Warriors: Dawn of the Clans #2: Thunder Rising (14 page)

Thunder gaped in astonishment. “How do you know about that?”

“I have friends all over the place,” Clear Sky meowed. “Rumors have a way of reaching me. You
did
have trouble with some dogs, didn’t you?”

Thunder nodded. “It was scary,” he admitted with a shiver. “But I survived! We all did.”

“Yes, you’re clearly a survivor.” Clear Sky’s voice was filled with approval. “And you need to help other cats to be the same. Thunder, I would like you to join my group. Troubled times lie ahead of us, and the more strong cats I have by my side, the safer we’ll all be.”

Gray Wing had to clamp his jaws shut to stop himself from interfering.
Why is Clear Sky playing these games with Thunder, talking about survival and making him think back to the dog attack? Any cat would think we were still up in the mountains, starving to death, terrified for our lives. Clear Sky can say what he likes, but we
are
safe and well fed here, most of the time
.

Though his tail lashed angrily, Gray Wing managed to keep silent.
This has to be Thunder’s choice. He accused me of not knowing what’s best for him. Well, not this time
.

He was relieved to see that Thunder still looked anxious as he peered up at Clear Sky. “There’s just one thing . . . ,” he mewed uncertainly. “When I was a kit, you didn’t want me. You sent me away. If it wasn’t for Gray Wing, I might not be alive now.”

At first Gray Wing thought his brother wouldn’t have an answer for that, but Clear Sky seemed unworried. “Congratulations on passing the test,” he purred.

Thunder looked bewildered. “What test?”

No
, Gray Wing thought, as understanding dawned.
Clear Sky has to be kidding.
Was he really going to try and pretend that this had all been part of a bigger plan?

“You can’t . . . ,” he started to interrupt, but his brother quickly spoke over him.

“Don’t you see, young one?” Clear Sky’s voice was smooth, persuasive. “I wanted to see if you could survive without me. You did. So now is the time for us to grow together. I did all of that for
you
.”

I’ve heard some twisted arguments in my time
 . . . , Gray Wing thought. The father who rejected Thunder was convincing the young cat that he had been spurned out of love.

Thunder stretched out his neck as if to give Clear Sky an affectionate nuzzle, then stopped short, clearly uncertain whether Clear Sky would appreciate the gesture. Gray Wing himself wasn’t sure. But Thunder’s agreement was obvious. Gray Wing had no chance of standing between the young cat and his father. The decision had been made. Clear Sky looked over at Gray Wing, and he could see the challenge in his brother’s eyes—it was a challenge he wasn’t ready to meet.

Thunder will be leaving soon. All I can do is prepare him.

C
HAPTER
15

“Let all cats gather around to
listen!” Tall Shadow yowled.

She stood on her rock, outlined against a scarlet sky as the sun went down over the moor. The day after the fire was drawing to an end.

Following his confrontation with Thunder and Clear Sky, exhaustion had overwhelmed Gray Wing; he had stumbled into his nest and slept for most of the day.

When he awoke he discovered that Rainswept Flower and Shattered Ice had made an expedition with Petal and Quick Water to find out the full extent of the damage in the forest. They reported back that Twolegs with bright pelts and gleaming monsters had wrestled the fire into submission; it was safe there now, though devastation stretched in all directions, and the smell of burning still lingered.

Cloud Spots and Dappled Pelt had headed for the river, bringing back bundles of herbs from the waterside. Cats had been out to hunt; life was gradually returning to normal.

As the cats gathered around the rock now to hear what Tall Shadow had to say, Gray Wing noticed that they were still divided into two groups: the forest cats and the moorland cats. His heart sank to realize it, especially when he spotted Thunder close beside Clear Sky.

“Every cat knows what happened last night in the fire,” Tall Shadow continued. “I didn’t behave as a leader should. And now, with my brother so badly injured, I don’t have the time or the strength to carry on.”

Gray Wing winced as he realized what she was about to say. He had expected some kind of announcement, but he still shrank from being singled out.

Tall Shadow glanced around the assembled cats. “I thank all of you for the support you have given me,” she went on.
Or not
, Gray Wing thought, with a glance at Shattered Ice and Jackdaw’s Cry, whose eyes were fixed on Tall Shadow with intense interest.

“Now Gray Wing will be your leader,” the black she-cat finished, and immediately leaped down to sit beside Moon Shadow.

A chorus of surprise and approval rose up from the crowd of cats. Glancing around, Gray Wing realized that Clear Sky’s cats looked particularly astonished.
Strange that she would announce this in front of them . . . but I suppose she has her reasons.
And he sensed he wouldn’t have long to ponder those reasons.

