Sunrise

“What’s that?” he asked, pointing with his tail. “It looks as if a lot of stars have fallen down to earth.”

“No, that’s lots and lots of Twoleg nests, all together,” Brackenfur explained.

Hazeltail gasped. “I didn’t think there were as many Twolegs as that in the whole world!”

“I hope we don’t have to go near them,” Birchfall added.

Hazeltail nodded, while Lionblaze muttered, “We’re not kittypets.” He felt as if he was trying to convince himself.

Brambleclaw and Brackenfur led the way down to the Thunderpath and crouched at the edge, one at each end of the line of cats. Monsters growled past, their blazing lights reflecting off the wet black surface.

“This time we’ll all cross together, once there’s a big enough gap,” Brambleclaw decided. “When I say run, run as if a whole tribe of badgers was after you.”

Lionblaze tried desperately to hide his fear as he waited for the deputy’s signal. This was far worse than the Thunderpath they had crossed earlier. It seemed as if the stream of monsters would never end!

Next to him, Hazeltail was quivering too, and beyond her, Birchfall’s fur was bristling as if he faced a horde of enemies. On Lionblaze’s other side, Hollyleaf worked her claws furiously in the ground, her eyes fixed on Brambleclaw as she waited for the command to cross.

Why do I have to be brave all the time? Lionblaze asked himself miserably. I shouldn’t have to be, not now we know the prophecy wasn’t about us. As far as we know, we could be kittypets!

Horror and shame swept over him at the thought. He was so wrapped up in his dismay that he almost missed Brambleclaw’s yowled signal: “Now!”

CHAPTER 6

Hollyleaf leaped forward with her Clanmates. As they reached the middle of the Thunderpath, she heard the roar of another monster in the distance, rapidly growing louder. Dazzling light angled across her as the huge creature seemed to leap out of nowhere. Hollyleaf ran even harder, pushing with her paws against the hard surface to drive herself faster and faster to the other side.

A terrified screech split the air. When Hollyleaf gained the safety of the grass beyond, she spun around to see Hazeltail rigid with fear, crouching in the middle of the Thunderpath in the path of the monster.

“No!” Hollyleaf yowled. “Hazeltail, run!”

Hazeltail was too panic-stricken to move. With a snarl of fury, Brambleclaw darted back onto the Thunderpath and grabbed her by the scruff, almost under the paws of the oncoming monster.

“It’ll kill them both!” Birchfall wailed.

The monster’s blazing eyebeams raked across the two warriors as Brambleclaw dragged his Clanmate across the black surface. Hazeltail’s legs dangled at first, as if she were dead; then in a heartbeat she scrambled to her paws and fled. Brambleclaw dashed after her, the monster almost on top of his haunches. For a heartbeat, Hollyleaf was certain that he would be crushed under the monster’s whirling paws; then it was roaring past them, and Brambleclaw was still running. Hazeltail collapsed onto the grass and Brambleclaw skidded to a halt beside her.

He let out a disgusted snort. “That was an example of how not to cross a Thunderpath.”

“I’m sorry.” Hazeltail sounded like a frightened kit. “I’m so sorry!”

The rest of the cats flopped down, panting. Even Lionblaze looked ruffled. Sol must be braver than any of us realized, Hollyleaf thought as she tried to calm her breathing. He made this journey all by himself!

Brackenfur padded up to Hazeltail and gave her a comforting lick. “It’s okay,” he murmured. “We all make mistakes.”

“But I could have gotten Brambleclaw killed!” Hazeltail’s eyes were wide with horror. “Thank you, Brambleclaw. You saved my life!”

The fury in Brambleclaw’s eyes faded, and he blinked. “Just make sure I don’t have to do it again.”

“I promise you won’t.”

After allowing them a few moments to rest, Brambleclaw urged the patrol members to their paws again. “We can’t stay here,” he meowed. “Let’s head for the trees. There might be some prey there.”

The cats followed him as he struck out across the prickly grass. The snow had stopped, but it still lay thickly on the ground, clogging Hollyleaf’s paws as she limped after her Clan deputy. My fur’s so cold I think I’m turning into an ice cat, she thought, trying to shake the cold white clumps off her feet. A cold wind was blowing into their faces, catching up the loose snow and flinging it into her eyes. “Mouse dung, that stings!” she muttered.