The First Battle

by Erin Hunter

  “Just because you’ve borrowed Turtle Tail’s kits and pretended they’re your own, you think you know what it’s like. I hope you never have to say good-bye to a kit. If you ever do, I’ll remind you that they might be in a better place than at their mother’s belly. I’m sure you’ll find that a great comfort!” Her eyes glazed and she let her head fall back as a mournful yowl wracked her body. “Go away!” she gasped.

  A paw touched his flank gently. Hawk Swoop was gazing at him with round, sympathetic eyes. “She doesn’t know what she’s saying,” she whispered.

  Gray Wing looked away. He understood grief. It made a cat hard. And yet he was breathless with the sting of her words. He slid from the den and crossed the camp. Blind to the cats crouched at the edges of the clearing, he crept to the gap in the heather and stared out across the moor. Turtle Tail, where are you? His heart seemed to crack in his chest. Come home and bring the kits with you. I need you.

  CHAPTER 15

  “You want to distract Tom?” Thunder stared at Lightning Tail, his heart quivering like a captured bird in his chest. He could hear the faint mews of Tom and the kits in Tom’s den. “How?”

  Lightning Tail paced the passageway. “I’m not sure yet. Let me think!”

  River Ripple sat and groomed his belly.

  The sun was sinking behind the nests.

  Lightning Tail’s eyes glittered in the twilight. “We know Tom’s vain, right? And selfish.”

  “Yes,” Thunder agreed.

  “We can take advantage of that.”

  “How?” Thunder swished his tail over the gritty stone. “It’ll just make him hold on to the kits harder.”

  “What if they don’t want to stay with him?” Lightning Tail argued.

  “But he’s their father.” Guilt tugged at Thunder’s belly. “Their mother’s dead. They might see him as their only choice now.”

  River Ripple lifted his head. “Why make it a choice between father and mother? Won’t they really be choosing between being a kittypet and living wild?” He glanced toward Tom’s den. “It can’t be that hard to show the kits that hiding in a stinky Twoleg den with only rotten kittypet food is no way for a real cat to live.”

  Lightning Tail nodded. “They’ve only ever known the moor,” he pointed out. “Don’t you think they’ll miss it?” He glanced at the stone nests crowding out the sky. “They must see how trapped they are here.”

  “And how ugly it is,” River Ripple muttered. He went back to grooming his silver belly.

  Lightning Tail stopped pacing and stared Thunder in the eye. “Do you believe it’s the right thing to take them back to the moor, even though Turtle Tail is dead?”

  Thunder didn’t hesitate. “Yes.” The moor cats would care for them, just as they’d cared for him. The kits would be far more loved than if they stayed here with Tom.

  Lightning Tail nodded. “Good. Then all I have to do is distract Tom so you can talk to the kits and get them away from here.” He circled River Ripple. “Will you help us get them home?”

  River Ripple shook out his fur. “I’ll do anything I have to.” He flattened his ears. “That kittypet has caused nothing but grief. He deserves some grief of his own.”

  Lightning Tail turned to cross the wide stone path to Tom’s den.

  Thunder hurried after him. “What’s your plan?”

  “I’m going to make him jealous.”

  “How?” Thunder fell in beside his friend, puzzled.

  “Leave it to me,” Lightning Tail told him. “You just have to persuade the kits to leave while I’m keeping Tom busy.” He marched to the middle of the opening of Tom’s den and stopped. Darkness engulfed the nest.

  “You came back!” Pebble Heart dashed from the shadows.

  Tom’s pelt rippled as he followed the kit into the pale evening light. “What are you doing?”

  “You didn’t think we’d leave without saying good-bye to the kits, did you?” Lightning Tail’s mew was unruffled.

  Thunder lifted his tail. “We’re going to miss you on the moor.” He glanced fondly at Sparrow Fur and Owl Eyes as they bounded forward.

  Lightning Tail caught Thunder’s eye, suddenly mischievous. “What a shame you’ll never learn how to pluck a lapwing from the sky like Hawk Swoop can.”

  Sparrow Fur blinked at him. “Tom promised to teach us to hunt.”

  “I’m sure he will,” Thunder meowed enthusiastically. “I’m sure there are plenty of rats around here to practice on.”

  River Ripple wove around Sparrow Fur and stopped beside Owl Eyes. “I wonder if the Twolegs will give you new names?”

