Erin Hunter - Path of Stars

He ducked away, scowling.

“You must look neat,” she scolded.

Thistle glared at her indignantly. “We’ve already washed.”

“Twice,” Clover added pointedly.

Violet shifted closer to Thunder, and his heart quickened as it always did when he felt the warmth of her pelt against his. “They’ll be the handsomest kits there,” she assured Milkweed.

As Milkweed puffed out her chest, Clover’s eyes widened excitedly. “Will Tiny Branch, Dew

Petal, and Flower Foot be there?”

Thunder shook his head. “They’re too young,” he told them. “They’ll be staying in their nest with Star Flower. It’s too cold for very young kits to be out.”

Clover looked crestfallen. “Does that mean we won’t get to meet Silver Stripe, Black Ear, and White Tail?”

Milkweed whisked a tuft of fur on Clover’s back smooth with her tail. “They will be staying with Slate in their den. They’re not even a moon old.”

Thistle frowned. “Drizzle and Pine will be coming, won’t they?”

“They have to!” Clover lifted her chin. “They’re rogues! And the four trees meeting is to welcome all the rogues into our groups.”

“They’ll be there,” Thunder promised. “They’re old enough to weather the cold. River Ripple says they’ve been looking forward to it for days.”

River Ripple had suggested the full-moon gathering. Thunder hoped that the river cat’s plan would work—a formal ceremony to welcome the rogues into the groups would help worries over their loyalty be forgotten. He glanced across the clearing to where Ember sat. The tom’s eyes were narrowed, and his orange pelt showed starkly against the white snow. Would a ceremony be enough to change him from a rogue to a campmate? Would he stop hunting alone and join patrols from now on? Thunder’s ears twitched nervously. At least he’s coming to the gathering. Surely that has to be a good sign?

Cloud Spots slid from the fern tunnel. “Are we ready to leave?” he called across the clearing.

Lightning Tail and Leaf paced beside the entrance. Pink Eyes huddled beside Owl Eyes, his milky gaze bright in the moonlight.

Thunder nodded at Cloud Spots. “Let’s go.”

Lightning Tail and Leaf moved to let him pass. Violet stayed close to his side as he padded out of the camp. Thunder unsheathed his claws when he reached the edge of the ravine. The rocky ledges would be icy. He leaped onto the first wide boulder and waited while the others passed. They scrambled ahead of him and he followed, keeping close.

As he looked up to check if any cat had slipped, snow showered his face. Clover and Thistle were pushing past each other, each determined to reach the top first. Thistle lost his grip, slithering from a frosty ledge, and Thunder’s heart lurched. He braced himself to catch the falling kit, but Lightning Tail grabbed the young cat’s scruff as he tumbled past and hooked him onto a rock, holding on to him until he found his footing.

“It’s pointless to rush if you don’t get there at all,” Lightning Tail told the young cat sternly.

Thistle dipped his head. “Sorry.” Slowly he clambered onto the next ledge.

Thunder hopped up behind, shaking snow from his whiskers. His claws scraped the icy rock as he fought to keep from sliding. He reached the top with a sigh of relief and hopped onto the snowy rim.

Pink Eyes blinked into the forest as though straining to see through the shadows.

Thunder padded past him and led the way between the trees. “Stay close together.” Snow had drifted around the roots of the trees, but it was easy to find the familiar path that led toward the four trees hollow. Thunder glanced up at the snow-spattered trunks, recognizing each one easily, as though seeing old friends. This wood was his home now, and he knew it as well as he’d ever known the rabbit runs and heather trails of the moor.

Ice crunched beneath his paws as he headed deeper into the woods. As he neared the hollow, he saw fresh tracks churning the snow. Opening his mouth, he tasted the air and smelled River Ripple’s scent. The river cats had passed this way. Their scent was still fresh.

He quickened his pace, wondering if he’d catch up to them before they reached the rim of the hollow.

River Ripple was already leading his group down the slope by the time Thunder reached the edge. Thunder could see Night threading between the stems. Shattered Ice and Dappled Pelt followed her, Moss and Dawn at their heels. The bracken hid Pine and Drizzle, but he could hear their excited mewing.

“Can we stay up till dawn?” Drizzle’s question echoed through the stone-cold air.

“Let’s not go to sleep at all!” Pine squeaked. “When we get home we can go out on the ice.”

Thunder blinked. Had the river frozen?

River Ripple’s mew rumbled from the head of the group. “No kits on the ice. If it cracks, you’ll be swept under.”

Milkweed shivered as she stopped beside Thunder. “I’m glad we don’t live by the river. I’d never have let Thistle and Clover out of my sight.”

Leaf brushed past her and touched his nose to her cheek. “If they’d been raised beside a river, they’d be swimming like ducks by now. They’re fast learners.”

Clover pushed between Leaf and her mother. “Stop talking and hurry up.” She stared into the hollow.

Cats moved at the bottom, throwing moon shadows across the snowy ground.

“Everyone’s here!” Thistle hurried to the edge.

Thunder followed the young cats’ gazes. Clear Sky was weaving between his cats, his tail fluffed out. Wind Runner sat near the edge, watching the others through slitted eyes while Gorse Fur paced up and down. Thunder was pleased to see Gray Wing beside them, though the gray tom looked thin.

Moth Flight padded around Fern, sniffing anxiously at her tattered pelt. Tall Shadow sat between

Mouse Ear and Pebble Heart, while Sun Shadow leaned close to Juniper and Raven. Ears pricked and fur sleek, the mountain cat seemed comfortable beside the rogues. As River Ripple emerged from the bracken, eyes flashed in the moonlight, and heads turned to watch the river cats arrive.

“Come on.” Thunder plunged over the edge and pushed through the bracken. Snow thumped onto his back as he shook the stems. Breaking into a run, he lifted his tail as he heard the others swishing through the undergrowth behind him.

He burst into the clearing and tilted his chin.

Tall Shadow padded to meet him. “Did they come?” Her gaze flitted past him, showing relief as Ember and Violet slid from the bracken.

“ Everyone’s here,” Thunder reassured her.

She glanced toward Juniper and Raven. “They like the plan.”

River Ripple joined them. “Drizzle and Pine are excited.”

Thunder gazed around the gathered cats. His heart lifted as he saw excitement shining in their eyes. A breeze whipped over the snowy clearing, sending flecks swirling in the air. Above, the black sky shimmered with stars. Moonlight sliced between the bare branches of the oak.

“Let’s begin.” Tall Shadow padded to the center. She blinked at Wind Runner, who lingered at the edge of the clearing. “Are you ready?”

Wind Runner padded across the snow and stopped beside the black she-cat. “Do you really think a few words will turn them into one of us?” She meowed loudly, eyeing Fern and Willow.

They bristled, moving closer together.

Thunder blinked in surprise at Wind Runner. “Don’t you trust her, even after what she suffered?”

Fern’s pelt still showed wounds, the fur clumped along her flanks; her eye was swollen and her nose stained with dried blood.

Moth Flight stared at her mother. “Why are you so stubborn? Bee hurt Fern because Fern refused to go with her.”