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PROLOGUE

Rain fell steadily, dru rows of stone Twoleg nests Fro, and a single Twoleg scurried along, huddled into its shiny pelt

Two cats slipped silently around the corner, keeping close to the walls where the shadoere deepest A skinny gray toht, watchful eyes went first, every hair on his body slicked dark with the wet

Behind hie tabby with massive shoulders and muscles that slid slowed in the harsh light, and his gaze shifted back and forth as if he expected an attack

He paused where the dark entrance to a Twoleg nest offered a little shelter and growled, “How much farther? This place stinks”

The gray tolanced back “Not far now”

“It had better not be” Gri irritably to flick away the raindrops Harsh yellow light angled across him, and he flinched as aup a wave of filthy water that reeked of Twoleg rubbish The cat let out a snarl as the water slopped around his paws and the spray drizzled down on his fur

Everything about the Twolegplace disgusted him: the hard surface under his paws, the stench of s they carried in their bellies, the unfamiliar noises, and most of all, the way that he could not survive here without a guide The tabby was not used to depending on another cat for anything In the forest he knew every tree, every streaest and erous warrior in all the Clans Now his sharpened skills and senses were useless He felt as if he were deaf, blind, and la helplessly after its mother

But it would be worth it The tabby’s whiskers twitched in anticipation He had already launched a plan that would turn his most hated enes attacked, no cat would suspect that they had been lured and guided every step of the way And then, if things went according to plan, this expedition into Twolegplace would give him all he had ever wanted

The gray cat led the way along the path and across an open space reeking of Twoleg hts floated on the puddles He stopped by the entrance to a narrow alley and opened his jaws to draw in the scent of the air

The tabby halted and did the saue over his lips at the stink of rotting Twoleg food “Is this the place?” he asked

“This is it,” the gray warrior replied tensely “Now—re to meet holds command over many cats We must treat him with respect”

“Boulder, have you forgotten who I am?” The tabby took a step forward so that he towered over his companion

The skinny gray cat’s ears flattened “No, Tigerstar, I haven’t forgotten But you’re not Clan leader here”

Tigerstar grunted “Let’s get on with it,” he growled

Boulder turned into the alley He stopped short after just a few paces when a huge shape loomed up in front of them

“Who goes there?” A broad-shouldered black and white cat stepped out of the shadows Strong muscles were outlined under fur plastered to his body by the rain “Identify yourselves We don’t like strangers here”

“Greetings, Bone,” the gray warrior meowed steadily “Remember me?”

The black-and-white cat narrowed his eyes and was silent for a few moments “So you’ve come back, have you, Boulder?” heto find a better life in the forest What are you doing here?”

He took a step forward, but Boulder held his ground, unsheathing his claws against the uneven ground “We want to see Scourge”

Bone let out a snort, half contee ant to see you And who’s this with you? I don’t recognize him”