Tallstar’s Revenge

Pale dawn light filtered through the clear squares high up in the wall. Talltail lifted his head, blinking at the shiny, white room. He stretched, carefully testing his belly. It felt much better today, less crushed and tender. Talltail climbed quietly out of the nest, leaving Jake snoring in a huddle. There were fresh food pebbles in Jake’s stone. Talltail’s belly growled, but he wanted to see outside before he ate. He jumped onto the ledge, then hopped onto an even higher ledge beside a clear piece of wall. Talltail touched his nose to it. It was cold. It must be ice. Talltail wondered why it didn’t melt when he breathed on it. He pushed at it with his forepaws, hoping it would crack, but it was too hard. Outside he could see frosty grass and whitened shrubs. They ran down to a smooth, wooden fence; trees crowded on the far side, sunlight flashing between their branches.

Talltail’s heart ached. He should be out there, not trapped in this Twoleg den. He dropped back onto all fours and leaned his forehead on the transparent square.

“The window doesn’t open,” Jake mewed from below. He was sitting up in the nest, his pelt still ruffled from sleep.

Window. Talltail looked back at the sheet of ice. Kittypets had funny names for things.

Jake leaped up beside him. He nodded toward the fence at the end. “That’s where I keep watch for Clan cats.”

Talltail pressed his muzzle against the glass. The forest seemed so close. “Is that ThunderClan territory?” he mewed.

“Yes.” Jake blinked at him. “Didn’t you know?”

Talltail shook out his pelt. “How would I?” he muttered. “I can’t smell any scents while I’m stuck in here.”

“My housefolk will let you out soon.”

Talltail growled. “How soon?”

“Who knows?” Jake shrugged. “When he thinks you’re well enough, I suppose.”

As he spoke the big flap in the wall opened and the Twoleg came in. It started rumbling at them, its eyes shining. It was holding something flat and floppy, like a blue pelt. Its gaze was fixed on Talltail.

“What does it want now?” Talltail whispered to Jake. The Twoleg was heading toward him. Alarmed, he hopped off the window ledge and backed into a corner. He ducked as the Twoleg flapped the blue pelt toward him. He tried to escape but strong paws gripped him through the pelt and wrapped him up like a spider wrapping a fly.

“Help!” Talltail thrashed, fear flaring though him. Still smothered in the blue pelt, he was bundled into the vet-basket. The mesh slammed shut behind him and the Twoleg peered through, rumbling.

“I hate you!” Talltail hissed through the mesh.

The Twoleg leaned down toward Jake’s flap. He flicked a little stick at one side and turned to Jake, making mewling noises. Jake seemed to understand, and jumped down from the window ledge and hopped through the flap. Talltail flung himself against the mesh, yowling. Rage surged beneath his pelt as he scrabbled at the hard, silver vines, trying to bend them far enough to slide his paw out. The Twoleg turned and mewled at him.

Talltail hissed back. “I’ll shred you!”

The Twoleg purred gently, then disappeared through its own flap. Breath coming in gasps, Talltail worked at the mesh. Surely it would give way eventually? His paws began to ache and his pelt grew hot. The silver vines didn’t even bend. At last, when his claws were bleeding and his pads felt as if they were on fire, Talltail flopped down onto the blue pelt and shoved his nose against the mesh. He stared at the flap in the wall until Jake returned.

“Talltail?” Jake sprang up onto the ledge, smelling of wind and earth.

Talltail didn’t move.

“Are you okay?” Jake’s gaze clouded with worry. “Are you feeling ill again?” He pressed anxiously against the mesh. “Should I fetch my housefolk?”

“No!” Talltail sat up and glared at him. “Just tell me how to get out of here!”

“Why do you want to leave so much?” Jake looked around the room. “It’s not bad here. There’s plenty of food, and it’s warm.”

“I’m not a kittypet,” Talltail growled.

“I didn’t say you were. But you might as well get better properly. You nearly died.”

Talltail flexed his claws. “I don’t have time to stay here any longer.”

“What’s the rush?”

“I’m on a mission, remember?”

Jake’s eyes widened. “Of course! What’s the mission?”

“I’m looking for someone.”

“Who?”

Talltail looked into Jake’s eager green eyes. How could he explain everything that had led him here?

“Is it really that important?” Jake prompted.

Talltail dug his claws into the blue pelt. “More important than you could imagine. I have to find a rogue,” he meowed. “He killed my father.”

Jake bristled. “Killed him?”

“My father, Sandgorse, was the best tunneler in WindClan. But Sparrow made Sandgorse take him into a tunnel that wasn’t safe and when it collapsed, he ran away.” Talltail’s breath quickened as the familiar dark fury rose in his belly. “He just left my father to die.”

“So you want revenge.”