Tigerheart’s Shadow

Tigerheart pressed himself against the earth, trying not to tremble as the Thundersnake’s long tail slowed a short distance in front of him. Finally its flanks drew level with the stone ledge, and the creature rumbled to a halt. The waiting Twolegs didn’t flinch as it growled to itself beside the ledge. How could they be so calm? Twolegs were even stranger than he thought. When gaps opened in the side, the Twolegs on the ledge shifted away as other Twolegs streamed out, then began to push past them and climb into the belly of the snake. Tigerheart’s pelt bristled with fear. Why were they so trusting? Did they really believe the Thundersnake would let them out of its belly when they reached the Twolegplace? What if it was hungry?

“Quick!” Ajax hissed in Tigerheart’s ear. “If you run, you can get inside.”

Tigerheart stared at him in horror.

“Go on!” Ajax nudged him toward the ledge. “You have to get in before it closes back up. Then the Thundersnake will take you to the Twolegplace.”

“I’m not getting into the belly of a Thundersnake!” Tigerheart blinked at him.

“Twolegs do it all the time,” Ajax argued.

“But Twolegs are crazy,” Tigerheart pointed out.

“He’s right,” Fuzzball agreed.

“I’ve been inside a Thundersnake,” Ajax reminded them.

“And it let you out?”

“Of course.”

“What was it like inside?” Tigerheart couldn’t imagine it had been safe.

Ajax looked thoughtful for a moment. “It was loud and smelly and full of Twolegs. And my Twoleg carried me in a cage.” He shifted his paws. “Okay. It wasn’t the best day of my life, but I survived, and how else are you going to get to the Twolegplace?”

“I’ll walk.”

“It’ll take forever.” Ajax stared at him. The Thundersnake suddenly hooted and began to shudder. “Hurry!” He flicked his tail. “It’s about to leave.”

“Good.” Tigerheart glanced toward the Thundersnake, relieved as the gaps closed. He let his fur smooth as the great creature began to pull away from the ledge.

“You can’t walk all the way to where you’re going,” Ajax argued. “It’s too far.”

“I can walk anywhere,” he told Ajax. “My Clan once walked over a mountain range to find a new home.”

Ajax shrugged. “I don’t know who your Clan is, but they sound as crazy as Twolegs.”

“They sound awesome.” Fuzzball was staring at him, wide-eyed. “Are they your family?”

“Some of them.” A pang of loss jabbed Tigerheart’s belly as he thought of Rowanstar and Tawnypelt. He might never see them again. He changed the subject. “I’ll follow the Silverpath. It will take longer, but I trust my own paws more than I trust a Thundersnake.”

Ajax shrugged. “If that’s what you want.” The black-and-white tom looked at the sky. The sun was sliding toward the hilltop behind them. “When will you leave?”

“You can stay with my Twolegs tonight,” Fuzzball offered. “They feed strays.” His tail twitched. “I’m always having to share my food.”

“Warriors can feed themselves.” Tigerheart meowed pointedly. He scanned the scrubland. The low-growing shrubs were bathed in golden light. Prey would be moving between them. He blinked at the two kittypets. He was grateful for their help, even if they did keep calling him a stray. “Thanks for the offer, Fuzzball, but I want to leave soon. I’ll eat here first, though.”

“How?” Fuzzball blinked at him. “There aren’t any food dishes here.”

“Who needs food dishes?” Tigerheart whisked his tail. “Let’s hunt.”

“Catch our own food?” Ajax looked unconvinced.

Fuzzball paced excitedly. “Hunt? I’d love to. I’ve chased the birds in my garden and tracked a mouse once, but I’ve never caught anything.”

“You will today.” Tigerheart dipped his head to the young tom.

“I guess it sounds interesting.” Ajax wandered over the Silverpath, his fur gleaming in the afternoon sun, and headed onto the scrub. “I’d like to stretch my legs before I go home.”

Tigerheart leaped over the Silverpath, careful not to touch it. It gleamed suspiciously, and stank of Thundersnake scent. Fuzzball followed him. On the other side, Tigerheart tasted the air. As the Thundersnake stench settled, he smelled the aroma of leaves and, breathing deeper, could just taste the musky scent of prey. He licked his lips. “Let’s go this way.” Keeping low, he pushed between two spiky bushes and followed a scuffed trail through the scrub. His nose twitched excitedly as the scent of prey grew stronger. He saw peck marks around the stems of the bushes and could smell that they were fresh. It must be a bird, a large one by the look of it.

Fuzzball and Ajax set the bushes rustling behind him as they followed.

“Are we tracking something?” Fuzzball asked loudly.

“Hush!” Tigerheart glared at the kittypet over his shoulder. If he carried on yowling like that, he’d scare their prey away.

Fuzzball looked apologetic and followed quietly for a few moments before yowling again. “I can smell something nice. Is that what we’re hunting?”

Ahead, a fat grouse fluttered noisily into the air, its beating wings sending dust swirling over the scrub.