It stood unsteadily and stared toward the shadows. The cry alerted one of the Twolegs around the fire. A young apprentice wailed, Brokenstar and his warriors may still be hunting us! Not even in our own camp!Īnxious yowls rose from some of the cats as they remembered the terrible battle that had driven them from their home in the uplands, at the edge of the forest. We couldn’t protect them from ShadowClan, he spat. A black tom pushed his way forward, limping heavily on a twisted paw. With fire and monsters? My kits won’t be safe!īut we weren’t safe at home, meowed another voice. She pulled her kit toward her and sheltered it beneath her belly. Peace? Here? Ashfoot echoed in disbelief. Perhaps we can find some peace here, he meowed. We’ve been driven from every place we’ve tried to settle, Ashfoot. The black-and-white tom turned to the she-cat. Tallstar? A gray queen flicked her tail uneasily. The noise of the monsters battered their sensitive ear fur, and the acrid stench stung their nostrils. He held his long tail straight up, sending a message of courage to his Clan.īut the other cats crouched low against the grass, trembling. As he padded forward the flames lit up the black-and-white fur on his powerful shoulders.

What if the Twolegs see us? hissed one of the cats.Ī large tom answered, his eyes like amber disks reflecting the firelight.

They carried their tails low and sniffed the bitter air with their lips curled. More cats followed one by one, onto the filthy grass. Pointed ears twitched, then flattened against the noise. It roared past on a Thunderpath that rose high into the sky, filling the air with sour fumes.Īt the edge of the wasteland, a cat moved, its eyes glinting in the shadows. The firelight flickered across a wasteland of ragged grass, making silhouettes of the Twolegs huddled there.Ī pair of white lights appeared in the distance, heralding the approach of a monster. Orange flames lapped at the cold air, throwing sparks up into the night sky.

Fire and Ice by Erin Hunter