The Last Hope

Chapter 25

Ivypool crouched inside the dirtplace tunnel. She could hear Firestar in the clearing, ordering patrols. Yowls echoed above the hollow. The Dark Forest had reached the woods.

Ivypool bristled with frustration. Dovepaw had prodded her awake too soon. I was trying to reach Blossomfall and Birchfall before the battle started! Now it was too late. I’ve got to find them. She pricked her ears.

“Stay with Brambleclaw and guard the camp.” Firestar gave a final order, then thundered out of camp.

Ivypool waited. Where would Brokenstar send ThunderClan recruits? Not to their own Clan, surely? They’d be more eager to fight other Clans. Ivypool crept deeper into the brambles and skirted the dirtplace, pushing through ferns until she was clear of the camp. The forest smelled dank as darkness swallowed it. Wind roared in the treetops.

“Ivypool?” Brambleclaw’s mew took her by surprise. “Shouldn’t you be on Firestar’s patrol?”

She whipped around to see the ThunderClan deputy standing underneath a rowan tree. Brambleclaw knew she’d trained in the Dark Forest. What if he thought she was betraying her Clan? “I—I have to find Blossomfall and Birchfall and Mousewhisker.”

He padded closer. “Do you know where they are?”

“No! I wish I did. I want to stop them before…”

“Before they betray their Clan?” Brambleclaw narrowed his eyes.

“They wouldn’t!” she gasped. “I know they wouldn’t! But they’ll be scared. Brokenstar has threatened to kill them if they don’t fight alongside him.”

Brambleclaw touched his muzzle to her head. “Go find them, Ivypool.”

“Really?” She blinked. “It’s okay?”

“I’m depending on you.”

“Thank you!” Bursting with relief, Ivypool spun around and pounded toward WindClan territory. Screeches rang from the moorland and echoed across the water, but there was no sign of pelts. She pushed harder, paws skidding on the slippery grass as she neared the stream that marked the border.

“Ivypool.” A growl took her by surprise. Amber eyes flashed in the darkness beyond the ditch.

Ivypool halted, unsheathing her claws. “Who is it?”

Tigerheart slid out of the bracken.

Ivypool narrowed her eyes. “Where are you heading?” She leaped the stream, keeping her distance from the dark warrior. “You know the battle’s begun, don’t you?”

Tigerheart glanced over his shoulder. “Hawkfrost told me to meet him here.”

Ivypool shifted her paws. “Are you in his patrol?”

“Are you?” His gaze sparked with suspicion.

“I—I don’t know yet. I haven’t gotten my orders.” Her mind whirled. Which side was Tigerheart on?

“Hawkfrost will tell you what to do when he gets here.”

But I have to find my Clanmates! Ivypool began to push through the bracken.

“Where are you going?” Tigerheart challenged.

“I don’t have time to wait!” Ivypool kept going. “The battle’s begun!”

“But you don’t know who to fight!”

Frustration raged through her. “Of course I know who to fight!” She turned on Tigerheart. “I’ll fight any Dark Forest warrior I meet.” She glared at him. “And any Clan cat who fights with them!”

“But I thought the Dark Forest warriors were your Clanmates now.” Tigerheart took a step closer. There was menace in his mew. “Isn’t this what you’ve been training for?”

Ivypool shook her head. “I know which cats deserve my loyalty. I’ll die before I fight beside Brokenstar and Hawkfrost.”

Tigerheart showed his teeth. “You may have to,” he growled. “You heard what Brokenstar said he’d do if we betrayed him.”

Ivypool met his gaze, anger surging beneath her pelt. “I don’t care.”

“You sound like your sister,” Tigerheart spat back.

Ivypool frowned. “What’s Dovewing got to do with this?”

“She put her Clan ahead of me.”

“So?” Tigerheart’s gaze darkened as Ivypool went on. “You should put your Clan first, too! Have all these moons in the Dark Forest made you forget the warrior code?”

Tigerheart bared his teeth. “I haven’t forgotten anything.”

The bracken beside them rustled. Ivypool whipped around, her heart lurching. Hawkfrost emerged. “Ivypool.” His eyes flashed. “Where have you been?”

