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Dead leaves fluttered out behind him The vole turned at the sound its eyes widening in terror Fast as lightning it scuttled out of sight Clear Sky landed clumsily thumping against the sycamore root Mouse dung he hissed frustration flashing though him Leaves rustled behind and he turned Star Flower was standing at the top of the slope Her lustrous tail was high and her eyes glittered with amusement Nice try Heat flooded beneath Clear Skys pelt You scared it off He straightened angrily It probably smelled your scent She padded closer her tail swishing At least something did You were downwind Clear Sky grunted Was she trying to embarrass him Perhaps I could give you some tips She stopped a taillength away Ive been hunting here all my life Clear Sky climbed onto the root and sat down I dont need tips thanks Im a great hunter He lifted a paw and began washing it I know that Star Flower rounded the end of the root where it plunged into the earth

stopping on the other side But you werent born in a forest You dont have the same feel for it as me Leaf and Nettle share an instinct Youve seen them hunt You must have noticed how they can blend into the woods in a way youll never be able to Clear Sky stopped washing Thats why I took them into my group he said his chest puffing with pride Any cat could hunt but few had the sense to recognize and use the skills of other cats He leaned toward Star Flower Perhaps I should give you some tips about leadership Her green eyes glowed with a challenge Perhaps you should Clear Sky snorted Proud young cat What are you doing here anyway You looked lonely leaving the camp by yourself she told him I dont get lonely Clear Sky snapped Star Flower eyed him for a moment Really She padded forward until she was just a whisker away from him He hopped down from the tree root and faced her Go back to camp and leave me alone Its too cozy in camp Im not used to being around so many cats For most of my life it was just me and One Eye Surely you had littermates Clear Sky bristled with irritation the moment he spoke Hed allowed her to draw him into a conversation They died with my mother Her green eyes showed no expression Clear Skys paws pricked uneasily Did she feel no grief How did they die I dont know Star Flower shrugged I was too young to remember and One Eye refused to ever speak of them Clear Sky strode past her and gazed away between the trees He wasnt going to feel sympathy for this cat This was probably how she had won Thunders

affection That must have been hard for you he meowed coldly But every cat holds some tragedy in their heart Like you She moved closer until her thick pelt brushed his Clear Sky flinched away and glared at her Go back to camp Were more alike than you think Her green gaze seemed to burn into his Were nothing alike he snapped Ive never betrayed any cat Im not sure Gray Wing would agree with that Star Flower pointed out Or Thunder Or Jagged Peak She paused Or Rainswept Flower Claw Sky could feel his claws extended digging into the earth How dare she remind him that hed killed a cat hed grown up with He had been trying to make amends for it every day since Star Flower lowered her voice I understand you Clear Sky Youve had to make hard decisions to protect the cats in your care And sometimes its meant doing things youve regretted She held his gaze If I could take back some of the things Ive done I would He blinked Was she sorry for her betrayal Her eyes glimmered as though lit by starlight Her dark pupils looked like flowers To Clear Sky it was almost like the five petals of the Blazing Star seemed to shine in her eyes I know you dont trust me she murmured I dont deserve your trust But I will try to show you that you can count on me Once I choose my

allies I am willing to die for them For all my mistakes I never betrayed my father And if you trust me I will never betray you Clear Sky fought to drag his gaze away but he was caught in the green depths of her eyes I will never betray you As her words echoed in his mind his heart ached with hope Could it be true Had he finally found a cat who had complete faith in him Who would follow him without question through thick and thin Wind rattled the branches overhead breaking the spell Clear Sky turned away Go back to camp Star Flower he meowed firmly If you want to earn my trustand the trust of the other catsthen youll have to work for it Help Milkweed groom the last of the fleas from her pelt Get fresh moss for Pink Eyess nest His fur is thin so he feels the cold more than most cats Make sure Thistle and Clover never go hungry again He faced Star Flower searching her gaze Would she obey him She dipped her head Okay Then she turned and

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