The Last Hope

Chapter 12

“Lionblaze! Quick!”

Lionblaze jerked his head as Jayfeather’s hiss woke him. He sat up in his nest, blinking in the pale dawn light of the warriors’ den. The dream was still vivid in his mind: the cavern, the blind tom, and the ghostly Ancients. He hauled himself out of his nest and padded, paws numb, out of the den. He shivered as he looked around for Jayfeather.

“Lionblaze.” Jayfeather darted from beside the warriors’ den. “We have to talk about the dream.”

Lionblaze nodded toward the apprentices’ den. “Is Dovewing awake?”

“I just woke her.”

As Jayfeather spoke, Dovewing crept from the den, her eyes bleary with sleep.

“Come on.” Jayfeather hurried toward the thorn tunnel with Dovewing close behind. Lionblaze scampered after them.

Jayfeather rounded a bend in the trail and stopped beside a bramble. Lionblaze halted beside him and glanced over his shoulder.

Dovewing’s eyes were bright. She was fully awake now. “So we did all share the dream?”

Jayfeather nodded.

Lionblaze narrowed his eyes. “And you’ve met those cats before?”

“Yes,” Jayfeather snapped. “But that’s not important.”

Dovewing brushed past Lionblaze, pacing anxiously. “I can’t believe that all those cats have been waiting for so long!”

Lionblaze curled his tail over his back. “Since before the dawn of the Clans!”

“We need to concentrate on what happens now!” Jayfeather insisted, flexing his claws. “We are here because the faith of our ancestors has brought us here.”

“And the Dark Forest,” Lionblaze reminded him grimly.

“Without faith, there would be no Dark Forest,” Jayfeather snorted, echoing Rock’s words. “But there is. And we have to find the fourth cat.”

“It’s not Ivypool.” Dovewing twitched her tail. “I’ve asked her.”

“Did you find out if it was Mothwing?” Lionblaze gazed at Jayfeather.

Jayfeather shook his head. “She’s given no sign.”

“Then it must be Hollyleaf!” Lionblaze was absolutely convinced. His sister had been part of this since the beginning. And she’d returned just in time to save ThunderClan from WindClan’s attack.

Dovewing was frowning. “I think we’re looking in the wrong place.”

“What’s the right place?” Jayfeather snorted.

“I don’t know.” Dovewing sighed. “It could be a warrior from another Clan.”

“Why don’t we ask Firestar to make an announcement at the next Gathering?” Jayfeather muttered sarcastically. “He could ask the fourth cat to stick their tail in the air so we know who it is.”

Dovewing ignored him. “We must be missing something obvious.”

“Yes.” Lionblaze began to pace. “Hollyleaf!”

“But if it’s not Hollyleaf,” Dovewing ventured, “we need to start looking for a cat who was born with a special destiny, like we were.”

Jayfeather narrowed his eyes. “A cat with the power of the stars in their paws.”

“Breezepelt?” Dovewing suggested. “He’s your half brother. Maybe he’s special too.”

“He’s not kin of Firestar’s kin,” Jayfeather pointed out.

“That was the StarClan prophecy,” Dovewing argued. “Perhaps the new prophecy doesn’t care if it’s kin.”

Lionblaze swished his tail. “You can argue till the sun sets!” he snapped. “I’m going to try to find out.” He turned and ran down the slope back to the hollow. If he could just spend some time alone with Hollyleaf, then he’d know.

The dens lay in shadow, even though sunlight was beginning to color the tips of the trees above the hollow. Below Highledge, Brambleclaw washed his face, swiping a heavy paw over his muzzle, his eyes still blurry with sleep. Spiderleg stopped to stretch as he emerged from the warriors’ den. On the other side of the clearing, Ferncloud poked her head out of the nursery. Foxleap and Toadstep practiced battle moves while they waited for their Clanmates to gather.

Lionblaze fell in beside Cinderheart as she padded toward Brambleclaw.

“Are you okay?” she asked without looking at him.

He glanced at her. “Fine, why?”

She kept her eyes fixed ahead. “You were murmuring in your sleep. Bad dreams?”

“Just dreams.”

When she didn’t comment, he went on. “I made a mistake.” He knew that he should never have tried to choose a different destiny. Too many lives depended on him following the path laid out for him. “It won’t happen again.”

He felt Cinderheart stiffen beside him. She knew what he really meant. I won’t be distracted by you anymore.

