The Last Hope

Chapter 19

“Brightheart has kitted!”

Poppyfrost’s cry woke Dovewing. She jumped from her nest and darted into the clearing. The hollow sparkled with dew. Mist hung on the trees at the top of the hollow. The musty scents of leaf-fall laced the chilly air. Faces peered from dens, whiskers quivering, eyes bright.

Cloudtail was pacing outside the nursery while Mousefur hurried across the clearing on stiff legs. “How many?” the old she-cat rasped.

“Three.” Cloudtail carried on pacing. “Two toms and a she-kit.” He glanced anxiously at the bramble den as Jayfeather poked his head out of the entrance. “Is Brightheart okay?”

Dovewing’s belly tightened as she crossed the clearing. Brightheart was old to be kitting.

“She’s fine,” Cinderheart purred. “Come and see.”

Dovewing halted beside Mousefur. “It’s the first good news we’ve had for a while.”

The elder whisked her tail. “Perhaps Firestar should have sent her away to kit outside our territory.” Her eyes were dark. “They’d be safer.”

“Safer?” Graystripe padded toward them. “The safest place for any kit is at the heart of its Clan.”

Lilykit slithered out of the nursery. “No one’s sending me away!”

“Of course not.” And you shouldn’t have been eavesdropping. Dovewing wrapped her tail around the tiny tortoiseshell. “ThunderClan fights for its kits. They’re the heart of the Clan.” She nudged Lilykit toward the warriors’ den. “Why don’t you go and tell Sorreltail about Brightheart’s kits?”

Firestar jumped down from Highledge, Sandstorm on his tail. He weaved past Dustpelt and Squirrelflight and stopped beside Graystripe. “How many?” he asked, stretching his muzzle to peer through the entrance.

“Three.” Graystripe nudged his friend. “You always were softhearted over kits.”

Sandstorm stopped beside them. “We should have had more,” she murmured wistfully.

“It’s a dark time to be born.” Firestar narrowed his eyes. “The battle is near.”

Graystripe looked at him sharply. “We can’t be sure.”

“It won’t be long.” Dovewing heard a growl in the ThunderClan leader’s mew.

Graystripe’s ear twitched. “How do you know? Have you had a sign?”

“I had a dream last night.”

Before Graystripe could question him more, Cloudtail slid out of the nursery, bright-eyed. “They’re lively!” he purred. “Fighting over who gets to be closest to their mother’s belly.”

The thorn barrier rustled and Jayfeather hurried into camp. The ThunderClan leader padded away, calling to Cloudtail over his shoulder. “Tell Brightheart I’ll welcome her kits to the Clan later.”

Mousefur shifted beside Dovewing. “I’m glad we have Firestar to lead us.” She sat down heavily. “He has courage and strength enough for all of us.”

Graystripe nudged her. “I remember when you argued with Bluestar about bringing him into the Clan.”

Dovewing glanced at Firestar as he guided Jayfeather to the shadow of Highledge. Even though the whole Clan knew he had come from a Twoleg nest, it was hard to believe that the battle-scarred warrior used to be a pampered kittypet.

“I was wrong to argue.” The old she-cat’s eyes clouded. “I wonder if Bluestar knew that one day he would be our best hope for survival.”

Graystripe glanced up at the sky. “She’s probably watching now.”

“Get Lionblaze.” Dovewing jerked around as Firestar called to her. Heart racing, she leaped onto the beech trunk and padded to a den woven beneath a jagged stump. She stuck her nose inside. “Firestar wants us.”

Lionblaze woke, jerking his head from beneath his paw. “What’s happened?”

“Jayfeather just got back from the Moonpool and Firestar’s acting like the battle’s about to start.”

Lionblaze shot out of his nest. He jumped down into the clearing and Dovewing followed.

As she reached Firestar, she noticed Jayfeather fighting a yawn. “Shouldn’t you rest?”

“She’s right,” Firestar agreed. “There’s time for you to sleep before sunhigh.”

Lionblaze pricked his ears. “What happens at sunhigh?”

“We meet with the other leaders and medicine cats on the island,” Firestar told him. “Jayfeather has united StarClan. Now I must unite the Clans.”

“He’s the fourth cat.” Jayfeather’s eyes shone.

Firestar! Dovewing blinked.

Lionblaze lifted his tail. “You were close, Dovewing, when you said we needed to start looking for a cat who was born with a special destiny.”

Firestar’s eyes darkened. “I just hope destiny is enough to save us.”

Sunlight pierced the leaves and lit the forest floor.

