Path of Stars (15 page)

“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.”

“You can't!” Thunder tried to push past Slash, but the rogue reared and hooked his claws deep into his shoulder fur. Half blind with fury, Thunder scrabbled against the earth, but Slash held him back.

Beech stumbled, her gaze on Slash. Disbelief shone in her eyes as the black dog took her ribs in its huge jaws. She shrieked as it lifted her and shook her like prey. Screeching in terror, she flailed desperately, her eyes flashing with agony. Thunder heard a terrified yowl, and then Fern raced over. Spitting like a snake, she leaped onto the dog's shoulders and clawed at its eyes.

It yelped and dropped Beech, shaking Fern from its back.

Thunder ripped free of Slash's grip and flung himself toward the dog. But it was already fleeing, blood welling around its eyes. Howling, it ran from the camp and followed its pack mates to the pines.

“Beech?” Fern leaned over the she-cat as she lay, limp, on the ground.

Frog dragged himself toward her, his hind legs trailing along the ground behind him. “Is she breathing?” he whispered, staring at Beech.

Thunder hurried closer and sniffed her muzzle. No breath
touched his nose. Her flanks were still. “She's gone,” he murmured.

A low moan sounded in Fern's throat.

Lightning Tail hauled himself to his paws, glaring angrily at Splinter and Beetle. “We could have saved her!”

“What for?” Slash snarled from the middle of the clearing.

His campmates stared at him, shock sharpening their gaze.

Beetle shook out his pelt. “She couldn't fight or hunt.”

Splinter padded to Slash's side. “She was a waste of prey.”

Fern glared at Slash, her pelt pricking along her spine. Hatred filled her gaze. “You let her die.”

Slash snorted. “Don't blame me,” he huffed. “
I
didn't lead the dogs here.”

Fern stiffened. “Red!” She jerked her muzzle around, scanning the clearing. “Where is he?”

“He ran away.” Splinter's mew was thick with derision.

“Mouse-heart,” Beetle snarled.

“Mouse-
brain,
” Slash corrected. “Who would lead dogs back to his own camp?”

Splinter narrowed his eyes. “Perhaps he did it on purpose.”

Beetle's eyes flashed with interest. “He
has
been complaining a lot. Perhaps he was hoping the dogs would kill you.” He blinked at Slash. “It might have been a plot to destroy the group.”

“No!” Fern stepped forward. “Red wouldn't hurt anyone!”

Willow narrowed her eyes. “Then why
did
he lead the dogs right into the camp?”

Splinter's ears twitched. “If
I
was being chased by dogs, I'd lead them away.”

Thunder glanced around the camp. Blood spattered the ground and specked the grass wall. Cats stared, round-eyed with shock. Frog had collapsed, his eyes dull with pain. Blood welled above Moss's eye. Bloody gouges showed on Fern's flank. Clumps stuck out from Willow's pelt. These cats were in no state to look after themselves or each other.

An orange she-cat sniffed at the burly brown tom. “Stone's dead.” She stared bleakly at his matted pelt.

Slash's eyes gleamed. “And it's all Red's fault.”

Thunder growled. “Stop worrying about who to blame. You've got injured cats here. Two of your campmates are dead. It doesn't matter
why
it happened. You need to take care of your group.” He glared at Slash.

Slash's hackles lifted. “How dare you tell me how to lead? What are you doing here anyway?” He bared his teeth.

Thunder shifted his paws uneasily as Splinter padded closer. “
I
think he's a spy.”

Beetle flexed his claws. “He's trying
to stir up trouble.”

Slash flattened his ears. “I should claw your ears off for trespassing on my land.”

Thunder faced the rogue leader, anger hardening his belly. Overhead, clouds darkened the sky. “Your campmates need help, not another fight.”

“They brought the danger here themselves.” Slash didn't even glance at the injured cats littering the clearing. “Anyway, they don't need help from a couple of cowardly group cats.”

Thunder stared at him in disbelief. “We helped you fight the dogs off!”

Lightning Tail padded to Thunder's side. “Your cats are so starved, they couldn't defend themselves properly.” He jerked his muzzle toward Beech. “And you clearly don't care whether they live or die.”

“Why should I?” Slash's pelt rippled along his spine. “They're cowards. They fight like kits.”

Thunder's paws trembled with fury. “They fight like foxes!” How could Slash despise the cats he was supposed to protect? Didn't he feel any responsibility for them at all?

Fern padded into the clearing, her eyes wide. She glared at Slash, her eyes blazing with anger. “You don't care about us at all. You never have!”

Dawn was lifting Pine and Drizzle from their hiding place among the reeds. She glanced at Fern, her expression somber.

