Warriors: Dawn of the Clans #2: Thunder Rising (12 page)

Cloud Spots bowed his head, looking helpless. “The fire has left so little,” he mewed.

Making a huge effort to ward off despair, Gray Wing tried to encourage him. “Come on, let’s chew up the grasses and dribble the juice on Moon Shadow’s wound. It’s bound to do
something
, if only to stop the bleeding.”

“We can try,” Cloud Spots responded, though he didn’t sound hopeful.

The cats gathered around and began grinding the leaves and grasses with their teeth as best they could, placing the chewed-up lumps on Moon Shadow’s burnt patch. But within moments the lumps turned an angry red as Moon Shadow’s blood soaked into them.

“He’s bleeding too much,” Dappled Pelt muttered.

Suddenly, to Gray Wing’s surprise, Moon Shadow lurched to his paws, swaying. For a moment he stood shakily. “I
will
walk,” he hissed determinedly.

Gray Wing knew that the cats had no choice but to retreat with him. If they left Moon Shadow here alone he would certainly succumb to the flames and smoke.

A fresh wave of heat surged over Gray Wing’s body, making him shrink back. Looking up, his eyes stinging from the smoke, his breathing rough and irregular, he saw that the fire was creeping closer. While they had tried to save Moon Shadow, they had taken their eyes off the angry flames. Now the blaze was slowly stalking them.

The cats’ control was slipping away. Seeing the flames advance, they began retreating and scampering around in tight, chaotic circles as they tried to find a way of escape.

“We’ll never get out!” Jackdaw’s Cry wailed.

Gray Wing struggled with a mixture of fury and dread.
This is the worst disaster we’ve ever faced
, he thought as he scanned the fiery circle where they were trapped.
Somewhere in there Clear Sky could be dying—and there’s nothing I can do about it
.

C
HAPTER
11

We have to do something!

Thunder saw that Gray Wing’s head was drooping and his breathing was harsh, as if he had lost the will to fight. Desperately he looked around, to see that he and his denmates were trapped in a circle of fire. Flames had caught on the grass and were spreading fast.

“This way!” Thunder heard an unfamiliar voice coming from beyond the fiery barrier. He peered through the smoke, trying to work out who was calling to him, but he couldn’t see any cat. “You have to jump the flames!”

Thunder didn’t need telling twice. Not allowing himself to think, he broke into a run.

“Thunder! No!” Tall Shadow yowled after him.

Thunder ignored the command.
Some cat has to do this. It’s our only chance!

As he drew closer he could just make out, beyond the dancing flames, the glimmer of water.

A stream!
Thunder thought, relief surging over him. “Come on,” he called to the others. “There’s water here!”

Making a tremendous effort, he launched himself high into the air, feeling the heat on the tender skin of his belly as he soared over the flames. He landed in a soft roll on the other side and leaped to his paws.

A silvery, long-furred tom was looking down at him. Thunder had never seen this cat before in his life, but he couldn’t stop to talk to him. He spun around and called once more to the others. “Jump! Come on. You can do it!”

His heart was beating fast and he felt a strange exhilaration come over him, like the first time he’d made a kill. The silver tom padded across and touched noses with him.

“Who are you?” Thunder asked.

“My name is River Ripple. You did well, young one.”

Thunder could barely stay still long enough to enjoy the praise. He remembered Gray Wing telling him about meeting this cat beside the river, but until now he had forgotten. He padded up and down beside the flames, calling again to his denmates. “Tall Shadow! Gray Wing! Hurry! It’s safe here!”

Jackdaw’s Cry was the first to appear, clearing the flames in a strong leap and landing hard on the other side. “Made it!” he gasped.

Rainswept Flower followed, then Dappled Pelt and Cloud Spots. The black-and-white tom dabbed irritably at sparks on his long-furred body, and muttered, “Never again!”

Thunder realized that the fire was beginning to die down here, as the collapsed tree burned itself out.

Peering through the flames and smoke, Thunder spotted Gray Wing, Tall Shadow, and Moon Shadow hesitating on the other side. “Take a long run up,” he called out, “and then leap into the air as if you were catching a bird.”

“Moon Shadow can’t make it,” Tall Shadow snarled in reply.

Then what are they going to do
? Thunder asked himself anxiously.
They’re all trapped—they’ll die if they can’t get out
.

