The Blazing Star Read Free

couple of heartbeats later, Clear Sky drew closer withreluctant paw steps. His eyes seemed fixed, as if he was staring at something very far away, looking through the other cats at a vision they could not grasp. He halted a little way from the other four, who stood in a line facing the rest of the survivors.
    We look like we’re guarding the grave, Thunder thought.
    Gray Wing limped to his littermate and sat beside him, though Clear Sky kept his distance from Thunder and the others.
    â€œListen to me, all of you!” Tall Shadow yowled, her gaze raking across the huddle of grief-stricken cats. “This must never happen again. We should listen to the cats in the stars, to the warning they gave us. From now on we have to work together peacefully, and at the next full moon we must return to this clearing to hear more messages from the spirit-cats.”
    â€œYes!” Clear Sky’s voice was a shaken purr. “At last there are cats who will tell us what we have to do.”
    Sudden understanding flashed into Thunder’s mind like the dazzle of sunlight on water.
    â€œSo that’s why you’ve been so protective and so hostile!” Gray Wing turned to his brother, his gaze full of compassion. “All this time your responsibilities have been too much for you. You tried to do the right thing, but you asked too much of yourself.”
    Clear Sky turned his head away in shame. “I’m so sorry. . . .”
    For the first time in many days, Thunder felt hope stirring inside him. Clear Sky will get guidance from the spirit-cats now, so maybe . . . Then he shook his head. Nothing will make me believe that these cats needed to die.
    Tall Shadow cleared her throat loudly, interrupting his thoughts. “If I can be allowed to finish what I was saying . . .” She paused as the other cats dipped their heads in acknowledgment, then continued, “I want a promise that all cats will respect one another. No more fighting over territory and prey. Too much has happened, and all of us need time to recover. Indeed, I believe that any cat who needs help should receive it: whoever the cat, and wherever they’ve chosen to live. Do you agree?”
    As she finished speaking, Tall Shadow looked at Gray Wing, whose gaze immediately flicked to Thunder.
    â€œMy young kin proved himself in the battle,” Gray Wing meowed. “Tall Shadow, he is the one you should look to in times like this.”
    Tall Shadow looked puzzled. “To Thunder?”
    â€œYes,” Gray Wing replied, bowing his head. “I need to think about what’s happened, and what the future will hold. Thunder should take his rightful place as leader with you and Clear Sky and River Ripple.”
    A storm of anxiety broke inside Thunder. Gray Wing had been like a father to him. Now it sounded as though he was distancing himself. Gray Wing was crouching down as if he was overcome by grief, as well as weakened by his illness.
    Knowing that the time for reluctance or modesty was far behind him, Thunder turned to Tall Shadow. These cats need me now.
    â€œYes, we should help any cat in trouble,” he replied.
    A mrrow of agreement came from Wind Runner, whileRiver Ripple dipped his head. “I will help any cat I can,” he responded, surprising Thunder with the depth of feeling in his voice. It was the first time River Ripple had lost his usual calm detachment. And he wasn’t really close to any of the cats who died today, Thunder thought, impressed.
    He turned to his father. “Clear Sky, do you agree?”
    Clear Sky was once again gazing into the distance at something that only he could see. He started slightly at the sound of Thunder’s voice. “Yes—yes, I agree,” he mewed.
    Thunder wished that his father seemed more committed to the decisions that the rest of them were making, but he told himself that Clear Sky was probably shaken up by the terrible events of the