Warriors: Dawn of the Clans #2: Thunder Rising Read Online Free PDF Page A

gotten worse. We’d achieved some kind of understanding with the rogue cats. We left them alone, and they did the same. Now . . . it’s difficult to put into words, but there are tensions that we didn’t have before. That’s why we need your help. Can you let me know when strange faces appear or hunt near our home?”
    “I’ll do whatever I can,” Turtle Tail promised. Gray Wing could see that her eyes were full of bitterness. “I should never have left,” she admitted. “If I’d been here, I could have done more to help. And I can’t believe that Clear Sky is behaving like that!”
    Gray Wing felt that he had to defend his brother. “He’s just doing what he thinks is best.”
    Turtle Tail flicked her tail, showing clearly that she wasn’t convinced. “Since when does he have to be so protective about hunting rights?” she asked. “There’s enough prey here for every cat.”
    A rustling sounded behind Gray Wing. He glanced over his shoulder to see that Jagged Peak had crept closer to listen to their conversation. He might have been permanently injured, but clearly the young cat had cunning enough to move silently. His eyes were gleaming with excitement.
    “I can help, too!” he announced. “I can keep watch with Turtle Tail. I might not be able to run or scramble into trees, but I can guard the hollow.” Glancing at Turtle Tail’s swollen belly, he added, “Turtle Tail won’t be as capable as she normally is, and I can’t run like I used to, but between the two of us . . .”
    Tall Shadow hesitated, her eyes compassionate as she surveyed the injured cat. “Thank you, Jagged Peak,” she responded. “But all I want now is to see you rest and get well.”
    Gray Wing’s muscles tensed as he saw the look of hurt and rejection on Jagged Peak’s face. He knew Tall Shadow meant to be kind, but he also knew how desperately Jagged Peak needed to prove to himself that he could still be useful.
    “Go on with the exercises Cloud Spots gave you,” he mewed sympathetically to his brother. “You’ll soon be out hunting again.”
    Jagged Peak turned away without replying, his head drooping. Gray Wing knew that his brother didn’t believe his encouraging words. Turtle Tail rested her tail on Jagged Peak’s shoulder, but he shrugged her off.
    Watching him slink away, hobbling on his damaged leg, Gray Wing asked himself whether Tall Shadow had made the right decision.
    “Maybe you should have let him help,” he murmured.
    “It would make him feel better,” Turtle Tail agreed. “And another pair of eyes can’t be bad, surely?”
    Tall Shadow’s sharp gaze flicked from one to the other. “I’m supposed to be in charge,” she mewed abruptly. “It’s not easy.” She sniffed and stalked off toward her den.
    Gray Wing exchanged a glance with Turtle Tail, whose mouth hung open in shock. Who put ants in her fur? Gray Wing wondered.

C HAPTER 3

    “How about I give you a tour of the hollow and the moors?” Gray Wing suggested to Turtle Tail. He wanted to dispel the tension left by Tall Shadow’s departure. “You should get to know them again. Besides,” he added, teasingly, “you might have gotten soft after living with Twolegs.”
    “Rude furball!” Turtle Tail exclaimed, batting at him with one paw, though there was a glimmer of affection in her eyes.
    “Okay, not soft,” Gray Wing agreed. “But come on, let me show you around anyway.” The idea of being alone with Turtle Tail was comforting. I missed her so much , he realized. Now that she had returned, he could see the enormous hole she had left in his life when she went away.
    But as they headed up the slope out of the hollow, Rainswept Flower called over to them. “Can I come too? I’d love the chance to catch up with Turtle Tail.”
    “Of course,” Gray Wing replied, though not without a pang of regret. I wanted Turtle Tail all to myself! But then he cast a sidelong glance at her and felt a thrill pass over him. It didn’t