The First Battle/Chapter 8

Chapter Summary
 Thunder's PoV 
 * The sun burns the mist from the moor when Thunder reaches the boundary. The wide-pawed tom jumps up the slope, causing the ferns to swish. He stops when he reaches the peak, and gazes at the heather stretching toward the blue sky. Thunder's pelt is warming up from the sun, and he relishes the feeling. The shade of the forest is different, and then he wonders what Jackdaw's Cry is doing. He contemplates if Falling Feather will help make a nest, glancing back at the forest uneasily. He muses that he had no choice, for the black tom volunteered to stay with Clear Sky. The big ginger tom is content to know that his father promised to keep Jackdaw's Cry safe, and plus, his sister is with him. Thunder quickens his pace, pushing through some heather, then follows a sheep trail.


 * The trail leads to a smooth stretch of grass, and he breathes in the sweet smell of blossom. He breaks into a run, and his mind wanders in thought. Suddenly, paws slam into his side. He's flung off his paws, yowling, and sprawls over the grass. Thunder's nose is filled with a tom's scent, and he extends his claws. Twisting to face his attacker, he sees copper fur, and the cat crashes into him again. Heavier than a badger, claws latch into his ginger tabby fur, and he is rolled over. Blood pounds in Thunder's ears, and he struggles to rake the tom's stomach, but the paws hold him tightly.


 * World spinning, and panic rising, the moor cat slashes his claws at the copper-colored tom's nose. The tom shrieks, and releases him. Thunder finds himself alone, and he stumbles to his paws, then sees the tom. The cat sits on his haunches, rubbing his nose with one paw. It questions why Thunder did that, claiming to be playing. Thunder glares at him, telling the copper-furred tom claws need to be sheathed if he was playing.