The Blazing Star Read Online Free PDF Page B

fight and fight,” she mewed. “But sometimes even the sharpest claw cannot make a wound.”
    Gray Wing let out a frustrated growl. “What does that mean ?”
    He turned his head as he spotted movement to one side, and saw River Ripple padding closer to the two starry she-cats with a whisk of his tail.
    â€œIf something is meant to happen, it will,” he pointed out calmly. “And no cat’s will is strong enough to stop it from happening.”
    A chorused purr of approval rose from the spirit-cats. “River Ripple is clever,” Shaded Moss meowed with an approving blink of his deep green eyes. “You should listen to him.”
    â€œYes, I agree with what he said,” Thunder added eagerly, a glow of understanding in his eyes. “I felt that after the battle—like everything that had happened up until then was leading us to that moment, to that fight.”
    Gray Wing felt his chest tighten at his young kin’s words. He turned in an anxious circle, his gaze raking the assembly of the spirit-cats as he tried to read something in their impassive expressions. “But why did it have to happen?” he asked. “Why was it unchangeable? I remember how I made the decision to leave the mountains, to settle in the hollow, to raise Thunder as my own. I made those choices.”
    Turtle Tail gazed at him sympathetically. “Did you?” she asked gently. “Or did you follow an errant brother out of the mountains?”
    Gray Wing’s chest felt like it had been filled with ice. It was a feeling of helplessness. She’s right— it wasn’t my decision to leave the mountains, he realized. If Jagged Peak hadn’t decided to run away and follow the cats who left, Quiet Rain would never have insisted that I follow him to make sure he came to no harm. Everything that happened after thatwouldn’t have happened if Quiet Rain hadn’t pleaded with me. . . .
    â€œGray Wing, you mustn’t worry,” Turtle Tail meowed. “I know you don’t like feeling powerless, but you were brought to this point for a reason.”
    Gray Wing turned his head away; gazing at the beautiful tortoiseshell she-cat was just too painful. “You were taken from me,” he choked out. “What could have been the reason for that ?”
    He began to pace to and fro in agitation, until Tall Shadow stepped forward and intercepted him.
    â€œCalm down,” she ordered. “We’re being told what to do.”
    Gray Wing took a deep breath, forcing himself to stand still again. “I want to be rid of these awful feelings,” he hissed. “I thought the spirit-cats would help.”
    Before he had finished speaking, Storm bounded forward and faced him. “You and the other cats are getting all the help you need,” she told him, her whiskers twitching impatiently. “All the help that we can give.”
    â€œThat’s right.” Moon Shadow padded up to the side of his sister, Tall Shadow. “But there’s still more work to be done. Only the Blazing Star can blunt the claw.”
    Frustrated by the constant hints and riddles, Gray Wing felt another angry yowl burning in his chest, but before he could utter a sound Bright Stream spoke, echoing Moon Shadow’s words.
    â€œYes, the Blazing Star. To survive, you must grow and spread like the Blazing Star.”
    To survive? Gray Wing thought, bewildered.
    â€œAren’t we surviving already?” Thunder called out.
    â€œIs the peace going to be broken so soon?” Wind Runner demanded.
    Desperate yowling rose up from the other living cats, as they hurled more questions at the spirit-cats. But there was no reply. Instead another mist rose from the ground and drifted around the oak trees, blotting out the starry forms. When it faded, they were gone.
    Gray Wing stepped forward to where Turtle Tail had been standing, but she had left no mark or scent of her