OTHER CATS IN MOUNTAINS

FLORA—dark brown-and-white she-cat with green eyes

THE ANCIENTS

BROKEN SHADOW—slender orange she-cat with white paws and amber eyes

WHISPERING BREEZE—silver-gray she-cat with blue eyes

STONE SONG—dark gray tabby tom with blue eyes

CHASING CLOUDS—gray-and-white tom with blue eyes

FURLED BRACKEN—dark ginger tabby tom with amber eyes

CLOUDY SUN—pale ginger she-cat with green eyes

RUNNING HORSE—dark brown tom with yellow eyes

RISING MOON—gray-and-white she-cat with blue eyes

JAGGED LIGHTNING—black-and-white tom with amber eyes

SHY FAWN—dusty brown she-cat with amber eyes

DAWN RIVER—tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes

FISH LEAP—brown tabby tom with amber eyes

HALF MOON—white she-cat with green eyes

OWL FEATHER—wiry brown she-cat with yellow eyes

JAY’S WING—gray tabby tom with blue eyes

DOVE’S WING— pale gray she-cat with blue eyes

PROLOGUE

Water thundered down from the mountaintop, screening the entrance to the cave with a shimmering cascade. Gray light filtered through it and shadows gathered in the corners of the cavern like soft black wings. Near the sheet of falling water, two kits were scuffling over a bunch of feathers, batting it back and forth and letting out shrill squeals of excitement. The pale tabby fur of the little she-cat and the tom’s brown pelt almost blended into the dark stone floor.

At the back of the cave, an old brown tabby tom was crouching in the mouth of a tunnel. His eyes were narrowed, and his amber gaze never left the kits. He was motionless, except for the occasional twitch of his ears.

The tabby kit leaped high into the air, clawing at the feathers; as she landed with the bunch in her paws her brother flung himself on top of her, rolling over and snapping at the feathers with teeth like tiny white thorns.

“That’s enough.” A gentle voice came from close by as a graceful brown tabby she-cat rose to her paws and padded across to the kits. “Mind you don’t get too close to the water. And Pine, why don’t you try jumping high like Lark? You need to practice for when you’re a prey-hunter.”

“I’d rather be a cave-guard,” Pine mewed. “I’d fight every cat that tried to trespass on our territory.”

“Well, you can’t, because I will,” Lark retorted. “I’m going to be a cave-guard and hunt prey, so there!”

“That’s not how we do things,” their mother began; a swift glance over her shoulder showed that she was aware of the old cat watching from the shadows. “Every Tribe kit has to—”

She broke off at the sound of paw steps coming from the narrow path that led behind the waterfall and into the cave. A broad-shouldered gray-furred cat appeared, followed by the rest of his patrol. Instantly the kits let out squeals of welcome and hurled themselves at him.