Free Mistystar's Omen by Erin Hunter Page A

dangerous.”
    â€œWe have to get them out!” Mistystar exclaimed.
    â€œOf course,” Reedwhisker meowed. “I just wanted to warn you, that’s all.”
    But Mistystar was already tearing over the grass, leaping high with each stride to avoid being caught in the dense stalks. Reedwhisker caught up to her with a few bounds, and they raced side by side to the wall where the others were waiting.
    â€œAre the dogs still there?” Reedwhisker demanded.
    Graymist nodded, her eyes huge and her fur fluffed up. Mistystar jumped on top of the wall. She almost fell off again when she saw the two huge black-and-brown dogs snarling at the edge of the Twoleg den. Cowering under a tiny stone ledge were the RiverClan apprentices.
    â€œHelp, help!” shrieked Hollowpaw as one of the dogs thrust its muzzle under the ledge.
    â€œGet back, you brute!” Rushpaw hissed, and Mistystar saw one of his paws flash out, catching the dog on its nose. The dog merely shook its head and curled its lip again. Twin strands of drool hung from its jaws.
    â€œGreat StarClan,” Mistystar whispered.
    Reedwhisker appeared beside her on the wall. “You and the others distract the dogs,” he meowed. “I’ll go along that fence”—he gestured with his tail to a narrow wooden barrier running from the wall to the Twoleg den—“and lead Hollowpaw and Rushpaw out.”
    â€œIt’s too far for you to go on your own!” Mistystar gasped, studying the distance between the wooden fence and the tiny ledge of stone.
    â€œThe apprentices won’t come out on their own,” Reedwhisker meowed. “You have to trust me, Mistystar.”
    Mistystar gazed at her son. “I do trust you,” she mewed. “Just be careful, please.”
    â€œI will,” Reedwhisker promised. “I value my pelt even more than you do,” he teased over his shoulder as he turned to the warriors crouching below. “Come up here!” he called. Graymist, Mallownose, and Robinwing scrambled onto the wall and balanced beside Mistystar. Reedwhisker started to trot along the top of the stones. “When I’m almost at the Twoleg den, make some noise!” he ordered.
    â€œAre you going to let him do this?” Graymist whispered to Mistystar.
    â€œWe don’t have a choice,” Mistystar replied grimly. Oh, StarClan, please watch over him!
    The cats watched in silence as Reedwhisker picked his way along the narrow strip of wood. His black pelt looked like a shadow as he crept noiselessly closer to the Twoleg den. When he was less than a fox-length away, Mistystar lifted her head.
    â€œDog-breath!” she screeched. “Over here, you foulmouthed creatures!”
    One of the dogs spun around, its hackles raised. It barked, and the other dog turned to join it.
    â€œScared of us, are you?” taunted Mallownose.
    â€œCome on, flea-pelts! Pick on someone your own size!” yowled Robinwing.
    The dogs took a pace toward the wall. Behind them, Mistystar saw Hollowpaw and Rushpaw peep out from under the ledge. They looked as tiny as kits, and even more vulnerable.
    â€œToo scared to come any closer?” jeered Graymist, standing on her toes. “We’ll give you a proper fight!”
    The dogs sprang forward, crossing the short, muddy grass in a few strides. Mistystar gripped the stone tightly to keep herself from fleeing. At the far end of the wooden fence, Reedwhisker jumped down and raced along the side of the Twoleg den to where the apprentices were hiding.
    â€œCome on!” Mistystar heard him call. “This way, quick!”
    Hollowpaw and Rushpaw started to creep out from underneath the ledge. Faster, faster, Mistystar willed them.
    In the brief silence, the dogs’ attention had turned away from the cats on the wall. One of them swung its massive head back toward the Twoleg den. When it saw the three cats outlined sharply against the pale gray stone,