She stopped and turned to face him, her eyes glistening. “Okay.” Her mew was calm, but he could see sorrow in her gaze.

Lionblaze’s heart twisted. I’m sorry, Cinderheart.

“The Clan comes first,” she murmured softly.

“The Clan comes first.” Lionblaze dipped his head and padded past her. He stopped in front of Brambleclaw. “Is it okay if I go hunting with Hollyleaf?”

Brambleclaw stopped washing. “Just the two of you?”

“Yes. I need to speak with her.”

“Okay, if you wish.” As Brambleclaw licked his paws and began once more to smooth his muzzle, Lionblaze headed for the warriors’ den.

Hollyleaf was stretching at the entrance. The stiffening wind ruffled her fur.

“Come on.” Lionblaze nudged her shoulder with his nose. “Let’s go hunting.”

Hollyleaf straightened up, stifling a yawn. “Who else is on the patrol?”

Lionblaze headed for the thorn barrier. “Just us.”

Hollyleaf fell in beside him as they emerged outside the camp and headed up the slope. “I’ve caught up with all the new hunting techniques,” she reassured him.

“I know.” Lionblaze scrambled up a steep bank and skirted a bramble. “I thought we could hunt squirrels.”

At the top of the slope, he broke from the trees, screwing up his eyes against the sunshine. Far below, the lake flashed shards of light as it rippled with the wind. Dying leaves swirled from the trees along the edge of the water and clouds thickened on the horizon. There would be rain before nightfall.

“Where should we start?” Hollyleaf caught up to him.

“Let’s head along the stream,” Lionblaze suggested. He could see the gully from here, running from the forest onto the shore.

“If we follow it to the beech copse,” Hollyleaf prompted, “there’ll be squirrels looking for nuts.” She raced ahead, the wind lifting her fur as she flew down the slope.

Lionblaze felt an unexpected burst of joy. For a moment he was an apprentice again, out in the forest with his littermate, his thoughts on nothing but his first catch. He pushed hard against the grass, almost skidding as he hurtled after Hollyleaf. Hollyleaf veered sideways as they reached the stream and leaped into the middle of the wide, shallow outlet, splashing through the water like an otter.

“Have you turned into a RiverClan cat?” Lionblaze yowled in surprise as she trotted confidently against the current.

Hollyleaf stopped and turned, whiskers twitching. “It could be the last sunny day of leaf-fall!” she called back. “We might as well enjoy it.” She bounded onto the bank and shook out her pelt.

Lionblaze followed, surprised by how soothing the water felt as it flowed around his paws. Hopping onto the bank beside Hollyleaf, he purred, “Race you to the beeches!”

He sped away, weaving between the trees. Hollyleaf pounded after him. He could feel her breath on his tail and pushed harder. How fast can you run? Bushes blurred beside him as he ran at full-pelt. He glanced over his shoulder, hoping Hollyleaf might suddenly fly past, showing speed greater than any cat in the forest. That could be the sign that she was the fourth cat. But she was trailing, falling farther behind with each paw step.

Lionblaze pulled up. Hollyleaf slowed to a halt beside him, panting. “That was fun!” She fought to catch her breath, then glanced around, her eyes lighting up as she saw the first beech. She scrambled up the trunk and looked down from the lowest branch. “Come on, slow slug!”

Lionblaze hauled himself up the tree after her. “Let’s see how high we can climb!” He was testing her again, letting her take every jump first, following the path she chose through the branches, watching every leap to see if it was lighter and stronger than their Clanmates. He spotted a wide gap between their tree and the beech beside it. “Look!”

Hollyleaf paused and followed his gaze. “What?”

“Do you think you could make that jump?”

“To the next tree?” Hollyleaf tipped her head, thoughtful, then raced along the branch and leaped from the end.

Lionblaze’s heart skipped a beat as she glided through the air. He scrambled to the end of the branch, blood roaring in his ears as Hollyleaf stretched out for the next tree and caught hold of a branch tip. Her hind legs swung down as she gripped on with her forepaws.

“Be careful!” Lionblaze yelped as Hollyleaf swung perilously. A gust of wind made the trees swirl. “Hang on!”

“I’m okay!” Scrabbling with her hind legs, Hollyleaf dragged herself up onto the branch and stood triumphant, staring back at him. “Your turn.”

