Tallstar’s Revenge

Talltail growled under his breath. He might as well catch some fresh-kill while he was waiting for Jake to stuff his belly. He began to sniff along the bushes at the grass, sticking his head under the leaves of a laurel and tasting the air. He smelled shrew. Mouth watering, he crept under the branches. The soil crunched frostily beneath his paws. Following his nose, he squeezed past the thick stem and tracked the scent to a spiky bush, then into tall grass. The stems swished as he pushed through, showering dusty seed over his pelt. The shrew smell grew stronger. Grass rustled ahead. Straining to see in the shadows, Talltail spotted a small shape moving beneath a holly bush. He pressed his belly to the ground. He’d learned from chasing the mouse into Twolegplace that hunting in thick undergrowth took more patience than speed.

The shape scuttled, then stopped. It was definitely a shrew. Talltail could make out its small, pointed nose as it snuffled among the leaf litter. Stealthily he crept forward, keeping low so that his spine didn’t disturb the branches hanging above. A tail-length from the shrew, he flung his paws forward and pounced.

The shrew’s paws scrabbled on the leaf litter, but Talltail was quick and pinned its tail. Hooking it close, he killed it with a bite. He gulped it down and padded onto the moonlit grass feeling pleased with himself.

Jake was lying beside the Twoleg den, belly-up, happily washing his paws. As Talltail padded toward him, he hauled himself up and belched. “Catch something?”

“A shrew.”

“Was it tasty?”

“You should catch one and find out.”

Jake sat back on his haunches. “Would you teach me?”

Talltail shrugged. “We’re at the end of Twolegplace.” He nodded to the alleyway. It would lead past the red-stone den to open fields. “You’ll be going home, won’t you?”

Jake looked up at the moon. “In the morning. Let’s find somewhere to sleep.” He gazed across the grass at a small, wooden den. “What about that shed?”

Talltail glanced over his shoulder. It looked like the den he’d been poisoned in. “No thanks. I’d rather sleep under a bush.”

“Okay.” Jake looked around. “Which one?” He padded toward the laurel. “This looks like it’ll give us some shelter.”

“What if the kittypet whose food you just stole comes out in the night?” Talltail didn’t fancy waking up to a fight.

“Let’s head toward the fields, then,” Jake suggested. “There’ll be a hedge or something, won’t there?”

Talltail narrowed his eyes. “I thought you weren’t leaving Twolegplace?”

“I want to see what it’s like sleeping in the wild.” Jake headed toward the alley and disappeared into the shadows.

Talltail padded after him. If this kittypet wanted to play warrior, why argue? He’d be gone tomorrow. Another pang bit his belly. He ignored it and followed Jake to the front of the den, where another tiny meadow stretched to a low, stone wall. He leaped it after Jake and trotted over a short stretch of grass that led to a rutted Thunderpath, deserted in the moonlight. They crossed it side by side, their shadows stretching across the dried mud, then jumped into the long grass beyond.

Talltail slipped into the lead. They were in wild territory now. The quiet darkness felt soothing after the glaring noise of Twolegplace. Talltail weaved through the grass and jumped over a ditch. A thick hedge edged the other side and he crept under it. The earth was dry. “Let’s sleep here.” He began to scoop out a hollow with his paws.

Jake watched him. “You dig your nests?”

“There’s nothing to sleep on.” Talltail kept on scraping. “A hollow will keep us warm.”

Jake watched and then copied him, pawing at the earth until he’d dug a shallow dip. “Won’t the roots make it prickly?” Jake stared in dismay at the gnarled hedge roots that he’d uncovered.

“They won’t hurt you.” Talltail curled into his own scoop.

“I’m not used to lumps in my nest.”

“You wanted to know what it’s like sleeping wild.” Talltail could feel roots jabbing between his ribs too, but he wasn’t going to say anything. “Besides, it’s just for tonight. We’ll make better nests tomorrow,” he promised, closing his eyes.

Jake didn’t reply, but Talltail heard his pelt swish as he settled into his uncomfortable scoop. We’ll make better nests tomorrow. Why had he said that? Jake would be going home at dawn. And I’ll be tracking the rogues. Excitement pricked in Talltail’s paws as he pictured Sparrow, imagined sinking his claws into the rogue’s fur, hearing him plead for mercy. Talltail was on his trail. He knew he would find Sparrow. And soon, very soon, he would have his revenge.

Chapter 33