The Blazing Star by Erin Hunter Read Free Book Online Page A

devoured the forest. I don’t want to go through anything like that again.
    Then he spotted Acorn Fur rolling around in a hollow of dead leaves, batting at them with all four paws. He rolled his eyes. Well, she’s hardly more than a kit. . . .
    â€œAcorn Fur—” he began.
    â€œStop messing about,” Tom interrupted with a snarl. “I’m starving, and I haven’t eaten since morning.”
    Acorn Fur clambered out of the hollow, a hurt look in her eyes as she shook scraps of leaf off her fur. “Sorry,” she muttered.
    Clear Sky glanced across at Tom, seeing that his belly had shrunk in the few days since he joined the group. And a good thing too!
    â€œIn the forest we only eat when there’s food available,” he meowed gently. “It’s something we must all get used to. I remember when—”
    â€œDon’t tell me again about how you were all starving in the mountains,” Tom interrupted again. “I’ve heard that story too many times!”
    â€œI never asked you to join the group,” Clear Sky retorted, his voice rough with the beginnings of a snarl. “You can leave anytime you like.”
    Tom looked like he was about to start arguing, but clearly had the sense to keep his jaws shut. Clear Sky relaxed, glad that the confrontation was over.
    Her paws pattering on the dead leaves, Acorn Fur bounded up and brushed her pelt against his. She seemed ready to do the same to Tom, then halted, her nose wrinkling slightly.
    â€œI’m sorry if I messed up,” she mewed. “I don’t want to start a fight. The last moon has been so great.”
    â€œTrue,” Clear Sky murmured. Now that normal life had replaced the constant skirmishing, it had been a relief to sleep through the night and wake up refreshed. He suppressed ashiver at the thought of the nightmares that had plagued his rest for so long. He’d been so worried about protecting his cats and their territory, ensuring that every cat had enough to eat. It hadn’t been easy. It would be good now to share prey and territories, to pull together.
    As the patrol set out again, a rustling sounded from the edge of the forest. Instantly One Eye whirled in the direction of the noise. “Get off our territory!” he snarled. “Whoever you are.”
    â€œHey, wait!” Clear Sky meowed. “We don’t have trespassers now!”
    But he was too late. While he was still speaking, Tom charged off toward the sound, his fur bristling up like a hedgehog’s spines. Clear Sky raced after him, with Acorn Fur dashing alongside, eager to help. One Eye trailed after them as if he had lost interest.
    â€œStay out of the way!” Clear Sky ordered Acorn Fur as he threw himself in front of Tom.
    The kittypet was facing a dangerous-looking tabby tom, muscular, with small ears, like a mouse’s. Tom was snarling and flourishing his claws, but it was obvious to Clear Sky that he had no idea how to fight.
    â€œBack off, unless you want your ears shredded!” Clear Sky snapped at Tom, pushing him away.
    He was vaguely aware of other voices calling at a distance, and a few heartbeats later Gray Wing and Thunder emerged from the undergrowth, their eyes wide as they padded up to the group of cats.
    â€œOkay, Mouse Ear, keep calm,” Gray Wing meowed, brushing the tabby tom’s shoulder with his tail. “It was all amisunderstanding. There’s no need to fight.”
    Meanwhile Thunder was gazing curiously at One Eye. “Who is this?” he asked.
    â€œA new friend,” Clear Sky replied, dipping his head to his son. “His name is One Eye. He joined my group a few sunrises ago. And this—” he began, stretching a paw out toward Tom.
    â€œYou don’t need to tell us.” Clear Sky was startled to hear the growl in Gray Wing’s voice—his brother was usually the calmest of cats. “We know all about