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POWER OF THREEOUTCAST

To JessicaSpecial thanks to Cherith Baldry

rs! This is our territory.” A gray tomcat spat out. . . 1Chapter 1Jaypaw stretched, feeling the sun beat down on his fur.4Chapter 2Lionpaw pushed his way through clumps of long grass wet 22Chapter 3Hollypaw pushed through the brambles into the nursery andset 30Chapter 4Hollypaw slipped out under the brambles that sheltered theapprentice 44Chapter 5Cool night air whispered through Jaypaw’s fur. Up above,he 56Chapter 6Poppypaw dived forward; Lionpaw could see she was tryingto 65Chapter 7“I’ve got a plan,” Hollypaw announced. She and Cinderpawhad 75

Chapter 8Jaypaw stiffened at the sound of screeching from theentrance 89Chapter 9“Jaypaw! Hey, Jaypaw!” Jaypaw felt a sharp nudge in his 102Chapter 10Every hair on Lionpaw’s pelt prickled with excitement.The moment 109Chapter 11Wind whipped through Lionpaw’s pelt as he racedtoward the 120Chapter 12Hollypaw stood on the bank of the stream that formed 133Chapter 13Jaypaw shivered in the dawn chill. The sharp scent of 143Chapter 14Jaypaw could feel dappled sunlight and shade on his pelt 152Chapter 15Lionpaw stood beside his sister, gazing down at the lake 158Chapter 16Hollypaw turned to stare at her mother. “You know this 169Chapter 17“We’ve got to get out!” The WindClan apprenticeabandoned the 182Chapter 18Jaypaw tried to sink his claws into the bare rock.192

Chapter 19Hollypaw slid out her claws, muscles tensed to spring into 201Chapter 20Lionpaw followed Talon as he picked his way down the 208Chapter 21Lionpaw stared in disbelief. Stoneteller didn’t want themhere? Was 217Chapter 22Jaypaw heard his brother’s sigh and felt disappointmentrolling off 228Chapter 23Lionpaw watched as the Tribe cats broke up into small, 239Chapter 24Hollypaw led the to-bes out of the cave in time 252Chapter 25Jaypaw lay in the moss-lined nest beside Lionpaw andHollypaw, 261Chapter 26Once the injured cats had been treated and were resting 269Chapter 27Horror slashed through Hollypaw like the claws of fightingcats.284Chapter 28Beneath the full moon the mountains were washedwith silver, 297Chapter 29Jaypaw lay in the sleeping hollow where the scents of 311

About the AuthorOther Books by Erin HunterCreditsCoverCopyrightAbout the Publisher

ALLEGIANCESthunderclanLEADERfirestar— ginger tom with a flame-coloredpeltDEPUTYbrambleclaw— dark brown tabby tomwith amber eyesapprentice, berrypawM E D I C I N E C AT leafpool— light brown tabby she-cat withamber eyesapprentice, jaypawWARRIORS(toms, and she-cats without kits)squirrelflight— dark ginger she-catwith green eyesdustpelt— dark brown tabby tomapprentice, hazelpawsandstorm— pale ginger she-catapprentice, honeypawcloudtail— long-haired white tomapprentice, cinderpawbrackenfur— golden brown tabby tomapprentice, hollypawsorreltail— tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with amber eyesthornclaw— golden brown tabby tomapprentice, poppypawbrightheart— white she-cat with gingerpatchesashfur— pale gray (with darker flecks) tom,dark blue eyesapprentice, lionpaw

spiderleg— long-limbed black tom withbrown underbelly and amber eyesapprentice, mousepawbrook where small fish swim(brook)— brown tabby she-cat, formerly ofthe Tribe of Rushing Waterstormfur— dark gray tom with amber eyes,formerly of RiverClanwhitewing—white she-cat with green eyesbirchfall— light brown tabby tomgraystripe— long-haired gray tomAPPRENTICES(more than six moons old, in training tobecome warriors)berrypaw— cream-colored tomhazelpaw— small gray-and-white she-catmousepaw— gray-and-white tomcinderpaw— gray tabby she-cathoneypaw— light brown tabby she-catpoppypaw— tortoiseshell she-catlionpaw—golden tabby tomhollypaw— black she-catjaypaw— gray tabby tomQUEENS(she-cats expecting or nursing kits)ferncloud— pale gray (with darker flecks)she-cat, green eyes, mother of Dustpelt’s kits:Icekit (white she-cat) and Foxkit (reddishtabby tom)daisy— cream long-furred cat from thehorseplace, mother of Spiderleg’s kits: Rosekit(dark cream she-cat) and Toadkit (black-andwhite tom)