Jackdaw’s Cry padded up beside Thunder. “Gray Wing, you jump,” he meowed. “Then we’ll work out how to help Moon Shadow.”

The smoke from the forest was growing thicker and thicker, almost hiding the stranded cats. “Come on, Gray Wing!” Thunder yowled desperately. “You
have
to do it!” Even as he spoke he wondered whether Gray Wing could manage the leap. He seemed so shaken by the danger and Moon Shadow’s injuries.

As a breeze fluttered the flames, Thunder saw Gray Wing and Tall Shadow exchange a quick word. Then Gray Wing backed up. He raced toward the fire, but as he leaped a cloud of smoke billowed into the air and he disappeared from view.

“Gray Wing, where are you?” Thunder yowled.

A rolling ball of fur landed heavily at one side. Thunder and his denmates darted across to find Gray Wing, his eyes streaming as he lay curled up in the dirt. He was coughing so hard that he could scarcely breathe.

Thunder could see that Gray Wing’s hind paws were scorched, and the tip of his tail was on fire. Pouncing on the tail-tip as if he was catching a mouse, Thunder crushed out the flame, ignoring the pain in his paws.
All that matters is that Gray Wing is safe
.

“I’m fine,” Gray Wing choked out through his hacking coughs as the other cats closed around him. “We have to help Moon Shadow. He can’t move fast enough to dodge the flames. Tall Shadow ordered me across, but she won’t leave him.” Coughing overtook him again and he sounded angry as he continued, “What are we going to do? We can’t leave them there. They’ll burn to death.”

Thunder felt a cat prod him in the side, and turned to see Jackdaw’s Cry. “I’ve got an idea,” the black tom mewed. “But I need some help. Are you up for it?”

Thunder nodded tensely. “What do you want me to do?”

“Follow me.” Jackdaw’s Cry padded down to the stream and plunged in, crouching down to dunk all his body under the surface. He rose up again with water streaming off his pelt. His body looked skinny as the fur clung to his ribs. “Get yourself wet like this,” he told Thunder. “Then we’re going through the fire to fetch Moon Shadow.”

Hope flared into life inside Thunder.
Of course! If we’re completely wet, the flames won’t harm us
.

He jumped into the stream beside Jackdaw’s Cry, making sure his fur was thoroughly soaked. His whole body trembled from the cold shock, but he set his teeth, determined to do whatever he had to. Then he floundered out again and headed back to the line of fire.

Tall Shadow and Moon Shadow were still trapped on the other side. As Thunder had feared, the flames seemed to be closing in on them. He could hardly see the two cats anymore.

“Tall Shadow!” Jackdaw’s Cry called out. “Get your tail over here! We’re coming for Moon Shadow.”

“I’m not leaving him,” Tall Shadow snarled in reply.

“You have to!” Jackdaw’s Cry responded. “Thunder and I are coming through, and there isn’t room for four cats over there.”

Silence for a moment, except for the roar and crackle of the flames, and the sound of Gray Wing coughing.

“Do you promise?” Tall Shadow demanded at last. “You won’t let Moon Shadow die?”

“We promise!” Thunder called back. “We’ll do everything we can.”

There was another brief silence; then Thunder spotted a flash of movement beyond the blazing undergrowth. Tall Shadow appeared, skimming so closely over the top of the flames that Thunder caught his breath in horror, certain that her belly fur would catch fire. She landed hard and flopped onto one side, panting.

“Now get Moon Shadow out,” she gasped.

Thunder gulped.
We
have
to get this right! If we fail, Tall Shadow will never forgive us
.

For a heartbeat he gazed at the flames, feeling instinctively that it was wrong to run straight into them. He wasn’t sure that his paws would carry him forward.
Is this a crazy idea?
he wondered.
But there’s no other choice
.

“Thunder, no!” Rainswept Flower exclaimed. “You’re too young for this. I’ll go.”

“Come on!” Jackdaw’s Cry exclaimed at the same moment.

There was no time to respond to Rainswept Flower’s brave offer. Thunder stayed by Jackdaw’s Cry’s side as he pelted forward and plunged into the flames, squeezing his eyes tight shut. Heat flashed around him for a heartbeat; then he was through, almost stumbling over Moon Shadow, who was crouching on the last untouched piece of ground, whimpering as sparks showered down onto his fur.

