The Blazing Star by Erin Hunter Page A

his tail at the wound along his face. “Keep thatto remember me by,” he snarled.
    As the rogue slunk away into the forest, Clear Sky felt his legs trembling. He sank to the ground, taking in huge gulps of air. He felt so utterly defeated, as though he would never be able to get up again.
    I’ve made a terrible mistake. . . .

C HAPTER 11

    Gray Wing woke up, blinking at the sunlight that streamed into his den. The kits who shared it with him were nowhere to be seen, their nests cold. Where have they gone? he wondered, struggling to his paws and trying to ignore the ache in his joints. I hope they’re not getting into any trouble. He would never forget how Tom had taken the kits away, and how Turtle Tail had been killed when she went to look for them. And now Tom’s in the forest again. . . .
    Leaving the den, Gray Wing saw that the sun was already high in the sky; it was a crisp, cold day with a hint of frost on the breeze. Tall Shadow was sitting on her rock keeping watch, as usual. Lightning Tail and Shattered Ice were returning from a hunting expedition, a rabbit dangling from each of their jaws, while the three newcomers were practicing their hunting moves in the middle of the clearing.
    I must have slept in again, Gray Wing thought guiltily, remembering the days when he would always be the first cat to wake up.
    An ear-splitting yowl roused Gray Wing from his memories. That’s Wind Runner!
    His pelt prickling with apprehension, Gray Wing turned toward Wind Runner’s den, seeing that several cats were clustered around the entrance. His fear deepening, his heart beginning to pound, he raced over to join them.
    Shouldering his way between Jagged Peak and Dappled Pelt, he saw that Wind Runner’s kit Morning Whisker was lying on her side just inside the den, her belly horribly swollen. Blood was dribbling from her mouth and from sores beneath her fur. Nausea gripped Gray Wing’s belly at the same time as deep compassion welled up inside him.
    She has the sickness!
    â€œI can’t bear it!” Wind Runner whimpered. She was standing a couple of fox-lengths away, leaning on Gorse Fur for support. “I can’t lose another kit! Why couldn’t it be me instead?”
    Then Gray Wing spotted Pebble Heart slipping into the den beside Morning Whisker and leaning over her, opening his jaws to push some chewed-up herb into the sick kit’s mouth. Her littermates, Moth Flight and Dust Muzzle, watched anxiously from their mother’s side.
    Instinctively Gray Wing sprang forward and knocked Pebble Heart away from the struggling kit, spinning him around to face him. “What are you doing?” he demanded angrily. “Stay away from that kit! She’s dying!”
    Pebble Heart set the lump of chewed leaves down carefully. “I know,” he replied. “I was helping to treat her. Cloud Spots says that tansy—”
    â€œWhere is Cloud Spots?” Gray Wing interrupted. “Heshould be dealing with this, not a cat as young as you.”
    Pebble Heart rubbed his cheek affectionately against Gray Wing’s shoulder. “Cloud Spots went to gather herbs. We’ve been using the tansy, and we’ve nearly finished what we had in our collection. We need more, so Cloud Spots left me in charge.”
    Gray Wing closed his eyes, feeling like a complete mouse-brain. “Oh . . .” he muttered. His instincts still screamed at him to keep Pebble Heart away from the sick cat, although he knew that that poor little Morning Whisker had no other hope. Pebble Heart is special, he reminded himself. He has his own path to follow.
    â€œI’m going to give this tansy to Morning Whisker,” Pebble Heart mewed, picking up the chewed-up lump and gently forcing it between her jaws. “Don’t worry. Cloud Spots told me to be careful not to touch her sores or let her breathe on me.”
    As Gray Wing watched, Owl Eyes slipped up to his