Read Online Path of Stars by Erin Hunter - Free Book Online Page B

monster?
    His thoughts reeled as he remembered Turtle Tail. A monster had killed her. He’d never seen her body, but he had imagined her over and over again, lying stricken beside a strange and distant Thunderpath. His heart seemed to burst inside his chest, but he forced himself to keep moving toward the huddled figure of Reed.
    â€œWhat happened?” His mew was trembling as he neared.
    Reed tuned to him, his eyes wide with fear. “The kits!” he breathed. “They’re coming!”

C HAPTER 6

    Gray Wing struggled to steady his breathing. “Are you sure?”
    â€œOf course!” Reed snapped his gaze back to Star Flower.
    She lay on her side, a low moan rolling in her throat. Her flanks convulsed. “But it’s so early,” she croaked, fear flashing in her green eyes.
    A monster growled on the Thunderpath. Gray Wing glanced up, blinded as its eyes drenched them in light. Instinctively, he lunged forward, protecting Star Flower with his body as the monster tore past. The grass streamed around them, and an acrid wave of stench blasted over him. It burned inside his chest, but Gray Wing ignored the pain. Fighting back a cough, he glanced over his shoulder. Had Lightning Tail and Leaf managed to drive the other guards away? Had news of the rescue reached the rogue camp? Was a bigger patrol coming? “We have to get Star Flower away from here.”
    â€œHow?” Reed stared at Star Flower. “She can’t walk !”
    Star Flower screeched as another convulsion seemed to grip her.
    â€œI’ll get help.” Gray Wing tried to ignore his wheezing. There wasn’t time.
    Reed looked at him, his ears twitching. “I’ll go,” he growled. “You need to catch your breath.”
    Gray Wing shook his head. “You know more about herbs than me,” he told the silver tabby. “Find her something to help her pain.”
    â€œHere?” Reed stared at the grass verge, then flicked his gaze toward the pines. “I don’t know anything about forest herbs.”
    â€œThen guess!” Gray Wing was already on his paws. He leaped across the verge and pelted between the pines. Tall Shadow’s camp was closest, and he knew the quickest route. Dodging brambles and leaping ditches, he raced through the darkness. He struggled for breath, wondering if he could keep going. He felt as though he were underwater, trying to swim for the shore before he ran out of air.
    I can’t let Star Flower die. Or her kits!
    He had to get help.
    The forest thickened, the branches blocking out the moonlight. Gray Wing dodged past trees, the rough bark scraping his flanks. Running on instinct, he managed to skim the jutting roots, leap ditches, and swerve past trailing brambles. At last, the trees thinned. The camp was near. He strained to see, trying to ignore the desperate pain in his chest. In the weak moonlight that filtered through the branches here, he saw the camp’s shadowy walls. He veered around them and burst through the entrance, his lungs on fire.
    â€œJagged Peak!” He caught sight of the gray tabby tom limping across the clearing.
    Jagged Peak spun, pelt bushing. Shock showed in his eyes. “Gray Wing!”
    â€œHelp!” Gray Wing gasped and dropped to his belly. Dragging in air, he felt dizzy, the camp swimming around him.
    â€œWhere’s Star Flower?” Jagged Peak was at his side in a moment. He knew about Gray Wing’s plan. “Did you save her? Are you hurt?”
    â€œThe kits,” Gray Wing wheezed.
    â€œKits?” Jagged Peak looked puzzled.
    Twigs rustled around Gray Wing as the forest cats scrambled from their nests. Eyes glinted in the entrances of the dens. Sun Shadow poked his head out. Mouse Ear slid into the moonlight. Holly hurried into the clearing.
    Pebble Heart raced toward Gray Wing. “Is Tall Shadow okay?” He scrambled to a halt. “Are you okay?”
    Gray Wing fought to find