Эрин Хантер - A Forest Divided

Thunder frowned at her. “Why would I have seen him? He lives here now.”

Holly’s ears twitched. “He left the camp a few days ago.”

“He’s missing ?” Quiet Rain blinked at Thunder. “You said he’d be here!” She scanned the clearing again. “Are Clear Sky and Jagged Peak missing too?”

Sun Shadow’s spine fur stood on end. “What else are you hiding from us?”

Tall Shadow looked desperately at Thunder. Sun Shadow’s bony flanks were quivering, while

Quiet Rain swayed on her old, weak legs.

Thunder’s tail drooped. I’ve only succeeded in bringing them more grief.

Paws pattered toward them. “I smell infection.” Pebble Heart was hurrying across the clearing.

He stopped beside Quiet Rain and began sniffing at her pelt.

She flinched away. “Who’s this?”

“Pebble Heart,” Tall Shadow told her. “He has the power to heal.”

“I know herbs that might help you,” Pebble Heart mumbled modestly. He sniffed Quiet Rain’s pelt once more, stopping as he reached the blackened wound on her hind leg. “Is this your only injury?” he asked.

Quiet Rain snorted. “The only one worth mentioning.”

“It needs a poultice,” Pebble Heart told her. “I’ll make you one. Please rest while I do. And eat.

You will need strength to fight this infection. It’s gone deep.” He nodded toward the prey pile, then hurried toward his den.

Quiet Rain watched him go. “At least there’s one cat who’s honest.”

“We are all honest!” Tall Shadow bristled, meeting Quiet Rain’s gaze with a fierce one of her own. “Pebble Heart is right. You need to rest. There is much you need to know, but I’m not telling you anything while you look like you might fall over at any moment.”

Thunder looked at the old she-cat, wondering how she’d react to Tall Shadow’s bluntness. Then a purr sputtered in Quiet Rain’s throat. “You have your father’s temper.”

“And I see where Clear Sky got his spirit.” Tall Shadow headed for Pebble Heart’s den. “Follow me.”

Thunder stayed close to Quiet Rain as she approached the den—just in case her tired legs gave way.

Quiet Rain sniffed. “It smells of sap!”

Tall Shadow halted beside the den entrance. “Pebble Heart is mixing herbs to treat your wound.”

As she spoke, Pebble Heart slid out, a leaf folded in his jaws. He dropped it beside Quiet Rain.

“Lie down, please.”

She glanced at him warily, but followed his order and careful lowered herself onto the ground.

Thunder could see relief soften the old cat’s face as she rested.

Pebble Heart unfolded the leaf with his paw, then lapped up some of the green pulp inside and began to wash it into Quiet Rain’s wound.

She winced, but made no sound.

“Will it heal?” Sun Shadow leaned forward.

“In time,” Pebble Heart murmured between licks.

Tall Shadow signaled to Mud Paws and Mouse Ear with a flick of her tail. “We’ll need more prey.”

Mouse Ear nodded. “We’ll hunt.”

“I found a stash of beechnuts while we were out this morning,” Mud Paws meowed. “Where there are nuts, there are squirrels.”

The two toms crossed the clearing, brushing past River Ripple as they headed out of camp.

Tall Shadow stepped away from Quiet Rain and Pebble Heart, coming to stop at Thunder’s side.

“Thank you for bringing them here.”

Thunder shrugged. “She wanted to see you and Gray Wing.”

Tall Shadow’s whiskers twitched with worry. “If you see any sign of Gray Wing, please tell him to come home.”

“I will.” Thunder dipped his head.

At the edge of his vision, he saw River Ripple shifting his paws impatiently. “I must get back to the island. The others will wonder where I am.”

Tall Shadow’s green eyes brightened with hope. “Did you accept Dappled Pelt and Shattered Ice into your group?”

“Of course.” The silver tom purred. “They were welcome and have settled in well. Night and Dew have been teaching Dappled Pelt to swim.” Thunder shuddered at the thought. “She caught her first fish yesterday. She might have been born in the mountains, but she moves like an otter in the water.”

“Did you say Dappled Pelt?” Quiet Rain’s raspy voice called across the clearing.

“She and Shattered Ice live with River Ripple now,” Tall Shadow called back.

“Mountain cats living beside water ?” Quiet Rain blinked as Pebble Heart worked on her wound.

“Don’t forget, we were raised behind a waterfall.” Thunder saw Tall Shadow’s eyes glaze over at the distant memory. “Perhaps Dappled Pelt missed the sound of it lulling her to sleep.”

Thunder’s heart suddenly felt heavy. So many cats had made so many choices—from long before the time he was born. Each time they did, it brought changes to the cats, to the groups, to the camps… huge changes—new lines of territory, and occasional death. Not all the choices had been good ones.

Would Quiet Rain be able to understand all the quarrels the cats had had? How would she feel, seeing the grave beside the four trees—the grave where so many of her Tribemates now lay?

River Ripple turned. “I must go.”

“So must I.” Thunder glanced at Tall Shadow. “Can you take care of them? Do you have enough prey?”

“We’ll find enough,” Tall Shadow promised. “We are quickly learning the best places to hunt among the pines. And in the quiet of the forest, prey is easy to hear. It may be scarce, but we’re good hunters.”

River Ripple gave a respectful nod before he headed for the entrance.

Thunder turned to follow, but stopped when he heard his father’s mother call once more across the clearing. “Don’t go, Thunder! Tell me more about Clear Sky. Has he found a new mate?”

Thunder hesitated, his paws suddenly feeling mud-sodden. “Stay,” Tall Shadow whispered. “Just long enough to reassure her that he is well.”

Thunder held her gaze, uncertain of how to respond. Before he could, the bramble wall shuddered as Jagged Peak padded in.

Holly hurried to greet him. “You’re back!”

Quiet Rain pushed herself to her paws, nudging Pebble Heart away. “My son!”

Jagged Peak paused, eyes wide. “Quiet Rain?” Joy lit up his gaze and he hurried to greet her.

Quiet Rain’s gaze flicked instantly to his injured hind leg, which dragged behind him. “What happened?” she gasped.

“An old injury.” Jagged Peak halted. “I fell from a tree. It’s not important.”

Quiet Rain stared at him, disappointment clouding her gaze. “You’re lame !”

Jagged Peak stiffened, the fur ripping along his spine. Thunder’s paws tingled with dread—Jagged Peak never liked other cats treating him as weak, but would he admonish his mother the way he had Gray Wing?

Holly growled. “He has a slight limp,” she told Quiet Rain sharply. “That’s all. He can hunt and think as well as any cat and—”

Excited mewls cut her off. Dew Nose raced into camp, dragging a vole, while Storm Pelt and Eagle Feather crowded around her.

“It’s my turn to carry it!” Eagle Feather complained.

Jagged Peak turned on them sternly. “Behave yourselves! My mother is visiting from the mountains.”

Dew Nose dropped the vole and stared at the ragged she-cat. “ That’s your mother?”

Storm Pelt raced to Holly’s side and sheltered under her belly. “That cat smells funny.”

Eagle Feather padded toward Quiet Rain, his nose twitching. “Why have you come here?”

Quiet Rain glared at Jagged Peak, bristling. “Is this how you raise your young in this land of soft earth? I would never have allowed such rudeness.”