Path of Stars Read Free Page B

him, the thrush swinging between his jaws. He dropped it beside Thunder, then shookout his front paws, one at a time, wincing. “Ow! Stone is hard !” His whiskers twitched proudly as he glanced at the thrush. “Let’s take it back to the camp so the others can have a bite while it’s still warm.”
    Thunder nudged his friend’s shoulder playfully. “You just want to boast about how you caught it.”
    Lightning Tail winked at him. “I might mention that I swooped on it like a hawk.” He scooped up the thrush between his paws and hurried toward the ravine.
    Thunder grabbed his mouse and followed. As they neared the edge, familiar scents of home rose from the camp. Thunder slipped past Lightning Tail and scrambled down the steep cliff, following the route from ledge to ledge until he reached the soft earth at the bottom. Lightning Tail landed beside him and raced for the gorse barrier. He ducked first through the tunnel.
    Thunder followed, the gorse scraping his pelt. As he burst into camp, Clover and Thistle raced from the bramble bush where they shared a nest with their mother, Milkweed. They were growing bigger each day. Thunder wondered whether he should bring live prey back to camp and start to teach them how to hunt.
    Thistle skidded to a halt in front of Lightning Tail as the black tom stopped in the middle of the clearing. Early sunshine speared between the branches at the top of the ravine and dappled the camp with light. Clover raced past her brother and ran to Thunder. “Did you catch any shrews?” Her yellow eyes shone hopefully. Her ginger-and-white fur prickled along her spine.
    Thunder dropped the mouse. “Just this, I’m afraid.”
    â€œAnd my thrush,” Lightning Tail called, nodding to the bird at his paws.
    Thistle was already nosing through the feathers, his orange tail twitching with excitement.
    Milkweed called from the bramble. “Slow down, Thistle! The others might be hungry.”
    Pink Eyes slid from his nest beside the fallen tree. “Let the youngsters eat,” he mewed huskily. “I can wait.” He blinked through the sunshine as though trying to see. His pale eyes had never been very sharp. The passing moons seemed to dull his eyesight even more.
    Thunder noticed with a frown how skinny the old tom looked. Starting leaf-bare so thin wasn’t healthy. “Have this mouse, Pink Eyes.” He carried his catch to the white tom and dropped it at his paws. “Thistle and Clover can have the thrush. I’ll send out another hunting patrol soon.”
    â€œI’ll go.” Leaf padded from the bramble, his fur still ruffled from sleep.
    Owl Eyes scrambled from his nest beneath the yew. “Can I go too?”
    Thunder purred, pleased to see his campmates so eager. “How would you like to lead it?”
    â€œYes, please!” Owl Eyes lifted his tail excitedly.
    Thunder glanced at Leaf. The black-and-white tom was older and more experienced. Would he understand that it was important for younger cats to practice leading as well as following?
    Leaf whisked his tail happily. “That’s a great idea.”
    Cloud Spots padded from the fern tunnel, which led to a small clearing among the fronds where he’d made his nest. The ferns were dying back now, but bracken crowded behind, sheltering the den with stiff orange leaves. Cloud Spots still looked bleary with sleep. “I smell prey.” He glanced at the thrush. Then his gaze flicked toward the mouse at Pink Eyes’s paws. “Is that all you found?” There was worry in his mew.
    Thunder shook out his fur. “I’m sure Owl Eyes and Leaf will find more,” he answered breezily. He didn’t want the group to know how concerned he was. “They’re about to leave on patrol.”
    â€œI’ll go with them,” Cloud Spots told him. “Six eyes are better than four.”
    Thistle looked up from the thrush.