Erin Hunter - Path of Stars

Warm breath bathed Clear Sky’s muzzle. He smelled mouse on it and wrinkled his nose. Blinking open his eyes, he saw Thunder, hazy in the half-light.

“Is the sun up?” he asked blearily.

“It’s starting to set.” Thunder shifted his paws stiffly, as though he’d not moved in a while.

“Have you been here long?” Clear Sky lifted his muzzle.

“Long enough.”

“Don’t your campmates need you?”

“Lightning Tail’s in charge. They’ll manage without me for a while. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Clear Sky pricked his ears. Was Thunder worried about him? He glanced at his tail. The pain had eased. Thick gobs of chewed herbs were smeared along it.

“Pebble Heart made a poultice,” Thunder explained, following his father’s gaze. “How does it feel?”

“Better.”

“He says it’s snapped in three places. The monster must have run right over it. But it will mend.”

Clear Sky gazed into Thunder’s eyes, amazed by the warmth shining in their amber depths.

“You’re staring at me like you think I’m dying.” He looked away, self-consciously.

“You saved Black Ear,” Thunder breathed. “One moment you were beside me; the next you were running into the path of a monster. You could have been killed.”

“I couldn’t let Black Ear die.” Clear Sky lifted his gaze. “Gray Wing saved my kits. It was my duty to save his.”

“It wasn’t your duty to die trying,” Thunder murmured.

“But I didn’t die.” Clear Sky moved in his nest, suddenly aware that Black Ear was gone. “Where is he?” Fear jabbed his belly.

“Holly took him to her nest,” Thunder told him. “She said the best thing for him was to have Storm Pelt, Dew Nose, and Eagle Feather fidgeting around him. They’d warm him up and help him forget his ordeal quicker than anything.”

Clear Sky tried to purr, but his throat was too dry.

Thunder pawed a clump of wet moss toward him.

Gratefully, Clear Sky stretched his nose toward it and pressed his tongue into the damp wad.

Water streamed into his mouth. Closing his eyes, he relished the coolness on his throat. Without opening them, he spoke. “I said Gray Wing saved my kits. But I didn’t mean just Tiny Branch, Dew

Petal, and Flower Foot. I meant you, too.” Emotion thickened his mew, but he forced himself to go on.

“I didn’t look after you when you needed me. Gray Wing did. He was more of a father to you than I ever was, and I’m grateful to him for that.”

He tensed, waiting for Thunder to speak. But Thunder remained silent.

Clear Sky opened his eyes and looked at his son.

Thunder’s eyes glistened with emotion. “You did the best you could,” he mewed huskily.

Sharp voices suddenly sounded outside the den.

“I have to take Black Ear home.” It was Slate’s anxious mew.

Holly answered her fretfully. “He’s not well enough to travel yet.”

“He’ll be fine now that he’s warm and fed,” Pebble Heart reassured her.

“He must see Gray Wing.” Slate’s mew tightened. “It might be his last chance before…” Her mew trailed away.

Clear Sky stiffened. “Before what?” He remembered Thunder’s lie to Black Ear. “Gray Wing’s sick, isn’t he?”

Thunder blinked at him sadly. “I don’t think he’s going to recover this time.”

“He’s dying ?” Clear Sky struggled to his paws as shock pulsed through him. “I have to see him.”

Thunder narrowed his eyes. “Can you travel as far as the moor?”

“I have to see him,” Clear Sky growled. Pushing past Thunder, he slid from the den. Bright sunshine made him wince as it reflected off the snow-powdered camp. He stared at Slate. Black Ear was tucked beneath her belly. “I’m coming with you.”

Slate dipped her head.

“So am I.” Thunder padded from the den and stood close to Clear Sky.

Pain throbbed through Clear Sky’s tail. He staggered and fell against Thunder.

“Don’t worry, Clear Sky.” Thunder pushed against him, tucking his shoulder in hard as Slate picked up Black Ear and headed out of camp. “I’ll make sure you get there in time.”

Pain stabbed in Gray Wing’s chest with every gasp. Exhausted by the battle for breath, he longed to give up. But he couldn’t. Not now. Not until Black Ear was safely back in camp.

Wind Runner shifted beside him. “You should be in your den. It’s freezing here.”

Gray Wing shook his head, too breathless to speak. He stared stubbornly toward the camp entrance from where he lay between the tussocks. Snowflakes drifted onto his fur. The heavy clouds were dusting the moor once again.

“Have some more coltsfoot.” Reed Tail pawed leaves close to his muzzle. “It’ll help.”

Gray Wing blinked up at the gentle tom. The coltsfoot had stopped working long ago. He was beyond help now. He could only wait and fight for a last glimpse of his beloved Slate and Black Ear.

“Gray Wing?” Silver Stripe huddled next to him. “Slate’s been gone for ages. She is coming back, isn’t she?”

“Of course she is,” Gray Wing rasped.

White Tail nuzzled closer. “And Black Ear?”

“Gorse Fur said they found him.” Gray Wing coughed weakly. “Slate’s fetching him right now.”

“Save your breath.” Swift Minnow padded closer and sat beside Gray Wing, pressing the kits between her flank and his. She wrapped her tail over their tiny bodies, protecting them from the thickening snow. “Wind Runner’s right. You should all be inside.”

Gray Wing didn’t answer. He didn’t dare take his gaze from the gorse entrance. For a moment his thoughts drifted into the past, moons ago, when he’d waited for Turtle Tail to return from Twolegplace. She’d never come home. Let Slate come home. His heart ached with the need to see her and Black Ear.

Moth Flight padded from Spotted Fur’s den.

Reed Tail glanced at her. “How is he?”

Moth Flight fluffed out her fur. “He’s asleep.”

“Any sign of fever?”

“No,” Moth Flight told him. “I felt his muzzle. It was cool. His wounds are all clean, and the dressing Pebble Heart made will keep them from turning sour.”

White Tail fidgeted beside Gray Wing. “I want Slate. I’m hungry.”

“She’ll be home soon,” Gray Wing murmured weakly.

Swift Minnow glanced toward the snow-capped prey pile. “You could try some mouse.”

“He’s too young,” Wind Runner mewed.

“Perhaps I could chew it for him first—”

“Hush.” Gray Wing pricked his ears. Paw steps were crunching through the snow outside the camp. He struggled to push himself up, but his paws buckled beneath him. Slate can’t see me so helpless! Panic surged through him, stealing the small breath he had left. He began to cough.

“It’s okay.” Swift Minnow lapped his pelt with long smooth strokes. “She’s coming. Everything will be all right.”

Gray Wing’s heart quickened as the gorse trembled and Slate padded into camp. Black Ear was clinging to her back.

He slithered down as soon as he saw Gray Wing. “Why are you lying there in the snow?” He raced toward his father and flung himself against Gray Wing’s chest, huddling in the soft fur. “Slash stole me, but I escaped!” he mewed. “Now I’m home! I missed you so much.”

Gray Wing’s throat tightened as White Tail and Silver Stripe scrambled out from beneath Swift Minnow’s tail and greeted their brother.

“White Tail said Slash ate you!” Silver Stripe squeaked.