A Forest Divided Read Online Free Page B

earth, and the vicious snarl of the badger. Black fur showed through the storm; wide hindquarters bucked and trembled. The massive creature was pinning Clear Sky to the ground. Panic scorching through him, Thunder heard jaws snap.
    â€œLet him go!” Thunder hurled himself at the badger’s flank, digging his claws in deep. The badger shook him off and snapped again at Clear Sky.
    Claws caught Thunder’s flank as he fell against Clear Sky’s desperately flailing hind legs. He jumped clear, his mind spinning. The badger was huge!
    Thunder leaped again. Claws outstretched, he landed on the badger’s spine. Biting hard into its pelt, he churned with his hind legs, but the badger only snarled and snapped again at Clear Sky.
    He’s killing him! Thunder was blind with terror and snow as his hind paw slid down the badger’s leg. He felt his claws graze soft, wet flesh. The badger flinched and yelped.
    It’s wounded! Hope flashed through him. He slithered to the ground and sniffed out the badger’s blood. Thrusting his muzzle close to its injured back leg, he clawed at the wound; then he clamped his jaws around it.
    With a roar of agonized fury, the badger reared.
    Run, Clear Sky! Thunder’s gaze flicked toward his father, but Clear Sky was lying motionless on the ground. Thunderfroze as the badger’s head swung toward him. Swallowing, he backed away. He could taste the badger’s blood in his mouth. He gagged. It was sour with infection.
    A menacing growl rumbled in the badger’s throat, and it leaped. Thunder dived to one side, rolling as he landed. He looked back to make sure the badger still had its gaze fixed on him, then raced across the slope.
    The earth trembled as the badger pounded after him. Triumph thrilled beneath Thunder’s pelt. The badger would never catch up to him. Especially with an injured leg. I just have to lead it far enough away from Clear Sky. He snatched a glance over his shoulder and glimpsed the badger’s hulking shape following him. Bounding across the snow, he led the badger away. The wind whipped his ears as he pushed into the blizzard; then he turned and fled uphill, leaving the badger lumbering far behind. Thank you, snow! It would cover his tracks. Paws skidding, he made a wide circle and doubled back toward Clear Sky.
    Please be alive!
    Panic seized him. Where is he?
    The snow that had hidden Thunder from the badger now hid his father.
    Opening his mouth, Thunder tasted for Clear Sky’s scent. Snowflakes landed on his tongue. His nose stung with the cold. “Clear Sky?” His call was barely a whisper. He dared not let the badger hear.
    A moan sounded ahead.
    â€œClear Sky!” Heart soaring, Thunder spotted a shape onthe ground. “You’re alive!” Reaching him, he dropped into a crouch. Clear Sky lay on his flank, his chest heaving. Thunder sniffed his pelt. He smelled the sour scent of the badger’s blood. “Did it hurt you?”
    Clear Sky blinked and struggled to his paws.
    Thunder smelled a fresh wound. The snow was red beneath him.
    â€œWhere did it bite you?” Fear sparked through Thunder as he saw the fur at Clear Sky’s neck clumped with blood.
    â€œIt’s not deep,” Clear Sky croaked.
    â€œA badger’s bite carries infection,” Thunder warned him. “Let me get you back to the hollow.”
    â€œWe’re closer to the forest.” Clear Sky stumbled as he spoke. His flank hit Thunder’s.
    Thunder dug his claws into the ground, supporting his father’s weight. “Pebble Heart can treat your wound. He knows which herbs will stop it from turning sour.” He felt Clear Sky heave a shaky breath. “Let’s get out of here before that badger comes back.”
    â€œI don’t know why you want to stay on the moor when it’s riddled with badgers,” Clear Sky grumbled as Thunder steered him up the slope toward the