Jayfeather was still yawning from his nap as Dovewing followed her Clanmates out of the hollow. Her belly churned. Suddenly the coming battle felt real. She could almost hear the screech of warriors and taste the stone tang of blood.

“Squirrel!” Lionblaze tasted the air a moment before a gray flash shot up a birch tree beside them.

“There’ll be fresh-kill when we return,” Firestar told him. “Brambleclaw’s sending out extra hunting patrols. I want the pile fully stocked.”

Dovewing followed her Clanmates through the woods, swerving as she raced in their paw steps. The warm sun was driving mist from the lake, making the surface glitter like a fish. As Dovewing leaped from the bank and landed on the shore, she tasted the scents of forest and water mingling on her tongue. Pebbles scattered behind her as she charged onward. Firestar skirted the water’s edge, his gaze fixed on the island. He slowed the pace and Dovewing, relieved, caught her breath. By the time they reached the tree-bridge, she was hardly panting. She pulled up beside Lionblaze as Firestar sprang onto the fallen tree and crossed the water. Jayfeather followed, landing neatly on the far shore.

“Go on.” Lionblaze flicked his muzzle toward the tree and Dovewing jumped up, digging her claws into the rotting bark as she padded carefully across.

The island clearing was empty. Lionblaze paced, his tail twitching, while Jayfeather sat in the center beside Firestar. Dovewing padded nervously around them until the grass swished and Onestar slid out. Kestrelflight was at his side.

The WindClan leader circled the clearing, keeping his distance from the ThunderClan warriors. “It seems that our medicine cats are in charge of the Clans now.”

Firestar dipped his head. “They know things we don’t.”

Kestrelflight crossed the clearing and sat beside Jayfeather. “We have seen our enemy,” he explained to his leader. “You have not.”

“Not yet,” Firestar added grimly.

Lionblaze sniffed the undergrowth at the edge of the clearing, ears pricked. “There’s some ShadowClan scent here.”

Onestar glanced at him. “Probably left over from last full moon.”

Lionblaze narrowed his eyes. “Probably.” He padded back across the clearing.

Dovewing moved aside to let him sit beside Firestar. She pricked her ears and listened. Mistystar was coming, Willowshine and Mothwing beside her. Their paw steps crunched on the shore near the tree-bridge. Blackstar and Littlecloud were already rustling through the long grass on the island. Dovewing listened harder. The RiverClan camp buzzed like a beehive while ShadowClan chattered inside their bramble walls like starlings. She reached for WindClan and heard anxious whispers whipped away by the wind.

“They shouldn’t have gone alone.”

“What’s Firestar up to this time?”

“It must be a trap.”

“But Firestar is a noble warrior.”

“Firestar wants to rule all the Clans. He always has.”

They were scared of him! Dovewing twitched, surprised. But he’s your last hope!

Blackstar emerged from the grass. Littlecloud padded after him, chin high.

The ShadowClan leader’s gaze narrowed when he saw Lionblaze. “Why have you brought warriors?”

Firestar wrapped his tail over his paws. “I’ll explain when Mistystar gets here.”

Blackstar glanced over his shoulder at the trembling grass.

Mistystar padded out, leading Willowshine. “Willowshine insisted I come,” she growled. “She says the Dark Forest warriors are planning to invade Clan territory.” Her eyes glittered with disbelief. “Has she gone mad?”

Mothwing nosed her way from the grass. “Willowshine has never been wrong before.”

“But how can the dead threaten the living?” The RiverClan leader halted in the middle of the clearing.

Blackstar stayed near the edge. “Littlecloud told me they’ve learned to cross into our territories.”

“That’s impossible.” Onestar circled his medicine cat.

Jayfeather’s tail whipped from side to side. “How dare you question your medicine cat?” His gaze swept like fire over the leaders. “Do you think we’d lie?”

Mistystar shifted her paws. Onestar flattened his ears. Only Blackstar replied. “StarClan and the Dark Forest have always been beyond our reach. Now you tell us we are part of a war between them?”

“Not just between them,” Firestar growled. “The Dark Forest has declared war on all the Clans. We must unite against them.”

Onestar scowled. “Is that why you brought warriors with you? To force us to join you?”

“I brought them because they’re part of a prophecy,” Firestar explained. “Many moons ago I was told that the kin of my kin would be born with the power of the stars in their paws. For a long time I didn’t know what that meant. Now I do.” He nodded toward Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Dovewing. “The time has come. These are the kin of my kin, and each has a special power that will lead them to fulfill the prophecy.”

Blackstar leaned closer, flattening his ears. “What power?”

Lionblaze lifted his chin. “I cannot be defeated in battle.”

“I can sense thoughts and walk in dreams,” Jayfeather told him.

