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    Mapleshade's Vengeance

    Page 8
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      “Don’t worry. Those snake-hearts will get the message!” Shellheart’s claws sprayed soft earth as he charged for the entrance tunnel with Rippleclaw, Brightsky, and Ottersplash pounding after.

      “Quick!” As his Clanmates bunched into anxious, murmuring groups, Stormkit hissed in his brother’s ear and dashed back to the fallen tree. He scampered along the trunk, checking over his shoulder.

      Oakkit was following. “Where are we going?”

      “To watch.”

      “Watch what?”

      “We’re going to watch Shellheart tell Pinestar off!” Stormkit scampered along the branch. “Dig your claws in,” he warned his brother. “It’s slippery.”

      When the branch grew thin enough to dip under his weight, Stormkit halted and ducked down to let Oakkit watch over his shoulder. Only four ThunderClan warriors remained on Sunningrocks. Pinestar was still lying on the smooth, flat rock, showing his belly to the leaf-bare sun. A bright ginger tom sat beside him, eyes closed, tail wrapped over his paws.

      “That must be Sunfall, the deputy,” Oakkit whispered. “Volekit said he was ginger.”

      Two lithe warriors paced back and forth beside the leader and deputy: a blue-gray tom and a mottled tabby. Their eyes were wide and their ears pricked. Suddenly the tabby halted and stared at the river.

      Stormkit followed his gaze. Shellheart was swimming toward Sunningrocks. Water splashed as Rippleclaw, Brightsky, and Ottersplash plunged in after him. On Sunningrocks, the gray tom’s pelt had bristled along his spine. He darted to the edge of the rocks and showed his teeth, his gaze fixed on the RiverClan patrol.

      Pinestar jumped to his paws, quickly followed by Sunfall. The four ThunderClan warriors lined up on the crest of the rock as Shellheart launched himself, dripping, from the water. In two bounds, the RiverClan deputy scaled the smooth cliff face. Sunfall arched his back and hissed as Shellheart approached. Pinestar narrowed his eyes.

      Stormkit felt Oakkit tense behind him. “Will they fight?” Oakkit breathed.

      “Wait.” Stormkit’s paws trembled with excitement as Rippleclaw leaped up onto Sunningrocks with Brightsky and Ottersplash following.

      Stormkit pricked his ears, straining to hear.

      “You’re on RiverClan territory,” Shellheart growled.

      Sunfall took a step forward. “Make us leave, then.”

      Shellheart flicked his tail. “This is not yet a battle worth fighting,” he meowed. He looked back toward the RiverClan camp, clearly visible through the leafless trees. “But we’ll be watching. You should watch out, too, because this is our land and we will defend it.”

      The gray tom’s lip curled. “But not today?”

      Rippleclaw darted forward, flattening his ears. “If it comes to a battle,” he hissed in the gray tom’s face, “it’ll be me who shreds you first.”

      “Rippleclaw!” Shellheart called the warrior back and met Pinestar’s narrowed gaze. “You can have Sunningrocks for now. Help yourself to any fresh-kill you find here. RiverClan doesn’t need mice. But we’ll take it back when we want it back.”

      Stormkit could feel his brother’s heart pounding. “Mangy mouse-eaters,” he muttered. “Enjoy Sunningrocks while you can.”

      Shellheart jumped down to the riverbank and waited while Rippleclaw, Ottersplash, and Brightsky dived past him into the water. He glanced back up at the rock face once more before following his Clanmates.

      “Watch out!” Oakkit’s yelp made Stormkit jump. “The magpie’s coming back!”

      Stormkit looked up and saw a flash of black-and-white feathers outlined against the gray sky. “Hold on to me!” he ordered.

      As Oakkit sank his claws into his pelt, Stormkit reared up on his hind legs. He lashed out at the magpie with his forepaws just as it swooped level with the branch. Held firm by Oakkit, Stormkit slashed again and again until he felt his claws slice through feather and reach flesh.

      Squawking, the magpie wheeled away, and Stormkit dropped to four paws.

      Oakkit let go and blinked at him. “Nice move!”

      “Thanks for hanging on to me.” Stormkit looked at the bloody feathers caught in his claws. “I don’t think that magpie will be back for a while.” He blinked triumphantly at his brother. “We’re going to be the best warriors RiverClan’s ever seen.”

