Tallstar’s Revenge

The blood stench sharpened as he drew closer. Perhaps rabbits were killed by monsters here. Talltail scanned the glittering, black stone of the Thunderpath. There was no sign of crow-food. Sniffing, he followed the blood scent along its edge. He slowed. He was nearing the tunnel that passed underneath the Thunderpath and joined WindClan territory to ShadowClan’s border, echoing with the howls of the monsters hurtling over it. He hadn’t been here in a long time. Dawnstripe had shown him the opening when he was an apprentice, but WindClan warriors rarely patrolled in this corner. There was little to hunt here, and ShadowClan scent markers didn’t begin until the other side of the Thunderpath.

Curiosity pulled Talltail on. The blood scent tainted the air, stronger as he neared. He scrambled down the ditch at the edge of the Thunderpath and pushed through the long grass choking the tunnel entrance. Blood streaked the stems, and as he slid into the dank, stinking tunnel, he saw more blood frozen into the muddy water pooled at the bottom. How many rabbits had been killed and dragged through here? Talltail swallowed. ShadowClan scents hung fresh in the air.

Pelt bushing, he turned and raced up the slope. Pushing hard against the rough grass, he pelted toward the heather. “Dawnstripe!” At his call, a grouse fluttered up from the bushes. He shouldered his way in, the stems scraping his muzzle as he raced along a rabbit trail.

“What in the name of StarClan are you doing?” Dawnstripe burst out of the heather and blocked his path.

Talltail skidded to a halt. “ShadowClan has been stealing prey and taking it through the tunnel!”

Dawnstripe’s pelt spiked. “Have you seen them?”

“I saw blood trails and ShadowClan scent was everywhere.”

Plumclaw stormed out behind Dawnstripe. “You scared off the grouse!” Her eyes blazed.

Aspenfall barged past her. “I was about to attack.”

Talltail squared his shoulders. “ShadowClan is using the tunnel under the Thunderpath to steal prey from the moor.” He glared at Aspenfall. “Go and tell Heatherstar. Bring warriors. We need to re-mark the border. They have to know that if they cross it again they face a fight.”

Aspenfall turned and pushed away through the heather.

“Come and see.” Talltail beckoned Dawnstripe to follow as he turned and headed back toward the tunnel.

He led her down the slope, Plumclaw close behind. “Ignore the monsters,” Talltail muttered as they neared the Thunderpath. “They’ll stick to their path.” He padded to the tunnel, pushing back the grass with a paw so that Dawnstripe could lean in and sniff the rabbit blood.

“It reeks of ShadowClan,” she growled, flinching away.

Plumclaw sniffed, frowning. “How long have they been doing this?”

Dawnstripe lashed her tail. “Quite a while, by the smell of it,” she hissed.

Talltail ripped the grass with his claws. “Heatherstar should keep a patrol here day and night.” Rage pulsed in his paws. “ShadowClan needs to learn that WindClan doesn’t give up prey without a fight.”

Dawnstripe eyed him. “Wasn’t it you who gave WindClan prey to RiverClan?”

Talltail bristled. “It was RiverClan’s prey to begin with,” he reminded her. “And they took it with my permission. They didn’t steal while our tails were turned.” He glared across the Thunderpath, blind to the monsters flashing past. “There’s a difference between a starving Clan and a thieving Clan.”

Plumclaw circled Dawnstripe, pelt ruffled. “How dare they—”

“Hush!” Talltail silenced her. Paw steps were thrumming through the tunnel, echoing against the stone walls.

“Attack!” A shriek ripped through the air. ShadowClan warriors streamed from the tunnel, eyes blazing with hate.

Talltail unsheathed his claws. “Invasion!”

Chapter 43

“ShadowClan, attack!” Cedarstar yowled as he charged up the slope. Ears flat, teeth showing, he raced at Dawnstripe. Talltail hurled himself in front of her.

“I don’t need your help!” she hissed, dodging around him to meet the ShadowClan leader head-on.

Paws slammed into Talltail’s side. White fur blinded him as Blizzardwing knocked him off his paws and lunged for his throat. Talltail rolled. Teeth snapped at his cheek, catching his whiskers and plucking them out. Talltail scrambled to his paws, reared up, and brought his claws down on Blizzardwing’s ears. Plumclaw was wrestling in the mud downslope, locked in combat with a ginger tabby. Did the tunneler have enough battle skills to fight him off? Dawnstripe shrieked with pain. Talltail whipped around. Newtspeck had joined Cedarstar. The black-and-ginger she-cat was battering Dawnstripe’s muzzle while Cedarstar raked her flank with vicious claws.

“You can’t save her, rabbit heart!” Blizzardwing snarled.