“Looking for Blossomfall and Birchfall,” Ivypool stammered.

Hawkfrost stretched his muzzle close. “Find them,” he hissed. “Now. Then go straight to the WindClan camp. I want you with me in the second attack.”

Ivypool nodded and raced away. She glanced back once to see Tigerheart leaning toward Hawkfrost’s ear. Terror scoured her belly. If he tells Hawkfrost I’m a traitor, I’m dead! Her heart pounding, she ducked into the heather and fled. “Birchfall!” she yowled. “Blossomfall!”

“Ivypool!”

She skidded to a halt as she heard Birchfall’s mew. Her Clanmate was crouching beneath a clump of wind-blown gorse. His pale tabby pelt glowed in the darkness. Blossomfall and Mousewhisker huddled at his side, their eyes glittering with fear. Suddenly there was an explosion of shrieks close by and two WindClan warriors streaked past, Dark Forest warriors on their tail. Farther up the slope, more warriors clashed, their yowls splitting the roar of the wind.

“What should we do?” Blossomfall whispered. “We can’t attack Clan cats!”

Ivypool lifted her muzzle. “Of course we can’t! We have to defend the Clans against the Dark Forest.”

Birchfall stared at her. “Did you know all along this is what they were planning?”

“Yes,” Ivypool confessed.

Mousewhisker blinked at her. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

“I was spying.” She straightened up. “I didn’t know who I could trust. I had to let you work it out for yourselves.”

“She’s right.” Birchfall stepped forward. “We should have guessed earlier what was going on.”

Mousewhisker glanced over his shoulder. “So what do we do?”

“We join the battle, just as Brokenstar ordered, but we fight for the Clans,” Ivypool told him. “We’ve been trained by the Dark Forest, so we can use their own tricks against them.” A familiar scent touched her nose. “Applefur?” she called warily as she smelled the ShadowClan she-cat. Would she have the courage to oppose the Dark Forest warriors?

As Applefur slid out from the heather, Breezepelt barged past her. Ivypool’s fur lifted when she saw Thistleclaw and Snowtuft at his tail.

“There you are!” Breezepelt’s eyes shone. “We’re going to launch an attack on the camp.”

“But Hawkfrost told us to meet him,” Ivypool argued.

“You will,” Thistleclaw growled. “He’ll be attacking from the far side.”

Ivypool blinked at the dark tabby. “Okay. Let’s go.” Her gaze flitted desperately to her Clanmates. We have to play along for now! She charged after Breezepelt’s patrol as it sped toward the WindClan camp. “We don’t have to attack WindClan cats once we’re there,” she hissed to Birchfall as he fell in beside her.

Heather brushed her pelt, its flowery scent smothered by the stench of decay. The peaty earth felt slimy beneath her paws. The moor’s turning into the Dark Forest! Ivypool pushed the thought away. It can’t! I won’t let it!

“Hurry!” Mousewhisker dashed past her. “We can’t let them get there first.”

Scrabbling up between the bushes, her lungs aching, Ivypool followed Birchfall and Blossomfall. From the top she could see into the WindClan camp. The clearing teemed with shrieking cats. Emberfoot reared over a Dark Forest warrior who lunged, screeching, at the WindClan warrior’s hind legs. Another Dark Forest tom slapped Crowfeather to the ground and began thrashing him with claw-spiked paws. Ivypool recognized Whitewing, Berrynose, and Hazeltail, broad-shouldered and sturdy among the lithe WindClan cats. Mallownose of RiverClan and Shrewfoot of ShadowClan fought beside them. A Dark Forest warrior batted Mallownose away with a vicious swipe. A tom clawed at Hazeltail’s belly while another tore lumps from Whitewing’s flank. The Clan warriors were outnumbered and fighting for their lives.

Breezepelt paced the top of the rise, tail lashing. Thistleclaw gazed down into the camp.

“When do we attack?” Applefur sounded scared.

“When the first patrol has weakened them,” Thistleclaw told her.