Jackdaw’s Cry gave him a nudge. “On your paws,” he meowed. “You’re going to walk through the fire. Thunder and I will stay on either side of you, so the flames can’t get at you.”

Moon Shadow looked up at him, his eyes glazed with terror, reflecting the red of the fire. Thunder wasn’t sure if he understood what he had to do, but he struggled to his paws.

Together, with Moon Shadow between Jackdaw’s Cry and Thunder, the three cats faced the flames again. “Now!” Jackdaw’s Cry rasped.

He and Thunder sprang forward, half pushing, half carrying Moon Shadow. Thunder flinched as he felt the heat, but forced himself to keep moving. His pelt was drying now; he picked up the scent of scorched fur, and sharp pain shot through his pads.

Then, somehow, they were on the other side. Thunder and Jackdaw’s Cry let Moon Shadow sink to the ground; Cloud Spots and Dappled Pelt hurried up to examine him.

“Quick!” River Ripple meowed to Jackdaw’s Cry and Thunder. “Soak yourselves again—there are sparks in your fur!”

Jackdaw’s Cry launched himself into the stream; there was a hiss, and steam rose from his pelt. Thunder saw flames licking at his own fur and bounded over to join him, thankful this time for the icy shock.

“We did it!” he exclaimed, up to his belly in water.

Jackdaw’s Cry flicked his tail. “Are we amazing or what?” he asked.

Suddenly feeling exhausted, Thunder shivered as he crawled up the bank. His pelt was clinging to him, but he couldn’t feel any more pain. He padded over to Gray Wing, who was still curled up and struggling to breathe.

“Are you okay?” he asked anxiously. “There’s a burnt patch on your rear paw—”

“I’m fine,” Gray Wing interrupted, his voice a rough whisper. “I’m not badly hurt, and my fur will soon grow back. You don’t need to fuss.”

Thunder flinched at Gray Wing’s sharp tone.
Didn’t he see how brave I was?
Looking around he saw that the patch of forest where they were gathered wasn’t burning yet, but they needed to get farther away from the flames.

He realized that River Ripple was still watching, and turned to him. “Thank you for helping us,” he meowed. “Now, how do we get out of here?”

C
HAPTER
12

Gray Wing watched through a haze
of pain as Thunder and River Ripple talked together. His hind paws hurt more than any injury he had ever felt, and it took all his courage not to let the other cats see his pain or the trouble he had breathing.

What hurt even more was that Thunder—barely more than a kit—had taken the lead to save his denmates.
These cats wanted
me
to be their leader—and I couldn’t get them out of the fire. Instead I was the cat who led them into danger!
He knew too that if Thunder hadn’t spurred him on, he would never have found the courage to jump.
Thunder saved my life
.

Gray Wing remembered how Thunder had rebelled and said that he didn’t need Gray Wing to watch over him.
He’s certainly getting his wish now. . . .

At last Gray Wing could manage to breathe, though he still felt as if he had swallowed fire. He couldn’t understand how he could be in so much pain on the inside, where the flames had never touched him. Struggling to his paws, he opened his jaws to speak to the other cats, when River Ripple forestalled him.

“Not every cat would find it in him to jump over fire,” the silver-furred tom meowed. “Most of them would panic until it was too late.”

Gray Wing winced at River Ripple’s words: they came a bit too close to home for his liking.

“It’s good to see you again, Gray Wing,” River Ripple continued, as calm as he had been the day they had met by the river.

“My name is Tall Shadow.” The black she-cat shouldered her way to the front. “I’m the leader of these cats. Thank you for your help.”

She was trying to sound in control, but her voice was shaking and Gray Wing could tell that she was almost overcome by emotion.

“Can you really get us out of here?” she asked River Ripple.

“Certainly,” the silver tom assured her. “I can show you the way out of the fire and back to your hollow, but you have to trust me.”

He turned away and padded to the bank of the stream.

Tall Shadow stared after him. “Are you birdbrained?” she asked. “We’re not all going to be able to swim the stream. Cats don’t like water. Jackdaw’s Cry and Thunder only went in because they had no choice.”

Gray Wing winced at her sharp tone, when River Ripple was only trying to help. But he recognized how stressed she was, and besides, he had to admit she was right. Just here the stream was wide, swirling into pools; he couldn’t see how deep it was. He didn’t feel like plunging into it, injured as he was, and Moon Shadow was certainly too weak to manage it.