Dovewing’s breath quickened as all four leaders turned to her. “I—I can hear things that are far away.”

“What do you mean?” Mistystar demanded.

Dovewing felt her tail droop. This felt more like an admission of guilt. “I could hear your Clanmates now if I tried.”

Mistystar’s pelt bushed. “You’re a spy!”

“I would never spy!”

Blackstar showed his teeth. “Really?”

Littlecloud darted forward. “You’re missing the point!”

Jayfeather backed him up. “They were given powers to save the Clans, not harm them.”

Blackstar wove around Lionblaze, a growl rumbling in his throat. “So you can never be defeated, eh?” He stopped and stared at the golden warrior. “Rowanclaw told me he shredded you.”

“I let him!” Lionblaze snapped. The muscles beneath his shoulders rippled.

Blackstar backed away and looked at Firestar. “Suppose we believe you about this prophecy?” he growled. “What is it all for?”

“Why have you kept this secret from us until now?” Onestar put in.

“The time was not right before,” Firestar snapped.

Blackstar flexed his claws. “And what makes it right now?”

Willowshine padded to Dovewing and touched her shoulder with her muzzle. “Can you hear as far as the Dark Forest?” she whispered.

Dovewing stiffened. “I—I don’t know.”

“Will you try?”

Dovewing nodded and stretched her ears till the tips ached.

Blackstar narrowed his eyes, staring at her. “What’s she doing?”

Willowshine met his gaze. “She’s showing you your enemy.”

Dovewing’s throat tightened. What if her power failed her? She reached out from the island, letting her hearing spread in every direction at once. The murmurings of the Clans swept over her; every movement and word crashed in like waves but she kept reaching farther, past the Clans and into the darkness at the edges. Slowing her breath, she forced herself to relax, opening her senses and letting whatever lay beyond the darkness seep in.

A distant yowl sounded from far away. Tensing, Dovewing focused her hearing on the cry and rushed toward it, every sense raw. She gasped as trees blurred at the edges of her vision. The sounds of the forest formed images in her mind, which sharpened and strengthened as she hunted deeper. Spindly undergrowth grew in tangled heaps. An eerie light glowed just strong enough to make them out. She glanced up and saw only darkness. The Place of No Stars!

“I’ve reached it!”

Onestar gasped. “You can actually hear what’s going on there?”

Littlecloud meowed, “Don’t disturb her.”

“But do you really expect us to believe she can visit the Dark Forest in her thoughts?” Blackstar whispered.

Mothwing shook out her pelt, filling the air with the scent of herbs. “You believe that all the cats in StarClan can see beyond normal boundaries,” she pointed out. “Why should one living cat not be able to do the same?”

“Hush!” Mistystar quieted them, and Dovewing concentrated harder.

A deep growl sounded beside her. “Dig your claws deeper into the muscle! He must feel fire touch his bones!”

Dovewing jerked her attention toward it. A scarred warrior, torn-eared and matted, loomed from the shadow. A tortured yowl screeched through the trees. Was this where Ivypool came every night? Dovewing’s heart lurched. “They’re training for battle,” she breathed.

“They train every night,” Jayfeather put in.

Willowshine twitched beside Dovewing. “They’re as brutal as dogs.”

“They have no warrior code,” Littlecloud added.

A bloodcurdling shriek made Dovewing flinch. Instinctively she tried to snatch her thoughts away from the Dark Forest, but Willowshine pressed against her till she could feel the steady beating of her heart. “Keep going,” she whispered.

She focused on the scarred warrior again, and this time she saw another tom beside him. Two more wrestled on the slimy ground ahead of them.

“We need to shred every Clan cat who ever lived.”

Dovewing stared at the dark tabby who spoke. His shoulders were massive and his claws were longer than she’d ever seen.

“She’s found Brokenstar,” Jayfeather reported.

“How do you know?” Onestar gasped.

“I can see into her thoughts.” Jayfeather’s breath touched Dovewing’s cheek. “He’s talking to his Clanmates.”

“What’s he saying?” Blackstar demanded.

Dovewing began to quote Brokenstar’s words. “Destroying the puny warriors who huddle like mice around the lake will be fun, but when we kill StarClan… that will be the final revenge.” The growl in his throat suddenly turned into a wild purr, so loud it hurt Dovewing’s ears. She shrank away, turning her ears to another part of the forest.

A white she-cat was slinking through the trees, complaining.

“Why do we have to train in this stinking forest?” Dovewing repeated the warrior’s words. “Why can’t we train on our own land?”

“Is that a Clan cat?” Mistystar exclaimed.

