Red Moon Rising Read online

  Lucky survived for a long time as a Lone Dog. He was happy, and he hunted alone. I can do the same. I can be happy too.

  She had walked a long way already, it struck her as she came out of the trees onto a long, grassy slope. The Sun-Dog lit the landscape with his last, slanting rays; he was a bright point of dazzling gold on the far horizon. Every leaf and blade of grass glowed with the great Spirit Dog’s light.

  And then, abruptly, there was another, separate flash of gold.

  It sprang up from nowhere and stood poised before her, bright and magnificent:

  The Golden Deer!

  Storm halted and stared, awestruck by its beauty. It was standing so close to her, she could see straight into its bright liquid-bronze eyes. The tines of its antlers sparkled with points of light and its hide shone like the Sun-Dog himself.

  Storm’s aching heart pounded, and her throat felt dry and tight. The beauty and solemnity of the creature was overwhelming, and for long moments she could only gape at it, dazzled.

  It looked back at her, unafraid, challenging.

  One leap. One good spring is all it would take. I could bring down the Golden Deer right here, right now; it’s as if the Wind-Dogs have sent it to me.

  If I take the Golden Deer, the Pack will have good fortune at last. The pups will be safe, and happy, and that will be down to me. Tumble, Fluff, Nibble, and Tiny: They’ll thrive and be truly lucky.

  If I catch the Golden Deer for my Pack . . .

  For the Pack.

  Storm and the Golden Deer just gazed into each other’s eyes, as the last rays of the Sun-Dog faded. The glowing light died from the landscape, and shadows crept across the grass and the trees. But still the Golden Deer remained radiant, as if a part of the Sun-Dog had stayed here with it.

  It blinked at her, slowly. Storm dipped her head, once, in awed respect.

  And then she turned away.

  She padded across the dew-damp grass without looking back. She walked on, away from the Golden Deer, and felt no regret at all. She walked until she knew that even that beautiful, shining Spirit Deer had faded from view and disappeared in the shadows of the night.

  It isn’t my duty anymore. I’m a Lone Dog now. I can’t bring good fortune to a Pack that is no longer mine.

  BACK ADS

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ERIN HUNTER is inspired by a fascination with the ferocity of the natural world. As well as having great respect for nature in all its forms, Erin enjoys creating rich mythical explanations for animal behavior. She is also the author of the Warriors, Seekers, and Bravelands series. Visit her online at www.survivorsdogs.com.

  Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.

  BOOKS BY ERIN HUNTER

  Book One: The Empty City

  Book Two: A Hidden Enemy

  Book Three: Darkness Falls

  Book Four: The Broken Path

  Book Five: The Endless Lake

  Book Six: Storm of Dogs

  THE GATHERING DARKNESS

  Book One: A Pack Divided

  Book Two: Dead of Night

  Book Three: Into the Shadows

  Survivors: Tales from the Packs

  NOVELLAS

  Alpha’s Tale

  Sweet’s Journey

  Moon’s Choice

  THE PROPHECIES BEGIN

  Book One: Into the Wild

  Book Two: Fire and Ice

  Book Three: Forest of Secrets

  Book Four: Rising Storm

  Book Five: A Dangerous Path

  Book Six: The Darkest Hour

  THE NEW PROPHECY

  Book One: Midnight

  Book Two: Moonrise

  Book Three: Dawn

  Book Four: Starlight

  Book Five: Twilight

  Book Six: Sunset

  POWER OF THREE

  Book One: The Sight

  Book Two: Dark River

  Book Three: Outcast

  Book Four: Eclipse

  Book Five: Long Shadows

  Book Six: Sunrise

  OMEN OF THE STARS

  Book One: The Fourth Apprentice

  Book Two: Fading Echoes

  Book Three: Night Whispers

  Book Four: Sign of the Moon

  Book Five: The Forgotten Warrior

  Book Six: The Last Hope

  DAWN OF THE CLANS

  Book One: The Sun Trail

  Book Two: Thunder Rising

  Book Three: The First Battle

  Book Four: The Blazing Star

  Book Five: A Forest Divided

  Book Six: Path of Stars

  A VISION OF SHADOWS

  Book One: The Apprentice’s Quest

  Book Two: Thunder and Shadow

  Book Three: Shattered Sky

  Warriors Super Edition: Firestar’s Quest

  Warriors Super Edition: Bluestar’s Prophecy

  Warriors Super Edition: SkyClan’s Destiny

  Warriors Super Edition: Crookedstar’s Promise

  Warriors Super Edition: Yellowfang’s Secret

  Warriors Super Edition: Tallstar’s Revenge

  Warriors Super Edition: Bramblestar’s Storm

  Warriors Super Edition: Moth Flight’s Vision

  Warriors Super Edition: Hawkwing’s Journey

  Warriors Super Edition: Tigerheart’s Shadow

  Warriors Field Guide: Secrets of the Clans

  Warriors: Cats of the Clans

  Warriors: Code of the Clans

  Warriors: Battles of the Clans

  Warriors: Enter the Clans

  Warriors: The Ultimate Guide

  Warriors: The Untold Stories

  Warriors: Tales from the Clans

  Warriors: Shadows of the Clans

  Warriors: Legends of the Clans

  MANGA

  The Lost Warrior

  Warrior’s Refuge

  Warrior’s Return

  The Rise of Scourge

  Tigerstar and Sasha #1: Into the Woods

  Tigerstar and Sasha #2: Escape from the Forest

  Tigerstar and Sasha #3: Return to the Clans

  Ravenpaw’s Path #1: Shattered Peace

  Ravenpaw’s Path #2: A Clan in Need

  Ravenpaw’s Path #3: The Heart of a Warrior

  SkyClan and the Stranger #1: The Rescue

  SkyClan and the Stranger #2: Beyond the Code

  SkyClan and the Stranger #3: After the Flood

  NOVELLAS

  Hollyleaf’s Story

  Mistystar’s Omen

  Cloudstar’s Journey

  Tigerclaw’s Fury

  Leafpool’s Wish

  Dovewing’s Silence

  Mapleshade’s Vengeance

  Goosefeather’s Curse

  Ravenpaw’s Farewell

  Spottedleaf’s Heart

  Pinestar’s Choice

  Thunderstar’s Echo

  Book One: The Quest Begins

  Book Two: Great Bear Lake

  Book Three: Smoke Mountain

  Book Four: The Last Wilderness

  Book Five: Fire in the Sky

  Book Six: Spirits in the Stars

  RETURN TO THE WILD

  Book One: Island of Shadows

  Book Two: The Melting Sea

  Book Three: River of Lost Bears

  Book Four: Forest of Wolves

  Book Five: The Burning Horizon

  Book Six: The Longest Day

  MANGA

  Toklo’s Story

  Kallik’s Adventure

  Book One: Broken Pride

  CREDITS

  Cover art by Julia Green

  Cover design by Sarah Creech,

  based on series design by Cara Petrus

  COPYRIGHT

  SURVIVORS: THE GATHERING DARKNESS #4: RED MOON RISING. Copyright © 2017 by Working Partners Limited. Series created by Working Partners Limited. Endpaper art © 2017 by Frank Riccio. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment o
f the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  www.harpercollinschildrens.com

  * * *

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2017934809

  ISBN 978-0-06-234345-1 (trade bdg.) — ISBN 978-0-06-234346-8 (lib. bdg.)

  EPub Edition © September 2017 ISBN 9780062343482

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  FIRST EDITION

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