River Ripple didn’t respond to Tall Shadow. Instead he padded down the bank and out into the stream. The ripples swirled around him, barely covering his paws.

Gray Wing let out a gasp, and Thunder exclaimed, “You’re walking on the water!”

River Ripple turned back; in the light of the flames Gray Wing could see a gleam of amusement in his eyes. “No, I’m not,” he replied. “I’m walking on rocks and stones just below the surface. They’ll hold any cat’s weight.”

Gray Wing tried to clear his throat. “I’m sorry,” he croaked, “but I can’t go yet. I’m sorry I led the rest of you into danger, but the whole reason I came here was to look for Clear Sky—he’s my brother,” he added to River Ripple.

The silver tom gave him a long, hard stare. “You think that Clear Sky can’t look after himself and his cats?”

Gray Wing hesitated. “Well . . . he can,” he admitted. “Clear Sky’s excellent at surviving.”

River Ripple’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, yes, he’s very good at that.”

Suddenly the air was full of tension that had nothing to do with the encroaching fire.
Have I been really stupid?
Gray Wing asked himself.
Have I been utterly reckless, leading my denmates
toward
the fire in the first place? Have we risked our lives for nothing?

River Ripple returned to the bank and padded up to Gray Wing. “Your leader is struggling,” he murmured. “Your spirit is strong, and now you need to be strong for every cat.” Glancing around, he added in a louder voice, “First we need to get you all to safety. Then we can think about helping Clear Sky and his group—if they need helping.”

“Right,” Gray Wing agreed. Relief and gratitude surged through him that River Ripple had presented him with a clear plan. “Let’s do that.”

As River Ripple led the way down the bank of the stream, Gray Wing tried to control a fresh bout of coughing that threatened to explode out of him.
We’re still in danger. I don’t have time to be ill
. Suddenly a terrible thought came over him:
What if the fire spreads to the moor?
His heart pounded at the thought of flames encroaching on their camp, the others yowling in fright. . . . He struggled to take a breath and calm himself.
Right now, we need to get out of danger. Then I’ll have time to worry about what the fire might do next.

Cautiously the cats formed a line, with River Ripple in the lead to show them where to put their paws. One by one they stepped onto the rocks in the river, picking their way along.

“Go on, Thunder,” Gray Wing meowed when only they remained on the bank. “I’ll bring up the rear.”

“I should do that,” Thunder protested. “Just in case there’s trouble.”

Gray Wing shook his head.
I don’t want any cat to see that I’m limping
. “Just go,” he ordered.
And when did Thunder start protecting me? When did he grow up?

Thunder blinked at him, looking slightly disconcerted at Gray Wing’s tone, then turned to follow the other cats. Gray Wing paused at the edge of the stream, bending his head to lap at the cool water—but not even that could douse the burning in his belly. He was in far more pain than he would ever admit, and the knowledge sent a dark pulse of fear racing through him.

As he hobbled from rock to rock, Gray Wing spotted plump and delicious-looking fish swimming in the stream. He couldn’t stop his forepaw from lifting, but he resisted the urge to swipe at the prey.
I’d never keep my balance, not with these sore paws
. The last thing he wanted was to be rescued from water right after being rescued from fire. He let the enticing fish swim by and concentrated on keeping his balance as he walked from rock to rock.

Thanks to River Ripple, all the cats eventually reached the safety of the opposite bank, well away from the fire. Gray Wing realized that they had emerged from the forest not too far from the hollow, near the place where he had first met the silver tom.

Every cat crowded around River Ripple, gazing at him with awe.

“Thank you for saving our lives,” Tall Shadow meowed, dipping her head with deep respect.

“Yes,” Cloud Spots added. “Who knows how many of us the fire would have eaten before it was full?”

His words jolted Gray Wing. Clear Sky was still in the forest! Turning back to the stream, Gray Wing began yowling his brother’s name, as loudly as he could from his damaged throat.

River Ripple came to sit beside him and joined in his calls, but the only response was the growing roar of the fire, the crackle of sparks and soft thumps as branches fell to the ground.

“Clear Sky! Clear Sky!” Gray Wing went on crying out his brother’s name. Clear Sky might be dead—most likely was dead.
I can’t
have lost him!

Thunder joined him too, his frantic look increasing Gray Wing’s desperation.