  “Names like Tom’s,” Lightning Tail suggested cheerfully. “You could become She-Kit instead of Sparrow Fur.”

  Sparrow Fur’s eyes widened. “But I like my name.”

  Guilt pricked at Thunder’s chest. This felt cruel. He stiffened his shoulders. It had to be done if they were to get the kits back to where they’d be safe and happy. He padded toward Pebble Heart and touched his nose to the kit’s head. “Cloud Spots will miss you,” he murmured. “I know how proud he was of your skills.”

  Pebble Heart’s eyes glistened. “I still had so much to learn.”

  “Stop it.” A growl edged Tom’s mew.

  The kits turned to stare at him.

  “We’re just saying good-bye.” Sparrow Fur blinked at Tom. “You don’t mind, do you?”

  Before he could answer, Lightning Tail whisked past him. “Of course he doesn’t mind. Do you, Tom?”

  Tom glared at him as Lightning Tail padded into the shadows at the back of the den, toward the Twoleg opening.

  Hooking his paw through a narrow gap where light seeped in, Lightning Tail swung back a tall slice of wood.

  Thunder blinked as yellow light streamed in. It flooded from the eyes of the Twoleg nest, illuminating a stretch of grass between the dens.

  Lightning Tail padded onto the grass and began yowling loudly at the Twoleg nest.

  What’s he doing?

  Tom chased after him. “Stop it!” He glanced anxiously back at the kits, who were staring wide-eyed.

  Thunder felt a prickle of triumph. He doesn’t want to show his true self in front of the kits.

  Lightning Tail kept yowling, lifting his head toward the brightly lit eyes.

  River Ripple slid close to Thunder. “What’s he up to?”

  “I have no idea.” As he answered, a hole opened in the back of the Twoleg nest. Light flared, framing a pair of Twolegs. They stepped onto the grass, murmuring to each other.

  Lightning Tail broke into a purr, so loud that Thunder could hear it from inside Tom’s den. Then he began weaving around the Twolegs.

  Thunder felt River Ripple shudder.

  “How’s he doing that?” the rogue breathed.

  Thunder swallowed. “I don’t know.” Lightning Tail was acting like a kittypet! Wasn’t he scared? Twolegs were capable of anything. How did he know they wouldn’t steal him or hurt him? He wasn’t their kittypet, after all.

  “What’s Lightning Tail doing?” Sparrow Fur’s squeak surprised Thunder. The young kit was standing beside him, Pebble Heart and Owl Eyes bunched beside her. They were watching the black tom anxiously.

  Thunder searched for words. “I guess he’s thanking the Twolegs for looking after you,” he told them at last.

  Tom turned and hissed at Thunder. “How dare he!” He charged across the grass. Stopping beside his Twolegs, he snarled at Lightning Tail. “Get out of here. They’re mine!”

  “Really?” Lightning Tail gazed back at him mildly. “They look like they’d take in any cat. They took in Turtle Tail, didn’t they? Perhaps they want me to stay too. That way I can keep an eye on Turtle Tail’s kits.”

  One of the Twolegs reached down and ran a paw along Lightning Tail’s spine. He lifted his tail and arched his back with pleasure, as though he was scratching an itch on a branch.

  “He’s letting them touch him!” Pebble Heart sounded horrified.


  Thunder looked at him gravely. “You’ll have to let them touch you if you stay here.”

  “No way!” Pebble Heart backed away.

  “I don’t want Twolegs touching me!” Sparrow Fur mewed crossly.

  Suddenly the Twoleg bent and scooped Lightning Tail up into its paws.

  Owl Eyes pressed against Thunder, trembling. “Will they do that to us too?”

  “Of course.” Thunder tried to sound matter-of-fact, even though his flesh was crawling beneath his pelt at the thought. “Look.” He watched the other Twoleg pick up Tom. “Your father will show you what to do, I’m sure. He’ll show you how to be stroked and fussed over by Twolegs. You’ll be perfect kittypets before you know it.”

  Tom hissed at Lightning Tail. “I’m going to shred you.” His growl was dripping with malice. The Twoleg holding Lightning Tail backed away, its face creasing. It rumbled something to its mate as Lightning Tail curled deep into its embrace, like a kit hiding against its mother’s belly.

  The Twoleg purred and held Lightning Tail harder.

  Tom lashed out a paw.

