A Forest Divided Read Online Free PDF Page A

heather.
    â€œThere’s a set in the forest too,” Thunder pointed out.
    â€œFar enough from the camp not to have them lumbering around, attacking cats.”
    Thunder was relieved to hear Clear Sky arguing. That meant his wound couldn’t be too bad, though his father’s paw steps were halting. He nudged Clear Sky on, anxious thebadger might have picked up their trail. Snowflakes caught in his throat as he struggled to support his father. They stumbled uphill, the wind pushing them sideways.
    Thunder was breathless by the time they reached the heather. Puffing, he guided his father into a rabbit run among the bushes. As the branches enclosed them, he relaxed. The badger couldn’t follow them through here.
    They reached the far side of the heather and emerged onto open grass. The snow had eased. Thunder could see the gorse wall of the camp and pushed his shoulder harder against Clear Sky’s. “We’re nearly there.”
    â€œIt’s my neck that’s injured, not my mind,” Clear Sky grunted.
    â€œOr your tongue,” Thunder growled back.
    â€œThunder?” Cloud Spots’s mew sounded from the camp entrance. “Are you okay?” The long-furred black tom hurried across the grass toward them. His white ear tips and paws were invisible against the snowy moor. “I smell blood.”
    â€œClear Sky was attacked by a badger,” Thunder explained. Cloud Spots had been tending to injured cats since Thunder could remember. And he’d passed on his skills to Pebble Heart.
    Cloud Spots fell in beside Clear Sky, pushing against his other shoulder.
    â€œIt’s just a scratch,” Clear Sky insisted.
    â€œEven a scratch can turn nasty. Especially from a badger,” Cloud Spots fretted. “But I have a good store of herbs.” He lifted his chin and called to the camp. “Pebble Heart!”
    The young tom appeared at the camp entrance, his tabby pelt standing out against the snow-blasted gorse. “Cloud Spots?” There was worry in his mew.
    â€œGo and start chewing a poultice of marigold and oak leaf.”
    Thunder stiffened at the worry in Cloud Spots’s voice. “He’ll be okay, won’t he?” He glanced at Clear Sky.
    â€œOf course I’ll be okay.” Clear Sky straightened sharply, pushing the moor cats away, and marched into the hollow.
    Thunder hurried after him into the snow-covered camp.
    Tall Shadow darted from the long grass, shaking flakes from her spine. “I said go after him.” Her ear twitched angrily. “I didn’t say bring him back.”
    â€œWe ran into a badger,” Thunder explained quickly. “Clear Sky was hurt.”
    â€œBadly?” Tall Shadow glanced over her shoulder.
    Gray Wing was crossing the clearing toward her, his paws kicking through the snow. “Is he okay?”
    Cloud Spots was already guiding Clear Sky into his den. “He’ll be fine.”
    Gray Wing met Thunder’s gaze. “Should you have brought him back?” he asked anxiously. “He’s already ruffled enough fur here for one day.”
    â€œHe was attacked by a badger!” Thunder turned his tail on Gray Wing and followed Clear Sky into Cloud Spots’s den.
    Cloud Spots was easing Clear Sky onto his side. “Lie still so Pebble Heart can reach your wound.”
    Clear Sky huffed. “What a lot of fuss over a scratch.”
    Thunder wrinkled his nose as he padded across the sandy floor of the den. The tang of herbs filled the air. He noticed two nests at the back of the den, woven from heather branches and lined with moss. How can Pebble Heart and Cloud Spots sleep in here with this smell? Squinting though the half-light, he could make out wads of leaves stuffed between the gorse stems. “Is that your herb store?” he asked Cloud Spots. He was surprised the tom had collected so many.
    â€œIt should last us through leaf-bare.” Cloud Spots’s gaze