Moss bristled beside her, his gaze on Slash. “Fern's right. You ordered us to steal, then kept the prey for yourself and your friends.” His glanced at Splinter and Beetle. The vicious toms glared back at him and moved closer to Slash. “You've been treating us terribly for a long time! We practically starve, while you let food rot.”

Dawn took a step toward Fern. “They're right,” she said, looking nervously from the black she-cat to Slash. “You say you want to train us to fight, but you abuse your own cats.”

Fern nodded at Dawn, then turned back to Slash, eyes narrowed. “We've put up with you for too long,” she hissed. “You call the group cats weak, but look who fought alongside us. Maybe we'd be better off in a group! We'd definitely be better off without you.”

Better off in a group?
Thunder's pelt prickled with concern. Could the groups accommodate all these cats?
Would
they?

A tabby tom crossed the clearing and fell in beside Slash. “Why don't we just leave?” he hissed to Slash. “These mouse-hearts don't appreciate you, Slash. Let them try to make it on their own!”

Slash narrowed his eyes. “That's a good suggestion, Snake. I'm wasting my time here.” He flicked his tail toward Splinter and Beetle. “Are you coming with me?”

“Why would we stay here?” Splinter lifted his chin.

Beetle shook out his pelt. “Let these vermin die alone.”

Thunder stared at Slash.
I'd never let my group down like this!
“They're your campmates! They're injured—and they're right, you've let them down! How can you be so heartless?”

Slash shrugged. “If you're so worried about them, why don't
you
look after them?”

Thunder stiffened. Slash's words echoed the question he'd been turning over in his mind—a question he couldn't quite answer.
Can I care for these cats?
There was barely enough prey in his forest to feed his own group. But he couldn't just leave these battered cats here. They clearly needed help.

Moss's eyes lit with outrage. “No one needs to look after us!” he snarled.

“We'll take care of ourselves better than you ever did!” Fern squared her shoulders.

Dawn wrapped her tail around Pine and Drizzle, who were trembling, their fluffy fur spiked. “We shouldn't have put up with you for so long.”

Thunder felt a rush of admiration for the rebelling rogues. And yet how would they recover from this? They were half-starved to begin with. And now they were wounded. They might say they wanted to look after themselves, but
could
they?

Whatever happened, at least they would be free from Slash. He met the rogue leader's gaze. “I don't think you'll be missed.”

Slash glanced at Splinter. “Let's get out of here. It reeks
of fear.” He glanced once more around his campmates, then headed for the entrance.

Splinter, Beetle, and Snake followed.

An orange she-cat hurried after them. “Can I come too?”

Slash turned and looked at her through narrowed eyes. “Don't you want to stay with these weaklings, Swallow?” he asked mockingly.

Swallow flattened her ears. “I don't want to live like prey,” she growled. “I'm a hunter.”

Slash blinked at her approvingly. “Then you'd better come with us.”

He headed through the gap in the reeds. As Splinter, Beetle, Snake, and Swallow filed after him, Thunder's claws itched. He wanted to chase after the heartless cowards and claw their ears off. But there had been too much fighting already. Too many cats were hurt. He didn't want to drag them into another battle.

Fern's mew took him by surprise.

“We should fetch Pebble Heart.”

He blinked at her.

“When I was with Tall Shadow's group, he helped heal his campmates,” she went on. “And he tended to Quiet Rain when she was dying. He might be able to help here.”

“You're right.” Thunder dipped his head to Fern. “I don't know if he can help all these cats, but I know he'll try.”

“I'll fetch him.” Lightning Tail headed for the camp entrance.

Moss started after him. “Should I come too?”

Lightning Tail answered without stopping. “I know the forest,” he called. “I'll travel faster alone.”

Thunder watched his friend race out of the camp, impressed by his decisiveness. Even after the battle with the dogs, the black tom was still fired with courage and determination.
I'm lucky to have such strong support—and so is my group.
He padded toward Stone and sniffed his muzzle. Scenting death, he backed away, his pelt pricking. He glanced at Beech's body and shivered. These cats would still be alive if Slash had kept them well fed and had fought as their friend. Dogs were dangerous, but they were dumber than badgers. A loyal, united group could easily outthink and outfight them.

“Thunder?” Drizzle's small mew made him turn. The young kit was staring at him. “Will Slash come back?”

Thunder hesitated. The kit looked frightened. He wanted to promise her that everything was safe now, but how could he? Who knew what Slash would do next?

Dawn leaned down and licked the she-kit's head. “We don't know, dear,” she murmured between laps. “But Moss and I will protect you, whatever happens.”

Thunder felt responsibility weigh like a stone in his belly. He must help these cats. But how? As he wondered what to do, the reed entrance rustled. Was Lightning Tail back already? He looked up, his heart jumping as Violet hurried into camp. A pigeon dangled from her mouth, and her eyes were wide with fear.

