The Forgotten Warrior

APPRENTICE, WILLOWSHINE (gray tabby she-cat)

WARRIORS

GRAYMIST—pale gray tabby she-cat

APPRENTICE, TROUTPAW (pale gray tabby she-cat)

MINTFUR—light gray tabby tom

ICEWING—white she-cat with blue eyes

MINNOWTAIL—dark gray she-cat

APPRENTICE, MOSSYPAW (brown-and-white she-cat)

PEBBLEFOOT—mottled gray tom

APPRENTICE, RUSHPAW (light brown tabby tom)

MALLOWNOSE—light brown tabby tom

ROBINWING—tortoiseshell-and-white tom

BEETLEWHISKER—brown-and-white tabby tom

PETALFUR—gray-and-white she-cat

GRASSPELT—light brown tom

QUEENS

DUSKFUR—brown tabby she-cat

MOSSPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes

ELDERS

DAPPLENOSE—mottled gray she-cat

POUNCETAIL—ginger-and-white tom

CATS OUTSIDE THE CLANS

SMOKY—muscular gray-and-white tom who lives in a barn at the horseplace

FLOSS—small gray-and-white she-cat who lives at the horseplace

OTHER ANIMALS

MIDNIGHT—a star-gazing badger who lives by the sea

Maps

Prologue

Brambles rustled at the edge of a wood as a cat emerged into the open. Watchful eyes flicked to each side; then the cat strode out across a wide stretch of meadow grass, heading toward another belt of trees in the distance. Bright newleaf sun shone down on a landscape patched with fields and hedges. Twoleg dens clustered together beside a Thunderpath.

Even so early in the season, the sun was hot, and the cat’s ears flicked in irritation as flies buzzed around them. It will be cooler under the trees, the traveler thought, pausing for a moment to flex tired paws. And there’s not much farther to go. Just beyond that range of hills…

But before the cat reached the inviting shade of the wood, a loud hiss sounded and a second cat leaped out from under a nearby hedge: a tough, lean tom with a gray pelt and one bitten ear.

“What are you doing here?” the tom demanded. “If you’re looking for somewhere to rest, keep looking. This is my place. And the prey around here is mine.”

The traveling cat halted and looked the tom up and down with narrowed eyes. “Your place? You mean, you live in this hedge?”

“No, I’m from the farm over there.” The tom waved his tail in the direction of a large Twoleg den just visible above the thorns. “And I don’t like strangers. Keep going, or I’ll make you.” He bared his teeth and slid out his claws, his mangy cloud-colored fur fluffing up in anger.

The traveler rocked back on its haunches. It’s been a while since I used my fighting skills… but I’m not going to let this mange-pelt scare me. “I’m just passing through. I’m no threat to your precious prey.”

The farm cat let out a disbelieving snort and tilted his head to one side. “Are you one of those cats from the lake?”

The journeying cat’s tone was wary. “Why do you ask?”

“Because I’ve seen them coming this way before,” the gray tom replied. “Oh, they haven’t seen me, I’ve made sure of that. But I’ve heard them talking about the mountains.” He rolled his eyes. “Who’d want to go all that way? Can’t they find enough food where they live?”

“Maybe they’re not looking for food.” The first cat’s voice was tinged with scorn. “There are other things in life, you know.”

The farm cat sat down and scratched his ear with one hindpaw. “Like what?” he mewed contemptuously. “Gazing at the stars and imagining your ancestors are looking back at you?” At the traveler’s start of surprise, he added, “I’ve listened to plenty of tales about what happens on the other side of those hills. As long as they don’t trouble me, I don’t care what those cats get up to. They can—”

“Right,” the traveler interrupted, pushing past the farm cat and padding on. “As long as they don’t steal your prey.”

The gray tom sprang to his paws and followed. “You’re one of them, aren’t you?” he asked as he caught up. “I think I’ve seen you before.”

“Maybe.” The journeying cat’s whiskers twitched. “A long time ago.”

“Where have you been?” The farm cat’s voice was curious. “Did you get lost?”

“Oh, no.” The stranger sounded faintly amused. “I always knew where I was.”

The farm cat fell back, watching the stranger pad toward the trees. Then he shook his head and bounded back to the farm, vanishing under the hedge with a whisk of his tail.