Blossomfall shifted her paws. Ivypool could feel the tortoiseshell’s pelt pricking with frustration. “Why don’t we help them now?”

“Wait.” Thistleclaw lifted his gaze to the far side of camp where Hawkfrost sat, silhouetted against the clouds. His patrol weaved impatiently beside him. Tigerstar’s tabby pelt shone among them.

A wail flared below. Ivypool caught her breath as she saw a queen rearing up to grapple a Dark Forest tom away from a tiny kit shivering beside the frayed camp wall.

Hurry up! She fought to keep her paws rooted to the spot, then saw Hawkfrost lift his tail. Lashing it down, he gave the signal.

“Attack!” Thistleclaw yowled and charged down the slope, crashing through the heather wall into camp. Snowtuft charged after him, Blossomfall on his tail.

Ivypool blocked Applefur’s way. “You’re not going to fight on their side, are you?”

Applefur stared at Ivypool, her eyes wild with terror. “B-but I have to!”

“You have to defend the Clan!” Ivypool hissed. “Isn’t death better than having Brokenstar as your leader?”

Applefur blinked.

“You are still a warrior,” Ivypool reminded her. “And the warrior code says we should lay down our life for our Clanmates. They have never needed us more than they do now!”

Applefur nodded. “You’re right,” she whispered. “My life is a small price to pay, considering what I’ve done.”

“There’s no time for guilt now,” Ivypool told her. “Fight loyally, and with courage. That is all your Clan asks of you.”

“Then that is what I will give them!” Applefur sprang away toward the camp. Ivypool raced after her. She had to get to Breezepelt. She exploded through the heather and landed, skidding, on the peaty clearing. Cats grappled and yowled on every side. She scanned the camp. Breezepelt was chasing Thistleclaw through the throng. Ivypool snaked after him.

“No!” As Breezepelt reared up to attack a WindClan warrior, Ivypool launched herself at him. Smashing into Breezepelt’s flank, she sent him flying. “You can’t fight for the Dark Forest!”

“Are you crazy?” Breezepelt struggled free and stared at her. “This is what we’ve been training for!”

“But you can’t believe that this is right!” Suddenly claws raked Ivypool’s cheek. Pain shot through her and she staggered sideways.

Thistleclaw loomed over her, his lip curled to show long, yellow teeth. “Traitor!”

“I’m no traitor!” Ivypool hissed. “I’ve been loyal to my Clan all along! I only came to the Dark Forest to find out what you were planning!”

Her heart froze as Hawkfrost appeared behind Thistleclaw’s shoulder. Then Snowtuft landed beside her, his eyes darkening with hate.

“We won’t fight for you either!” Birchfall flung himself at a Dark Forest tabby.

Applefur lunged for a ragged tom. “I fight for the Clans!”

Rage flared in Hawkfrost’s gaze. “Then we shall kill you first, before we destroy your wretched Clans!”

Ivypool braced herself, stiffening as fur flashed beside her. Claws pierced her flank. She spun around as the full weight of Snowtuft sent her sprawling. Jumping to her paws, she hurled herself at the skinny, white tom. She hooked her claws into his shoulders and hauled him backward, but he twisted and snapped at her throat. She dodged just in time and crashed into a dark tabby flank.

Tigerheart! She recognized his scent. “Do I have to fight you, too?” she snarled.

Tigerheart’s eyes narrowed. “I’m a warrior,” he growled. “I fight for the Clans.” He turned and kicked out with his back legs, sending Thistleclaw sprawling. “Dark Forest warriors don’t belong here. This is Clan territory!”

With hope flaring inside her, Ivypool thrust Snowtuft away. His fur ripped in her claws. “Then why were you in the Dark Forest?” she called to Tigerheart.

Tigerheart ducked under Thistleclaw’s belly and shoved him off balance. “Same as you. I wanted to find out what they were up to.”

Thistleclaw rounded on him. “But you’re Tigerstar’s kin!”

“That doesn’t mean I have to be like him.” Tigerheart swiped at Thistleclaw. “He almost destroyed ShadowClan once before. I wasn’t going to let him do it again!”

