Graypaw bounded ahead, her tail swishing. As they rounded a bend in the river, Crookedjaw glimpsed the Twoleg bridge. Trees crowded the bank beyond it. Their leaves whispered in the breeze. They could fish from there and eat, shaded from the hot sun.
“Wait.” He signaled to the patrol with his tail and called Graypaw back. They were approaching the path that crossed the bridge. “Can anyone detect Twolegs?”
Brightsky was already tasting the air. “The wind’s blowing upstream.”
Mudfur pricked his ears. “I can’t hear anything.”
Crookedjaw stalked forward, keeping low. “Follow me.” He crept up the bank where the legs of the bridge dug into the shore and padded on to the wooden pathway. The river splashed beneath as he sniffed the warm timber. His Clanmates crept after him, padding from side to side of the bridge and checking for scents.
“Come back!” Brightsky’s alarmed call made Crookedjaw look up. Graypaw had crossed the bridge and was sniffing the bank on the far side.
“But it’s our territory!” Graypaw called back. “Right up to the waterfall!”
A growl rumbled in Brightsky’s throat. “I don’t know why Fallowtail didn’t raise that kit to do as she’s told!”
Mudfur purred. “Apprentices never do as they’re told.” His eyes sparkled as he glanced at Crookedjaw. “Do they?”
Crookedjaw whisked his tail. “Only fish-brains follow rules without question!” With a lurch, he suddenly realized that Oakheart had dropped into a crouch and was growling.
“What?” Crookedjaw followed his brother’s gaze and felt his hackles lift.
A flash of white showed between the trees on the other shore. Then a flash of red. Then green and blue.
“Twolegs!” Crookedjaw froze, heart racing. Twoleg kits were scampering between the trees on the other side of the bridge, only a few tail-lengths from Graypaw.
Brightsky had already darted forward, hissing to her apprentice. “Run!”
Graypaw was staring at the Twoleg kits, her fur bushed up, eyes glittering.
“Run!” Mudfur yowled.
The kits turned. With a whoop, they spotted Graypaw.
Crookedjaw’s heart rose in his throat. “Run!”
The dumb ’paw was rooted to the spot. Crookedjaw charged forward, darting past Brightsky. “Come on!”
The bridge trembled as she dashed after him. One of the Twoleg kits was holding out a paw. Graypaw stared at it, stiff with terror. Crookedjaw raced between the Twoleg kit’s paws, spitting with fury. The Twoleg yelped and hopped away. Brightsky raced past Graypaw, grasping her scruff and dragging her along until the apprentice squealed and struggled free.
“Run!” Brightsky yowled.
Shaken from her moment of terror, Graypaw hurtled back across the bridge. Brightsky pelted after her. Crookedjaw ducked back past the Twoleg. With a jolt of horror, he felt its paws grasp his pelt. Struggling wildly, he broke free, yowling with pain as the Twoleg ripped out a clump of fur. His paws slipped on the wood as he hit the bridge. Unsheathing his claws, he dug them deep and pushed hard. He crossed the bridge in two breaths.
“Come on!” he called to his patrol as he raced past them. Glancing over his shoulder, he made sure his Clanmates were following, then leaped on to the shore. He slowed to let them pass and fell in behind as they raced downstream. There was no way he was going to let any of them out of his sight till they were back in the safety of camp.
The cries of the Twoleg kits faded as they neared camp. Spotting the reed bed, Crookedjaw slowed. His lungs were splitting. He slowed to a stop and hung his head, gulping air. Brightsky pulled up, too, alongside Oakheart and Mudfur. Graypaw kept running until she reached the reed bed and she plunged in, splashing through the river as she pushed her way home.
Brightsky watched her go. “Don’t worry,” she mewed. “She’s a strong swimmer.”
Crookedjaw nodded, too winded to speak.
Oakheart was still bristling and Mudfur paced, catching his breath and letting his pelt smooth. As they slowly recovered, paw steps sounded beside the shore. Crookedjaw looked up the bank as Graypaw led Hailstar and Echomist out of the marsh grass.
Hailstar’s fur was pricking. “Graypaw told us what happened.”
Fallowtail pressed her cheek to Crookedjaw’s. “Thank you for saving my kit,” she whispered.
Crookedjaw twitched. “She could have done more to save herself,” he muttered as he followed the she-cat into the clearing.
It looked like the whole Clan was waiting for them, their eyes bright with worry. Graypaw had clearly told them about her near-capture.
“Why can’t Twolegs stay on their own territory?” Troutclaw protested. “When I was a kit, we hardly ever saw one. Now they’re here every greenleaf, making a nuisance of themselves.”
Hailstar shook his head. “It’s just the way it is,” he sighed. “We must be more cautious.”
Echomist wrapped her tail over Graypaw. “Perhaps we should shrink our borders, just while the Twolegs are around?”
“Shrink our borders!” Whitefang was awake now and spitting with anger. “Why should we? We’re not scared of Twolegs!”
