Эрин Хантер - Tigerheart’s Shadow

A big Twoleg hurried after it, holding out a paw and mewling. It pulled the kit away.

Tigerheart jerked his gaze back toward Pouncekit. “We have to get back inside right now,” he meowed sternly. “Do you want the Twolegs to start leaving traps for us again?”

Pouncekit frowned crossly. “It’s not fair. All we ever see is the inside of the den, and we’ve explored all the Twoleg clutter in there. We want to see something new.”

Dovewing reached up the tree with her forepaws, her gaze sparking with worry as Pouncekit padded toward the trunk and began to slither down, tail first.

“Dig your claws in!” Dovewing gasped as Pouncekit slipped suddenly and her hindquarters thumped against the bark.

“I’m digging!” Pouncekit puffed as she clung to the trunk like a squirrel and eased herself down, a muzzle-length at a time.

Dovewing grabbed her scruff as soon as it was within reach and plopped her on the ground. “Stay there,” she meowed firmly, and looked up toward Lightkit. “Your turn.”

While Dovewing watched Lightkit, Tigerheart frowned crossly at Pouncekit. “You’re not meant to leave the den without us.”

Pouncekit stared back at him, her dark amber eyes wide. “But why? The traps are gone.”

“What if the Twolegs put them back?” Tigerheart challenged.

Pouncekit narrowed her eyes petulantly. “It’s not fair,” she mewed. “You’re only yelling at me because I was the first one to come down. But being the first to come down was good, wasn’t it?” She looked up at Shadowkit, who was waiting while Lightkit slid clumsily down the trunk. “He’s still there, and you’re not yowling at him.”

“I’m not yowling at any of you.” Tigerheart swallowed back frustration. “I’m just telling you that you’re not allowed outside without Dovewing or me.”

“Ever?” Pouncekit frowned. Lightkit squeaked as Dovewing grabbed her scruff and dropped her on the grass. Pouncekit turned her head and stared indignantly at her sister. “Tigerheart says we’re never allowed to leave the den ever .”

“Ever?” Horror sparked in Lightkit’s gaze. “That’s not fair! The other cats go out all the time.”

“I didn’t say ever.” Tigerheart’s pelt prickled irritably. He wondered if the kits would be so argumentative if they’d been raised in a Clan. He felt sure that he’d never argued with Rowanstar like this when he was a kit.

Dovewing was staring into the tree, where Shadowkit was teetering nervously in the crook of a branch. “You’re going to have to go up and get him,” she meowed.

Pouncekit looked at her brother disdainfully. “Poor Shadowkit. He’s such a scaredy-mouse.”

Tigerheart padded to the foot of the tree. Hooking his claws into the bark, he hauled himself up until he was level with Shadowkit. Then he grabbed the kit’s scruff and let himself slide carefully down, balancing Shadowkit on his chest.

As he reached the ground, Shadowkit leaped onto the grass. “I didn’t need help.” He shook out his pelt. “I was just planning my route so I didn’t look as clumsy as Pouncekit and Lightkit.” He glared at his sisters.

Dovewing whisked her tail. “Come on,” she ordered. “Let’s go inside.”

“Can’t we explore some more first?” Lightkit pleaded.

Dovewing pointed her muzzle toward the cluster of black-pelted Twolegs. “Not while they’re here.”

Lightkit huffed and began to march toward the den. Pouncekit followed, and Shadowkit hurried at their heels.

Dovewing caught Tigerheart’s eye. “At least they’re adventurous.” Her whiskers twitched suddenly with amusement.

Relieved they were safe, Tigerheart touched his muzzle to hers. “They’re going to be fine warriors one day.”

“Yes.” Dovewing purred and followed the kits.

Tigerheart glanced across the grass, wondering how long he would have to wait before they could take the kits back to the Clans. The den was clearly no longer enough to keep them occupied. But outside, the city was full of danger. They should be in the forest, learning the difference between a mouse and a shrew, and which birds woke them in the morning and sang them to sleep at night.

As his mind wandered, he noticed Spire. The healer was sitting a few slabs away, gazing at the Twolegs. As Dovewing guided the kits through the gap beside the clear stretch of wall, Tigerheart headed toward the skinny tom. Ducking behind slabs, he reached Spire without being spotted by the Twolegs.

“What are you doing here?” he whispered.

Spire looked at him blankly. He’s having a vision. The healer’s gaze barely focused on Tigerheart before drifting lazily back to the Twolegs.

Tigerheart shifted his paws. Should he leave Spire in peace? But what if that Twoleg kit started to nose around again? The tom probably wouldn’t notice until too late. I’ll stay and guard him.

Spire closed his eyes. He swayed, murmuring to himself. “Kits or no kits.”

Tigerheart’s belly tightened. “Spire?” What was the strange cat dreaming about?

Spire opened his eyes and stared at Tigerheart, as though expecting to see him. “You came.”

Tigerheart twitched his tail nervously. “What did you dream?”

“Dream?” Spire tipped his head. He looked confused. “I heard a voice. A voice… from the stars… meant for you.”

“Stars? For me…?” Tigerheart’s pelt prickled. Spire had never mentioned stars before. Did this mean StarClan was trying to reach him through this strange cat? Should Tigerheart have gone back to ShadowClan after Spire’s first dream?

But how could I have done that? The kits… Anxiety began to churn in his belly. Suddenly all the worries that had suffocated him while he was in the forest seemed to swirl around him once more. “What did it say?”

Spire’s yellow gaze seemed to clear as he stared at Tigerheart. His eyes flashed as though he’d remembered something long forgotten. “I had to tell you that he needs you.”

“Who needs me?” Tigerheart leaned closer, his breath catching in his throat.

Spire didn’t seem to hear him. “The shadows are fading. He can’t keep them together.”

Alarm flared beneath Tigerheart’s pelt. Rowanstar! His father needed him. He knew it as certainly as he’d known he should be with Dovewing. There was no doubt now that StarClan was trying to reach him here in the city…

They want me to go back!

Tigerheart hardly slept. He stared into the darkness while Dovewing and the kits snored gently beside him, anxiety swirling through his thoughts. How would he tell Dovewing? There was no time to wait. The kits were so young. But he had to go back now.

As dawn lifted the darkness, he gazed at Dovewing, still sleeping beside him. The kits were too big now to curl at her belly, and they snuggled around her instead. Pouncekit’s tail trailed over her cheek. Lightkit’s forepaws rested on her flank, while Shadowkit stretched along her spine. Were they old enough to make the journey? Would Dovewing agree? Tigerheart’s throat tightened. Would he have to leave without them?

He crept from the nest and scanned the den. The guardian cats were stirring as gray dawn light filtered through the walls.

Fierce climbed from her nest and stretched. “Who wants to come scavenging with me?”

“I will.” Ant slid from beneath a pile of Twoleg clutter.

Cinnamon crossed the floor. “So will I.”

Mittens stretched beneath the den entrance. “I’ll come.”