Tallstar’s Revenge

“Just wait!” Barkface led him to the spring outside the camp wall and stopped in the clearing. The water bubbled beside their paws, lapping over the rim of ice around the edge of the little pool. “Do you remember what you said at Outlook Rock?” He faced Talltail with his ears pricked. “After Palebird kitted? You asked what would happen if your destiny led you beyond the Clan,” Barkface prompted.

Talltail nodded. “So?”

“You said that it was possible to be a warrior even beyond Clan borders.”

“I still believe that.”

Barkface went on. “You wanted to find out what was out there.”

Talltail’s paws pricked with impatience. “Why are we going over this again?”

“I was out on the moor at sunrise,” Barkface mewed in a rush. “I was picking sheep sorrel to ease Flailfoot’s fever, and I found a tuft of black-and-white fur.”

Talltail stared at him. “How’s that important?”

“You’re black and white!”

“Are you saying you found my fur?” Talltail looked along his flank. “I don’t think I’ve lost any.”

“No!” Barkface leaped up the ridge of earth above the spring and paced along the top. “Don’t you see? It was a sign.”

“A sign?” Talltail was confused.

“As I held it up and looked at it, the wind whisked it from my paw and carried it over the moor like a puff of smoke. It just vanished.”

Talltail frowned. “What are you trying to say? That I’m about to vanish?” Anxiety began to worm in his belly.

Barkface was quivering. “I just know it means something. It felt important, like StarClan had sent it. And after what you said about your destiny leading you outside the Clan, well, maybe you were right. Maybe this was StarClan’s way of saying they agree.”

“You think StarClan wants me to leave?” Talltail felt cold. Was that why they hadn’t shared dreams with him at the Moonstone? “Do you think I should?” His throat tightened.

“No!” Barkface scrambled down the bank and stopped a whisker from Talltail’s muzzle. “Of course you don’t have to. But if you truly believe that your destiny lies beyond our borders, I think StarClan wants you to follow it.”

Talltail saw his friend’s eyes glow with conviction. He just wants me to be happy. Slowly he nodded. “Thanks for telling me, Barkface.” He climbed up the bank and padded over the grass. “I’ll have to think about it.”

“Do what you feel is right, Talltail,” Barkface called after him.

Talltail lifted his muzzle and gazed toward the moor-top. He could picture the valley beyond as easily as if it were the WindClan camp. He’d memorized the fields, the roll of the hills, the tracks left by rivers and Thunderpaths on the countless patrols he’d spent on Outlook Rock. He could picture it just as Sandgorse could picture the tunnels running below the moor.

His paws itched with sudden excitement. He belonged out there, and StarClan agreed. His destiny was to leave his territory and track down the cat who’d killed his father. He saw it clearly now. His Clanmates didn’t think Sparrow had done anything wrong, but StarClan understood. They were telling him to avenge Sandgorse’s death.

Energy surged beneath his pelt.

I have to leave the moor! My destiny lies beyond the Clans!

Chapter 26

Talltail hurried back to the camp. He had to tell Heatherstar. He should leave as soon as he could. That’s why the weather had been so cold and dry. StarClan must be preserving Sparrow’s scent trail for me to follow!

“Talltail! Talltail!”

As he crossed the tussocks, Rabbitkit, Flykit, Wrenkit, and Bristlekit came tearing toward him. He hopped clear as they swarmed around his legs. “I can’t play now,” he told them briskly. “I have to speak with Heatherstar.”

Bristlekit stared at him with round eyes. “But you just spoke with her!”

Wrenkit glanced over her shoulder. “She’s busy.” The WindClan leader was with Reedfeather in the Meeting Hollow. The two cats sat, heads close, deep in conversation.

“She won’t be too busy for this.” Talltail tried to move forward, but Rabbitkit clung to his leg. “Give us a badger ride!” she squeaked. “Cloudrunner says we’re too big now.”

Talltail felt a pang as he met the young cat’s gaze. He would miss his half sister growing up. He’d never even know her warrior name. “Okay,” he conceded, and crouched down. Before he had time to protest, all four kits had scrambled onto his back. They clung to his fur with thorn-sharp claws.

Lilywhisker purred outside the elders’ den. “Come and see this, Flailfoot. Talltail’s bringing us some prey.”

“No, he’s not!” Flykit wriggled on Talltail’s back.

Talltail’s whiskers twitched. “Yes, I am. I’m going to feed you to Lilywhisker and Flailfoot. Elders love the taste of fresh kit.”

“No! No!” Flykit squealed in horror. “I want to get down.”

Stomping his paws like a badger, Talltail carried the kits toward the elders.

Lilywhisker licked her lips. “You’re just in time, Talltail. I’m getting hungry.”