Path of Stars (11 page)

For a moment the sounds of the forest disappeared. He could only hear his own heart pounding, and a voice in the back of his mind:
Think of Star Flower and your kits. They need you.

Slash snatched the scrawny rabbit from Beetle and carried it back to Clear Sky. With a snort, he flung it near Clear Sky's paws. “Give this to Star Flower.” His growl was thick with derision. “Tell her it's a gift from me.”

Rage throbbed in Clear Sky's belly. He dug his claws deep into the ground as Slash turned and stalked away.
One day, you will pay for this.

As the rogues disappeared between the trees, Sparrow Fur glanced at the pitiful rabbit. “I guess we ought to take it. It won't feed many mouths, but it's better than nothing.”

Clear Sky hardly heard her, but he turned as the fresh scent of blood reached his nose. The fur on her cheek was dark and wet. “You're hurt,” he meowed, shaking himself from his thoughts. “Let's head back to camp so you can clean your wounds properly.” Gratitude stirred in his chest. “Thanks for defending me,” he added. It wasn't the first time the feisty young she-cat had leaped to save him. She'd fought for him when One Eye had tried to drive him from the group, too.

Sparrow Fur shrugged and poked the rabbit with her paw. “It's not much to show for a morning's hunting.”

“I'll send out another patrol this afternoon,” Clear Sky told her.

“And what if Slash steals from them too?” Worry clouded the she-cat's gaze.

“We'll deal with that if it happens.” He scooped up the rabbit, swallowing back the resentment that rose in his throat. How dare Slash give him his own catch as though it were a gift? He wanted to toss it away and catch fresh meat. But with so little prey running in the forest, he had no choice. Star Flower needed every morsel she could get.

Growling softly to himself, he headed toward camp.

Star Flower refused to touch the rabbit until the afternoon patrol returned. As the sun sank slowly behind the trees, Clear Sky paced outside the den, listening for the sound of the hunting party. They should be back soon. He'd sent out a big patrol—Blossom, Birch, Nettle, Quick Water, and Thorn. He wanted to make sure that if the rogues attacked again, they wouldn't be able to steal whatever the patrol had caught.

Clear Sky stopped pacing. He poked his head into the den once more. “Please take just a mouthful.” He pushed the rabbit closer to Star Flower.

She shook her head. “I can't eat while the others go hungry.”

Tiny Branch clambered onto his mother's flank. “We're not hungry.”

Dew Petal and Flower Foot were wrestling beside her belly. Dew Petal struggled free of her sister's paws and
grabbed her tail. “I win!” she squeaked.

Star Flower purred. “See?” She blinked at Clear Sky. “They're getting plenty of milk, and they're as strong as badgers.”

Clear Sky frowned. He could see bones showing sharply through Star Flower's pelt. “But what about you?”

“I've been through worse,” she assured him.

Clear Sky glanced at the scrawny rabbit lying untouched at her side. Was it cruel to leave it where Star Flower could smell its fresh-kill scent? He'd been trying to tempt her, but if she refused to be tempted, perhaps he should move it away so she didn't have to look at it.

As worry wormed in his belly, the bramble entrance rattled. Paw steps thrummed into camp. “They're back.” Hope flashed beneath his pelt. He turned eagerly from the den, pushed through the bracken, and leaped down the steep slope.

Blossom was standing in the middle of the clearing, two mice at her paws. Clear Sky looked past her hopefully at Birch, Nettle, Quick Water, and Thorn. Were they carrying any prey?

A vole hung from Nettle's mouth.

Was that it?

Clear Sky tried not to look disappointed. At least they'd caught something. Perhaps they'd caught more and been ambushed by Slash. “Did you see the rogues?”

Blossom shook her head. “No sign of them.”

Nettle padded forward. “I know it's not a big catch,” he apologized. “But we did our best.”

“Of course you did.” Frustration rippled through Clear Sky's pelt. Where had all the prey gone?

Quick Water shook out her pelt. “It's leaf-bare,” she reminded him. “Don't you remember the cold seasons in the mountains? There was a time when the Tribe didn't eat for five days.”

Clear Sky twitched his tail crossly. “That's why we came to the forest! So we'd have prey no matter what season it was.”

Thorn padded across the clearing and settled in his favorite spot between the roots of the beech. “Sometimes prey doesn't make it through the first snows,” he meowed matter-of-factly.

“We'll survive,” Nettle chipped in. “River Ripple will share his fish. Or we could scavenge in Twolegplace. Don't forget, most of us have lived as loners. We know what it's like to suffer through difficult times.”

Clear Sky gazed around his cats. “But living as a group, surely life should be easier?”

Quick Water blinked at him sympathetically. “Hunger is easier to bear when you're surrounded by campmates. Why do you think the Tribe survived so long despite the hardship of the mountains?”

