Chapter Twenty Six

Every pawstep for Birdpaw was difficult to make as she climbed further away from where she thought her family might be. Ebonypaw, Brightpaw, Wrenpaw and Driftpaw trailed ahead as if they had done this a dozen times already. They were used to not having their mothers with them all the time. This was all new to Birdpaw, and she was terrified.

They were following a rocky slope that only seemed to get steeper the further they went. Birdpaw was struggling to keep up as the wind threatened to blow her away.

"Come on, keep moving!" Ebonypaw yowled over the howling wind. Birdpaw was ready to make a retort when she heard something in the distance. Her ears pricked forward in alarm as she saw what looked like the shape of a small bird soaring above them.

"Shouldn't we find shelter?" she asked, realizing too late that the bird in question was much bigger than she realized.

"From a stupid bird?" Brightpaw scoffed. "Please, I'd love to see some bird try and-"

Brightpaw's accusation was cut off as