Tallstar’s Revenge

“If a ThunderClan patrol finds us, they’ll shred us.” Talltail nudged Jake’s soft pelt. “They don’t like kittypets, and they definitely don’t like WindClan. Let’s go back over the fence. We’ll be safer in kittypet territory.”

Jake looked disappointed. “But I thought we could escape into the woods.”

Talltail shook his head. “You said you’d show me to the other side of Twolegplace, remember? This just takes me back to the Clans.” He trotted along the edge of the trees for a few tail-lengths until he was sure he was clear of Jake’s nest, then sprang up onto the fence. Jake followed.

“Hello.” A soft mew made Talltail stiffen. A young, gray she-cat was staring up from the grassy square below.

“We’re not here to cause trouble,” he told her quickly.

Jake jumped up beside him. “Hello, Quince.” There was a purr in his mew.

“Hello, Jake.” Quince returned the purr. “Who’s this?” She turned her round, amber eyes on Talltail.

Jake hesitated. “This is Talltail,” he meowed.

“Talltail?” Quince leaped onto the fence beside them and sniffed Talltail’s pelt. “That sounds like a wildcat name.” She wrinkled her nose. “Ew! He smells of the cutter.”

“He accidently ate a pois—”

Talltail interrupted. He didn’t want every kittypet knowing he was a rabbit-brain. “I’m a WindClan warrior, actually.” He puffed out his chest.

“Really?” Quince eyed him suspiciously. “Why are you hanging around Jake’s home and visiting the cutter? I thought warriors were—”

“He’s on a mission.” It was Jake’s turn to butt in. “I’m helping him. We’re going to find the cat who killed his father.”

Quince’s eyes stretched wide. “Wow.”

Talltail weaved past her and headed along the fence. “Hadn’t we better be going?” He didn’t want Jake inviting another kittypet along. Besides, he could hear Jake’s Twoleg hooting over the fences.

Jake nodded. “Okay.” He nodded to Quince. “See you around.”

She watched Jake slide past. “You are coming back, aren’t you?”

“Of course he is.” Talltail hopped over the wooden stalk at the end and headed along the next fence.

“There’s an alleyway at the end of this row,” Jake called from behind.

“Great.” Talltail had no idea what an alleyway was but Jake seemed to think it was good. He glanced into the forest, wondering if a ThunderClan patrol was watching. Would they be gossiping to WindClan about him at the next Gathering? It would be full moon soon. Would Heatherstar tell the other Clans that he’d left?

“There it is!” Jake squeezed past him as they reached the last enclosed section of grass and jumped down from the fence into a passageway lined with red stone.

Talltail landed beside him. “Do you know where we are?”

“Yes.” Jake quickened his pace, following a thin stream of water that ran along the crack in the middle of the path. He hopped back and forth over it, avoiding piles of clear, sharp stones. “Don’t tread on the broken glass,” he warned, stopping to point his nose toward shards of shiny, green ice. “If it sticks in your paw, you’ll cut your tongue trying to lick it out, and the wound can turn bad easily.”

Talltail nodded. He’d never seen glass before, but he’d take care to avoid it.

“This way.” Jake veered toward a low wall as the sides of the alley ended. He jumped onto it and down the other side. Talltail followed, his paws stinging from the hard ground. The tall dens opened out onto a wide stretch of stone. Talltail’s heart quickened as a monster rumbled past. A Thunderpath!

“Stay close to me,” Jake called over his shoulder. He followed a wide, flat trail that cut between the Thunderpath and a row of Twoleg dens fronted with large windows. Monsters growled slowly beside them, their eyes beginning to light up as the sun slid behind the dens. Thin, silver trunks lining the Thunderpath flickered and blazed at their tips, throwing pools of light onto the stone below.

Talltail blinked up at them. “What are they?”

“Thunderpath lights.” Jake didn’t slow down, and Talltail quickened his pace. The noise and light and unfamiliar scents alarmed him, making his fur stand up and his ears swivel toward every new sound. Jake seemed unworried, his pelt smooth, his mouth open as though following a scent trail. Talltail could only smell monster fumes and carrion heaps.

“Wait.” Jake stopped suddenly and pressed Talltail back with a nudge. He’d stopped beside a gap between two dens. Black sticks crisscrossed it. “Don’t move. You’re safe.” A moment later barking exploded from the gap and a snarling muzzle poked between the black sticks. Dog! Talltail unsheathed his claws. Teeth glinted in the dazzling Thunderpath lights. A Twoleg growl sounded from farther down the gap, and the dog turned and ran into the shadows.

“We can pass now.” Jake strolled past the gap.

Talltail hurried after him, his pelt spiking. “How did you know that dog would be there?” he gasped.

“It does that every time I come this way.” Jake trotted past more windowed dens before veering away from the Thunderpath. Dusk was falling as they reached yet another row of dens, backed by tiny fenced-in meadows.