Tigerheart’s Shadow

Tigerheart’s chest swelled as she lifted her tail high and began to follow Dash along the Silverpath. Pouncekit and Shadowkit clustered beside her, pelts fluffed out against the icy draft. He fell in beside Dovewing, staying close at their heels. Spire, Blaze, Cinnamon, and Ant followed.

Before long, the dazzling lights of the station had disappeared behind them. Darkness stretched ahead. Dim, round lights flickered from the roof every now and then. Twolegs must have fixed them there to guide the Thundersnake to its den.

“We begin in darkness and end in darkness.” Spire’s mew took Tigerheart by surprise. He glanced back at the tom, wondering what had made him speak now. In the dull glow of a Twoleg light, he could see that Spire’s eyes had a faraway look.

Blaze caught Tigerheart’s eye. “Don’t disturb him,” he whispered. “He’s dreaming.”

Tigerheart’s pelt prickled uneasily. End in darkness. This journey was already daunting. Spire’s grim words didn’t help. He whisked his tail enthusiastically. “We’ll be out of the city soon. Pouncekit, have I told you about rabbits?”

Pouncekit glanced back at him. “Are they like weasels?”

Dovewing purred. “Weasels are like stoats. Rabbits are like hares.”

Lightkit’s ears twitched. “It’s so confusing. How will we ever learn it all?”

“Don’t worry. It’ll be easier than you think.” Tigerheart’s spirits lifted as he imagined showing the pine forest to his kits.

Shadowkit gasped, stopping in his tracks. His pelt bristled. “What are they?”

Tigerheart followed his gaze. Rats were darting across the Silverpath ahead. In the dim light, they looked slippery and fast. “That’s prey,” he meowed breezily. He didn’t want to betray the fear in his belly. Some of the rats looked as big as the kits. What if there were more? A swarm could overrun them, and a bite from their sour teeth could be deadly. “We can catch some if we get hungry. For now, stay close to us. We don’t want rat stench on our fur.”

Dovewing glanced at him. Fear tinged her gaze. He pressed closer against her, hoping his warmth would reassure her.

Pouncekit halted suddenly. “I can’t walk any farther. My paws are too sore.” She lifted one of her forepaws and lapped her pad gingerly.

“The stones are rather sharp,” Dovewing sympathized. “But we have to keep going. There’ll be grass once we get to the end. And your pads will toughen up as we travel.”

Ant mewed from behind. “I could give her a—what do you call it?—a badger ride?”

Pouncekit turned around eagerly. “Can I?” she looked hopefully at Dovewing.

Tigerheart answered. “A warrior walks.”

Dovewing blinked at Tigerheart. “She’s not a warrior yet. And the stones are sharp.”

“This will be a long journey.” Tigerheart pressed back guilt. This wasn’t a time for softness. He had to be strong. They all had to be strong. “The kits need to learn how to be tough if we’re going to reach the lake.”

Pouncekit sniffed. “Okay. I can be tough.”

Lightkit nudged her sister. “Try to imagine what the grass will feel like when we get to the end. It will take your mind off the soreness.”

Shadowkit flicked his tail. “Will the grass outside the city be like the grass near the gathering place?”

“Grass is the same everywhere—” Tigerheart stopped. The breeze had stiffened. He heard a familiar hum from the track. His heart lurched. A Thundersnake was coming.

Dash must have heard it too. He stopped and turned to face the group. “We have to crouch down at the edge of the tunnel,” he warned.

Tigerheart could see the bright eye of a Thundersnake in the distance.

Shadowkit blinked at it. “Is that the end of the tunnel?” he mewed hopefully.

“No.” Tigerheart guided him toward the wall. “A Thundersnake is coming. We have to duck.”

“Will it squash us?” Pouncekit’s mew was shrill with fear.

“No.” Dash sounded calm. “There’s plenty of space. But it will be loud and windy.”