millie— striped gray tabby she-cat, formerkittypetELDERS(former warriors and queens, now retired)longtail— pale tabby tom with dark blackstripes, retired early due to failing sightmousefur— small dusky brown she-catshadowclanLEADERblackstar— large white tom with hugejet-black pawsDEPUTYrussetfur— dark ginger she-catM E D I C I N E C AT littlecloud— very small tabby tomWARRIORSoakfur— small brown tomrowanclaw— ginger tomsmokefoot— black tomapprentice, owlpawivytail— black, white, and tortoiseshell she-cattoadfoot— dark brown tomQUEENStawnypelt— tortoiseshell she-cat withgreen eyessnowbird— pure white she-catELDERScedarheart— dark gray tomtallpoppy— long-legged light brown tabbyshe-cat

windclanLEADERonestar— brown tabby tomDEPUTYashfoot— gray she-catM E D I C I N E C AT barkface— short-tailed brown tomapprentice, kestrelpawWARRIORStornear— tabby tomcrowfeather— dark gray tomapprentice, heatherpaw (lightbrown tabby, blue eyes)owlwhisker— light brown tabby tomwhitetail— small white she-catapprentice, breezepaw (black, ambereyes)nightcloud— black she-catweaselfur— ginger tom with white pawsharespring— brown-and-white tomQUEENSgorsetail— very pale gray-and-white catwith blue eyes, mother of Thistlekit, Sedgekit,and SwallowkitELDERSmorningflower— very old tortoiseshellqueenwebfoot— dark gray tabby tomriverclanLEADERleopardstar— unusually spotted goldentabby she-cat

DEPUTYmistyfoot— gray she-cat with blue eyesM E D I C I N E C AT mothwing— dappled golden she-catapprentice, willowpawWARRIORSblackclaw— smoky-black tomvoletooth— small brown tabby tomapprentice, minnowpawreedwhisker— black tommosspelt— tortoiseshell she-cat with blueeyesapprentice, pebblepawbeechfur— light brown tomrippletail— dark gray tabby tomdawnflower— pale gray she-catdapplenose— mottled gray she-catpouncetail— ginger-and-white tomQUEENSgraymist— pale gray tabby, mother ofSneezekit and Mallowkiticewing— white cat with green eyes, motherof Beetlekit, Pricklekit, Petalkit, and GrasskitELDERSheavystep— thickset tabby tomswallowtail— dark tabby she-catstonestream— gray tomthe tribeof rushing waterT R I B E - H E A L E R teller of the pointed stones(stoneteller)— brown tabby tom withamber eyes

P R E Y - H U N T E R S (toms and she-cats responsible for providingfood)gray sky before dawn (gray)— palegray tabby tomwing shadow over water (wing)—gray-and-white she-catstorm clouds at dusk (storm)—dark gray tomC A V E - G U A R D S (toms and she-cats responsible for guardingthe cave)talon of swooping eagle(talon)— dark brown tabby tomjagged rock where heron sits(jag)— dark gray tombird that rides the wind (bird)—gray-brown she-catcrag where eagles nest (crag)—dark gray tom (Brook’s brother)sheer path beside waterfall(sheer)— dark brown tabby tomnight of no stars (night)— blackshe-catmoss that grows by river(moss)— light brown she-catK I T- M O T H E R S(she-cats expecting or nursing kits)flight of startled heron(flight)— brown tabby she-cat (has threevery young kits)swoop of chestnut hawk(swoop)— dark ginger she-cat (has twoolder kits)