  “He’s trying to hurt Lightning Tail!” Owl Eyes’s mew was filled with dismay.

  “Why’s Tom being mean?” Sparrow Fur blinked up at Thunder.

  Thunder leaned closer. “Perhaps he doesn’t like sharing his Twolegs,” he mewed innocently.

  Pebble Heart frowned. “Perhaps he won’t like sharing them with us either.”

  “I don’t want to share them!” Owl Eyes growled. “I want to go home where there aren’t any Twolegs!”

  “Really?” Joy sparked in Thunder’s belly. “We can take you home if you want.”

  “Yes, please!” Sparrow Fur bounded around him, her short tail flicking with excitement.

  Thunder touched her spine with his tail-tip. “You have to be very brave and very quiet, though,” he told her gravely.

  Owl Eyes blinked at him. “Why?”

  “We’ll be traveling through Twolegplace in the dark,” Thunder told him. “It’s dangerous here for moor cats.” He exchanged glances with River Ripple. “River Ripple knows the way. Will you go with him while I help Lightning Tail get away from the Twolegs?”

  Pebble Heart tipped his head. “Now?”

  Thunder nodded. “Gray Wing is waiting for you.” He ignored the pang in his heart. But not Turtle Tail.

  “Okay.” Sparrow Fur lined up beside River Ripple. “I’m ready.”

  “So am I.” Owl Eyes fell in beside her.

  “Pebble Heart?” Thunder gazed at the solemn kit. “Are you ready to go home?”

  Pebble Heart nodded. “You’ll come too, won’t you?”

  Thunder purred. “As soon as I’ve freed Lightning Tail from the Twolegs.”

  “Come on.” River Ripple began nosing the kits toward the wide opening of Tom’s den. “I’ll take them over the crossing stones,” he whispered to Thunder.

  “Be quick,” Thunder urged. He wanted the kits as far away from here as possible before Tom noticed. If there was a fight, they mustn’t see it. Tom was their father. He flexed his claws. He watched River Ripple hurry the kits onto the dusk-shadowed stone and headed for the Twoleg opening at the back of Tom’s den.

  Lightning Tail was still curled in the embrace of the Twoleg, while Tom struggled, hissing with rage, in the paws of the other.

  The Twoleg grunted and then dropped Tom, confusion wrinkling its smooth, pink face. It glanced anxiously at the other Twoleg as Tom growled at Lightning Tail.

  Thunder padded across the grass. “What’s the matter, Tom? Don’t you like sharing?”

  Tom turned on him with a hiss and flung out a paw. His claws sliced the air a whisker from Thunder’s nose.

  “You don’t want your Twolegs to see you in such a temper,” Thunder growled. How was he going to persuade the Twoleg to let Lightning Tail go? As Tom hissed at him, the Twoleg held Lightning Tail closer, eyes flashing with alarm. It began to back toward its nest.

  No! It mustn’t take Lightning Tail inside!

  He blinked up at the Twoleg, forcing himself to purr as Lightning Tail had done. His purr stuttered, his throat tight with fear.

  The Twoleg murmured back at him.

  Thunder tipped his head, pleadingly. “Let Lightning Tail go.”

  Tom’s eyes flashed with sudden malice. “You want him back now, do you?” He glanced toward the opening in the Twoleg nest, where light flooded out. “Perhaps I should persuade my Twolegs to keep him. It’ll be fun having him locked up inside with me for the night.” Tom showed his teeth.

  Thunder felt cold as dread hollowed his belly. The cruel kittypet would rip Lightning Tail to shreds. His breathing quickened as he saw the taller Twoleg back through the opening. It called to its mate, who was still holding Lightning Tail.

  “Get me down from here!” Lightning Tail glanced toward the opening, eyes flashing with fear as the Twoleg turned toward its mate.

  Tom had trotted inside, tail high. His Twoleg bent to stroke him and he purred, blinking up at Lightning Tail, his gaze wide and friendly.

  He’s pretending! Why were Twolegs so dumb! Can’t you see he’s tricking you? Panic sparked beneath Thunder’s pelt. He dashed for the Twoleg. He had to stop it before it entered the nest. He barged past it as roughly as he could, then doubled back and knocked it from the other side. It stumbled and he nudged it again, winding forcefully around its legs, purring desperately. The Twoleg staggered. With a yelp, it dropped Lightning Tail, and grabbed the side of the opening to steady itself.

