Erin Hunter - Path of Stars

Fern recoiled, hissing.

More shapes moved at the bottom of the rock. Splinter, Beetle, and Snake emerged from the shadows and faced the gathered cats.

Thunder pushed his way through his campmates and glared at Slash. Anger churned in his belly.

“How dare you come here!”

Slash looked past him, his gaze flicking over his old campmates. Moss Tail and Dawn Mist moved closer to their kits. Willow Tail shifted her paws. Fear showed in Red Claw’s eyes. “Thank you for looking after the weakest members of my group,” Slash hissed. “But it’s time for them to come home now.”

Thunder stiffened. These rogues had just pledged loyalty to their new campmates. Surely they wouldn’t leave now? Could Slash bully them into returning to their old group?

Wind Runner backed away, her pelt spiking. Her distrustful gaze flicked over Willow Tail and Fern Leaf.

She thinks they will betray us! Thunder’s heart pounded in his ears. Prove her wrong! He stiffened as Ember barged his way through the gathered cats and padded toward the high rock. “I want to come back,” he told Slash.

Slash’s eyes lit up with triumph. “Of course you do. Bee’s told me what a bunch of simpering mouse-hearts these cats are.” He glared at Thunder. “Perhaps you’d like to join us. Your skills are wasted on these chattering pigeons!”

Thunder growled. “Never!” He braced himself, ready to defend his campmates. His thoughts quickened. Violet Dawn would fight beside him. Lightning Tail too. Every cat he’d grown up beside would face these rogues at his side.

But what about the others? He glanced toward Juniper Branch and Raven Pelt. He hardly knew them. What if they joined Slash? Gray Wing was clearly not as strong as he used to be. If a fight broke out, protecting him would be tricky. Suddenly Thunder felt vulnerable. The wind moaned through the branches overhead as the cats glared at one another.

“I will never share a camp with you again.” Moss Tail’s hiss cut through the icy air.

“Nor me!” Dawn Mist stiffened beside her mate.

“I belong to Clear Sky’s group now!” Red Claw padded forward and stopped at Clear Sky’s side.

“I am loyal to him.”

Thunder glanced at Juniper Branch, Raven Pelt, Willow Tail, and Fern Leaf as they lined up beside their new campmates, hackles high.

Relief swept through his fur. He stared at Slash. “Take Ember and go,” he snarled. “We didn’t take your weakest cats. We took your strongest.” Pride swelled in his chest.

Slash glared at him angrily. “You can keep them,” he hissed. “But don’t think you’ve won. Go back to your camps, you mouse-brains. You’ll learn quickly enough the price you’ve paid for defying me.”

At Slash’s words, Gray Wing’s heart lurched. He blinked at Clear Sky. Where was Star Flower?

And the kits? Was Slash planning to kidnap her again?

Fear sparked in Clear Sky’s eyes. “Star Flower!” He raced for the slope. Acorn Fur, Nettle, and Birch tore after him, pelts bristling.

Breath tightening, Gray Wing looked up at Slash, who was watching the shocked cats, his whiskers twitching with delight. “If you’ve hurt Star Flower or her kits—”

Slash cut Gray Wing off. “Why should I bother with them ? I’ve had enough of making Clear Sky suffer. It was you who led my cats away.” Hatred gleamed in the rogue’s slitted gaze.

Fear slipped icy claws beneath Gray Wing’s pelt. “What do you mean?”

Slash didn’t answer. Instead he signaled to his rogues with a flick of his tail and leaped from the great rock. Slinking into the shadows, they disappeared.

Gray Wing began to tremble. Slash was blaming him .

“Slate and the kits!” Wind Runner’s panicked mew shook Gray Wing from his thoughts.

He stared at her across the snowy clearing. “Spotted Fur’s with her.” Even as he spoke, he knew that Spotted Fur couldn’t fight a band of rogues single-pawed. “We have to get home!” He turned for the slope. Invisible jaws clamped his chest. He could hardly breathe.

Wind Runner raced to his side. She glanced at River Ripple. “Get back to your camp. Take shelter in your strongest den and protect Drizzle and Pine Needle until we know what Slash has planned next.” As River Ripple nodded, she turned to Thunder. “Take your cats home too. We’ll all be safest in our camps.”

Clear Sky’s cats had already disappeared into the forest. Only Sparrow Fur lingered, her pelt pricking along her spine.

Thunder lifted his chin. “If Slate and the kits are in danger, I’m staying with Gray Wing.” He nodded to Lightning Tail. “Take our campmates home. You’re in charge until I get back.”

Leaf’s eyes widened. “You can’t leave us now, Thunder! Slash is back and wants revenge.”

“Lightning Tail is in charge for now,” Thunder told the black-and-white tom. “He’s the strongest cat in the group, and I trust him completely. Do whatever he tells you.” Thunder leaned closer to Lightning Tail, lowering his voice until Gray Wing had to prick his ears to hear. “If I don’t return, you must be leader. I trust you to take care of our campmates. Keep the group together. The future lies in your paws.”

Lightning Tail blinked in surprise at his friend. “You’re coming back, aren’t you?”

Before he could answer, Violet Dawn pushed past Lightning Tail and pressed her nose to Thunder’s cheek. “You must come back!”

Thunder let her cheek rest against his for a moment, then pulled away. He whisked his tail. “I’ll be home as soon as I can,” he promised.

Gray Wing stared desperately up the slope. “We have to go!” Slash could be in the camp right now. Struggling for breath, he stumbled toward the bracken.

“Let me come.” Pebble Heart crossed the clearing and pushed his shoulder beneath Gray Wing’s.

He looked back to Tall Shadow. “I’ll be back in camp as soon as I can.”

Tall Shadow dipped her head to the young tom. “Take Sun Shadow with you,” she ordered. “He can help.”

“I’ll do what I can.” Sun Shadow nodded quickly and rushed to join the moor cats.

“I’ll help too!” Owl Eyes hurried forward and pressed against Gray Wing’s other side.

Gray Wing was surprised at the young tom’s strength. He remembered him as a kit, clambering over his flank while Turtle Tail looked on fondly. Now he felt Owl Eyes’s powerful muscles press against his own bony frame.

Wind Runner had already crashed through the bracken, her campmates at her side. Dust Muzzle and Moth Flight kicked snow up as they followed.

“Let me come!” Sparrow Fur’s mew startled Gray Wing. Gratitude swamped him as the tortoiseshell she-cat streaked after the others. All of Turtle Tail’s kits wanted to help.

Willow Tail lashed her tail. “If Slash has harmed a hair on their pelts, I’ll hunt him down and kill him!”

Fern Leaf showed her teeth. “I’ll help you,” she hissed.

As they disappeared between the orange fronds, Owl Eyes and Pebble Heart guided Gray Wing up the slope. At the top, he blinked into the icy wind that flayed the snow-covered moor. Flecks of snow stung his eyes.

The camp hollow showed in the distance, a shadow on the moonlit hillside. Wind Runner and the others raced toward it.

Gray Wing stumbled, desperate to keep up. Pebble Heart and Owl Eyes pressed closer against him, supporting him as he struggled through the deep snow. His chest burned. Darkness pressed at the edge of his vision as he struggled for breath. His thoughts focused on the camp. Please let Slate be okay! And the kits! Perhaps Slash had been bluffing, just to scare him.