Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16 They headed back the way they had come. The moon had disappeared behind a bank of clouds. It was dark, but at least the Thunderpath was quieter now. The only monster they heard was far off in the distance. The cats crossed the path together and pushed their way through the hedge on the other side. Firepaw could feel his muscles growing stiff with tiredness as they hurried on. Bluestar kept up a swift pace with her nose thrust forward and her tail high. Tigerclaw loped beside her. Firepaw followed a few paces behind with Graypaw, but Ravenpaw was flagging. "Keep up, Ravenpaw!" Tigerclaw growled over his shoulder. Ravenpaw flinched and bounded forward until he caught up with Firepaw and Graypaw. "Are you okay?" Firepaw asked. "Yes," Ravenpaw panted, not meeting Firepaw's eyes. "Just a bit tired." They scrambled down a deep ditch and up the other side. "What did Tigerclaw say when he came out of

the cave?" Firepaw meowed, trying not to sound too curious. "He wanted to check that we were still guarding the entrance," replied Graypaw. "Why?" Firepaw hesitated. "Did you scent anything strange about him?" he asked. "Only that damp old cave," Graypaw mewed, looking surprised. "He seemed a little edgy," ventured Ravenpaw. "He wasn't the only one!" Graypaw meowed, looking at the black cat. "What do you mean?" asked Ravenpaw. "Just that the fur on your neck stands up whenever you see him these days," whispered Graypaw. "You nearly jumped out of your skin when he came out of the cave." "He just surprised me, that's all," Ravenpaw protested. "You have to admit, it was a bit creepy by Mothermouth." "I suppose so," agreed Graypaw. The cats slipped under a hedge into a cornfield that glowed silver in the moonlight, and followed the ditch that ran around its edge. "So what was it like inside, Firepaw?" Graypaw

demanded. "Did you see the Moonstone?" "Yes, I did. It was amazing!" Firepaw felt his fur tingle at the memory. Graypaw shot him an admiring glance. "So it's true! The rock really does shine underground." Firepaw didn't reply. He closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the image of the Moonstone that dazzled his mind. Then pictures from his dream crowded into his head, and his eyes shot open. Bluestar was right: they had to get back to camp as quickly as they could. Ahead, Tigerclaw and Bluestar had leaped through a fence, out of the cornfield. The apprentices followed, squeezing under the fence, onto an earth track. It was the path that led past the Twoleg nest and the dogs. Firepaw looked up and saw Bluestar and Tigerclaw trotting tirelessly together, silhouetted against a skyline tinged with red. The sun would be rising soon. "Look!" he called to Graypaw and Ravenpaw. An unfamiliar cat had jumped out in front of the two warriors. "It's a loner!" hissed Graypaw. The three apprentices hurried forward.

The stranger was a stout black-and-white tom, shorter than the warriors, but well muscled. "This is Barley," Bluestar explained to the apprentices as they caught up. "He lives near this Twoleg nest." "Hi!" meowed the cat. "I haven't seen any of your Clan for some moons. How are you, Bluestar?" "I'm well, thank you," replied Bluestar. "And you, Barley? How's the prey been running since we last passed this way?" "Not so bad," replied Barley, with an amiable gleam in his eye. "One good thing about Twolegs —you'll always find plenty of rats nearby." The black-and-white tom went on: "You seem in more of a hurry than usual. Is everything all right?" Tigerclaw looked at Barley. A growl rumbled deep in his chest. Firepaw could sense that the warrior was suspicious of the loner's curiosity. "I don't like to be away from my Clan too long," Bluestar answered smoothly. "As always, Bluestar, you are tied to your Clan like a queen to her kits," observed Barley, not unkindly.

"What is it you want, Barley?" asked Tigerclaw. Barley flashed him a reproachful look. "I just wanted to warn you that there are two dogs here now. You'd be safer going back into the cornfield instead of past the yard." "We know about the dogs. We saw them earlier—" Tigerclaw began impatiently. "We are grateful to you for the warning," interrupted Bluestar. "Thank you, Barley. Until next time…" Barley flicked his tail. "Have a safe journey," he meowed as he bounded away up the track. "Come," ordered Bluestar, heading off the track. She pushed her way through the long grass between the path and the fence that led back into the cornfield. The three apprentices followed, but Tigerclaw hesitated. "You trust the word of a loner?" he meowed. Bluestar stopped and turned to face him. "Would you rather face those dogs?" "They were tied up when we passed them earlier," Tigerclaw pointed out. "They may be untied now. We're going this

way," meowed Bluestar. She ducked under the fence into the field. Firepaw slipped after her, followed by Graypaw, Ravenpaw, and finally Tigerclaw. By now, the sun had lifted its head above the horizon. The hedgerows sparkled with dew, promising another warm day. The cats padded along the edge of the ditch. Firepaw looked down into the deep gully, steep- sided and filled with nettles. Firepaw could smell prey-scent. There was something familiar about the bitter odor, but it was one he hadn't smelled for a long time. An earsplitting squeal made Firepaw whip around. Ravenpaw was struggling and clawing at the earth. Something had hold of his leg and was dragging him down into the ditch. "Rats!" spat Tigerclaw. "Barley has sent us into a trap!" Before they could react, all five cats were surrounded. Huge brown rats swarmed out of the ditch, squeaking shrilly. Firepaw could see their sharp front teeth glinting in the early dawn light. Suddenly one leaped onto Firepaw's shoulder.