A tail swiped Gray Wing across the shoulder, and he turned to see Shattered Ice standing beside him. “About time, too,” the white tom meowed. “Congratulations.”

“Yeah, you’ll be a great leader,” Jackdaw’s Cry added from where he stood at Shattered Ice’s shoulder.

Glancing past him, Gray Wing spotted Turtle Tail gazing at him from the mouth of her den, where she was sitting with her kits. Her eyes were shining with admiration.

Gray Wing could feel himself calming, until he turned and found himself face-to-face with Clear Sky. He braced himself for another argument, but Clear Sky gave him a nod and mewed, “You’ll perform well, Gray Wing.”

“Thanks.” Gray Wing relaxed again; his brother’s tone couldn’t be called friendly, but it wasn’t hostile either. “That means a lot to me. Maybe our two groups can work together more closely now?”

He held his breath, waiting to hear how Clear Sky would respond. The other cat dipped his head.

“Maybe,” he said, his tone impossible to read. He shook himself. “It’s time we were leaving. Good luck with everything and thank you.”

The forest cats were beginning to gather around his brother, ready for the trek across the moor. This was a surprise. Gray Wing had thought it would take several moons for the forest cats to even think about going back to their ruined home.

“Do you have to go so soon?” he asked. “Wouldn’t it be better to stay with us, until the forest has healed itself?”

Clear Sky shook his head. “The forest is where we belong,” he said. “Nothing can keep us away.” Then he raised his voice so all the cats around could hear him. “We thank you for helping us last night,” he meowed, “and for the hospitality of your camp.” He glanced around until he spotted Jagged Peak. “I especially want to thank you, Jagged Peak. You did so much to make us feel welcome.”

Jagged Peak gazed at him in silence for a moment, then turned his head away.

“Now we have to go and see what’s left of our home,” Clear Sky went on. Quietly he added to Gray Wing, “I want a word with you in private.”

Gray Wing had a horrible feeling that he knew what this conversation would be about. “Okay,” he murmured.

Clear Sky led the way up the slope and out onto the moor, halting a few tail-lengths away from the hollow. “I hope you won’t take this the wrong way,” he began, “but the fire has changed things.”

“I know,” Gray Wing responded. “Even though you’re leaving, I hope we can see more of each other now.” He was trying to sound enthusiastic. He couldn’t see why it would be so terrible for the two groups to work more closely together. It would be the end of so many tensions.
And I’d get to see Thunder more often.
 . . .

“I have to be honest,” Clear Sky mewed gently. “I doubt we’ll be seeing more of each other. I need to prepare for whatever challenges the future holds, and you should do the same, Gray Wing. You’re the leader now. Or is that Tall Shadow? Or that rogue . . . what is she calling herself these days . . . Wind? I hear she’s a cat with leadership gifts. It’s so difficult to make sense of
who
is leading your cats these days.”

The shock of Clear Sky’s words hit Gray Wing in the face. He was being so cruel and mocking, when their camp had given him a place to rest last night! How could he behave this way? “What are you implying?” Gray Wing growled.

“Nothing,” Clear Sky meowed, his eyes widening with innocence. “Only maybe your group needs to be a bit more . . . organized.”

If this had been any other cat, Gray Wing would have given him a swift cuff around the ear.
But Clear Sky is my
brother, he thought, forcing himself to be calm, and digging his claws into the ground to stop himself raking them across the gray tom’s pelt.
What will it look like if I start a fight in the hollow
?

“I don’t think you have the right to tell us how to organize ourselves,” he said stiffly. “We were organized enough to save your lives!”

Clear Sky nodded. “True enough. Dangers are all around, and I have to concentrate on making sure my cats are safe now, and back in their rightful home.”

Gray Wing felt his neck fur begin to bristle at Clear Sky’s use of the word
rightful
. It was harder than ever not to lose his temper.
We’re just mountain cats who left our birth home to find somewhere we could live more easily
. Clear Sky and his cats had no more right to the forest than Gray Wing and his group had rights over the moor.
These are simply the places we’ve chosen to settle
. But he didn’t want to see Clear Sky leave on the back of a quarrel.

“We’re lucky that the rogue cats like Wind and Gorse have been so welcoming,” he gently reminded his brother. “Things could have been very different.”

Clear Sky let out a snort of scornful laughter. “Those two bags of bones! I don’t know why you bother with them. They just take up precious prey.”

Gray Wing remembered what Wind and Gorse had told him. “But . . . you allow them to hunt in the forest, don’t you?” he asked. “I mean, they were here before any of us.”