Thorn sat down and began to wash. “We have warm nests,” he mewed between laps. “And the hope that tomorrow's hunting will be better.”

Unless the rogues take it,
Clear Sky thought darkly.

Blossom glanced toward the bracken that shielded Clear Sky's den. “Did Star Flower eat the rabbit?”

“She won't eat until she knows the rest of you have food,” Clear Sky told her.

“Then give her this.” Blossom tossed him one of the mice. “We can share the rabbit and the rest of our catch. Tell her we have plenty. We'll make sure she doesn't go hungry.”

Clear Sky blinked at her gratefully. He knew that one scrawny rabbit, a mouse, and a vole wouldn't fill every belly. But if Star Flower was well fed, the kits would have milk. “Thank you.”

Quick Water purred. “It's good to have kits in the camp again. They bring hope.”

Clear Sky dipped his head, grateful for his campmates' optimism. He picked up the mouse. It swung from his jaws as he leaped up the slope and headed for his den.

“Blossom says you should eat this.” He dropped the mouse beside Star Flower.

She blinked at him through the shadows of the den. “Did they catch much?”

“Enough for everyone to eat something.” Even if it
was
just a mouthful each.

Star Flower narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Did she know he was exaggerating?

“I think they would appreciate the rabbit,” he told her quietly, avoiding her eye.

Star Flower nosed it toward him. “Then they should have it. Make sure Birch and Alder get a bite. I know rabbit is their favorite.”

He purred, pressing his cheek to hers, then picked up the rabbit. Anger pricked in his belly as Slash's words rang in his mind:
Give this to Star Flower.

How would he stop the rogues from stealing their prey?
He lifted his chin. Tomorrow they would start training to fight, as Thunder had suggested. But would that be enough? He hurried to the clearing and dropped the rabbit beside the meager prey pile, then headed back to his den.

“Aren't you eating anything?” Birch called after him.

He shook his head. “I'll eat tomorrow,” he replied without looking back. His belly felt tight with hunger, and as he reached his den, he smelled fresh mouse blood. Star Flower had eaten it already. She must have been starving. Tomorrow he would hunt again. He slid into the nest and settled beside Star Flower. She was lying drowsily in her nest while the kits clambered over her.

“Clear Sky?” Tiny Branch leaped onto his flank. “Can we leave the den tomorrow?”

“Yes.” Clear Sky stretched his muzzle forward and nudged the kit's cheek.

Tiny Branch's tail quivered excitedly. “Did you hear that?” he squeaked, leaping onto Dew Petal and Flower Foot. “We can go outside tomorrow!”

“Finally!” Dew Petal cheered.

She tumbled into the mossy depths of the nest, tugging Flower Foot and Tiny Branch with her.

Happiness filled Clear Sky's empty belly as they wrestled beside him. And yet he couldn't relax. The idea of his kits training to go out into the world made him uneasy. Because as long as Slash and his rogues roamed the forest, none of his cats were safe.

Thunder gazed across the four trees
hollow. The cats from the other groups milled around him, waiting for the meeting to start. The sun glittered through the bare branches of the oaks, bathing the hollow in cold, bright light.

Lightning Tail's breath brushed his ear fur. “This place looks bigger in the daylight.”

Thunder purred softly. “Are you missing the dark?” He knew that Lightning Tail enjoyed melting into the shadows and watching the other cats. His friend often teased him about his white paws and orange pelt.
Too white to hide in shadow and too orange to hide in snow.

Lightning Tail leaned closer. “I don't know why Clear Sky called a meeting so soon after the last one.”

“We'll find out soon enough,” Thunder answered.

His father was pacing one edge of the clearing. Star Flower watched him, a few tail-lengths away, through green eyes. Thunder's pelt pricked with curiosity. How had he persuaded the queen to leave her kits?

Wind Runner and Gorse Fur were shifting impatiently from paw to paw. Wind Runner had explained that Gray
Wing had wanted to come, but his breathing was bad today. Thunder pictured the gray tom in his nest; he must be very ill to miss a meeting.
Why
? Had he worn himself out hunting? Or was his breathing growing steadily worse? Whatever sickness ailed him, Gray Wing seemed unable to escape its slowly tightening grip. Thunder pushed the thought away, his gaze flicking to Tall Shadow. The forest cat sat as still as stone beside Jagged Peak, while River Ripple and Shattered Ice gazed calmly at Clear Sky.

Wind Runner whisked her tail. “So?” She stared questioningly at Clear Sky. “Why did you ask us to come?”

Thunder pricked his ears as Clear Sky stopped pacing and faced the moor cat.

“My cats are growing hungry.” His gaze flicked around the others. “We've tried defending our prey, but the rogues fight like foxes.”

