Эрин Хантер - A Forest Divided

At the far edge of the forest, they paused.

Monsters roared along the slush-covered Thunderpath, spraying filthy, half-melted snow in great waves over the side.

“Wait here.” Clear Sky nodded to Thunder and crept out onto the grass. Through slitted eyes, he scanned the Thunderpath, ducking as another monster howled past. “There’s a gap coming.” He beckoned Thunder and Jagged Peak from the trees.

Thunder stumbled on the uneven grass, and Gray Wing slid between him and Jagged Peak, putting his shoulders beneath his mother’s body.

“Stay close together,” Clear Sky hissed.

Eyes flashed toward them, streaking them with light as the monster thundered past.

“Now!”

Thunder felt Clear Sky nudge him forward and hurried onto the slippery stone. He felt Gray Wing at one flank, Jagged Peak at the other. Together they carried Quiet Rain, stumbling to a halt as they reached the far side.

Thunder frowned at Gray Wing’s wounded leg. Fresh blood was darkening the fur. “Can you manage?”

“She’s not heavy,” Gray Wing grunted.

Thunder caught his eye and saw grief glitter there. Quiet Rain had been half-starved when she died and weighed hardly more than a kit.

“Come on,” Clear Sky urged from behind. “Let’s get into the forest and away from this place.” As he spoke, another monster thundered by, sending slush and grit spraying over them.

Thunder padded forward, trying to keep in step with Gray Wing and Jagged Peak as the ground grew uneven beneath his paws. Roots crisscrossed the path and brambles snagged at his pelt. He tripped twice, feeling Quiet Rain jerk as he stumbled. He felt relieved when Clear Sky led them from the trees onto the smooth grass slope that led up to the rim of the four trees hollow.

By the time they reached the top, Gray Wing was panting.

“Let Sun Shadow take your place,” Thunder whispered.

The black tom had been eyeing Quiet Rain’s body, distress showing each time Thunder stumbled or she began to slide from Jagged Peak’s shoulders.

Gray Wing met Thunder’s gaze with weary eyes and slipped from beneath Quiet Rain. “Will you help?” he asked Sun Shadow softly.

Sun Shadow dipped his head and slid in between Jagged Peak and Thunder.

Thunder lifted his nose toward Clear Sky. He should have a chance to carry his mother to her final resting place. “Do you want to take over for me?”

Clear Sky blinked at him gratefully, hurrying to take his place as Thunder slid from beneath her.

He left them and bounded into the hollow, his paws sliding on the muddy slope. At the bottom, he stopped beside the battle grave. Snow covered the ground, sheltered from the warm winds and sunshine. He scratched at the earth, surprised to find it still frozen beneath his claws.

How can we dig a grave here?

As he glanced around the clearing, searching for a spot clear of snow where the sun might have pooled, warm enough to soften the earth, bracken rustled on the far slope. He recognized Tall Shadow’s black pelt moving through it. Star Flower’s fur was camouflaged among the golden fronds, but he could smell her scent—and River Ripple’s. A purr rumbled in his throat as the silver tom padded from the undergrowth.

River Ripple met his gaze solemnly. “I’m sorry to hear Quiet Rain died.”

“It was her time,” Thunder returned.

Tall Shadow padded from the bracken, Star Flower at her tail. “Have you chosen a burial spot?”

She glanced across the clearing to where Jagged Peak, Sun Shadow, and Clear Sky were sliding Quiet Rain’s body softly onto the ground.

“The earth is frozen,” Thunder told Tall Shadow. “There’s no way we can dig.”

Pebble Heart was crossing the clearing, his gaze fixed on a large stone embedded in the earth. “If we can move this, we can lay her body in its place.”

Thunder stared at the rock. If it was sunk deep enough into the ground to make a grave, how could they possibly dislodge it? “We’re not strong enough.”

Pebble Heart glanced at Clear Sky and Jagged Peak. “We will be if we work together.”

Clear Sky jerked up his muzzle, his eyes shining. “I told you!” he exclaimed. “We need to unite.”

Gray Wing eyed his brother darkly. “I thought you’d forgotten all that nonsense.”

“Of course not. I—”

Tall Shadow interrupted him. “This is not the time to argue.”

River Ripple padded past her and sniffed at the rock. “We need to loosen it first,” he murmured thoughtfully.

Pebble Heart hurried to the edge of the hollow and grabbed a stick in his jaws. He carried it back and dug one end into the earth beside the stone. Holding it between his forepaws, he rocked it back and forth until it began to work its way down underneath.

River Ripple’s eyes lit up. “I’ll help.” He got another stick.

Thunder could see that they were loosening the frozen earth around the rock to make enough space for it to move. He ran to the hollow’s edge and rooted among the bracken for another stick. He found one sturdy enough not to crumble, and hurried back to the rock. Jabbing it into the dirt, he began twisting it with his forepaws, joy sparking in his belly as he saw the earth breaking around it.

“Push!” he called to Clear Sky.

Clear Sky placed his shoulder on the other side of the rock and heaved, grunting with the effort.

Tall Shadow slid in beside him, pressing against the stone. Gray Wing and Sun Shadow joined them, their hind paws scrabbling against the ground as they strained at the stone.

Thunder hauled out his stick and hurried around to help them.

Pushing in between Gray Wing and Sun Shadow, he pressed his shoulder to the rock. He threw his whole weight against it, digging his claws into the earth and trembling at the effort.

With a sudden creak, the stone moved. Only a whisker, but in that tiny movement they freed it from the earth’s grip. Thunder sensed air flooding beneath it and pushed harder, feeling it shift.

Clear Sky grunted in triumph. Beside him, Sun Shadow trembled, and Gray Wing’s breath came in gasps as they all heaved against the stone.

Gradually they began to rock it back and forth until Thunder felt it roll beyond the edge of its hollow. “Push!” he yowled.

As it tumbled to one side, Thunder’s paws slid into the empty dip. He felt worms slithering around them and wood lice scuttling over his claws. Snail trails glistened on the brown earth. He hopped out and blinked at the others.

Sun Shadow lifted his gaze to meet Thunder’s, his eyes shining. “Even in the cold season, there is life here. Quiet Rain would be happy to see this and to know that living creatures move around her even while she is dead.”

“She’s not truly dead while she’s remembered.” Thunder dipped his head. “She will be remembered here.”

“And in the mountains, too.” Sun Shadow nodded solemnly.

Clear Sky and Jagged Peak were heading for her body. They nosed it onto their shoulders and brought it to the graveside. Thunder stepped away as they let her tumble into the hole.

Pebble Heart hopped in after her. Carefully, he eased her muzzle onto her forepaws and wrapped her tail across her nose so that she looked as though she were curled in sleep. Then he scrambled out and got a bracken frond to place over her.

Touched by the young tom’s kindness, Thunder padded to the bracken and bit through a brittle stem. He dragged it back and laid it with Pebble Heart’s. Sun Shadow got another, and then Gray Wing. Together they heaped a thick layer of golden leaves over her.

“We should replace the stone,” Thunder murmured. “To protect her from scavengers.”

Tall Shadow gave a small nod. “But first we must pay our respects.” She looked at Gray Wing.