Page 34 (1/2)

PROLOGUE

A half- them silver The silence was broken only by the ripple of water from the swift black river and the whisper of trees in the forest beyond

There was a stirring in the shadows, and from all around lithe dark shapes crept stealthily over the rocks Unsheathed claws glinted in the ht Wary eyes flashed like anal, the creatures leaped at each other, and suddenly the rocks were alive restling, screeching cats

At the center of the frenzy of fur and claws, a round and drew up his head triurowled “How dare you hunt in our territory? The Sunningrocks belong to ThunderClan!”

“After tonight, Tigerclaw, this will be just another RiverClan hunting ground!” the bracken-colored tom spat back

A warning yowl came from the shore, shrill and anxious “Look out! More RiverClan warriors are co!”

Tigerclaw turned to see sleek wet bodies sliding out of the water below the rocks The drenched RiverClan warriors bounded silently up the shore and hurled the to shak

e the water from their fur

The dark tabby glared down at Oakheart “Youin this forest!” He drew back his lips and showed his teeth as the cat struggled beneath him

The desperate scream of a ThunderClan she-cat rose above the clamor A wiry RiverClan toed toward her neck with jaws still dripping from his swim across the river

Tigerclaw heard the cry and let go of Oakheart With a hty leap, he knocked the enemy warrior away from the she-cat “Quick, Mousefur, run!” he ordered, before turning on the RiverClan tom who had threatened her Mousefur scraash on her shoulder, and raced away

Behind her, Tigerclaw spat with rage as the RiverClan tom sliced open his nose Blood blinded hiardless and sank his teeth into the hind leg of his eneled free

“Tigerclaw!” The yowl came from a warrior with a tail as red as fox fur “This is useless! There are too many RiverClan warriors!”

“No, Redtail ThunderClan will never be beaten!” Tigerclaled back, leaping to Redtail’s side “This is our territory!” Blood elling around his broad blackscarlet drops onto the rocks

“ThunderClan will honor your courage, Tigerclaw, but we cannot afford to lose any ed “Bluestar would never expect her warriors to fight against these ie this defeat” He aze steadily, then reared away and sprang onto a boulder at the edge of the trees

“Retreat, ThunderClan! Retreat!” he yowled At once his warriors squir and snarling, they backed toward Redtail For a heartbeat, the RiverClan cats looked confused Was this battle so easily won? Then Oakheart yowled a jubilant cry As soon as they heard him, the RiverClan warriors raised their voices and joined their deputy in caterwauling their victory

Redtail looked down at his warriors With a flick of his tail, he gave the signal and the ThunderClan cats dived down the far side of the Sunningrocks, then disappeared into the trees

Tigerclaw followed last He hesitated at the edge of the forest and glanced back at the bloodstained battlefield His face was grim, his eyes furious slits Then he leaped after his Clan into the silent forest

In a deserted clearing, an old gray she-cat sat alone, staring up at the clear night sky All around her in the shadows she could hear the breathing and stirrings of sleeping cats

A sed from a dark corner, her pawsteps quick and soundless

The gray cat dipped her head in greeting “How is Mousefur?” she meowed

“Her wounds are deep, Bluestar,” answered the tortoiseshell, settling herself on the night-cool grass “But she is young and strong; she will heal quickly”

“And the others?”

“They will all recover, too”

Bluestar sighed “We are lucky not to have lost any of our warriors this tiifted ain and studied the stars “I aht’s defeat ThunderClan has not been beaten in its own territory since I became leader,” she murmured “These are difficult times for our Clan The season of newleaf is late, and there have been fewer kits ThunderClan needs more warriors if it is to survive”