Эрин Хантер - The Blazing Star

Acorn Fur was drifting closer to the cats who surrounded Clear Sky, and Thunder’s pelt prickled apprehensively at the sight. He took a step forward, but before he could do any more Lightning Tail was beside him, his green eyes wide with shock as he gazed at his sister.

“She can’t be thinking of leaving us!” he exclaimed.

Acorn Fur must have heard him, or spotted the two toms watching her, because she came padding over to them. “I’m not sure I want to go back to the hollow,” she meowed, blinking apologetically.

“Too much has happened. I’d keep expecting to see Hawk Swoop and Jackdaw’s Cry…” Her voice trailed off with a choking sound.

As she spoke, Clear Sky emerged from his group of cats and came to join them. “I’ll happily take

Acorn Fur with me into the forest,” he declared. “If that’s what she wants.”

Acorn Fur didn’t respond, just stared mutely at the ground. With an unpleasant jolt, Thunder realized that was exactly what she wanted. And there’s nothing I can do about it. We’ve all agreed to live in peace with one another. Besides, he added to himself, what Tall Shadow said is true: Every cat should be allowed to choose where they want to live.

He drew a long sigh. Once again it was clear that nothing would ever be the same.

But Lightning Tail clearly wasn’t able to accept that. “How can you leave me?” he yowled at his littermate.

“I won’t be far away.” Acorn Fur brushed her brother’s shoulder with her tail. “The forest is very close. Would you like to come with me?” She gazed at him hopefully.

Lightning Tail hesitated for a heartbeat, opened his mouth as if to reply, but then looked away, as if unable to find the words. He gave a sad shake of his head.

A great surge of warmth and affection swept through Thunder for his loyal friend. He stepped up to Lightning Tail and pressed his muzzle gently into the younger cat’s flank. “Acorn Fur is right,” he mewed. “She won’t be far away. And if the battle has proved one thing, it’s this: We shouldn’t think of ourselves as two separate groups, but one big group, split into two.”

Lightning Tail gave a nod of understanding, but he still didn’t look happy.

Of course he isn’t, Thunder thought. I’ll make sure to look after him in the future.

The two groups gradually drew away from each other, one toward the moor, the other up the slope that led farther into the forest. Only River Ripple didn’t move. He gave a twitch of his ears as Thunder faced him with a questioning look.

“I’m happy that you seem to have settled your differences,” the silver-furred tom began.

His words pierced Thunder, as if a different cat was calling to him from among the trees. I’ve always felt more comfortable in the forest, he reflected, remembering how natural it had felt to stalk prey in the undergrowth. He could see that other cats, too, seemed to be pondering River Ripple’s words. But it looks like I belong on the moor, for now. Gray Wing and Lightning Tail both need me to take care of them.

Dipping his head in a polite farewell to River Ripple, Thunder padded over to Tall Shadow and Wind Runner. Clear Sky approached them, embarrassment in his eyes.

“I suppose this is good-bye, for now,” he meowed awkwardly. “But you’re all welcome to visit, anytime you want. No more guards on the borders. I promise.”

Tall Shadow acknowledged his words with a stiff nod. “We’ll meet here again at the next full moon,” she announced. “Then we’ll see how we’re all getting on.”

Clear Sky murmured agreement and returned to his own cats, leading them up the slope and into the shadow of the trees. Thunder watched them go until the last tail-tip had vanished into the undergrowth.

“Come on,” Tall Shadow mewed, gesturing to her own group with a swish of her tail. “Let’s go home.”

But will it still feel like home, Thunder wondered sadly, with so many of us gone?

He took the lead as the cats headed toward the moor. In spite of all their promises, he still felt uneasy. They might have made peace with Clear Sky’s group, but he couldn’t help wondering how long it would last.

Dawn light slipped through the branches, growing stronger as they neared the edge of the forest.

Their progress was slow as they limped painfully through ferns and around bramble thickets, weakened by their wounds and their grief. Gray Wing wheezed with every breath he took.

If anything attacks us now, we’re crow-food, Thunder thought, worrying that the scent of blood might attract predators.

As if his fear had called it up, he heard a rustling in the undergrowth a few paw steps ahead. He froze, raising his tail in a signal for the others to halt. Tasting the air, he wondered what might be lying in wait for them. There was no scent of fox or badger, but whatever was lurking in the bushes was too big to be prey.

“Who’s there?” Thunder called, making his voice sound loud and commanding. “Show yourselves!”

After a moment’s pause three cats emerged from underneath a holly bush. They all looked wiry and half-starved, and a faint, rank smell came from them. They held their tails low, and their pelts bristled with nerves.

Thunder let his gaze travel over the three cats as they stood in front of him, half cowering and half-defiant. Two of them were toms: One had pale brown fur except for four black paws; the other was a big tabby with unusually small ears. The she-cat had bushy fur that stuck up in prickles.

Thunder relaxed slightly. Even in their present injured state, he couldn’t see this sorry collection giving them much trouble.

The she-cat was first to step forward. “We saw the battle, and heard what you said afterward,” she began, meeting Thunder’s gaze. “We wondered if your group would have room for three more cats.”

Tall Shadow padded forward to stand beside Thunder. “You were wise not to get involved in the fight. But who are you?” she asked.

“I’m called Holly,” the she-cat replied. “These are Mud Paws and Mouse Ear.”

The tabby tom ducked his head, looking shyly amused. “Can you guess how we got our names?” he asked.

Won over by their friendly tone, Thunder couldn’t resist replying. “Mud Paws is easy,” he meowed. “That cat has black rings of fur around all his paws, as if he’s been padding through a muddy field.”

Lightning Tail was curiously circling around the big tabby.

“You must be Mouse Ear because your ears are the size of a mouse’s,” Lightning Tail announced at last.

“What?” Mouse Ear faced Lightning Tail with his lips drawn back in the beginning of a snarl.

Lightning Tail braced himself, as though ready for an attack.

Thunder took a pace forward, but Holly raised her tail to stop him. “It’s okay,” she reassured him.

“Mouse Ear may look like a big bully, but underneath that tough shell he has a soft heart.”

“Unlike you!” Mouse Ear retorted, backing away from Lightning Tail.

Holly’s spine stiffened and her neck fur began to bristle.

Thunder let out a mrrow of laughter. “I get it. Holly! You’re as prickly as that bush you were hiding under. Am I right?”

Mud Paws and Mouse Ear shared an amused glance as Holly raked the ground with her forepaws in irritation. “Maybe…” she admitted, glaring at her two friends.

Rays of sunlight were piercing through the leaves as the sun rose higher, and Thunder felt a wave of exhaustion sweeping over him. He needed to get back to the hollow and sleep. For days and days.

“Why do you want to join us?” Tall Shadow asked the three strangers. “You say you heard the cries and yowls of battle. Can’t you see that we’re injured? It will be no easy life with us. You may end up helping to tend the wounded.”