Lionblaze gazed at the wide space between the trees, feeling sick. The gap yawned below him. He’d asked Hollyleaf to risk her life, just to prove he was right to believe she was the fourth cat. She’d made it, but only just. Would he be able to jump as far? “Let’s—”

Before he could finish, Hollyleaf’s gaze jerked up. The branches above her were trembling. Squirrel. She sprang upward and disappeared through the browning leaves, sending them fluttering down behind her. Lionblaze watched, stiff with fear, as the tree shuddered. Hollyleaf yowled once and then the leaves fell still.

“Hollyleaf?” he called.

There was no answer.

“Hollyleaf!” Lionblaze slithered down onto the next branch and raced for the trunk. Scrambling down backward, he zigzagged around the jutting branches until he could see the ground beneath him. Unhooking his claws, he dropped and landed on the forest floor.

“Hollyleaf!” Had she fallen? He scanned the ground, fear coursing through every muscle. The branch above him rustled. Lionblaze looked up.

Hollyleaf poked her head through the leaves with a squirrel dangling from her jaws. Purring, she jumped down beside him and dropped her catch. “So?” There was a challenge in her gaze. “Did I pass the assessment?”

Lionblaze blinked in surprise. “It wasn’t an assessment.”

Hollyleaf tipped her head. “Then why race me through the forest and ask me to jump around the treetops like I’ve got wings?”

Lionblaze hesitated. The wind strengthened around them, swishing through the branches overhead. “It has to do with the prophecy,” he confessed.

“Okay.” Hollyleaf nodded. “What about it?”

“There’s a fourth cat.” Hollyleaf’s ears pricked as Lionblaze went on. “I think it could be you.”

Hollyleaf looked down at her paws. “No way.”

“Why not?” Lionblaze leaned closer. “You’ve just proved that you’re a great climber and hunter!”

“I’m a trained warrior!” she argued. “I’m supposed to be able to climb and hunt. And I spent a long time taking care of myself.”

Lionblaze ignored her. “But you’d do anything for your Clan! You had the courage and skill to fight WindClan in the tunnels.” He searched her gaze. “Have you had any dreams? Has StarClan shared tongues with you? Or the Tribe of Endless Hunting?”

Hollyleaf stared at him. “I’m not a medicine cat!”

“But if you’re part of the prophecy—”

“I’m not part of the prophecy!” Anger edged Hollyleaf’s mew. “I killed a cat, remember?” She started to pace, her claws ripping leaves. “And not because I was being brave or noble. I killed Ashfur because I was angry that our birth had broken the warrior code!” She swung around, her eyes glittering with torment. “Ashfur died because I was so angry that I stopped caring about what was right!”

Anguish stabbed Lionblaze’s belly. “It wasn’t your fault!” He brushed around her, desperate to ease her grief. “Leafpool and Squirrelflight started it. You should blame them!”

Hollyleaf shook her head. “No, they made a mistake. They were just trying to make it better. No one should have died because Leafpool’s heart led her along the wrong path.” She fixed Lionblaze’s gaze with hers. “Doesn’t every cat do that sometime in their life?”

Lionblaze backed away. “I—I guess,” he stammered. “But in the end real warriors do the right thing, don’t they?”

“Yes.” Hollyleaf sat down and wearily pawed the dead squirrel. “Which is why I’m doing everything I can to make it up to my Clan.”

Hope flickered again in Lionblaze’s heart. “Isn’t that proof you’re the fourth cat?”

“No.” Hollyleaf looked up. “It’s just proof I’m a warrior, like any other ThunderClan cat.”

“But you caught a squirrel higher than any ThunderClan cat has ever hunted.”

“I’m well trained.”

“You fought in the tunnels better than any warrior.”

“Those tunnels had been my home for a long time.”

“You’re loyal to the warrior code.”

“So is every one of our Clanmates.” Hollyleaf’s gaze was unblinking.

Lionblaze’s tail drooped. He couldn’t argue anymore.

“You and Jayfeather and Dovewing are special,” Hollyleaf went on. “If I have any destiny, it’s to protect you three so you can fulfill yours.” She padded closer until Lionblaze could feel her warm breath on his fur. “I’ve never had any special dreams or visions. Everything I’ve done, any warrior could do.” Rain began to patter on the leaves above them. “I’m not the fourth cat,” she murmured.

“I wish it was you,” Lionblaze told her sadly. “You deserve to be part of the prophecy.” His ears twitched. “We need to find the fourth cat or everything will be lost.”

Hollyleaf pressed her shoulder against his as the rain fell harder. “Don’t give up,” she whispered. “Our ancestors have led us this far. They won’t let us fail now.”