With a roar of fury Raggedpelt sprang at him; his claws slashed across Hal’s throat. Yellowfang felt agony flash across her neck and through all her body, and for a heartbeat the snow-covered forest turned black in her eyes.
When she recovered, panting and blinking, she saw Hal’s body lying limp on the ground with a great gush of scarlet blood flowing from his throat, staining the snow. “You killed him!” she gasped, staring in horror.
“He should have left when he had the chance,” Raggedpelt snarled.
“But he was your father!” Yellowfang protested.
Raggedpelt turned to face her. Yellowfang could see her own horror reflected in his eyes, but his voice was cold. “He was nothing but a useless kittypet.”
Before Yellowfang could say more, new cat scent drifted over her. Russetpaw and Boulder emerged through the trees along with Frogtail and Deerleap.
“What’s going on?” Boulder demanded.
“Marmalade and the kittypets are attacking our camp,” Yellowfang explained. “They think we’re keeping you as prisoners.”
As she spoke, Russetpaw spotted Hal’s body and bounded forward to stand over him, looking down at him in dismay. “What happened?” she gasped, her voice shaking.
“He tried to attack Yellowfang,” Raggedpelt replied. “I had no choice.”
Russetpaw and Boulder exchanged a horrified glance. Yellowfang opened her jaws to contradict Raggedpelt’s lie, then picked up his amber glare and knew there was nothing she could say that wouldn’t make everything worse.
“But the warrior code says…” Boulder began.
“This cat wasn’t part of the warrior code,” Raggedpelt interrupted. “Now come back to camp and tell the rest of these wretched cats that you don’t need rescuing.”
He set off toward the camp at a run. Boulder hesitated for a moment, then followed. Frogtail and Deerleap bounded after them.
Russetpaw remained standing over Hal’s body, gazing down at him with grief in her eyes.
Yellowfang padded up to her and gave her a gentle nudge. “We have to go.”
“He was my father,” Russetpaw whispered.
Yellowfang gave Russetpaw another nudge and padded beside her until they reached the camp. Looking around, Yellowfang saw that although one or two skirmishes were still going on, most of the kittypets had surrendered. Clan cats stood over them, their flanks heaving and blood dripping from their scratches.
Cedarstar was standing in the center of the clearing. “Here are Russetpaw and Boulder.” His eyes gleamed as he beckoned the two young cats with his tail. “Let them step forward.”
Russetpaw and Boulder padded up to their Clan leader, a mixture of embarrassment and horror in their faces as they looked around at the battle-torn cats.
Cedarstar angled his ears toward Marmalade. “Tell this cat why you are here,” he commanded.
“We wanted to see what life was like in the forest,” Boulder began, raising his head confidently. “And we think it’s good.”
“We chose to stay,” Russetpaw added, ducking her head at Marmalade. “They’re not keeping us prisoners.”
Marmalade’s mouth fell open.
Pixie bounded up to his side, her eyes wide with astonishment. “How can you prefer to live with these wild, cruel creatures?” she demanded. “We came to rescue you!”
“Cruel?” There was an edge to Cedarstar’s voice. “We aren’t the cats who attacked. If you had come here peacefully and
“It was Hal’s idea,” Marmalade admitted. “He refused to give up on you, Red. Where is he, by the way?” he added, glancing around.
“He’s dead,” Russetpaw choked out.
Marmalade and Pixie exchanged a horrified glance. Yellowfang heard a gasp from Featherstorm, too. Glancing at her, she saw nothing that suggested grief or shock in her expression, but Yellowfang guessed that the she-cat was not as indifferent as she liked to pretend.
“He had to die,” Raggedpelt growled. “He was attacking Yellowfang.”
“You may take his body away,” Cedarstar told Marmalade. “Leave our territory and stay out of it. We have treated you gently this time, believe me.”
Marmalade let out an angry hiss, but he turned to leave.
Pixie padded up to Russetpaw and Boulder. “If you ever change your mind, you’ll always be welcome to come back.”
“Thank you,” Boulder replied, dipping his head. “But we’re warriors now.”
Pixie shook her head sadly. “Hal paid for this with his life,” she mewed. “And it was all for nothing.”
“He was very brave,” Russetpaw murmured, her eyes still full of grief. “We won’t forget him, I promise.”
Yellowfang looked around for Raggedpelt, who had retreated to lurk at the edge of the clearing.
