Tallstar’s Revenge

“You caught it?” Palebird mewed in surprise.

Talltail glanced over his shoulder. “You might want to send some warriors to fetch it. It’ll provide food for the Clan.” He padded past his mother, dipping his head. “It’s good to see you again, Palebird,” he muttered. Ducking through the heather, he headed into camp.

“Talltail?” Barkface was carrying a bundle of dripping moss to the elders’ den. He dropped it and bounded over the tussocks. “You came back!” A loud purr rumbled in his throat.

Talltail nosed his old friend’s cheek. “Yes.” His gaze flicked around the camp.

In the cold leaf-bare light, the heather looked dull. The grass had wilted in the frost. The bracken patch where the tunnelers made their nests was bent and shriveled. Only Tallrock seemed the same, looming above the Meeting Hollow.

The bracken stirred as Hickorynose got to his paws. “Plumclaw, come see who’s here.” He nudged his denmate, keeping his eyes fixed on Talltail.

Whiteberry peered out of the elders’ den. “Where’s that moss, Bark…” His mew trailed away as he spotted Talltail.

Lilywhisker pushed past him. “I smell Talltail’s scent!” Her eyes lit up. “You’re back!”

“Who’s back?” Shrewclaw padded sleepily from the long grass.

Ryestalk followed him out. “Is that Talltail?”

“Talltail?” Stagleap scrambled out of the Meeting Hollow and raced past Aspenfall and Cloudrunner as they emerged from the shadows at the edge of the clearing.

“Did you find him?” Barkface’s urgent whisper sounded in Talltail’s ear. “Did you kill Sparrow?” His eyes were dark with concern.

“I found him,” Talltail told him. “But I let him live.”

Barkface closed his eyes. “Thank StarClan.”

“Sandgorse died saving him when the tunnel collapsed,” Talltail went on. “How could I kill him, knowing that?”

“Talltail!” Stagleap nudged Barkface aside. “You look well!”

Shrewclaw caught up to him. “The wormcat’s back?” He looked Talltail up and down. “I thought you’d left for good.” There was a taunt in his mew.

“No, I’ve come back.” Talltail glanced around the camp. “If Heatherstar will let me.” Where was she? He strained to see into the gloom of her den beyond Tallrock.

“She’s leading a hunting patrol,” Stagleap meowed.

Ryestalk stopped beside Shrewclaw. “It’s good to see you, Talltail.”

“And you, Ryestalk.” Talltail tipped his head. Ryestalk’s pelt was touching Shrewclaw’s. Their whiskers brushed casually. Were they mates now? It was strange to think that life had carried on in the Clan while he’d been away.

“Talltail!” Dawnstripe leaped from the Meeting Hollow. “You came back!” Delight lit up her eyes.

Talltail stood still as she raced to meet him. “I couldn’t stay away.”

She stopped in front of him and gazed warmly into his eyes. “Then my training wasn’t wasted.”

“It was never wasted,” he meowed softly. “Not once.”

Behind him, Palebird was shooing Wrenkit and Flykit crossly through the heather. “I can’t take my eyes off you for a moment!”

Bristlekit and Rabbitkit came haring from the nursery. “Where did you go?” Rabbitkit demanded, glaring at Wrenkit. “Why didn’t you let us come?”

Bristlekit nudged his brother, his gaze fixed on Talltail. “Who cares? He’s back!”

Larksplash padded into camp. “You would have lost Wrenkit and Flykit if he weren’t.” She flashed another stern look at Palebird.

Ryestalk pricked her ears. “What happened?”

“Talltail saved them from a hawk,” Larksplash explained.

“Impressive!” Stagleap nudged Talltail with his shoulder.

Larksplash nodded toward the entrance. “Why don’t you and Cloudrunner go get it? There’ll be fresh-kill for everyone tonight.”

“Don’t bother.” Heatherstar’s mew took Talltail by surprise. He spun around as the WindClan leader padded through the entrance with Reedfeather at her heels. “Redclaw and Hareflight are carrying it back.” She narrowed her eyes. “I thought I smelled your scent on it, Talltail. It seems you’ve learned new skills while you’ve been away.”

Reedfeather stopped beside his leader. “Let’s hope he’s learned more than skills,” he muttered.

Talltail kept his gaze on Heatherstar, his heart quickening. Would she let him rejoin the Clan?

Shrewclaw stepped closer. “What are you doing here, Talltail? Was the land beyond the Clans too scary for you?” But there was curiosity and affection in his mew, underneath the teasing.

“My heart wanted to be home.” Talltail dipped his head. “And my paws carried me back.”

Heatherstar blinked slowly. Branches rustled behind her. Grunting with effort, Hareflight emerged, dragging the hawk carcass through. Redclaw followed, a taloned foot in his teeth as he helped Hareflight heave the bird into camp.

Whiteberry padded around the body as they laid it on a tussock. “You caught this by yourself?”

“I surprised it,” Talltail confessed. “The hawk thought it was the hunter, not the hunted. It was easy to knock it out of the sky.”

Whiteberry sniffed its bloody neck. “You must have been quick to kill it before it escaped. These wings could crack a warrior’s spine.”