you for doing this. Youâre right; they deserve to choose the life they lead. Just as we did, a long time ago.â
Side by side, they padded into the sunshine. Ravenpaw forgot the tiredness in his legs as he trotted beside Barley. Riley and Bella took the lead, calling back to let the older cats know about every new scent, every ripple in the river, every crushed leaf.
âTheyâre certainly observant,â Barley commented as they all stopped to look at a dragonfly that Bella had spotted on a reed.
As dusk fell, they reached a shallow pool fed by a low waterfall. Ravenpaw and Barley settled onto warm, flat boulders and basked in the final rays of the sun while the young cats played at the edge of the water, chasing rainbows in the spray. Riley ventured too far from the shore with one leap and vanished into the pool with a splash. Bella squeaked in horror,but a moment later her brother emerged, scattering drops of water, with a wriggling fish in his jaws. He scrambled out and dropped it triumphantly beside Ravenpaw and Barley.
âLook what I caught!â he announced.
âCaught? Or did it land in your mouth when you fell?â Barley teased.
âWhatever happened, itâs the best fresh-kill weâve had in a while,â Ravenpaw purred. âWell done, Riley!â
The gray tabby shook his fur, making Bella spring away with a yelp as water spattered her pelt. Ravenpaw let them start eating first. He was conscious of Barley standing very close to him as they watched the young cats tuck in.
âI canât believe how well theyâve settled into living wild,â Barley murmured. âYouâve done a great job.â
âTheyâve been very brave,â Ravenpaw replied. âIâm proud of them.â
Barley leaned against him, smelling warm and soft and familiar. âYou should be,â he whispered.
C HAPTER S EVEN
They slept in the long grass beside the waterfall, lulled by the soft splash of water, and woke as the first rays of sun crested the trees. Barley caught a squirrel, and Ravenpaw was relieved to see Bella eating as eagerly as her brother once more.
The river grew steadily narrower and shallower beside them until it was tumbling between steep sandy banks, with barely enough room for the cats to squeeze through beside the water. They walked in single file, Ravenpaw in the lead and Barley bringing up the rear. Riley and Bella were full of chatter, competing to spot minnows beneath the glittering surface. Ravenpaw only listened with half an ear; he knew they were approaching the end of the river, and that meant they could cross SkyClanâs boundary at any moment.
âIâm as hot as a fox on fire!â Barley panted. âCan we find somewhere shady to stop?â
Ravenpaw narrowed his eyes. There seemed to be nothing but the stream and its sandy banks ahead of them. There were trees at the top of the banks, but he doubted they could scramble up the sheer slope. Then Riley squeezed past him.
âIâll take a look!â The gray tom ran a short distance alongthe bank to some gorse bushes. He paused to sniff them, then vanished from sight.
When the others caught up to him, Riley was peeking smugly from a small cave sheltered by the gorse. It was cozy but shallow, with just enough room for the four cats to lie down.
âIâm hungry,â Bella mewed.
âWeâll rest here for a moment, then find somewhere to hunt,â Ravenpaw promised. His paws were sore from the scorching sand, and his belly was aching. As the others settled around him, he closed his eyes.
Suddenly his nose filled with powerfully familiar scents. He heard soft whispers, not from his companions but from two other cats. These were voices he hadnât heard in a long time, and Ravenpawâs heart leaped. Although he couldnât make out the words, he knew he was listening to Firestar and Sandstorm. He could feel them all around him, nervous and
Side by side, they padded into the sunshine. Ravenpaw forgot the tiredness in his legs as he trotted beside Barley. Riley and Bella took the lead, calling back to let the older cats know about every new scent, every ripple in the river, every crushed leaf.
âTheyâre certainly observant,â Barley commented as they all stopped to look at a dragonfly that Bella had spotted on a reed.
As dusk fell, they reached a shallow pool fed by a low waterfall. Ravenpaw and Barley settled onto warm, flat boulders and basked in the final rays of the sun while the young cats played at the edge of the water, chasing rainbows in the spray. Riley ventured too far from the shore with one leap and vanished into the pool with a splash. Bella squeaked in horror,but a moment later her brother emerged, scattering drops of water, with a wriggling fish in his jaws. He scrambled out and dropped it triumphantly beside Ravenpaw and Barley.
âLook what I caught!â he announced.
âCaught? Or did it land in your mouth when you fell?â Barley teased.
âWhatever happened, itâs the best fresh-kill weâve had in a while,â Ravenpaw purred. âWell done, Riley!â
The gray tabby shook his fur, making Bella spring away with a yelp as water spattered her pelt. Ravenpaw let them start eating first. He was conscious of Barley standing very close to him as they watched the young cats tuck in.
âI canât believe how well theyâve settled into living wild,â Barley murmured. âYouâve done a great job.â
âTheyâve been very brave,â Ravenpaw replied. âIâm proud of them.â
Barley leaned against him, smelling warm and soft and familiar. âYou should be,â he whispered.
C HAPTER S EVEN
They slept in the long grass beside the waterfall, lulled by the soft splash of water, and woke as the first rays of sun crested the trees. Barley caught a squirrel, and Ravenpaw was relieved to see Bella eating as eagerly as her brother once more.
The river grew steadily narrower and shallower beside them until it was tumbling between steep sandy banks, with barely enough room for the cats to squeeze through beside the water. They walked in single file, Ravenpaw in the lead and Barley bringing up the rear. Riley and Bella were full of chatter, competing to spot minnows beneath the glittering surface. Ravenpaw only listened with half an ear; he knew they were approaching the end of the river, and that meant they could cross SkyClanâs boundary at any moment.
âIâm as hot as a fox on fire!â Barley panted. âCan we find somewhere shady to stop?â
Ravenpaw narrowed his eyes. There seemed to be nothing but the stream and its sandy banks ahead of them. There were trees at the top of the banks, but he doubted they could scramble up the sheer slope. Then Riley squeezed past him.
âIâll take a look!â The gray tom ran a short distance alongthe bank to some gorse bushes. He paused to sniff them, then vanished from sight.
When the others caught up to him, Riley was peeking smugly from a small cave sheltered by the gorse. It was cozy but shallow, with just enough room for the four cats to lie down.
âIâm hungry,â Bella mewed.
âWeâll rest here for a moment, then find somewhere to hunt,â Ravenpaw promised. His paws were sore from the scorching sand, and his belly was aching. As the others settled around him, he closed his eyes.
Suddenly his nose filled with powerfully familiar scents. He heard soft whispers, not from his companions but from two other cats. These were voices he hadnât heard in a long time, and Ravenpawâs heart leaped. Although he couldnât make out the words, he knew he was listening to Firestar and Sandstorm. He could feel them all around him, nervous and
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