She dropped her catch. “We smelled blood!” She stared around the camp, her ears flattening as she saw her wounded
campmates. She raced to Frog, who was lying in the shadow of the camp wall. Blood stained the earth around him. “What happened?”

Before anyone could answer, Juniper and Raven followed her in. Each carried a mouse. They dropped their catch, their pelts bushing as they saw the ravaged camp.

Raven's nose twitched. “Dogs!”

Juniper stiffened. “Have you seen Red? He was hunting with us in Twolegplace. He wanted to explore an alley. We told him we'd meet up with him later, but he never turned up.”

Willow narrowed her eyes. “He led the dogs here.”

“Here?”
Juniper's tail twitched fearfully. “Is he hurt?”

Fern glanced at Willow anxiously. “He ran away,” she murmured.

Juniper and Violet exchanged glances.

“Mouse-heart,” Willow hissed.

Violet looked past the pale tabby, her ears twitching as she saw Beech's body. “Is she dead?” She hurried to sniff the she-cat's matted fur.

“Stone was killed too.” Moss limped toward the burly tom's body.

Juniper's eyes widened. “Are the kits okay?” She scanned the camp frantically until her gaze reached Pine and Drizzle, huddling beside Dawn.

Dawn scooped them closer with her tail. “They were safely hidden, thanks to Thunder and Lightning Tail.”

“Who?” Juniper blinked at Thunder, but Thunder hardly noticed the tortoiseshell's green gaze. He was watching Violet.

The beautiful she-cat was staring at him, her warm amber eyes brimming with gratitude. “You saved the kits? Are you Thunder or Lightning Tail?”

Thunder shifted his paws, his pelt suddenly hot. “I'm Thunder. But, er . . . Lightning Tail helped.” He dropped his gaze. Looking at Violet made his heart beat too fast.

Fern padded forward. “They helped us fight off the dogs.”

Thunder stared at his paws. “I just wish we'd managed to save everyone.” He lifted his gaze to meet Violet's, feeling suddenly shy.

She was watching him with soft eyes. “Thank you,” she murmured.

A striped yellow she-cat hobbled forward. Blood matted the fur on her shoulder. “Slash has abandoned us.”

An orange tom struggled to his paws at the edge of the clearing. “He called us mouse-hearts.” He sounded hurt.

Violet lashed her tail. “What would you expect from that fool? We're not mouse-hearts, Ember.”

The striped she-cat blinked at Violet uncertainly. “Perhaps we should have tried harder to fight off the dogs.”

“Bee!” Violet padded toward the she-cat and sniffed her bleeding shoulder. “Look at you. Look at you
all
! You must have fought with the courage of eagles!”

Bee glanced at her anxiously. “But Slash is gone. What are we going to do now?”

Violet lifted her chin. “We're going to take care of our injuries and share this prey.” She prodded the pigeon with her paw. “Tonight, no one will sleep with an empty belly.”

As she spoke, paws sounded outside the camp. Lightning Tail charged in, Pebble Heart at his heels, holding a thick wad of cobweb between his jaws. He paused and surveyed the cats, his eyes glittering with apprehension. Then he hurried to Frog. The mottled gray tom was the only cat who hadn't struggled to his paws. Dropping his cobweb beside the rogue, Pebble Heart began sniffing his pelt. Then he ran his paw over his spine and down his legs. His gaze darkened.

Thunder hurried to Pebble Heart's side. “Is it bad?” The scent of blood filled his nose.

“I can clean his wounds and stop the bleeding.” The gray tom lowered his voice. “But there's a jagged lump in his spine.”

A chill crept into Thunder's fur. For the first time since the fight he was aware of the cold wind whipping across the marsh. “Is it broken?”

“I hope not,” Pebble Heart whispered. “It may just be swollen. Only time will tell.”

Violet joined them. “How can I help?” She blinked at Pebble Heart.

Pebble Heart ripped a pawful of cobwebs from his wad and placed it at her paws. “We must make sure every wound is cleaned before the bleeding is stanched. Make sure that—”

Violet didn't let him finish. “I understand.” She hooked the cobweb between her mouth and one paw and padded toward Fern. “Where are you hurt?” she asked, sniffing the other she-cat's pelt.

Pebble Heart raised his voice. “Everyone who is hurt must wash their wounds thoroughly. If there's a scratch you can't
reach, let your campmates wash it for you.”

Dawn hurried toward Bee. Pine and Drizzle ran after her.

Moss began to sniff Ember's pelt. “There's a wound under your chin,” he told the tom.

“Take care of your own wounds.” Ember nodded toward the blood welling above Moss's eyes.

Violet turned toward Thunder. “Are
you
hurt?”

“No—” Thunder gasped suddenly as pain throbbed through his forepaw. He lifted it, surprised to find puncture wounds in his fur. Had the terrier managed to bite him? He hardly remembered.