Newleaf had arrived. The trees that had previously been dead now were blooming, small buds growing on the branches, ready to burst open.
Trail couldn't appreciate it.
He and Pinestripe had made their way back to Pepper's old yard. The kittypet's Twolegs were yowling, ringing the little object that called him.
They would never find him.
"It's my fault," admitted Pinestripe. "I should have left, and you could have run when I didn't show up at sunhigh. I led Scythe to you."
Trail shook his head. "Scythe would have found us anyway."
The orange-pelted Twolegs were inspecting the Shredder, where Pepper had fallen.
"I should never have involved Pepper in this," the loner sighed.
The orange-pelted Twolegs were walking over to Pepper's Twolegs. The Twoleg's faces seemed to crumple as the orange-pelts approached.
"I can't escape him," Trail sobbed. "I can't get away from that…. that rogue. He doesn't care about anyone. How many more cats will die? Because of me, because I put them in harm's way."
He turned to Pinestripe, desperation in his eyes. "What can I do?"
She laid her tail gently over his. "It might be time to ask for help from the Clans."