A heartbeat passed before Clear Sky replied, not meeting Gray Wing’s gaze. “No,” he responded slowly. “They don’t hunt in the forest anymore.”

“Because you won’t let them?” Gray Wing demanded.

Once again Clear Sky didn’t reply immediately. Then he spun around to face Gray Wing. “Look—you have to understand,” he began. “Thunder is coming with me.” Gray Wing opened his jaws to protest, but Clear Sky kept speaking. “I know I sent him away when he was a kit, but I just wanted to test him. He’s grown into a brave and clever cat, and that’s all thanks to you—I know it is—but I am his father. I’m going to make amends now.” He peered into Gray Wing’s face as if he was trying to read his thoughts. “You won’t try to stop me, will you?”

What can I say?
Gray Wing asked himself.

“Good,” Clear Sky said. “I knew I could trust you not to get between father and son.” He started to walk away.

It can’t end here!
Gray Wing tried to call his brother back, but as he opened his jaws he felt the breath leave his body. His belly felt tight, as though his rib bones were growing smaller and crushing it. The taste of smoke filled his mouth, and he couldn’t speak.

Fear crawled through Gray Wing’s pelt from ears to tail-tip. He gasped for breath, and to his relief the crushing sensation faded. But by then, Clear Sky had gone.

Trying to force down his deep uneasiness, Gray Wing returned to the hollow. Clear Sky was standing in the middle, beginning to gather his group of cats around him. At first Gray Wing couldn’t spot Thunder; then he noticed him at the far side of the hollow with Lightning Tail. The two young cats were pretending to stalk a pebble, creeping forward with their belly fur brushing the ground. Slowly . . . slowly . . . then pounce!

Pleasure tingled through Gray Wing’s paws as he watched them, but the feeling was followed by sadness.
Lightning Tail adores Thunder. . . . How will he cope when he’s gone
?

Gray Wing bounded down into the hollow and called to Thunder. As the young ginger tom padded toward him, Lightning Tail started to follow, as he often did. Gray Wing raised a paw to halt him. “I need to talk to Thunder alone.”

Lightning Tail looked faintly surprised, then nodded and dashed off to join Acorn Fur, who was batting a feather around at the entrance to their den.

Gray Wing led Thunder to a quiet spot behind the leader’s rock. “Clear Sky and his cats will be leaving soon,” he began. “I take it you’ll be going with them?”

Thunder studied his paws. “How do you know that?” he asked.

Gray Wing reached out a paw and patted Thunder gently on the nose. “I know you better than you know yourself. I raised you from a kit—or have you forgotten that?”

Thunder looked up, his eyes blazing. “I’ll never forget that, never!” More quietly he added, “But I’m not a kit anymore, and I think Clear Sky understands that. He’ll help me become the best cat I can be.”

And you think I wouldn’t?
Pain clawed through Gray Wing, but he did his best to push his feelings to one side. It wouldn’t help Thunder to get upset now.

“I’m sure he will,” Gray Wing responded, after a pause. “And I want you to know that you leave with my good wishes.”

Thunder’s tail went straight up in surprise. “Really?” he asked, sounding relieved.

“Yes,” Gray Wing assured him, “but you must do one thing for me. I want you to say good-bye properly to Hawk Swoop. She’s done a lot for you. She’s treated you as her own son.” Gray Wing angled his ears to where Hawk Swoop sat outside her den, watching Acorn Fur and Lightning Tail wrestling together. “Go on, now.”

Thunder dipped his head in understanding. “Thank you for everything,” he meowed, then padded over to Hawk Swoop.

Gray Wing couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he felt that his heart would break when he saw Hawk Swoop’s expression change and heard a desolate wail rise up from Lightning Tail.

Hawk Swoop darted a panicked glance over to Gray Wing, who shook his head gently.
Don’t try to fight it
, he told her silently.
The best thing we can do for Thunder now is to send him on his way with our good wishes
.

“Forest cats, come on!” Clear Sky called, striding across the hollow to round up the stragglers. “We’re leaving now.”

His cats gathered quickly, looking confused and startled, exchanging hasty good-byes with the moorland cats. Gray Wing looked around for Tall Shadow, but she was bending over Moon Shadow, and paid no attention to Clear Sky.

Of course, Moon Shadow will be staying here
, Gray Wing thought with a hint of bitterness.
Clear Sky has no use for injured cats
.

As the forest cats headed up the slope, Clear Sky gazed across the hollow toward Thunder, who still stood uncertainly beside Hawk Swoop. “Are you coming or not?” he asked.