A Forest Divided Read Online Free PDF

was fixed on Clear Sky’s neck as Pebble Heart carefully washed the bloodstained fur clean. “Is it deep?” he asked the young tom.
    â€œNo.” Pebble Heart looked up. “A bit jagged, but that should help it close up easily.” He twisted and grabbed a mouthful of dark sludge from beside him, then began to work it into Clear Sky’s wound with steady laps of his tongue.
    Clear Sky flinched. “Are you sure that will help?” he rasped.
    Cloud Spots ran his tail along Clear Sky’s flank. “The sting shows that the herbs are working.”
    Thunder sat back on his haunches, wondering how any cat had the patience to learn the name and use of every herb. “How long will it take to heal?” he asked.
    â€œA few days.” Pebble Heart stepped back.
    Clear Sky struggled to his paws. He twisted his head gently, as though feeling for pain. “Thank you.” He nodded to Pebble Heart. “That feels better already.”
    â€œI chewed some dock into the poultice,” Pebble Heart toldhim. “It will soothe the wound. When you get back to the forest, put some dock leaves in your nest when you sleep. It will ease the pain.”
    Clear Sky blinked gratefully at the young cat, then turned to Thunder. “See how well we manage when we work together?”
    Thunder felt his heart grow heavy. Clear Sky was still trying to persuade him that the cats should join up.
    He stared blankly at his father, searching for words.
    Clear Sky spoke again before he could answer. “You saved me from that badger, and Pebble Heart has made sure my wound will heal. Imagine if we all lived in the forest?” His eyes grew brighter with each word. “We’d grow strong and spread, just like the spirit cats said.”
    â€œI don’t think that’s what they meant,” Cloud Spots mewed gently.
    Clear Sky turned on him. “How do you know? You weren’t there !”
    Thunder flattened his ears as he heard his father’s temper flare. Perhaps Clear Sky hadn’t changed that much after all. “Leave Cloud Spots alone,” he murmured. “He just helped you.”
    Clear Sky’s angry gaze flashed toward Thunder. “Why won’t any of you understand ? Fluttering Bird wants us to be together!”
    Thunder felt suddenly weary. Fighting with badgers was bad enough. He didn’t want to fight with Clear Sky too. He got to his paws. “Can Clear Sky take some fresh herbs home with him?”
    Pebble Heart answered him. “I’ll wrap the leftover poultice in a leaf for him.”
    â€œThanks.” Thunder headed out of the den. “I’m going to check on the kits.” He wanted to make sure their nest was clear of snow.
    Outside, a few flakes swirled around him as he crossed the clearing.
    Jagged Peak was dragging a large piece of heather toward the far end.
    â€œAre the kits okay?” Thunder called.
    Jagged Peak dropped the branch and looked at Thunder. “We’re moving them to a more sheltered spot.”
    Thunder caught up with him as he dragged the branch beneath the trailing broom. “Under here?”
    Inside, a wide circle of clear earth sat sheltered by the dropping stems. Even stripped of their leaves they made a fine windbreak, and the snow hadn’t made it through. Holly was near the back of the den, weaving heather branches together with her teeth. Eagle Feather, Dew Nose, and Storm Pelt were darting around her, pouncing on one another, tails flicking with excitement.
    Jagged Peak dropped the fresh branch beside his mate. “Shattered Ice and Lightning Tail have gone out to collect more now that the snow’s eased,” he told her.
    â€œWe’ll need moss to line it,” Holly told him.
    Eagle Feather scrambled onto her back as she crouched to spear another twig into the half-built nest. “I want a badger ride!” he squeaked.
    Holly huffed with annoyance and shrugged him off.