Tallstar’s Revenge

A stream cut through the trees like a tiny gorge, its banks steep. Algernon sprang across it easily. Talltail teetered on the brink, gazing down at the thin trickle of water below.

“Just jump!’ Algernon urged.

Talltail launched himself off the edge, his paws slithering on the mud. He reached out and dug his claws into the far bank and hauled himself up.

“A WindClan cat shouldn’t be out here.” Algernon shook his head. “You belong on the moor.”

Reena landed lightly beside him. “Why did you come?”

A thump sounded behind, followed by a small splash. Talltail glanced back. Jake had disappeared. He rushed to the edge of the stream and peered down the steep bank. Jake was writhing at the bottom, trying to find a paw hold in the mud. Talltail curled his hind claws deep into the earth and leaned down, snatching at Jake’s scruff and holding him while the kittypet regained his footing.

“Thanks,” Jake grunted. Talltail leaned back as Jake scrambled up beside him.

Reena was looking confused. “Why are you helping a kittypet?” She wrinkled her nose as she looked at Jake.

“He helped me,” Talltail told her simply.

“Come on.” Algernon nodded them onward. The monsters were still roaring at the edge of the trees. “We can talk about it when we reach camp.”

“Is this where you live now?” Talltail asked.

“It’s just temporary,” Algernon told him, padding away.

Bracken scraped Talltail’s nose as Algernon led them through another clump. He narrowed his eyes against the fronds, blinking as he emerged into a small, leaf-strewn clearing. Mole lay between the roots of an elm, a gray bundle of fur in a heap of dark green moss. He lifted his head as Talltail followed Algernon from the bracken. “What’s he doing here?”

“Who?” Bess stuck her head out from beneath a holly bush. Her eyes widened and she slid out, her black-and-white pelt sleek. Talltail figured they must have lived well since they left the Clan.

“Tallpaw?” Bess blinked. “Is that you?”

“I’m Talltail now.”

“You have your warrior name!” Reena mewed in surprise. “Congratulations!”

Bess’s gaze flicked to Reena. “Where did you find them?”

“I think they found us, by the sound of it,” Reena told her.

Jake stopped beside Talltail and breathed softly in his ear. “What do we do now?”

“Act normal,” Talltail murmured. Lifting his muzzle, he stared at Bess. “I’m glad I managed to find you.” His explanation would sound more convincing if he offered it before they asked. His thoughts raced. What reason could he give for tracking them here?

“Is there trouble in WindClan?” Bess asked.

“No.” Talltail shifted his paws. “Everything’s fine. But… but when I watched you leave at the end of greenleaf, I realized there was more to see than just WindClan territory.” He felt his fur smooth as he eased into his story. “I was hoping you’d let me travel with you.”

Algernon looked at Jake, eyes narrow. “What about the kittypet?”

“His name is Jake,” Talltail meowed.

The bushes swished on the far side of the small clearing and Sparrow slid out. “Tallpaw?”

Talltail swung around, meeting the brown tom’s impassive gaze. “Hi, Sparrow. It’s Talltail now.” He swallowed his rage as it tightened his throat. A vision flooded his mind: He was pinning Sparrow to the ground, claws deep in the murderer’s throat, blood bubbling at the tom’s mouth.

“You’re trembling.” Sparrow’s cool mew snapped him from his thoughts. “Are you all right?”

Talltail shifted his paws, thinking fast. “We were nearly squashed by two-pawed monsters.”

Bess faced Sparrow. “He says he wants to travel with us.”

“What about WindClan?”

“I was tired of all the duties and rules,” Talltail mewed. “I wanted to see what it was like to live free, like you.”

“And the kittypet?” Sparrow’s gaze didn’t give away anything. He simply flicked it from Talltail to Jake.

“He’s been helping me track you down,” Talltail explained. “He’ll be going home now that I’ve found you.” Talltail felt Jake stiffen beside him.

“Not yet.” Bess sniffed Jake’s muddy pelt. “You look like you need a rest and a meal. You must both stay for the night.” She flicked her tail. “Reena, will you find them some moss to make nests?”

Talltail stepped forward. “Thanks, but we can find our own moss,” he told her. “I didn’t come here to be a burden.” Before any of the rogues could argue he padded across the clearing and pushed into the bracken, relieved to hear Jake trotting after him.

“What are we doing?” Jake mewed as soon as they were far enough away from the clearing to speak privately.

“You’re going home,” Talltail told him.

Jake’s eyes flashed with hurt. “And you’re going to live here with the rogue who killed your father?”

“Of course not,” Talltail snapped. “I just need to wait for my chance.”

“Then what?” Jake leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Sparrow looks tough. What are you planning to do to him?”

Kill him. Dread hollowed Talltail’s belly. He’d never killed a cat before. He forced himself to picture his father yowling in terror as mud showered around him, sealing him in darkness forever. He growled.