Tallstar’s Revenge

Shrewpaw sprang into the air. Tallpaw froze for moment, then, seeing daylight beneath the young tom’s belly, he ducked beneath it and bucked like a rabbit. He felt Shrewpaw’s weight on his back, and pushed his spine into his denmate’s belly. Shrewpaw yelped as Tallpaw tossed him backward. Tallpaw turned on his hind paws. Shrewpaw was writhing on the grass. Tallpaw reared over him and Shrewpaw stared up, his eyes wide with shock.

Forepaws raised, Tallpaw showed his teeth for a moment before dropping onto all fours and padding away. “How was that?” he asked Dawnstripe.

Dawnstripe blinked at him. “Not exactly what I expected.”

“It was excellent,” Hareflight purred. “Great work, Tallpaw.”

Shrewpaw clambered to his paws, scowling. “He was supposed to be practicing defense moves, not attack.”

Tallpaw prickled. Everything he did seemed to annoy Shrewpaw. He lifted his chin. “I was defending myself. It’s not my fault if you can’t keep your balance.”

“You cheated, Wormpaw.” Shrewpaw stalked past him and pushed into the heather. “Can we get something to eat now?”

Dawnstripe and Hareflight exchanged glances before Hareflight hurried to catch up with his apprentice.

“Well done, Tallpaw.” Dawnstripe fell in beside him as they followed the others along a narrow trail.

“Thanks.” Satisfaction warmed Tallpaw’s pelt.

“Don’t worry about Shrewpaw,” Dawnstripe reassured him. “He’s used to training with older apprentices. Hareflight will have a word with him about his attitude.”

“A tabby can’t change his stripes.” Tallpaw sniffed. “Shrewpaw was born with a burr in his fur. I’ll just have to put up with it.”

“Come and share this rabbit!” Barkpaw called from beside the Hunting Stones as Tallpaw ducked into camp. The scent of fresh prey reached Tallpaw’s tongue. He bounded over the tussocks and stopped in the patch of sunshine where Barkpaw was tearing flesh from a rabbit carcass. Suddenly realizing how tired he was, Tallpaw flopped down beside his friend.

“Here.” Barkpaw shoved the rabbit toward Tallpaw.

“Thanks.” Tallpaw leaned forward and took a bite.

“How was training?” Barkpaw asked.

Tallpaw glanced at Shrewpaw, who was sniffing disdainfully at a vole on the prey-heap. He wished he could tell Barkpaw what a pain in the tail Shrewpaw had been. But they were littermates. And a true warrior didn’t complain about his Clanmates. “It was great.” The memory of chasing across the grass with the apprentices at his heels thrilled Tallpaw once more. He felt a stab of delight as he remembered flipping Shrewpaw onto his back. “I learned a lot.”

Barkpaw took another bite of rabbit. “I learned how to make a dressing for scratches today,” he told Tallpaw with his mouth full. “It draws infection out of rotten wounds.”

Tallpaw’s belly tightened. “That sounds…” He searched for words while he fought back queasiness. “…interesting.” I’m glad I’m training as a warrior.

“I made it for Whiteberry’s ear.” Barkpaw kept on chewing. “He’s got an infected tick bite. I added juniper sap. That’ll loosen the tick. It was so swollen I thought its skin would burst.”

Tallpaw stared at him, the scent of rabbit suddenly making him feel sick. “How’s Hawkheart?” he asked, changing the subject.

“He’s a really good teacher,” Barkpaw mewed. “It’s hard keeping up but I’m learning so much.”

Tallpaw noticed Shrewpaw heading toward them. Ignoring his queasiness, he took a bite of rabbit. Shrewpaw reached them as he was swallowing. The dark brown tom flung a mouse onto the ground. “Have you cured anyone yet?” he asked, settling down beside Barkpaw.

Barkpaw swallowed. “I won’t know until tomorrow.”

Tallpaw pulled another mouthful of flesh from the rabbit. Shrewpaw munched on his mouse. Barkpaw glanced uneasily from one to the other before blurting out, “It must be fun training together.”

Tallpaw met Shrewpaw’s gaze, wondering what the brown tom would say.

Shrewpaw shrugged. “It’s okay.”

Tallpaw blinked, surprised at Shrewpaw’s reply. “Yeah,” he agreed. Why should they make Barkpaw worry that they weren’t getting along?

He ate till his belly was full, then heaved himself to his paws. “I’m going to stretch my legs,” he told Barkpaw. “I don’t want to stiffen up. Dawnstripe’s taking me out again later.” He nodded at Shrewpaw and headed across camp.

Palebird was crouching outside the nursery. Meadowslip paced beside her. The gray queen had only just moved to the nursery, swollen with Hickorynose’s kits. Her belly swayed as she padded back and forth, tail twitching and ears flicking as if she was too restless to sit still.

Palebird gazed blankly across the camp. Tallpaw frowned. Why wasn’t his mother restless, too? Didn’t she ever wish she were out on the moor? Or back in the tunnels? Wasn’t she bored stuck in camp?

Tallpaw stopped beside her. “You should come and watch me train.”

“What, dear?” Palebird looked up at him distractedly.

“It’d be good for you to get out of the camp.”