“Clear Sky!” Thunder wailed. “Clear Sky, where are you?”

A sudden gust of wind made the crackle of the flames subside. Gray Wing’s ears pricked and relief flooded over him as he heard an answering yowl.

“That’s him!” he exclaimed. “He’s alive!”

Clear Sky was close by, but he was still on the wrong side of the water, close to the devouring flames.
He needs my help
. Gray Wing wished he had never allowed River Ripple to persuade him to cross the stream.

Gray Wing hobbled back to the water’s edge and peered across. Though he was safe from the flames, smoke and sparks still billowed over him, catching in his throat and making his eyes sting. He gazed through the fire and the trees, catching blurred glimpses of gray that he knew must be his brother’s fur.

The fire was starting to die back, moving farther into the forest, but a barrier of burning undergrowth separated Clear Sky from the stones where Gray Wing and his denmates had crossed the stream. A rocky outcrop was holding back the flames from where Clear Sky stood.

“Clear Sky, can you hear me?” Gray Wing called out. “You’ll have to swim! It’s safe if you keep to the far side of that rock.”

Clear Sky emerged into the open followed by a bedraggled line of forest cats. Relief surged through Gray Wing again as he recognized his old denmates Quick Water and Falling Feather. All the cats were on the verge of panic, glancing around fearfully as they headed for the stream, their fur bristling and their ears flattened.

“Watch out for that bush!” Gray Wing yowled, seeing a line of fire creeping through the grass.

Clear Sky veered away sharply as the bush burst into flames. He raced for the stream and plunged in, struggling desperately across. His cats launched themselves into the water behind him; Gray Wing raced along the bank to the point they were heading for, ready to haul them out. Thunder and River Ripple came to help, until Clear Sky and the rest were all safely on firm ground again.

“Thanks,” Clear Sky gasped, glancing around to reassure himself that all his denmates had made it across.

Clear Sky’s pelt was clinging to his ribs and his chest heaved with deep panting breaths. But gazing at his brother, Gray Wing felt a flicker of hope.
We’re working with each other again. . . .

Clear Sky and his denmates huddled close together. Water was streaming from their fur and they all looked exhausted.

Gray Wing stepped forward and dipped his head to his brother. “You’re welcome to share the hollow with us,” he mewed. “It’ll be crowded, but you’ll be safe there.”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he darted a glance at Tall Shadow. The offer should have come from their leader; he’d been too quick to speak. But what could he do—these cats needed a secure place to sleep.

Thankfully, Tall Shadow nodded. “You’re all welcome,” she told Clear Sky.

As his fear ebbed, Gray Wing felt glad to see his brother alive, even though he looked ready to collapse, with his fur sodden and plastered to his sides. He and Clear Sky stood looking into each other’s eyes for a long time. Then Clear Sky dipped his head. “We owe you our lives,” he murmured.

Gray Wing was about to respond, when he heard the sound of another cat approaching. Glancing around, he saw Thunder gazing up at his father with wide eyes. This was the first time Thunder had seen his father since Clear Sky rejected him as a tiny kit.

“Come closer,” Gray Wing invited gently, angling his ears toward Clear Sky.

Thunder padded forward nervously. He still looked bedraggled from his dip in the river.

“This cat saved my life,” Gray Wing told Clear Sky, pride in his eyes as he looked at Thunder. “If it wasn’t for your son, neither of us would be alive now. Would you like to thank him?”

Gray Wing could see Thunder’s chest rising and falling rapidly as he struggled to contain his emotions.

Clear Sky stared at his son for a long time. Then at last he dipped his head in acknowledgement. “You’re a brave young cat,” he meowed. “But try to keep away from fires in future!”

Gray Wing let out a snort of laughter in sheer relief; he could hear several of the others doing the same. Thunder was still gazing at Clear Sky; not a single mew had come out of his mouth.

“Don’t you have anything to say to your father?” Gray Wing asked, giving him a gentle shove.

He sensed tension in the cats around him as they wondered what might come out of Thunder’s mouth.

For a couple of heartbeats Thunder scrabbled at the ground with his forepaws. Then he raised his head and met Clear Sky’s gaze once more. “Did you love my mother the first time you met her?” he asked.

Where did that question come from? At a time like this!
Gray Wing felt prickles of apprehension all through his pelt. He knew that his brother didn’t like any cat to mention Storm since she died.