TO - B E S(tribe apprentices)screech of angry owl(screech)— black tom (prey-hunter)splash when fish leaps(splash)— light brown tabby she-cat (prey-hunter)pebble that rolls down mountain(pebble)— gray she-cat (cave-guard)ELDERS(former prey-hunters and cave-guards, nowretired)cloud with storm in belly(cloud)— white she-catrain that rattles on stones(rain)— speckled brown tomcats outside clansstripes— large silver tabby tom with darkstripes and amber eyesflick— skinny light brown tom with largepointed earsflora— dark-brown-and-white she-cat withgreen eyestwist— young tortoiseshell she-cat withwhite stripes on her facepurdy— elderly, plump tabby loner with agray muzzle

Map

PR O L O G U E;“Prey-stealers! This is our territory.” A gray tomcat spat out thewords. His neck fur bristled and his lips were drawn back ina snarl. His gaze raked over the group of cats who crouchedbelow him on the steep path. Their claws were unsheathedand their eyes were bright and hungry. One of them had alimp rabbit dangling from her jaws. “Our territory and ourprey.”A silver tabby tom gave him an insolent stare. “If it’s yourterritory, why are there no border markings? The prey herebelongs to every cat.”“That’s not true and you know it.” A black she-cat stoodclose to the gray tom’s shoulder, her tail lashing. “Get out now!”From the side of her mouth she added in a low mutter, “Crag,we can’t fight them. Remember what happened last time.”“I know, Night,” the gray tom replied. “But what else canwe do?”On Crag’s other side a huge brown tabby tom thrust hisway forward, letting out a hiss of fury. “Take one more pawstep and we’ll rip your fur off,” he growled.Crag touched him on the shoulder with the tip of his tail.1

WA R R I O R S : P O W E R O F T H R E E : O U TC A S T2“Steady, Talon,” he warned. “Let’s get out of this without ripping fur if we can.”More cats appeared around a curve in the path, filling thenarrow space behind the silver tabby.“Sheer.” Crag summoned a small tabby tom with a flick ofhis ears. “Get back to the cave, quickly. Tell them the invadersare back.”“But—” Sheer was obviously reluctant to leave his friendswhen they were already outnumbered.“Now!” Crag snapped.Sheer turned and fled up the path.The sun was going down. Rocks cast long shadows overthe rough ground, stained red as blood. The faint sound oftumbling water broke the silence, and from the sky came theharsh cry of a hawk.“This is as far as you go,” Crag meowed. “Turn back andfind somewhere else to hunt.”“Who’s going to make us?” the silver tabby sneered.“Try staying here, and you’ll see,” Talon hissed.Crag’s patrol pressed up beside him, blocking the path.But the intruders began fanning out, scrambling onto theboulders on either side. Crag crouched, tensing his muscles.He would fight if he had to, in spite of what had happenedlast time.“Stop!”A brown tabby tom shouldered his way through Crag’spatrol to stand in front of the invaders. Though his muzzlewas gray with age, his muscles were still wiry and powerful

WA R R I O R S : P O W E R O F T H R E E : O U TC A S T3and he held his head high.“I am Stoneteller, Tribe-Healer of the Tribe of RushingWater,” he announced, his voice echoing hoarsely off therocks. “This is our territory, and you are not welcome here.”“Territory only belongs to cats who can defend it,” the silver tabby retorted.“Remember how we drove you out, before the time offrozen water?” Stoneteller growled. “We will do the sameagain, unless you leave now.”The silver tabby narrowed his eyes. “Drove us out? That’snot how I remember it.”“We chose to leave,” a brown-and-white she-cat addedfrom where she crouched on top of a boulder. “We found abetter place to spend leaf-bare, with more prey.”“And now we choose to come back.” The tabby tom lashedhis tail. “A few scrawny, flea-ridden excuses for cats aren’tgoing to stop us.” He flexed his claws, scraping the stones.“The Tribe of Rushing Water has always made its home inthese mountains,” Stoneteller meowed. “We—”His words were lost in a yowl of fury as the brown-andwhite she-cat launched herself from the boulder and fastenedher claws in Night’s shoulder. The tabby tom let out a fearsome screech and hurled himself at Crag. As Crag rolled overand over, clawing at his attacker, the air filled with the shrieksof battling cats.Far above, the Tribe of Endless Hunting looked on helplessly.