Tall Shadow curled her lip. “They fight like
cowards
!”

“But they win,” Wind Runner growled. “We've lost half our catches to them in the past few days.”

Thunder narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “Then
we
must learn how to fight like foxes too.”

“No.” River Ripple's tail swept the ground. “Foxes have cruel hearts. If we fight like foxes, we will become like foxes.”

Jagged Peak snorted. “Then how do we beat the rogues?”

River Ripple's eyes gleamed. “We must learn to fight better than foxes.”

“How?” Thunder blinked at him. Lightning Tail had been training his campmates how to rear higher and swipe
harder. What else could they do?

Lightning Tail blinked excitedly at Thunder. “Do you remember the trick we use when we run into a Twoleg dog in the forest?”

Thunder paused. “The thunder-and-lightning move?”

Lightning Tail nodded eagerly. “We could use it to fight the rogues.”

Thunder frowned, confused. “How? We only use it to escape.”

“But if we changed it a little—”

Thunder interrupted, his heart lifting as he understood. “Of course! A bunch of rogues is no worse than a dog. I pull them one way,” he began.

“And I attack from behind!” Lightning Tail finished.

Wind Runner leaned forward. “Show us.”

Thunder nodded toward Gorse Fur, River Ripple, and Shattered Ice. “You pretend to be the rogues. Imagine I've just caught a juicy pigeon.” Thunder's belly growled as he imagined the plump bird at his paws.

River Ripple, Shattered Ice, and Gorse Fur padded toward him, ears flattened menacingly.

Thunder blinked at them, snatched up the imaginary bird, and turned. Running across the clearing, he heard paws pattering after him. He ran long enough for Lightning Tail to get in position; then he spun, his paws skidding, and reared.

Shattered Ice, River Ripple, and Gorse Fur scrambled to a surprised halt in front of him.

Snarling, Thunder backed away. He could see Lightning
Tail racing up behind the three cats. With a yowl, the black tom flew past Shattered Ice, sliding his paws over the river cat's gray-and-white flank.

Shattered Ice turned in surprise, but Lightning Tail was already circling away toward Gorse Fur. He leaped the moor cat, kicking his spine with his hind paws as he sailed over him. Thunder dived on River Ripple as the river cat blinked in confusion. It was even easier than Thunder had expected to unbalance the stocky tom and tackle him to the ground.

He leaped off and blinked at the three ruffled toms as River Ripple scrambled to his paws.

Lightning Tail raced to his side. “They looked as confused as any Twoleg dog,” he purred.

Gorse Fur shook out his pelt.

Shattered Ice shifted his paws, his pelt pricking. “Nice move!”

Thunder flicked his tail happily. “Surprise is the sharpest claw.”

River Ripple nodded approvingly. “And it works even when we're outnumbered.”

“Exactly.” Lightning Tail lifted his chin.

Gorse Fur's eyes lit up. “It's a bit like the move we use on rabbits.” He was staring excitedly at Wind Runner.

She hurried toward him. “Of course!”

Clear Sky pricked his ears. “Show us.”

“It's easier to catch a rabbit if we can separate it from its group and tire it out,” Wind Runner explained. She marched around Thunder, Lightning Tail, Shattered Ice, and River Ripple,
nudging them closer together. “You can be the rabbits—” She paused. “I mean the
rogues
.”

She backed away as Thunder flattened his ears, pretending to be Slash. Shattered Ice hissed beside him, while River Ripple and Lightning Tail lifted their hackles menacingly.

Wind Runner nodded toward Gorse Fur. He seemed to read her thoughts and broke into a run. Thunder twisted his head as the tom circled them, moving fast. Frowning, he wondered what in the stars Gorse Fur was doing. Dirt sprayed beneath Gorse Fur's paws as he hared around the bunched toms; then suddenly he veered and barged between Thunder and Lightning Tail. Thunder blinked as he found himself separated from the others. A paw batted his cheek. He spun in surprise and saw Wind Runner dash past him.

He froze.
What do I do now?
Gorse Fur was still circling Lightning Tail, Shattered Ice, and River Ripple, dodging as they aimed clumsy blows at him.
What would a rogue do?
Wind Runner raced past him again, grazing his cheek with a second swipe.
Chase her!

Thunder hared after the wiry brown she-cat as she plunged into the bracken. Diving after her, he pounded up the slope. Suddenly he heard paws behind him. He glanced backward and saw Gorse Fur on his tail.
Am I chasing or being chased?
Confused, he kept running, tracking Wind Runner up the slope and then down until he was breathless. She burst into the clearing. He followed, Gorse Fur at his heels. Thunder ran harder, chasing Wind Runner toward the oaks. As he neared, she spun and faced him. He skidded to a halt and she started
to pummel his muzzle. He reared to fight her off, realizing suddenly how breathless he was. Paws thumped him from behind. Thunder gasped as Gorse Fur leaped onto his back and tussled him to the ground.

