Firestar's Quest by Erin Hunter Read Free Book Online Page B

rabbit that jumped up under his paws and fled down the slope, its white tail bobbing.Firestar’s paws itched to chase it, but he wouldn’t take prey on another Clan’s territory; besides, a Clan leader who traveled to Highstones to meet with StarClan at the Moonstone wasn’t allowed to eat on the journey.
    The sun had risen by the time the barren moorland gave way to lush meadows bounded by hedges and Twoleg fences. A Twoleg nest came into sight, and Firestar heard the distant barking of a dog. He looked around warily, tasting the air, but the dog scent was stale, and he reminded himself that by now the farm dogs, who were left to run loose at night, would be tied up again.
    He skirted the Twoleg nest, slinking along in the shadow of a hedge. Another scent drifted toward him, stronger and fresher than the scent of dog: rats! Firestar paused, remembering how on his first journey to Highstones Bluestar had lost a life in a battle with rats very near this place. Pinpointing the source of the scent, he realized that he was downwind of it; with any luck he could pass without letting the rats know he was here.
    Not far away from the Twoleg nest was a barn built of rough stone. Firestar headed for it and halted outside the door. A strong scent of cats flowed out of a gap at the bottom. Firestar felt a purr growing in his chest. “Hi,” he mewed. “Can I come in?”
    â€œFirestar!” A delighted meow came from inside the barn, and a black cat’s head poked out of the gap. “What are you doing here?”
    Firestar slid through the door and stood among the dustyscraps of straw on the floor of the barn. He was greeted enthusiastically by Ravenpaw, who had been a ThunderClan apprentice when Firestar first came to the forest. Ravenpaw had known too much about Tigerstar’s crimes, and Firestar had brought him to the barn before the bloodthirsty deputy murdered him to keep him quiet. Ravenpaw had been scrawny and nervous back then; now he was sleek and full-fed, his black pelt shining in the sunlight that angled through a hole in the barn roof.
    â€œIt’s good to see you again,” Firestar meowed. The last time he and Ravenpaw had met was at the battle with BloodClan, when the black cat and his friend Barley had joined in the fight with the forest cats.
    â€œWelcome.” Ravenpaw touched noses with his former Clanmate. “Is all well in ThunderClan?”
    â€œFine,” Firestar replied. “But I—”
    He broke off as another voice called out a greeting. Barley, the black-and-white cat who shared the barn with Ravenpaw, appeared at the top of a pile of straw bales and dropped neatly down at Firestar’s side. He was a short, compact cat, well muscled, even though his belly was a bit too plump from all the mice that lived in the barn.
    â€œDo you want to hunt?” he offered. “There’s plenty of prey. Take as much as you like.”
    â€œI’m sorry, I can’t,” Firestar answered regretfully. Water flooded his jaws at the smell of mice; he could hear the tiny squeakings among the straw. “I’m on my way to the Moonstone, so I’m not allowed to eat.”
    â€œThat’s tough,” meowed Ravenpaw. “But you can rest here, can’t you? There’s no point in going to Highstones yet. You’ll arrive long before sunset.”
    â€œThanks. I’m so tired I could sleep on my paws.”
    Ravenpaw led the way to the opposite side of the barn, where he and Barley had made nests in a loose heap of hay. Barley left them to talk together, giving Firestar a friendly nod before sliding out of the barn.
    Firestar turned around two or three times, making himself a comfortable spot before curling up with the sweet-smelling stems tickling his nose.
    â€œSo, what brings you to the Moonstone?” Ravenpaw asked, and added hastily, “You don’t have to tell me.”
    Firestar hesitated. So far the only cat