A Forest Divided Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Not now! I only have two pairs of paws!”
    Thunder padded forward. “I’ll play with the kits,” he offered.
    Holly glanced at him, relief glowing in her eyes. “Thank you, Thunder.”
    â€œ I’ll play with them too,” Jagged Peak added quickly.
    Thunder dipped his head. “We can both play.”
    Eagle Feather jumped onto his father’s back. Dew Nose raced for Thunder and clawed her way onto his shoulders.
    He winced at her tiny, thorn-sharp claws. “What about you, Storm Pelt?”
    The gray kit was hanging back. “I want to help Holly.”
    Holly’s ear twitched. “Go and play, dear.”
    â€œI promise I won’t get in your way.” Storm Pelt gazed at her solemnly. “I can push in the sticky-out bits.” He reached up to the half-woven nest and tucked a heather sprig in with a nimble paw.
    Holly purred. “Okay, then.”
    â€œHurry up, Thunder!” Dew Nose curled her claws into Thunder’s pelt.
    â€œCareful!” Thunder gasped. “I’m not prey!”
    Dew Nose purred as he pushed his way through the bushes.
    â€œHang on!” he warned as the trailing branches swept over them.
    Dew Nose’s paws tightened around his shoulders, and he purred, grateful that she was keeping her claws sheathed.
    Outside, the clouds were thinning. The snow had stopped,but the clearing was thickly coated. He waded through it, thumping his paws heavily against the earth like a lumbering badger, and trying not to think about the real badger he’d fought earlier. Dew Nose squeaked with delight and hung on harder.
    Jagged Peak caught up to him. “Did I see Clear Sky coming back into camp with you?”
    â€œClear Sky?” Eagle Feather mewed on Jagged Peak’s shoulders. “Where?”
    â€œHe’s in Cloud Spots’s den,” Thunder explained. “We ran into a badger. He got a little scratch.” He didn’t want to frighten the kits.
    â€œA badger?” Jagged Peak looked alarmed. “Close to the camp?”
    Thunder shook his head. “Near the forest border. It was injured. I doubt it’ll hang around long on the moor. Especially in this weather.”
    Jagged Peak was frowning. “If it was close to the forest border, why did you bring him back here ?”
    â€œHe was injured—” Thunder began.
    Jagged Peak didn’t let him finish. “He’s caused enough worry and gossip in the camp already! We don’t need him stirring up more trouble.” He stopped and shook Eagle Feather from his shoulders.
    The tiny kit plumped into the snow with a squeak. “That wasn’t long enough!”
    Jagged Peak nodded toward the boulder at the other end of the camp. “Go and see if you can find some moss around thebottom of Tall Shadow’s rock.”
    â€œBut it’s covered in snow,” Eagle Feather objected.
    â€œThen you’ll have to dig for it,” Jagged Peak told him firmly.
    Dew Nose slithered down Thunder’s flank and landed beside her brother. “Come on, Eagle Feather! Holly will be really pleased if we bring her moss.” She bounded over the snow, sinking deeper with each jump. Eagle Feather plunged after her. “Wait for me!” They looked like frogs bobbing through water.
    Thunder purred and glanced at Jagged Peak, but the gray tabby tom wasn’t watching his kits. He was staring at Cloud Spots’s den beyond the rock, his eyes dark with worry.
    â€œWas he hurt badly?” Jagged Peak asked.
    â€œJust a scratch,” Thunder told him. Was someone other than Cloud Spots and Pebble Heart worried about Clear Sky after all? “Pebble Heart’s just making sure it won’t turn sour.”
    â€œSo he’ll be able to go straight home.”
    Thunder stared at Jagged Peak. “Don’t you care that he was hurt?”
    Jagged Peak dragged his gaze from the den. “It makes a change, I