неизвестный автор (unknown author)THE DEATH OF BRIGHT STREAM
Bright Stream shivered as she crouched beneath the overhanging rock. Even though Rainswept Flower and Dappled Pelt were pressed closely against her on either side, she felt cold to her bones. All day she and her friends had been trapped here, with savage eagles prepared to swoop down on any cat who ventured out. Claws of hunger tore at Bright Stream's belly, and she longed for the safety of their cave in the mountains.
Cloud Spots let out a mutter of impatience and crept forward one tail-length to peer out into the open. Bright Stream caught her breath, half-expecting vicious talons to fasten into his shoulders and drag him away.
"There are two more eagles out there," Cloud Spots reported as he drew swiftly back into shelter. "They're sitting on the top of this rock."
Screeches erupted all around Bright Stream, who closed her eyes and dug her claws into the earth, struggling to control her panic. Worse and worse! she thought. What are we going to do?
Time dragged on and the daylight began to fade. Then Gray Wing let out a hiss of mingled terror and fury, jumping back and shoving Turtle Tail behind him. One of the eagles had hopped to the ground and was stretching its neck under the rocky overhang, straining to reach the cats. Bright Stream pressed herself backward, shaking uncontrollably at the sight of its cruel hooked beak. She felt its malignant yellow gaze fixed on her. It’s like it's looking for me!
After what seemed like season upon season, the eagle flapped away. Once it had withdrawn, Clear Sky leaped to his paws.
"We're not mice!" he exclaimed. "We will not be treated like prey! We need to show these eagles that cats are the hunters around here."
"And how are we going to do that?" Rainswept Flower demanded. Clear Sky swept a resolute glance across his denmates. "By catching one of the eagles ourselves."
Bright Stream let out a gasp of shock, echoed by several others. Glancing around, Bright Stream could see her own fear reflected in the faces of most of the cats.
"That's impossible." Their leader, Shaded Moss, spoke with certainty. "There are four eagles out there!"
"And there are more of us in here," Clear Sky retorted.