Tallstar’s Revenge

Reena dragged her gaze away from the disappearing squirrel. “They won’t be there today,” she meowed. “They only come sometimes.”

“Great.” Talltail tasted the air, picking up the scent of grass, and headed past the tree. He was sick of struggling through woodland. A run across the field would help stretch his muscles. Sleeping so close to Sparrow had knotted them until it ached to stand still. The wind might blow my thoughts clear, too. He’d spent most of the night wondering how to take his revenge on Sparrow. One plan replaced another until his head hurt. None of them seemed right. The only thing he was sure of was that he had to gain Sparrow’s trust enough to get him alone.

Does he trust me already? It was hard to tell what the brown rogue was thinking. His pale stare gave nothing away. I don’t even know if he realizes he caused Sandgorse’s death.

Anger flared in Talltail’s belly and he broke into a run. “I see the field!” he called to Reena and Jake.

The pale dawn brightened the trees ahead. Talltail scrambled around a clump of ferns, paws skidding on the icy leaves. Digging in with his claws, he raced for the light, excitement surging through him as he broke onto frost-whitened grass. The slope stretched ahead. Looking up the hillside, he could see the scars the monsters had left behind. Thunderpath stench pricked his nose as he headed across the slope.

“Wait for us!” Reena caught up first, Jake reaching them a moment later.

“Are you really going to catch a rabbit?” Jake panted.

“If I can find one.” Talltail opened his mouth and let the snow-flecked wind spray his tongue. He tasted the familiar musk of rabbit. “Come on.” He led the way across the grass.

Reena purred. “It’s great having young cats to hunt with.” Her eye caught Talltail’s. “And I’m glad you’ve stopped being such a grumpy old badger.”

Jake fell in beside her. “Talltail’s not grumpy.”

Talltail glanced at his friend. Should he remind Jake how bad-tempered he’d been when the Twoleg had locked him in Jake’s den?

“When I was staying with WindClan,” Reena recalled, “I hardly dared talk to him. I was scared of getting my head bitten off!”

“We’re here to chase rabbit, remember?” Talltail muttered, memories of his grief flooding back.

“See?” Reena flicked her ears at Jake. “Grumpy old badger.”

“He’s not grumpy with me.” Jake wound past Talltail, lifting his tail.

Reena shrugged and sat down. “Any sign of rabbit?” she asked Talltail.

“They must still be asleep.” The sun was lifting above the horizon. The wind whisked the frosty grass, scattering tiny dots of snow.

“I wish they’d wake up.” Jake sighed. “I’m hungry.”

“You’re probably missing kittypet food.” Reena licked her paw.

“Maybe,” Jake conceded. “Catching your food is hard work.”

It’s even harder when you’ve elders and kits to hunt for, too. Talltail’s pelt pricked as he wondered how WindClan was surviving leaf-bare. Had they stocked enough prey? Colder weather was on the way and without the tunnels to hunt in, prey might be scarcer than Heatherstar had predicted.

It’s their problem now. I just have to look after myself. And Jake. He looked at his friend, wondering how long they had together before the kittypet returned to his Twoleg. A sharp pain stabbed his heart.

“Aren’t you embarrassed?” Reena asked Jake suddenly.

Jake blinked at her. “Embarrassed?”

“About being a kittypet.”

“Why?” He sounded confused.

“Taking food from a Twoleg.” Reena’s wide gaze was curious. “It’s undignified for a cat.”

“Is it?” Jake tipped his head on one side.

“A cat should rely on itself, not the kindness of Twolegs,” Reena argued.

“I was born a kittypet,” Jake pointed out. “I’m not doing any harm.” He stared across the field. “And if I’m eating kittypet food, it means there’s more prey for rogues like you.” He nodded toward a distant tussock. “Did something move over there?”

Talltail followed his gaze. “Yes!” His paws pricked as he saw rabbit ears twitch in the grass downslope. He flicked his tail at Reena. “See?” he challenged. “Even a kittypet has the same instincts as we do.”

Reena’s eyes sparkled. “I bet he can’t catch it, though.” She padded past Talltail, her tail brushing his flank. “Not like you.”

Talltail’s fur rippled. He glanced self-consciously at Jake, but Jake was staring across the field at the twitching ears.

“What now?” Jake asked.

Talltail waved his tail upslope. “You two head up there and circle around it.”

“Like we caught the thrush!” Jake’s eyes glowed.

Talltail nodded. “I’ll stalk it from here. Then we’ll see which way it runs.”