“Why would a Clan cat be in the Dark Forest?” Onestar snapped.

Dovewing focused harder, until she recognized the snowy pelt. Icewing! It was a RiverClan warrior. I can’t betray her!

Dovewing shut off the sound, and pressed closer to Willowshine.

“Thank you, Dovewing.” Firestar’s gentle mew sounded in her ear. She opened her eyes, relieved to see the island clearing.

Mistystar was staring at her in dismay.

Onestar didn’t move, his gaze leveled at Firestar. “How do we stop them?”

Firestar straightened up. “We fight.”

“And we’ll win!” Blackstar hissed. “They don’t stand a chance on our territory. We know our own land like we know our own markings.”

Dovewing got to her paws. “They know it, too,” she ventured.

“What?” Blackstar turned on her.

“They’ve been sending patrols onto every Clan’s territory to scout out the best places to ambush and fight,” Dovewing told him.

“Have you heard them?” Blackstar hissed.

Lionblaze flattened his ears. “The scents you found?” he snapped. “They were from the Dark Forest. This enemy is better prepared and more deadly than any we’ve faced before.”

Mistystar tipped her head. “There were Clan scents mixed with the rogue stench.”

“They’ve recruited Clan cats,” Lionblaze told her.

“Never!” Blackstar spat. “ThunderClan might have traitors among its warriors, but not ShadowClan!”

“They’ve been recruited from every Clan,” Firestar told him grimly.

“You must have seen them!” Onestar challenged Dovewing. “Tell us who they are!”

Dovewing shifted her paws. “I—I can’t say,” she stammered.

Blackstar padded toward her. “Are you a traitor, too?”

“Of course she isn’t!” Firestar stepped in front of her. “No one’s a traitor yet. We don’t know which side any cat will choose until the battle begins.”

Onestar prickled. “But if we know who they are, we can be prepared.”

For the first time Mistystar looked frightened. “Tell us who you’ve seen, Dovewing.”

“They must be punished.” Blackstar hissed.

Dovewing dug her claws into the earth. “I can’t tell you,” she meowed steadily. “Firestar’s right. They haven’t betrayed anyone yet.”

Firestar flicked his tail. “They believe they are training for the sake of their Clan. They don’t realize they are being prepared for our destruction.”

“Then they’re fools,” Blackstar snarled.

Mistystar swished her tail. “They may be foolish, but Firestar is right. Until they turn their claws on their own Clanmates, we cannot condemn them.”

“Some are only staying because Brokenstar has threatened to kill any cat who betrays him,” Lionblaze explained. “You’ve had a glimpse of how ruthless the Dark Forest warriors are. Their recruits might be too scared to disobey their new leader. We must be ready to fight our own Clanmates.”

Onestar tilted his head. “Or free them.”

“So what do we do about the Dark Forest?” Blackstar demanded.

Lionblaze stepped forward. “We must stand together.”

Blackstar backed away. Mistystar glanced at her paws.

“How can we trust one another?” Onestar asked quietly.

Firestar glanced at the medicine cats, then back to the leaders. “The time has come to fight our greatest enemy,” he declared. “We can fight alone, or we can stand together. We’re stronger side by side, as we were for the Great Journey. Uniting against the Dark Forest is our only hope.”

Silence gripped the clearing, broken only by the fretful song of a sparrow high above them.

“Very well.” Mistystar dipped her head. “RiverClan will join ThunderClan in this battle.”

Dovewing suddenly realized she’d been holding her breath. She let it out, her chest aching.

“WindClan will join the alliance.” Only Onestar’s tail-tip moved, twitching as though caught by a breeze.

Firestar turned to Blackstar. “We will do what we can to defend you, even if you choose not to join.”

Blackstar curled his lip. “My Clan will join.” He began to pace around the others. “But there will be one condition.”

“Very well.” Firestar pricked his ears.

“On ShadowClan territory, ShadowClan is in charge of any warrior from any Clan.” He scowled at Firestar. “Even a Clan leader.”

Firestar nodded. “Okay.”

Jayfeather sat down beside Kestrelflight. Willowshine, Littlecloud, and Mothwing gathered around them. “StarClan will be pleased,” Jayfeather meowed as the other medicine cats murmured their approval.

Firestar faced the Clan leaders. “We need to make a battle plan.”

“Where do you think the Dark Forest will attack first?” Mistystar asked.

Lionblaze shrugged. “It could be anywhere or everywhere at once.”

“Patrols must move through all the territories night and day,” Onestar suggested. “There must be no borders to block their way.”

Blackstar’s eyes glittered. “Enemy patrols moving freely through my territory?”