Panting, Thunder thrashed his tail. “I give up!”

He struggled to his paws as Wind Runner and Gorse Fur backed away and fought to catch his breath. “You two are fast!” he puffed.

“We spend our days running the moors,” Wind Runner reminded him.

Gorse Fur nodded, raising his voice so the others could hear. “You must
all
practice running. The rogues are lazy. I bet we are fitter than them already. With some training, we can be even stronger.”

“That's not enough.” Star Flower's mew took Thunder by surprise.

She padded past Jagged Peak and Tall Shadow and faced the group. “You have to learn how rogues fight.”

Thunder frowned. “But I thought we weren't going to fight like foxes.”

Star Flower met his gaze. “If you fight a fox, you must know how it thinks.”

“How?” Jagged Peak tipped his head. “We can't see their thoughts.”

Star Flower flicked her gaze toward him. “I am One Eye's daughter, remember? I know how they fight—using trickery and deceit. I can show you the kind of moves they use. I can teach you what to expect.”

Clear Sky hurried to her side. “You're in no condition to teach battle moves.”

Star Flower halted him with an emerald stare. “I'm as fit as the rest of you. If I can give birth to three kits, I can certainly teach battle moves.” She nodded at Thunder. “Attack me.”

Thunder blinked at her, his gaze flicking uncertainly to Clear Sky.

Clear Sky's tail twitched nervously. “Be careful,” he warned.

Star Flower glared at her mate. “I'm not made out of cherry blossom,” she snapped. She turned to Thunder, holding his gaze as she backed away from the group. She came to a stop in the middle of the clearing. “
Attack
me!”

Thunder shifted his paws uneasily. He would go easy on Star Flower. She must still be weary after her ordeal, and she wasn't used to fighting. He approached her slowly.

Her gaze flashed with impatience, but she said nothing.

Nearing her, Thunder lifted a forepaw, preparing to swipe lightly at her muzzle.

She lunged at him. A forepaw struck him hard on the top of his shoulder. Another slammed the same shoulder from the side. Thunder stumbled, shocked as his leg buckled beneath him. He thumped onto his chest, his shoulder numb where Star Flower had hit him. His leg was as limp as fresh-kill. He could hardly feel his paw.

He stared up at Star Flower as she backed away, lifting her gaze to the others. “Rogues like to lame their enemies first, then attack. It's a sneaky trick, but it's effective. If I attacked Thunder now, he'd only be able to defend himself with three
paws. And he'd be pretty confused about what had happened. It gives a rogue all the time they need to deliver a far more damaging blow.” She glanced down at Thunder. “Are you okay?”

Sensation was flooding back into his leg. He pushed himself to his paws, staggering slightly. His shoulder felt weak. He blinked at Star Flower, impressed. Even play fighting with Lightning Tail he had never been overpowered so quickly.

“Don't worry,” Star Flower reassured him. “It'll be fine in a moment.”

He shook out his paw, relieved to feel strength flooding back into it. Dipping his head respectfully, he backed away.

A loud purr rumbled in Clear Sky's throat. “I'm sorry, Star Flower. I underestimated you.”

Wind Runner padded closer to the golden she-cat, her eyes sparking with interest. “Can you show me exactly where you hit Thunder?” she asked. “That is a great move.”

Jagged Peak, Lightning Tail, and River Ripple moved closer as Star Flower laid one paw on top of Wind Runner's shoulder and another on the side.

“Hit the top first,” Star Flower instructed. “A short, sharp blow. Then follow it up with a hefty swipe to the side. You need to hit the right spot. It numbs the leg instantly.”

Thunder padded toward Lightning Tail. “Can I try it on you?”

Lightning Tail nodded, bracing as Thunder lifted a paw. Focusing hard, Thunder slapped one forepaw down on Lightning Tail's shoulder and swung his other into his side.

Lightning Tail buckled, and Thunder felt satisfaction flood through his pelt, swiftly followed by guilt. “Did I hurt you?”

“You crippled me.” Lightning Tail glanced up at him reproachfully. Then his eyes flashed with amusement. “But it
is
a good move.”

Star Flower blinked at him. “You don't have to use it if you don't want to, but you'll know what to look out for.” She circled Thunder. “Try it on me,” she ordered.

Thunder stared at her. “I can't.”

Star Flower rolled her eyes. “Just
try
it!”

Thunder lifted a forepaw.
I guess it won't really injure her.
As he aimed a blow at her shoulder, she spun and butted him away with her flank. Thunder wobbled. With one forepaw raised and the other preparing a second blow, he was unbalanced. As he struggled to stay on his paws, Star Flower grazed his muzzle with a swipe.