Tallstar’s Revenge

By the end of the session, Tallpaw felt much better. He was going to be the best moor runner WindClan had ever seen! While Sandgorse was grubbing around in muddy holes, he would be defending his Clan. I’ll avenge Brackenwing’s death. He curled his claws and imagined throwing the body of a ShadowClan warrior in front of his Clan. They’d have to forgive him then.

“Can we hunt?” he growled. He wanted to feel flesh beneath his claws. “The prey heap is empty.”

Dawnstripe was deep in conversation with Algernon. He’d watched the practice session and now he leaned back on the grass, basking in the sun. “You’ve lived with Twolegs?” Dawnstripe leaned closer to the rogue. “What was it like?”

“Twolegs are funny creatures,” Algernon told her.

“Dawnstripe!” Tallpaw interrupted. “Can we hunt?”

“You go.” Dawnstripe flicked her tail. “We’ll catch up.” Tallpaw shrugged and headed downslope. “No one’s hunted the burrows by the gorge in a while!” Dawnstripe called after him. “There should be plenty of prey there.”

“Okay!” Tallpaw called over his shoulder as he pushed through the heather. “I’ll see you there.” He followed a stale rabbit track and emerged from the heather at the top of a rise. The land sloped away past a swath of gorse before flattening out to meet the edge of the gorge. Tallpaw could just make out the dimples where rabbit burrows had been dug close to the surface. Tallpaw pounded toward them. The ground thrummed beneath his paws, solid, then hollow, then solid again.

Tunnels. Tallpaw snorted. Stupid tunnels.

He pulled up as he neared the gorge, stepping lightly so he didn’t frighten any rabbits that might be grazing near the burrows. He must be on top of the gorge tunnel by now. Was Sandgorse down there, boring the ears off poor Sparrow? He paused, feeling the ground tremble beneath his paws. Were they digging? He crouched and pressed his belly to the grass, feeling for the tremors.

The fur rose on his spine. He could feel rumbling deep in the earth. It stirred memories of the flood. Was a tunnel collapsing?

Fear flaring, Tallpaw raced for the burrows. He might be able to hear what was happening through one of the openings. Surely Sandgorse wouldn’t take Sparrow anywhere dangerous? He was too experienced to lead an untrained cat into an unstable tunnel. Tallpaw slowed to a halt, jerking around, glancing from burrow to burrow. Poking his head into one, he heard the earth roar. He stiffened as the ground shook beneath his paws. Terror uncoiled in his belly.

Then claws scrabbled behind him. Tallpaw whirled around as a mud-drenched cat burst out from a rabbit hole. “Sparrow!” He recognized the rogue’s eyes through his filthy pelt. Tallpaw glanced past him, expecting Sandgorse to race out behind. But he only heard the growl of earth folding in on itself, crushing air and light and everything else inside…

“Where’s Sandgorse?” Tallpaw stared at Sparrow. “Wasn’t he with you?”

Sparrow glanced back down the hole, flanks heaving. “I lost him.”

“You lost him?” Tallpaw blinked. “You left him behind?”

“Too much water,” Sparrow panted. “And mud.”

“You can’t leave a cat underground!”

There was a flash of movement on the horizon. Dawnstripe and Algernon were heading toward them.

“Sparrow!” Algernon’s pelt spiked. “You’re soaked! Are you okay?”

“I have to find my father!” Tallpaw barged past Sparrow and plunged down the hole. Darkness engulfed him. The sour smell of river water and soil flooded his nose. He raced forward, flattening his ears against the roaring earth. Hurtling along the tunnel, he crashed against one wall, then another, running blindly, panic sending his thoughts whirling.

“Sandgorse!” His yowl echoed in the darkness. The soil around him was growing looser all the time. The tunnel narrowed and Tallpaw tripped over a pile of earth. Scrabbling over it, he found himself squeezing through an ever-tightening gap. “Sandgorse!” Earth turned to mud around him. Now he was slithering though the tunnel like a snake. “Where are you?” The rumbling was growing louder. The earth was still moving. “I’m coming, Sandgorse!” Tallpaw hauled himself forward, scrabbling with his hind legs, pushing desperately on. A thunderous rumble swept toward him and the floor of the tunnel heaved beneath his paws. Mud and water filled his muzzle and terror burst his heart as the world turned black.

Chapter 18

Pain jolted Tallpaw awake. He was bumping over stones, being dragged from behind. Rocks jabbed his belly and scraped his legs and chin. Someone was hauling him out of the tunnel. He struggled, trying to find his paws, but claws clasped his flanks and heaved him harder. Suddenly fresh air rushed around him and he was on soft grass. He gulped in air, fresh and sweet.