  “Run!” Thunder shoved Lightning Tail forward and sprinted after him. They hurtled for Tom’s den. Streaking through it, they burst out into the night. Thunder’s paws skidded from under him as he swerved toward the passageway. He scrambled to regain his balance. Lightning Tail was racing ahead. Thunder found his paws and hared after, catching up as Lightning Tail flew into the shadowy passageway.

  “Can you remember how to get back?” Lightning Tail called over his shoulder.

  Panic sparked through Thunder. Which way had Flower brought them? Ahead, the passage split.

  “Thunder?” Lightning Tail’s mew was sharp with fear as he slowed to a halt and stared one way, then the other.

  Thunder stumbled into his flank, his paws burning as he skidded to a halt. He tasted the air. The kits! He could smell their scent clearly. “This way.” Taking the closest opening, he raced along it. Lightning Tail chased after.

  They zigzagged through the maze of passageways. Thunder ran, mouth open, letting the kits scents guide him until he burst out beside the Thunderpath that Flower had led them across. He felt sure he knew how to get back to camp from here.

  A monster swished past, its eyes shooting light ahead of it. Thunder flinched as its glare streaked over his pelt.

  Lightning Tail froze beside him. “Can you see the kits?” He squinted into the darkness as the monster hurtled away.

  “Not yet.” Thunder dashed across the wide stone path and ducked into a gorge between two nests. It opened onto grass and bushes and he saw, with a surge of relief, that open sky lay beyond. They’d reached the edge of Twolegplace!

  He bounded across the grass, his flanks heaving.

  “Tom’s following us!” Lightning Tail’s alarmed call shattered the air.

  Thunder glanced over his shoulder and saw Tom burst into the moonlight.

  “Give them back!” Rage pulsed through Tom’s yowl.

  Lightning Tail turned to face the kittypet. “We can’t risk leading him to the kits!”

  Thunder stumbled to a halt and spun around. “We’ll have to fight him.”

  Standing shoulder to shoulder, they confronted the kittypet.

  Tom stopped and stared, his narrowed eyes gleaming in the moonlight. “I suppose you think you’re clever, getting them away while you distracted me.”

  “You’re not the only one that can steal kits,” Thunder snarled through gritted teeth.

  “They came with me willingly,” Tom snapped.

&
nbsp; Lightning Tail took a step forward. “They belong on the moor.”

  “I know where your camp is.” Tom lashed his tail menacingly. “I can come and take them anytime I want.”

  Thunder lifted his chin. “Not now they’ve seen what it is to be a kittypet.” He glanced at Lightning Tail. “How did it feel to picked up and stroked?”

  Lightning Tail shuddered. “Horrible.”

  Thunder’s whiskers twitched. “The kits are wild,” he told Tom. “They’ll never choose your life. They’ll always find their way back to the moor.”

  “Like their mother,” Tom snarled in disgust.

  “She had the heart of a mountain cat,” Lightning Tail hissed.

  “Had the heart of a mountain cat?” Tom tipped his head. “Has something happened to her?”

  Grief seared Thunder’s heart. They’d lost Turtle Tail forever. “She got killed by a monster, following you and her kits.” He glared at Tom, blood roaring in his ears as he saw triumph spark in the kittypet’s gaze.

  “Will her kits thank you for taking them to a home with no mother?” Tom asked nastily.

  Fury exploded in Thunder’s chest. “You fox-hearted—”

  He leaped for Tom but Lightning Tail blocked his path. “Will they thank you for leading her to her death?”

  Tom blinked.

  Thunder stumbled.

  Lightning Tail went on. “Never come near the moor again. You’ll regret it. Your kits will remember you as the cat who killed their mother. They won’t follow you next time, and if any of us see you again, we’ll shred you.”

  Thunder showed his teeth. “We’ll shred you now, if you like.”

  Tom backed away, growling. “Keep the dumb kits,” he snarled. “Let them grow up wild. I don’t care.” Tail flicking angrily, he turned and stalked away, the shadows swallowing him as he padded into the gorge.

  “Come on.” Lightning Tail turned and raced across the grass. “Let’s catch up to the kits.”

  Thunder hared after him as he crashed through the bushes. Beyond, he recognized the narrow strip of woodland that opened onto the marsh meadow. He opened his mouth and tasted the air. Kit scent hung fresh just ahead. He pushed into the wall of thick stems.