Tallstar’s Revenge

Talltail blinked. Jake understood! “I have to catch up with Sparrow before he travels too far for me to find. I’m already at least two moons behind him.”

“Which means you really need to get out of here.”

“Yes!” Talltail pushed helplessly at the silver mesh.

Jake thought for a moment. “I can tell you how to escape, but on one condition.”

Talltail narrowed his eyes. “What?”

“You let me come with you.”

“I thought you liked being a kittypet!” Talltail glanced down at the soft, red nest. “There’s none of those out there.” He flicked his tail toward the window.

“I know that,” Jake told him. “I don’t want to join your Clan. But if you’re on a mission, I want to help.”

Talltail tipped his head on one side. “Why?”

“You need me.”

“No, I don’t!” Talltail bristled.

Jake leaned forward. “Who ate a poisoned rat and nearly died?” His eyes flashed. “It seems to me like you could do with some help.”

“But it’ll be dangerous,” Talltail meowed. “Why would you risk your life to help me?”

Jake puffed out his chest. “Just because I’m a kittypet doesn’t mean I don’t have dreams of something else.” His eyes gleamed. “I don’t want to spend my whole life in the wild, but I’d like to explore beyond the fences, see how other cats live. I know every paw step of the housefolk-place and I’d like to go farther.”

“Really?” Talltail’s ear twitched. Perhaps this kittypet could be useful. “Do you know how to get to the other side of the Twoleg dens?”

Jake eyed him suspiciously. “Can I go with you?”

“As far as the end of Twolegplace.”

“Okay.” Jake sat back. “It’s a deal.”

Talltail looked at him. “Now, how do I get out of here?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” Jake stood up, arching his back.

“It is?” Talltail growled.

Jake rolled his eyes. “Just be nice to my housefolk,” he mewed. “Act like you’re completely better, and well enough to be let out. Most of all, be friendly. You can get anything out of most housefolk by being friendly.”

“Friendly?” Talltail narrowed his eyes. “How? You mean all that purring and winding around its legs?”

“Exactly.”

Talltail shuddered. “What if it tries to stroke me?” He imagined the Twoleg’s pink paw sliding along his pelt and shuddered.

“Just purr. You might even enjoy it.”

Talltail stiffened. If this was the only chance of getting out of here, he’d have to try. He watched the Twoleg flap, ears twitching uneasily. When it finally opened, his heart lurched. The Twoleg clattered in and shut the flap, then headed for the vet-basket. Talltail forced himself not to cower at the back when the Twoleg swung back the mesh. Instead he stepped out, purring.

The Twoleg’s eyes lit up with surprise. It rumbled something, moving back as Talltail jumped to the floor. It stared down in amazement as Talltail weaved around its legs.

Talltail tried to pretend that the Twoleg was a tree. I’m just leaving my scent. “That’s right,” Jake urged. “Don’t forget to keep purring.”

Talltail realized he’d been concentrating so hard on winding around the Twoleg, he’d forgotten to purr. Did kittypets actually enjoy this or was it the only way to get what they wanted? He forced himself to purr loudly, his throat catching with the effort. The Twoleg rumbled and stepped carefully over Talltail before pouring food into Jake’s hollow stone.

“Eat it,” Jake ordered. “He’ll know you’re feeling better if you eat.”

Talltail hurried to the stone and started gulping down food. He ate till his belly was bursting, then forced himself to look up at the Twoleg. He used kit eyes, pretending he was Wrenkit begging for a badger ride. “Please can I go outside?” he mewed in his most plaintive voice.

The Twoleg’s face softened and it reached down with a paw. Talltail froze, forcing his claws to stay sheathed as the Twoleg ran its paw along his back. First kittypet smell, now Twoleg stench. Talltail gave his loudest purr, then padded toward Jake’s flap and gazed longingly up at the Twoleg. “Please?”

The Twoleg mewed back.

Jake snorted. “I told you it tries to speak our language.”

“Actually, I think it just called me a furball.” A real purr rumbled in Talltail’s throat.

The Twoleg bent down and touched the flap.

“Yes, please!” Talltail felt excitement welling as the Twoleg pulled at the side of the flap.

Jake padded closer. “Get ready.”

Talltail saw the flap spring free, and in a flash he burst through and hared across the grass. He heard the Twoleg hooting behind, and the flap rattle. He glanced over his shoulder. Jake was racing after him. Talltail leaped onto the fence at the end of the grass.

Jake clattered onto the top beside him. “Follow me!” He plunged down into the long grass beyond.

Talltail dropped down after him, his pelt bushing up as ThunderClan scent filled his nose. “We can’t go this way!”

Jake turned. “Why not?”