      BACK ADS

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      ERIN HUNTER is inspired by a love of cats and a fascination with the ferocity of the natural world. As well as having great respect for nature in all its forms, Erin enjoys creating rich, mythical explanations for animal behavior. She is also the author of the bestselling Survivors and Seekers series.

      Download the free Warriors app and chat on Warriors message boards at www.warriorcats.com.

      Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.

      BOOKS BY ERIN HUNTER

      THE PROPHECIES BEGIN

      Book One: Into the Wild

      Book Two: Fire and Ice

      Book Three: Forest of Secrets

      Book Four: Rising Storm

      Book Five: A Dangerous Path

      Book Six: The Darkest Hour

      THE NEW PROPHECY

      Book One: Midnight

      Book Two: Moonrise

      Book Three: Dawn

      Book Four: Starlight

      Book Five: Twilight

      Book Six: Sunset

      POWER OF THREE

      Book One: The Sight

      Book Two: Dark River

      Book Three: Outcast

      Book Four: Eclipse

      Book Five: Long Shadows

      Book Six: Sunrise

      OMEN OF THE STARS

      Book One: The Fourth Apprentice

      Book Two: Fading Echoes

      Book Three: Night Whispers

      Book Four: Sign of the Moon

      Book Five: The Forgotten Warrior

      Book Six: The Last Hope

      DAWN OF THE CLANS

      Book One: The Sun Trail

      Book Two: Thunder Rising

      Book Three: The First Battle

      Book Four: The Blazing Star

      Book Five: A Forest Divided

      Warriors Super Edition: Firestar’s Quest

      Warriors Super Edition: Bluestar’s Prophecy

      Warriors Super Edition: SkyClan’s Destiny

      Warriors Super Edition: Crookedstar’s Promise

      Warriors Super Edition: Yellowfang’s Secret

      Warriors Super Edition: Tallstar’s Revenge

      Warriors Super Edition: Bramblestar’s Storm

      Warriors Field Guide: Secrets of the Clans

      Warriors: Cats of the Clans

      Warriors: Code of the Clans

      Warriors: Battles of the Clans

      Warriors: Enter the Clans

      Warriors: The Ultimate Guide

      Warriors: The Untold Stories

      Warriors: Tales from the Clans

      MANGA

      The Lost Warrior

      Warrior’s Refuge

      Warrior’s Return

      The Rise of Scourge

      Tigerstar and Sasha #1: Into the Woods

      Tigerstar and Sasha #2: Escape from the Forest

      Tigerstar and Sasha #3: Return to the Clans

      Ravenpaw’s Path #1: Shattered Peace

      Ravenpaw’s Path #2: A Clan in Need

      Ravenpaw’s Path #3: The Heart of a Warrior

      SkyClan and the Stranger #1: The Rescue

      SkyClan and the Stranger #2: Beyond the Code

      SkyClan and the Stranger #3: After the Flood

      NOVELLAS

      Hollyleaf’s Story

      Mistystar’s Omen

      Cloudstar’s Journey

      Tigerclaw’s Fury

      Leafpool’s Wish

      Dovewing’s Silence

      Book One: The Quest Begins

      Book Two: Great Bear Lake

      Book Three: Smoke Mountain

      Book Four: The Last Wilderness

      Book Five: Fire in the Sky

      Book Six: Spirits in the Stars


      RETURN TO THE WILD

      Book One: Island of Shadows

      Book Two: The Melting Sea

      Book Three: River of Lost Bears

      Book Four: Forest of Wolves

      Book Five: The Burning Horizon

      MANGA

      Toklo’s Story

      Kallik’s Adventure

      Book One: The Empty City

      Book Two: A Hidden Enemy

      Book Three: Darkness Falls

      Book Four: The Broken Path

      Book Five: The Endless Lake

      Book Six: Storm of Dogs

      NOVELLAS

      Alpha’s Tale

      Sweet’s Journey

      COPYRIGHT

      WARRIORS: MAPLESHADE’S VENGEANCE. Copyright © 2015 by Working Partners Limited. Series created by Working Partners Limited. Map art © 2015 by Dave Stevenson. Interior art © 2015 by Owen Richardson. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

      EPub Edition © March 2015 ISBN 9780062343291

      10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      FIRST EDITION

      ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

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      Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

      www.harpercollins.com.au

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      www.harpercollins.co.nz

      United Kingdom

      HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

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      www.harpercollins.co.uk

      United States

      HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

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      New York, NY 10007

      www.harpercollins.com

     

     

     



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