Эрин Хантер - Thunder Rising

“Clear Sky decided he only wants healthy cats,” Tall Shadow finished for him. “So Jagged Peak came back to us. It might take a while, but he’ll get better.”

She looked kindly at Jagged Peak, who nodded, but Gray Wing knew very well that his brother wasn’t at all certain that the injured leg would mend.

“I’m so sorry,” Turtle Tail meowed, her green eyes full of sympathy.

“So,” Tall Shadow continued. “What do you think of our new home, Turtle Tail?” Her eyes shone with interest. “Have we changed much? It’s good to see you back. I’d love to hear more about what made you decide to return.”

Turtle Tail was looking around the hollow, taking everything in with an intense green gaze. Gray Wing tried to see the cats through her eyes: plump and happy, their pelts shining with health. She was impressed by the camp, he knew: the cover of gorse and rocks that stuck up out of the earth, and the wide tunnel dens.

“Aren’t you glad we left the mountains?” Turtle Tail asked eventually, avoiding Tall Shadow’s questions. “Do you remember how Stoneteller sent us on our way? What was it she said? ‘There is another place for some of us, full of sunlight and warmth and prey for all seasons.’ It seems so long ago now.”

Gray Wing nodded in agreement. He thought of Turtle Tail’s bounce and energy back then, the hope and spirit that had been so important when their journey got rough. She seemed different now; he could sense that she had gained wisdom and experience. We’ve all changed, I guess, he thought.

As Gray Wing watched his friend, he saw the happiness fade from her face. He opened his jaws to question her, but Tall Shadow got there before him.

“What is it?” she asked. “What’s wrong, Turtle Tail?”

Turtle Tail dug her claws into the soft moss. “I’m not sure I can bring my strengths to help you anymore,” she confessed. “Stoneteller used to praise me for my speed and sharp eyes, and look at me now.” She gestured toward her heavy belly with one paw.

“You still have your sharp eyes,” Tall Shadow mewed. “Your skills are needed here more than ever.” She hesitated for a moment, then glanced thoughtfully around her. “I need some cat to be the eyes and ears of the hollow,” she continued. “To watch the horizon and report back. Will you?”

Turtle Tail looked confused. “Why do you need a cat to keep such careful watch?”

“Things aren’t quite as happy as they appear,” Tall Shadow explained. “True, the cats are well fed and cared for, but things have changed. It’s many moons since we laid eyes on Clear Sky, but when we’ve met his cats, they’ve made it quite clear that the forest is theirs now. They talk about cats trespassing, and if any of us sets paw under the trees, they chase us off.”

Gray Wing nodded; regret pierced him like a thorn as he realized afresh how distant they had become from Clear Sky and his cats. As kits, he and Clear Sky had spent every waking moment together. I never would have guessed we’d end up like this.

“It feels as if they’re hostile,” he mewed.

“Have you seen any of them near the Twolegplace?” Tall Shadow asked Turtle Tail. “We need to know everything we can about them. Any detail, however slight, could be useful.”

Turtle Tail shook her head, while Gray Wing felt his fur prickle. Are we spying on Clear Sky now ?

But as Tall Shadow went on, Gray Wing realized that wasn’t the most important thing on her mind. “If Clear Sky’s cats don’t want to share hunting rights in the forest, it’s up to me to protect our hunting rights out here. As it is, we always seem to be arguing with rogue cats over prey.”

“That was a problem before,” Turtle Tail commented with a glance at Gray Wing.

“True,” Tall Shadow meowed. “But it’s definitely gotten worse. We’d achieved some kind of understanding with the rogue cats. We left them alone, and they did the same. Now… it’s difficult to put into words, but there are tensions that we didn’t have before. That’s why we need your help. Can you let me know when strange faces appear or hunt near our home?”

“I’ll do whatever I can,” Turtle Tail promised. Gray Wing could see that her eyes were full of bitterness. “I should never have left,” she admitted. “If I’d been here, I could have done more to help. And I can’t believe that Clear Sky is behaving like that!”

Gray Wing felt that he had to defend his brother. “He’s just doing what he thinks is best.”

Turtle Tail flicked her tail, showing clearly that she wasn’t convinced. “Since when does he have to be so protective about hunting rights?” she asked. “There’s enough prey here for every cat.”

A rustling sounded behind Gray Wing. He glanced over his shoulder to see that Jagged Peak had crept closer to listen to their conversation. He might have been permanently injured, but clearly the young cat had cunning enough to move silently. His eyes were gleaming with excitement.

“I can help, too!” he announced. “I can keep watch with Turtle Tail. I might not be able to run or scramble into trees, but I can guard the hollow.” Glancing at Turtle Tail’s swollen belly, he added, “Turtle Tail won’t be as capable as she normally is, and I can’t run like I used to, but between the two of us…”

Tall Shadow hesitated, her eyes compassionate as she surveyed the injured cat. “Thank you, Jagged Peak,” she responded. “But all I want now is to see you rest and get well.”

Gray Wing’s muscles tensed as he saw the look of hurt and rejection on Jagged Peak’s face. He knew Tall Shadow meant to be kind, but he also knew how desperately Jagged Peak needed to prove to himself that he could still be useful.

“Go on with the exercises Cloud Spots gave you,” he mewed sympathetically to his brother. “You’ll soon be out hunting again.”

Jagged Peak turned away without replying, his head drooping. Gray Wing knew that his brother didn’t believe his encouraging words. Turtle Tail rested her tail on Jagged Peak’s shoulder, but he shrugged her off.

Watching him slink away, hobbling on his damaged leg, Gray Wing asked himself whether Tall Shadow had made the right decision.

“Maybe you should have let him help,” he murmured.

“It would make him feel better,” Turtle Tail agreed. “And another pair of eyes can’t be bad, surely?”

Tall Shadow’s sharp gaze flicked from one to the other. “I’m supposed to be in charge,” she mewed abruptly. “It’s not easy.” She sniffed and stalked off toward her den.

Gray Wing exchanged a glance with Turtle Tail, whose mouth hung open in shock. Who put ants in her fur? Gray Wing wondered.

“How about I give you a tour of the hollow and the moors?” Gray Wing suggested to Turtle Tail. He wanted to dispel the tension left by Tall Shadow’s departure. “You should get to know them again. Besides,” he added, teasingly, “you might have gotten soft after living with Twolegs.”

“Rude furball!” Turtle Tail exclaimed, batting at him with one paw, though there was a glimmer of affection in her eyes.

“Okay, not soft,” Gray Wing agreed. “But come on, let me show you around anyway.” The idea of being alone with Turtle Tail was comforting. I missed her so much , he realized. Now that she had returned, he could see the enormous hole she had left in his life when she went away.

But as they headed up the slope out of the hollow, Rainswept Flower called over to them. “Can I come too? I’d love the chance to catch up with Turtle Tail.”