Path of Stars Read Online Free PDF Page B

blinked at him, oblivious as the rabbit shot past her and disappeared over a rise.
    Gray Wing pulled up, his paws slithering on the wet grass, and stopped a tail-length away from Moth Flight. He glared at her. “What in all the stars are you doing?” His lungs burned as he struggled for breath.
    She blinked at him anxiously. “Are you okay?” She hurried toward him and sniffed at his muzzle. “Does your breathing hurt again?”
    â€œI’m fine,” he gasped. Didn’t the foolish young cat even realize what she’d done?
    Her eyes widened. “You should sit down and rest.”
    As she spoke, Gorse Fur thundered past her, his eyes fixed on the rise where the rabbit had disappeared. He chased it, tail streaming behind.
    Moth Flight stared after her father, confusion showing in her round gaze.
    â€œDidn’t you see it?” Gray Wing puffed.
    â€œSee what?”
    Anger flared in Gray Wing’s belly. “Taste the air! Its scent is everywhere.”
    Obediently, Moth Flight opened her mouth, her pink tongue showing between her teeth. “A rabbit!” she gasped, her eyes widening suddenly.
    Gray Wing could hardly believe his ears. “How did you miss it?”
    â€œI’m so sorry!” She jerked her head around, scanning the grassy moorside, but the rabbit had long disappeared over the rise, followed by Gorse Fur.
    Wind Runner charged toward them.
    Moth Flight shifted her paws self-consciously as her mother stopped and stared at her accusingly. “I was watching clouds,” she murmured. “One looked just like a rabbit.”
    Gray Wing glanced at the sky, where the clouds were piling so thickly now that he was amazed she could make out any shape at all. “If you’d been watching the moorside, you’d have seen a real rabbit,” he snapped.
    Wind Runner growled. “Moth Flight! How many times have I told you that when you’re hunting you have to concentrate ?”
    Moth Flight bowed her head. “I’m sorry.”
    â€œ Sorry doesn’t feed your campmates!” Wind Runner’s ears twitched.
    â€œI’ll try harder next time,” Moth Flight promised.
    â€œYou said that last time!” Wind Runner hissed.
    Gray Wing felt a sudden wave of sympathy for Moth Flight as she gazed pitifully at her mother. Perhaps the young cat just wasn’t cut out to be a hunter. She might be more use in camp, clearing out bedding and building new dens. He flicked his tail toward the hollow. “Why don’t you see if Reed and Minnow need you to fetch more heather?” He had left the pair weaving a shelter against the camp wall, threading heather stems into the gorse to make a den. Dust Muzzle was helping them. Perhaps he should have brought Dust Muzzle on the patrol instead of Moth Flight. The young tom was a far more accomplished hunter than his sister.
    Moth Flight blinked at him eagerly. “Let me follow the rabbit’s trail. Please! I have a good nose. I’m sure I can find where it’s gone.”
    Wind Runner snorted. “It’ll be deep in a burrow by now. You’re probably mouse-brained enough to follow it in and get lost. Then we’ll have to send a search party to find you.”
    Moth Flight seemed to shrink inside her pelt.
    Gray Wing’s heart twisted. “Perhaps we can follow its trail together—”
    As he spoke, Gorse Fur appeared on the rise. The rabbit was clamped between the tom’s jaws.
    â€œYou caught it!” Gray Wing purred.
    Gorse Fur slowed as he neared them, and laid the rabbit beside Wind Runner.
    Moth Flight’s gaze shone with guilt. “I’m sorry for being such a mouse-brain.”
    â€œNo harm done,” Gorse Fur meowed breezily.
    Wind Runner lashed her tail. “What if you hadn’t been here to fix Moth Flight’s mistakes?” She glared at her mate.
    Gorse Fur met her stare calmly. “She’s still