Free Path of Stars by Erin Hunter Page A

trees. “Over here!
    Paws pounded across the ground, and a moment later Mouse Ear crashed from the darkness. Pebble Heart pulled up beside him.
    â€œIt’s this way,” Gray Wing told them, ducking onto the bramble-strewn trail he’d followed earlier. He led them as the trees thickened around him. The foul stench of the Thunderpath touched his nose. He pricked his ears, hearing nothing but the distant rumble of a monster. Hope pricked in his heart for a moment. No battle cries. The rogues hadn’t reached Star Flower yet. But why wasn’t she yowling with pain? What if she . . . ? He pushed fear away as it threatened to swamp him and hurried faster between the trees.
    Holly was at his tail as the trail narrowed between the brambles. He could hear her campmates pounding behind her. Ahead the monster’s roar grew. He broke from the trees as it passed, blinding him with its blazing eyes.
    He blinked, startled for a moment, and then, as the monster pounded away, scanned the verge.
    Reed was still crouching where he’d left him. Star Flower lay on the grass beside him.
    â€œIs she okay?” Gray Wing hurried to his side. The queenwas panting hard. He stiffened as he saw Reed’s paws glistening darkly. “Is that blood?”
    â€œYes.” Panic showed in the silver tom’s eyes. “I found some thyme to help with the shock, and she’s focusing on her breathing to help with the pain, but I can’t stop the bleeding.”
    Pebble Heart nosed past him. “Any sign of the kits?”
    Reed met the young tom’s gaze. “Not yet, but I hope it won’t be long. There’s too much blood.”
    Holly pushed past Gray Wing. “We must get her back to the camp.” She nodded to Sun Shadow.
    The black tom leaned down and shoved his nose beneath Star Flower’s shoulders. She grunted as he heaved her up onto his back.
    Mouse Ear quickly ducked beneath her. Reed pressed against her flank. Pebble Heart darted to her other side. Supporting the queen between them, the four cats began to head into the forest.
    Star Flower groaned. She dipped and rose like a leaf being carried downstream as they moved.
    â€œStay close to each other,” Holly ordered. “You mustn’t let her fall.”
    â€œWe won’t,” Sun Shadow grunted.
    Gray Wing followed, recovering his breath as they moved slowly between the trees.
    They swerved to avoid the ditches, taking the long trail around. As they neared the bramble wall of the camp, Gray Wing heard paws pounding the earth behind them. His heart lurched as he stopped and scanned the shadows. Were therogues following their trail?
    Eyes glinted between the trees.
    â€œGray Wing!” Lightning Tail’s mew rang out. He hurried closer, his black pelt dappled by moonlight. Leaf was at his heels.
    â€œWhere are the rogues?” Gray Wing glanced past the two cats anxiously.
    â€œWe chased them off,” Leaf told him.
    Lighting Tail blinked at Star Flower as the others carried her into camp. “Is she hurt?”
    â€œThe kits are coming,” Gray Wing told him, “and they’re very early.”
    Leaf frowned. “Does Clear Sky know?”
    Gray Wing stiffened. Clear Sky! He’d been so panicked about Star Flower that he hadn’t thought about his brother. Had the other leaders told him of the plan to rescue Star Flower yet? He dashed away, calling over his shoulder. “Tell Jagged Peak I’ll bring Clear Sky as soon as I find him!” His mind whirled. Where was he? At the four trees hollow? On his way to get Star Flower?
    I have to cut him off. Gray Wing quickened his pace. Slash might have learned about Star Flower’s escape by now. What if he’d sent out a patrol? Clear Sky mustn’t run into a band of angry rogues. He imagined Clear Sky backed against a tree, hackles up, teeth bared, rogues closing in on him.
    Fear spiraling, Gray Wing cut through the woods,