Firestar's Quest Read Online Free PDF Page B

the clearing with a huge ball of fresh moss for the elders’ bedding. Ferncloud and Brightheart were sunning themselves at the entrance to the nursery, watching Shrewkit and Spiderkit play-fighting.
    Firestar stiffened at the sound of high-pitched caterwauling coming from outside the camp. Somewhere close by, a cat was in terrible distress. Had his dream followed him into the waking world? Or was he still asleep, trapped in the same dream?
    He forced his legs to carry him over to the gorse tunnel. But before he reached the entrance to the camp, Cloudtail and Brackenfur appeared, supporting Longtail, whose jaws were stretched wide, letting out loud wails of anguish. Cloudtail’s apprentice, Rainpaw, followed them into the camp, his fur bristling with shock.
    Longtail’s eyes were closed; blood welled from beneath the swollen lids and spattered over his pale tabby fur. “I can’t see! I can’t see!” he wailed.
    â€œWhat happened?” Firestar demanded.
    â€œWe were out hunting,” Brackenfur explained. “Longtail caught a rabbit, and it turned on him and scratched his eyes.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” Cloudtail reassured Longtail. “We’ll get you to Cinderpelt right away. She’ll fix you up.”
    Firestar followed them as they guided Longtail across the clearing and through the tunnel of ferns. Cloudtail called for Cinderpelt, who appeared from the cleft in the rock and limped rapidly to Longtail’s side. “How did this happen?”
    Brackenfur repeated what he had told Firestar, while Cinderpelt rested her tail gently on Longtail’s shoulder.
    The tabby warrior’s wailing had died away into shallow, rasping breaths. He was shivering violently. “I can’t see,” he whispered. “Cinderpelt, am I going to be blind?”
    â€œI can’t tell until I’ve examined your eyes,” Cinderpelt replied. Firestar knew she wouldn’t try to comfort Longtail with a lie. “Come over here and sit down in the ferns where I can get a proper look at you.”
    She led him to a clump of bracken just outside the opening to her den. Longtail slumped onto his side, still panting hard.
    â€œRainpaw, bring me some moss soaked in water,” Cinderpelt directed, “as fast as you can.” The apprentice glanced at his mentor, and when Cloudtail nodded he sped off, leaving the ferns of the tunnel waving behind him. “The rest of you can go,” the medicine cat added, “and let Longtail have a bit of peace and quiet.”
    Cloudtail and Brackenfur turned to leave, but Firestar padded over to Cinderpelt, who was calming Longtail withone paw stroking his flank.
    â€œIs there anything I can do?” he asked.
    â€œJust go with the others and let me get on with it,” Cinderpelt replied, her tart tones reminding Firestar of her mentor, Yellowfang. As Firestar turned away, she added, “Oh, you might ask Cloudtail to let me have Rainpaw for the rest of the day. An apprentice to fetch and carry would be useful.”
    â€œGood idea,” Firestar replied. “I’ll tell him.”
    His heart was torn with pity for Longtail. The tabby warrior had challenged Firestar when he first arrived in the forest, and he had been far too close to Tigerstar. But when the murderous deputy’s plans became clear, Longtail had realized where his true loyalties lay, and since then he had become one of Firestar’s most trusted warriors.
    When Firestar reached the clearing he saw Cloudtail and Brackenfur standing with Brightheart, who was anxiously questioning them. Mousefur and Graystripe had come out of the warriors’ den to find out what was going on.
    Firestar padded over to Cloudtail and passed on Cinderpelt’s request about Rainpaw.
    â€œSure,” the white warrior meowed. “It’s all good training for Rainpaw, anyway.”
    â€œWhat’s going to happen to Longtail?” Brightheart