Erin Hunter - The First Battle

CLEAR SKYlight gray tom with blue eyes

FALLING FEATHERyoung white she-cat

MOON SHADOWblack tom

LEAFgray-and-white tom

PETALsmall yellow tabby she-cat with green eyes

QUICK WATERgray-and-white she-cat

FIRCONEtortoiseshell tom

NETTLEgray tom

BIRCHbrown-and-white tom

ALDERgray-and-white she-kit

TALL SHADOWblack, thick-furred she-cat with green eyes

GRAY WINGsleek, dark gray tom with golden eyes

JAGGED PEAKsmall gray tabby tom with blue eyes

DAPPLED PELTdelicate tortoiseshell she-cat with golden eyes

RAINSWEPT FLOWERbrown tabby she-cat with blue eyes

SHATTERED ICEgray-and-white tom with green eyes

CLOUD SPOTSlong-furred black tom with white ears, white chest, and two white paws

FROSTpure white tom with blue eyes

JACKDAWS CRYyoung black tom with blue eyes

HAWK SWOOPorange tabby she-cat

WIND RUNNERwiry brown she-cat with yellow eyes

GORSE FURthin, gray tabby tom

TURTLE TAILtortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes

LIGHTNING TAILblack tom

ACORN FURchestnut brown she-cat

THUNDERorange tom with amber eyes and big white paws

OWL EYESgray tom

PEBBLE HEARTbrown tabby tom with amber eyes

SPARROW FURtortoiseshell she-kit

ROGUE CATS THORNshe-cat with a short, thick gray coat and bright blue eyes

DEWmangy tom with splotchy fur

RIVER RIPPLEsilver, long-furred tom

MISTYgray-and-white she-cat

Water cascaded beyond the cave mouth. A gray tom watched it tumble past. It muffled the wind and softened the jagged peaks beyond, before disappearing far below into a rainbow of spray.

Cats moved behind him, hardly more than shadows in the dappled light of their cavern. Longing misted the gray toms eyes. Twisting back his ears, he listened to their murmuring.

Stones in my nest! An elder croaked irritably. Always stones in my nest.

Ill pick them out. Tiny paws skipped across the cave.

Come back, Jay Frost, a queen called anxiously. Your pads are too soft for sharp stones.

Theyll need to toughen up sooner or later, the elder muttered.

The gray tom turned, his sleek pelt pricking.

Try it, Misty Water. An old ginger tom was nosing a scrawny mouse toward a dull-pelted she-cat.

Misty Water peered at the prey from her nest in the dimpled cavern floor. Give it to a younger cat. She nodded toward Jay Frost as he picked grit from the elders nest.

You must eat, Lions Roar persisted.

Its the last piece of prey, the she-cat protested.

But the hunting party will be back soon. They may have found more, a brown tom called from where he was sharing tongues with a white she-cat at the edge of the cavern.

The gray cat pricked his ears happily. Twisted Branch! Snow Hare! He padded toward the two cats, rearing in surprise as four kits charged across his path.

No rough play! Their mother hurried after them.

Dewy Leaf. The gray tom blinked at the queen. You kitted safely! Im so glad. A purr rumbled in his throat for a moment, then fell quiet. If Moon Shadow had stayed to see his kits, he might still be alive now, he murmured.

Gray Wing?

A cracked mew made him turn. An ancient she-cat was padding from the shadows at the back of the cave.

Stoneteller! Gray Wing hurried toward her. You can see me?

Of course. She stretched her muzzle to greet him. We share the same dream.

He touched his nose to hers, surprised at how cold it was. Hed lived on the moor for so many moons now that hed forgotten how the bone-chilling cold of the mountains never entirely loosened its grip.

He glanced around the cave at his old tribe mates. Can they see us?

We can see out of the dream, Stoneteller told him. They cant see in.

Gray Wing blinked. Am I here, or dreaming in my nest on the moor?

Both. Amusement lit up Stonetellers eyes so that, for a moment, they looked as bright as a kits. For now, all that matters is here.

Gray Wing stiffened as he saw the speckled pelt of a gray she-cat. Quiet Rain. His chest tightened as he recognized his mother curled in her sleeping hollow. Her soft eyes clouded as she followed the rippling light playing on the cave walls. Is she okay? he asked Stoneteller.

Shes fine, Stoneteller assured him.

I wish I could tell her we survived the journey, that Clear Sky is wellJagged Peak, too, despite his injury. She was so worried about us, setting outeven though she told us it was the right thing to do.

Ill let her know, Stoneteller promised.

Gray Wing hardly heard her. Jagged Peak and Clear Sky are well. It was only half true, and that knowledge brought sorrow that stabbed like an icicle at his heart. Should he confess that Jagged Peak was lame now, his hind leg crippled by a fall from a tree? I swore Id protect him.

And what about Clear Sky? Gray Wings littermate might be safe, but he was so changed that Quiet Rain would hardly recognize her firstborn son. They had found the prey-rich land they had hoped for, but the cats that had traveled through the mountains as one had split into two groups when they reached the warm fields and forests of their new home. Clear Sky had taken possession of the woods with a few of his old tribe mates. It pained Gray Wing to admit it, even to himself, but his brother had become brutal in guarding his share of the plentiful prey.

Shame warmed Gray Wings pelt. I failed themand my mother.

He felt Stoneteller trying to catch his eye, but could not meet her gaze.

Its not your fault, Gray Wing. She swung her muzzle toward her skinny tribe mates. Having little makes cats share. She touched her nose to his shoulder softly. Having much makes us greedy.

Gray Wing lifted his head sharply. Did she know what he was thinking? Clear Sky had once been his closest friend. Now they faced each other like rivals.

Ive lived long. Stoneteller tipped her head. I must warn you: greed is only the beginning. Her eyes darkened. There will be war.

Gray Wing swallowed. With Clear Sky?

Dont be scared, Stoneteller soothed.

Gray Wing lifted his head. Im not scared! But his heart quickened. How can I fight my own brother?

Remember the cats who love and trust you, Stoneteller murmured. You and Clear Sky may be divided, but you still have Jagged Peak.

Warmth filled Gray Wings chest as he remembered his younger brothers courage and loyalty.