“We’re not enemies now,” Firestar reminded him. “I suggest there be one patrol in each territory made up of warriors from all four Clans. I’ll send three warriors to each of your camps at dusk.”

Mistystar stiffened. “So soon?”

“We must be prepared,” Firestar insisted. “Will you each send three warriors to ThunderClan?”

Dovewing watched the leaders nod, their gaze shadowed. She felt cold to the bone.

“How do we know which cats we can trust?” Onestar narrowed his eyes. “Harespring keeps coming home with unexplained injuries.”

“Troutstream has been bad-tempered lately,” Mistystar admitted.

Onestar glared at her. “I don’t want your traitors on my territory!”

“And I don’t want your traitors on RiverClan land,” Mistystar spat.

“We don’t know that they are traitors!” Dovewing exclaimed. “We should be concentrating on the battle, not trying to guess who our enemies are.”

Blackstar frowned. “But what if they tell our plans to their Dark Forest allies?”

“It’s a risk we have to take,” Firestar growled. “We must trust that enough Clan cats remain loyal to make our plans work.” He began to pace. “Battle patrols must focus on protecting the camps of each Clan. Each camp must be defended by warriors from all four Clans. We must keep our kits and elders safe.”

Onestar flexed his claws. “Once the camps are secure, then the patrol must draw the attackers away.”

“We’ll need messengers,” Blackstar added. “To share news or offer reinforcement.”

“The swiftest two cats from each Clan will be messengers,” Firestar decided.

Onestar circled the ThunderClan leader. “They must swear not to be drawn into battle. They must only carry news. I don’t want a camp lost because help doesn’t arrive in time.”

Blackstar nodded. “Agreed.”

“Good.” Firestar turned and stared through the trees, across the water. “Go home,” he growled. “Prepare for battle. It will strike everywhere at once, but remember that we are fighting together. Not alone.”

As he spoke, Dovewing saw the ferns at the far side of the clearing move. She froze as she spotted a pair of green eyes flash. Tigerheart? As Blackstar, Mistystar, and Onestar headed into the long grass, she glanced nervously at Firestar.

“Come on.” The ThunderClan leader began to pad after Onestar. Lionblaze fell in beside him and Jayfeather followed, his eyes glazed with tiredness.

“I’ll catch up!” Dovewing called.

As her Clanmates disappeared into the grass, she hared across the clearing and dived into the ferns. Tigerheart backed away, his eyes wide.

“What are you doing here?” Dovewing demanded.

“Did you really hear all the way to the Dark Forest?” Tigerheart’s mew was barely a whisper.

“You know I did!” There wasn’t time to explain. “I’ve told you about this before.” Anger surged through her. He wasn’t supposed to be here. Didn’t he ever follow rules? Or take anything seriously?

“But I’ve never actually seen you use your powers.” Tigerheart blinked. “It was great!” He moved closer, thrusting his muzzle toward her cheek.

Dovewing jerked away. “What are you doing?”

“What I always do!” Tigerheart protested. “What’s the matter? Nothing’s changed between us, has it?”

Doesn’t he realize the Clans are on the verge of being destroyed? Or is he here to spy for the Dark Forest?

“I don’t know.” Dovewing’s paws pricked.

“We can have one more night together, can’t we?” Tigerheart pleaded.

“No, we can’t.” Pain stabbed at Dovewing’s chest. “I have to concentrate on the prophecy! There’s a battle coming.” A lump rose in her throat. “I don’t know who to trust anymore!”

Tigerheart shot to her side, pressing close. “You can always trust me.” The warm scent of him made her shake. “I love you!” he breathed.

Dovewing wrenched herself away. “This isn’t the time.” She shook her head. “I have a battle to fight.” She met his gaze. “So do you.”

“What about afterward?” he murmured.

“There will be four Clans again.” Dovewing shut her eyes tight. “You’ll belong to ShadowClan and I’ll belong to ThunderClan, and… and maybe that’s how it should be.”

Tigerheart stabbed the earth with his claws. “You can give me up so easily?”

Dovewing shook her head. “There’s nothing easy about this,” she hissed. “How can you be more worried about us, with everything that’s going on? You know what’s happening better than most cats!” It was as if she was looking at him for the first time: a ShadowClan cat, and a Dark Forest warrior. A cat who thought her powers were cool, but had no idea how important the prophecy was. What am I doing?

Spinning around, she crashed through the ferns and raced across the clearing. She heard Tigerheart call after her, but she didn’t look back.

Her mind whirled. Tigerheart was training in the Dark Forest and he knew the Clans’ battle plans. And now she had rejected him. What if the ShadowClan warrior decided to make her suffer in return?