Yellowfang’s Secret

“You know,” Rowanberry muttered, “Russetpaw and Boulder are much better at this than I expected. Maybe they didn’t lead such soft lives after all!”

Soft lives! Yellowfang opened her jaws to tell her sister just how big and scary some of the cats in Twolegplace were, then realized that she couldn’t say anything without giving herself away. “They’ll be good fighters when they’re trained,” she agreed.

Enjoying the respite, she watched as Brackenfoot took Foxpaw and Wolfpaw through the same battle moves, and then let them practice with Boulder and Russetpaw. She couldn’t help a purr of satisfaction when Russetpaw landed on top of Foxpaw, squashing all the breath out of her.

“Who can’t balance now?” she whispered to Rowanberry.

While Foxpaw shook moss off her pelt, Brackenfoot called Rowanberry into the center of the clearing. Then he paused and glanced up at the sun. “It’s past sunhigh,” he meowed. “You must be starving. Let’s go back to camp for a piece of fresh-kill; then we’ll come back and finish the session.”

He headed through the trees toward the camp. The brambles were in sight when Yellowfang spotted Raggedpelt slinking away. He shot a glance at the returning cats, then veered off in the opposite direction.

Watching his hasty retreat, Yellowfang felt a stab of sympathy. Maybe I should tell him that the rogues aren’t going to say anything about our visit to Twolegplace.

“Brackenfoot, I need to talk to Raggedpelt,” she told her father, angling her ears toward the spot where the tabby tom had disappeared among the ferns.

Brackenfoot hesitated, as if he was going to insist that she come into the camp to eat and then return to the training session.

I’ve done my bit, Yellowfang thought indignantly. And I’m a warrior now. I can make up my own mind when I train. “It’s important,” she insisted.

Brackenfoot nodded. “Okay, Yellowfang. See you later.”

With a nod to her Clanmates, Yellowfang bounded into the pinewoods after Raggedpelt. Everything was quiet. Yellowfang could hear her own breathing above the soft pad of her paws on the pine needles. Sunlight slanted through the trees, casting bars of light and shadow on the ground. Affection for her territory rushed over Yellowfang. This is the best place in the forest! In the whole world!

A terrible snarling sound from somewhere up ahead jolted Yellowfang back to reality. For a heartbeat horror froze her limbs.

That sounds like the badger!

Yellowfang raced through the trees, and found herself heading into a stretch of territory where the trunks grew more thickly, with brambles underneath to tear at her pelt and tangled undergrowth to block her path. Rounding a hazel thicket, she halted with a yelp of shock. She was standing on a small hillock, looking down into a circle of thorns where Raggedpelt was crouching. The only gap, the only way of escape, was blocked by a huge, ragged-furred badger. It had its back to Yellowfang, but she could hear its fierce snarling and its stink washed over her, making her eyes water.

Raggedpelt was lashing out bravely at the badger’s head and shoulders, but the creature’s thick fur softened his blows. He was backed against a tangle of brambles, unable to use his greater agility to dodge the badger’s attack. A storm of pain assailed Yellowfang as the beast struck at Raggedpelt again and again with heavy, blunt claws. Its yellow teeth snapped perilously close to his neck.

Trying to ignore the stinging all over her pelt, Yellowfang bunched her muscles to leap down and join the fight. Then she noticed two tiny snouts poking out from the midst of the brambles behind Raggedpelt.

Oh, no! Raggedpelt is between the mother and her den!

Yellowfang leaped into the fray, but in the same heartbeat more terrible pain seized her, as if the badger’s claws were raking across her body. She landed badly, falling onto one side, then forced herself to struggle to her paws.

You’re not hurt, she told herself. This is Raggedpelt’s pain you’re feeling. If you don’t help him, he’ll be wounded even more.

Gritting her teeth, Yellowfang flung herself onto the badger’s back. The fierce creature reared its head, snapping and snarling, but its jaws couldn’t reach her. Yellowfang clung on, forcing her claws into the soft fur behind the badger’s ears. She could hear the cubs squealing, and felt a momentary stab of pity. This mother badger is only trying to protect her cubs. Then she forced the pity down. She’s hurting my Clanmate!

“I’ll draw it away!” she gasped to Raggedpelt. “Then run!”