A Forest Divided by Erin Hunter Page B

ears. Something was moving beyond the yew.
    â€œListen, do you hear that?” he hissed at Clear Sky.
    Clear Sky whisked his tail. “It’s probably a squirrel. We can hunt it on the way home.” He headed toward the Twolegplace.
    â€œWe should catch it now.” They’d already missed one today. Had Clear Sky forgotten it was leaf-bare? They couldn’t afford to ignore prey.
    â€œThen go catch it,” Clear Sky called back.
    Thunder ducked under the yew. Its dripping branches scraped his spine. Through its tangy scent he could smell more than squirrel. A second scent touched his nose—a familiar smell. His hackles lifted as he heard the crunch of tooth on bone. Dragging his belly over the cold wet earth, he peered out through the fronds on the far side.
    A golden she-cat was bent over a dead squirrel. From its scent it was freshly caught. Thunder unsheathed his claws. This cat’s tabby markings, and her white chest and paws, were so familiar they made his heart ache.
    He slid from under the yew and glared at her. “Star Flower.”
    Star Flower turned, gazing at him with luminous green eyes. “Hi, Thunder. What are you doing in the forest? I thought you were a moor cat.”
    Thunder bristled. “What am I doing?” Didn’t she realize she was hunting on Clear Sky’s territory? “How can you show your face here after—”
    She cut him off. “After what?” She tipped her head, her gaze steady. “After you murdered my father?”
    She was talking about the rogue cat called One Eye, who had taken over Clear Sky’s territory by force, viciouslyattacking any cat who disobeyed him. The cats of the forest had to stop him! But Star Flower had loved her father, despite his obvious faults. Just like I loved her, he thought.
    He no longer had feelings for her, though. He was nearly sure of it.
    â€œIt wasn’t like that,” Thunder insisted.
    â€œReally?” Star Flower swished her thick tail and turned back to her squirrel.
    Thunder stared at her, bristling with indignation. If they hadn’t stopped him, One Eye would have killed every cat on the moor.
    Star Flower glanced at him. “Do you want a bite?”
    Heat flashed beneath Thunder’s pelt. “A bite? Are we allies now? Don’t you care about anything ?”
    Star Flower lifted her head, her green eyes glimmering. “I care enough to forgive you.”
    â€œForgive me ?” Thunder snorted. “You’re the one who betrayed us!”
    â€œAnd you’re the one who helped kill my father,” Star Flower replied steadily.
    The yew rustled behind Thunder.
    â€œThat wasn’t my son’s fault.” Clear Sky pushed his way through the branches. “If you want to blame any cat for One Eye’s death, blame me.”
    Star Flower’s gaze flitted thoughtfully over Clear Sky. “You’re the cat who took my father in, aren’t you?”
    Thunder threw her a warning look—Clear Sky wouldn’twant to be reminded of his mistake. He blinked with surprise as Clear Sky dipped his head.
    â€œYes, that was me.”
    How can he be so polite?
    Star Flower’s hackles softened. “That was kind of you.” She brushed past Thunder and stopped a whisker from Clear Sky’s muzzle. “Would you be kind once more and take me in?”
    Thunder stared at her.
    â€œIt’s hard for a loner,” she went on, her mew silky. “I know you don’t trust me, but you should. I was loyal to my father to the end.” Her gaze flicked briefly toward Thunder. “Isn’t that true loyalty?”
    Thunder swallowed back anger. Is she saying I’m disloyal for leaving Clear Sky all those moons ago? He watched his father nervously. Would Star Flower’s honeyed words work on him? Relief washed his pelt as Clear Sky shook his head.
    â€œI can’t let you join us,” he told her. “Your father