Warriors Field Guide: Secrets of the Clans
Warriors: Cats of the Clans
Warriors: Code of the Clans
Warriors: Battles of the Clans
Warriors: Enter the Clans
MANGA
The Lost Warrior
Warrior’s Refuge
Warrior’s Return
The Rise of Scourge
Tigerstar and Sasha #1: Into the Woods
Tigerstar and Sasha #2: Escape from the Forest
Tigerstar and Sasha #3: Return to the Clans
Ravenpaw’s Path #1: Shattered Peace
Ravenpaw’s Path #2: A Clan in Need
Ravenpaw’s Path #3: The Heart of a Warrior
SkyClan and the Stranger #1: The Rescue
SkyClan and the Stranger #2: Beyond the Code
SkyClan and the Stranger #3: After the Flood
NOVELLAS
Hollyleaf’s Story
Mistystar’s Omen
Cloudstar’s Journey
Also by Erin Hunter
Book One: The Quest Begins
Book Two: Great Bear Lake
Book Three: Smoke Mountain
Book Four: The Last Wilderness
Book Five: Fire in the Sky
Book Six: Spirits in the Stars
RETURN TO THE WILD
Book One: Island of Shadows
Book Two: The Melting Sea
Book Three: River of Lost Bears
MANGA
Toklo’s Story
Kallik’s Adventure
Book One: The Empty City
Back Ads
The mountain cats have begun to settle in their new home, but tensions are rising between Clear Sky and Gray Wing—and Thunder is caught in the middle.
Lucky is a golden-haired mutt with a nose for survival. Other dogs have Packs, but Lucky stands on his own . . . until the Big Growl strikes. Suddenly the ground splits wide open. The longpaws disappear. And enemies threaten Lucky at every turn. For the first time in his life, Lucky needs to rely on other dogs to survive. But can he ever be a true Pack dog?
Toklo, Kallik, and Lusa survived the perilous mission that brought them together, and now it’s time for them to find their way home. When the group reaches a shadowy island covered in mountains and ice, Kallik is sure they’re almost back to the Frozen Sea. But a terrifying accident leads them into a maze of abandoned tunnels, unlike anything they’ve ever seen before—making them question their path once again.
Copyright
Cover art © 2013 by Wayne McLoughlin
Cover design by Megan Stitt
The Sun Trail
Copyright © 2013 by Working Partners Limited
Series created by Working Partners Limited
Map art © 2013 by Gary Chalk
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
ISBN 978-0-06-206346-5 (trade bdg.)
ISBN 978-0-06-206347-2 (lib. bdg.)
EPUB Edition © JANUARY 2013 ISBN 9780062063496
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FIRST EDITION
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Erin Hunter, The Sun Trail
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