Tigerheart’s Shadow

“Just as far as the stone slabs,” Tigerheart encouraged. “Fresh air will do them good. And there won’t be any Twolegs around. It’s not a yowling day.”

“What about the Twolegs Rascal smelled?”

“They must be gone. He didn’t see them. He only caught their scent.” Tigerheart felt a prick of guilt. Would Dovewing guess that he was eager to get the kits outside because he wanted them to taste the wind and feel soft grass beneath their paws? He wanted to know if the leaf-bare wind would pierce their kit fluff too easily. Would the cold earth freeze their pads? Were they ready to make the journey home?

She looked at him uncertainly, and then at the kits.

Pouncekit was already racing across the shiny floor. “Did Tigerheart say we could go out?”

Lightkit charged after her sister. “I want to go first.”

“Won’t it be cold outside?” Shadowkit trailed them doubtfully.

“That’s what you’ve got fur for, silly!” Pouncekit called over her shoulder.

Dovewing’s tail drooped. “I guess we can take them out,” she conceded. “But only for a while.”

Lightkit tried to haul herself up the leg of the wooden ledge. Dovewing scooped her up and carried her up to the entrance. “Don’t go outside until I’ve got Shadowkit and Pouncekit,” she warned. As she jumped down to fetch them, Tigerheart noticed Spire. The healer had wandered into a pool of sunshine at the far end of the den and was staring at the air, his eyes glazed. Was he having a vision?

“I’ll join you in a moment,” Tigerheart called to Dovewing as she dropped Shadowkit beside his littermates.

“Don’t be long,” Dovewing answered, nosing them through the gap in the wall.

Tigerheart padded toward the skinny black tom. Spire didn’t shift his gaze from the shaft of light that seemed to have hypnotized him. Tigerheart wondered whether to disturb him, but as he neared, Spire spoke, his gaze still distant.

“Take care of Blaze.”

For a moment, Tigerheart wondered who the healer was talking to, but there was no cat left in the den aside from Feather and Scowl, and they were hidden among the furless pelts of their nests. Was he talking to an imaginary cat?

“I will not live beside the widewater. But Blaze will.”

Widewater? Instantly Tigerheart thought of the lake. Was he talking about their journey there? “Are you saying Blaze will travel home with us?”

Spire’s yellow gaze flashed toward him, focusing suddenly. “Of course.”

He’s talking to me. Tigerheart leaned closer. “So widewater means the lake?”

“That’s where the Clans live, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” Surprise set Tigerheart’s fur prickling. “How do you know?” Had Dovewing mentioned the lake?

“I told you.” Spire shook out his pelt. “I see things.”

“Do you see our journey? Do we make it home safely?”

Spire looked away. “Go teach battle moves, like you promised.”

Unease wormed in Tigerheart’s belly. The healer was avoiding his question. “Do you know if we get home safely?” he pressed.

Spire padded past him, heading for the sick cats’ nests. “I don’t see everything,” he meowed briskly.

Tigerheart hurried from the den, suddenly anxious to see Dovewing and their kits. Did the black tom know something? Something he didn’t dare tell?

Pouncekit, Lightkit, and Shadowkit were bouncing over the grass beside a stone slab. Dovewing watched them protectively, her gaze flitting beyond them, as though checking for danger. She caught sight of him and blinked at him, purring. “They like the grass.”

“It’s so soft,” Lightkit squeaked.

“And tickly.” Pouncekit rolled over in it, mewling with delight.

Shadowkit stayed in the shelter of the slab and watched anxiously.

“I want to explore,” Pouncekit mewed.

“I want to play.” Lightkit called to Tigerheart. “Are you going to play with us?”

Tigerheart looked to where the guardian cats were already practicing the battle moves he’d taught them to fight foxes. “I have to go and help Fierce,” he told Lightkit. “We can play another time.”

Lightkit wasn’t listening. She was following Pouncekit as the gray kit sniffed her way to the next stone slab like a fox following scent.

Tigerheart purred. It was good to see the kits with grass beneath their paws and sky overhead. For the first time, he could imagine them as warriors. He turned toward the guardian cats. Cobweb and Ant were stalking around Rascal. Rascal eyed them sharply. As Cobweb dived for Rascal’s forepaw and Ant lunged for his tail, Rascal ducked and rolled. Cobweb and Ant landed clumsily as Rascal tumbled out of reach.

“Nice move, Rascal!” Tigerheart was pleased the guardian cats had remembered the skills he’d taught them.

Blaze bounded toward him. “I want to learn a new move!” he mewed. “I already know all the old ones.”

“You do, do you?” Tigerheart purred at him proudly. “Show me one.”