Erin Hunter - The First Battle

Thunder glanced around at the moor cats. Lightning Tail’s eyes were clouded with worry. Acorn Fur’s tail was twitching anxiously. Gorse Fur and Jackdaw’s Cry stared at him coldly. Finally, Thunder looked to Tall Shadow.

She sat up on the flat rock, her gaze giving nothing away. “Wind Runner.”

Hope pricked in Thunder’s paws. Was she going to stand up for him?

Tall Shadow’s eyes were shining. “I’ve decided that today is the day to formally welcome you into our camp. You too, Gorse Fur! You are one of us now.”

Thunder swallowed. So Tall Shadow was aligning herself with Wind Runner—a rogue who was training the moor cats to fight ! What about Gray Wing’s decision to find a peaceful solution? Had Tall Shadow—had every cat— decided that battle couldn’t be avoided?

“Thunder.” Turtle Tail’s mew sounded softly in his ear.

He spun around.

She was gazing at him gently. “Follow me.” Beckoning him with a flick of her tail, she led him to a patch of warm grass beside the tunnel entrance where she and Gray Wing made their nest. The moss still smelled of the kits. Its warm scent drifted over his muzzle and he let his hackles fall.

“I know you’re angry,” she began.

“They just want to fight!” He glanced back at Wind Runner and Gorse Fur as their camp mates wove around them murmuring congratulations. “Jagged Peak was training the kits !” He searched her gaze, waiting to see shock, but she looked back steadily, her pelt unruffled.

“I know,” she admitted. “But we’re worried. We don’t know what Clear Sky will do next and we want to be ready.” Her gaze flicked toward Sparrow Fur and Owl Eyes. “You know I’d never let them fight. But I want them to be able to defend themselves if they have to.”

“You think Clear Sky will attack kits?” Thunder’s breath quickened. How could she believe that? Even Clear Sky wouldn’t be that cruel.

“We’ll know more once Gray Wing’s spoken to him.”

“Why can’t they wait before they start practicing?”

“Do you really think they should?” She leaned closer. “Our home is at stake.”

Thunder narrowed his eyes.

Turtle Tail pressed on. “What if Gray Wing can’t persuade Clear Sky to stop expanding his borders?”

I couldn’t. Thunder’s belly tightened as he remembered trying to reason with his father. Clear Sky had turned on him. He hadn’t even tried to listen. He met Turtle Tail’s gaze. “Then they’ll have to fight.”

Turtle Tail nodded. “It’s better we’re prepared for the worst.”

Thunder dipped his head. “Okay,” he conceded grimly. “If we must prepare for battle, then I’ll help.” If they had to fight, he was going to make sure they knew how to fight properly.

Gray Wing slid through a gap in the heather, shaking soil from his paws. He blinked as he saw Jackdaw’s Cry, Shattered Ice, and Dappled Pelt heading for the flat rock where Hawk Swoop, Turtle Tail, and the others were already gathered.

What’s going on? He pricked his ears.

Tall Shadow was standing on the rock, tail high.

Only Thunder hung back in the clearing, his gaze dark.

“Gray Wing! There you are!” Tall Shadow leaped from the rock and padded past the young tom. “I’m making Wind Runner and Gorse Fur part of our group, like we agreed.”

Pleased, Gray Wing flicked his tail. “It’s about time,” he purred. “They already feel like they belong here.” Behind Tall Shadow, he could see Thunder’s pelt pricking. Something was wrong. He dipped his head. “I’ll join you on the rock in a moment.” He waited for Tall Shadow to leave, then crossed the sandy earth to Thunder. “Is something wrong?”

Thunder was frowning. “Wind Runner wants to teach the kits battle moves.”

“So?” Gray Wing tipped his head, confused. “She’s a natural leader. I trust her judgment. It’s one of the reasons we want her to join us. She knows that we must be prepared.”

Thunder dropped his gaze. “That’s what Turtle Tail said.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“No one seems to believe we can find a peaceful solution,” Thunder muttered. “I thought talking to Clear Sky would be enough.”

“Hopefully, it will be.” Gray Wing felt a surge of affection for the young cat. He might be clear-sighted about his father’s ambition, but he still had faith enough to believe that all would be well if only they could reason with Clear Sky. Life is never so simple, he thought with a pang. “I’ll do my best but, if talking doesn’t work, we may have to fight to keep what’s ours.”

“Gray Wing.” Tall Shadow called from the far side of the clearing, a few tail-lengths from the flat rock. Wind Runner paced at her side while Gorse Fur watched anxiously. “We must talk.”

Gray Wing touched Thunder’s cheek with his nose. “Join the others.” He nodded toward the cats gathered beside the rock. They were murmuring, heads bowed, casting curious glances at Tall Shadow, Wind Runner, and Gorse Fur.

“What’s the delay?” Rainswept Flower called.

Tall Shadow’s gaze grew more urgent. “Gray Wing!”

He bounded toward her. “Is something wrong?” he asked as he stopped at her side. Wind Runner and Gorse Fur were exchanging nervous glances. Had they changed their mind about joining the moor cats?

Tall Shadow frowned. “Wind Runner and Gorse Fur are expecting kits.”

“Kits?” Gray Wing blinked. Joy warmed his pelt. “That’s great news.”

“Is it?” Wind Runner moved closer to her mate. “Kits will mean extra mouths to feed.” She glanced at the moor cats. “Our kits will be safer if they’re raised in the camp. But it’ll be a burden for every cat.” She held her chin high. “They should know what they’re taking on before we join the group.”

Gorse Fur puffed out his chest. “We don’t want the mountain cats to resent them.”

Gray Wing’s ear twitched. “Why would they do that?” Pebble Heart, Sparrow Fur, and Owl Eyes were always hungry and always getting underpaw, but no one resented them. “New life brings hope and joy.”

“And extra hunting,” Wind Runner reminded him.

Gray Wing swept his tail toward the distant horizon. “There’s enough prey out there for us all.”

He suddenly realized that Tall Shadow’s gaze was lingering on Wind Runner’s bulging flank.

“It’s a bad time for kits to be born,” the black she-cat muttered. “Clear Sky’s spoiling for a fight. Wind Runner won’t be able to join in the battle and we’ll have more kits to defend.”

Gray Wing met her gaze. “ If it comes to battle, more kits will make us fight harder. We’ll have more to fight for.”

Tall Shadow looked unconvinced.

“We should leave,” Wind Runner growled.

“No!” Gray Wing stepped forward. Memory swept him back to Storm’s den. He’d fought through dust and rubble to try to save her and her kits. She’d tried to raise them alone and it had killed her and two of her kits. Only Thunder had survived. “It’s our duty to help Wind Runner and Gorse Fur raise their litter,” he told Tall Shadow firmly.

The black she-cat dipped her head. “I guess they have earned their place with us,” she conceded.

“ Many times.” Gray Wing nodded to Wind Runner. “Your kits will be raised as though they are our own.” A purr escaped him. Suddenly he could picture tiny kits hurtling across the clearing after Pebble Heart, Sparrow Fur, and Owl Eyes. For a moment, all his fears of battle disappeared. These kits would grow up safe in their moorland home.