Roaring, Hawkfrost barged past Thistleclaw. “I’ll finish this traitor off.” He hurled himself at Tigerheart. “You and Snowtuft deal with Ivypool.”

Ivypool felt claws slice her shoulders. Legs buckling, she stumbled sideways. Snowtuft and Thistleclaw reared over her, side by side. Together they began to drive Ivypool back through the ragged camp wall, swinging blow after blow at her muzzle. Ivypool raised her forelegs, trying to fend off the strikes, but her hind paws slipped on the peaty floor. Heather snagged her pelt and she tripped and fell, finding her feet just in time to leap out of the way as Snowtuft lunged for her. Looking up, she realized she’d become separated from the Clan cats. She could see Tigerheart in the clearing, surrounded by Dark Forest warriors. Birchfall was defending a kit at the far side of the camp. Applefur and Blossomfall fought back to back, blood dripping from their whiskers, fending off blows from four Dark Forest toms.

StarClan, help me! Snowtuft and Thistleclaw kept forcing Ivypool back with stinging blows. The camp slid from view, swallowed by shadow as they drove her deeper and deeper into the heather. Then they paused. Snowtuft dropped onto all fours and stared at her. Thistleclaw stood panting beside him.

Ivypool whipped around, catching her breath as she looked for an escape route. Gorse, thick with thorns, crowded every side. Snowtuft and Thistleclaw blocked the only way out.

“We’ve trapped her!” Thistleclaw called over his shoulder.

Hawkfrost strode into the tiny clearing. “Did you really think you’d live after betraying me?” His blue eyes shone as he glanced at Thistleclaw and Snowtuft. “Let’s make her death slow,” he growled.

He lunged at Ivypool, throwing her backward with such force that it knocked the wind from her. Gasping for air, she felt claws rake her spine. Thistleclaw’s pelt flashed at the edge of her vision. Snowtuft grabbed her from behind. Teeth and claws ripped her pelt. Pain seared her flesh. I won’t die easily! Terror sent power surging through her. And I’ll take you with me, Hawkfrost! With a roar, Ivypool reared up, strong as a badger, and sent her attackers flying.

Hawkfrost landed neatly on all four paws. “I trained you too well,” he snarled. His gaze fixed on her throat.

Ivypool backed away. She twisted and ducked under him as he leaped, but his claws sank into her tail and pinned her to the ground. Thistleclaw and Snowtuft attacked from opposite sides, snarling, slicing her ears. She struggled away from them, crashing into hard muscle. Hawkfrost was behind her now. He stabbed his claws into her shoulders. With a gasp, Ivypool saw his teeth flashing beside her throat. Then a black pelt flashed over the top of the gorse. Paws landed with a thump beside her.

“Get off her!” Hollyleaf yowled.

Ivypool’s world spun as the black warrior slammed into Hawkfrost and sent him reeling into the gorse. Free from Hawkfrost’s claws, Ivypool turned on Thistleclaw and Snowtuft. She began slashing with her front paws, remembering in a crystalline moment every moon of training. Hollyleaf reared up beside her, matching her blow for blow, as though she instinctively knew where Ivypool would strike next. Blood sprayed the forest floor as Ivypool sliced Snowtuft’s muzzle and tore Thistleclaw’s nose. Turning, she kicked out with hind legs and knocked Thistleclaw backward, then sank her teeth into Snowtuft’s neck.

The white warrior screeched and ripped free from her jaws. Ivypool tasted his blood as he hared away through the bracken. She met Thistleclaw’s gaze. Fear sparked in his eyes as she spat out a bloody clump of Snowtuft’s fur.

“Run,” she hissed. “Because if you stay, I will kill you.”

Mouth open, Thistleclaw fled, disappearing through the gorse. A shriek exploded behind Ivypool. She turned and saw Hollyleaf swipe at Hawkfrost’s muzzle. The force of the blow sent the Dark Forest warrior crashing away. He dropped with a thump and scrabbled to his paws. Blood dripping from his cheek, one eye swollen shut, he glanced at Hollyleaf and tore his way through the gorse.

Ivypool stared at the black she-cat. “You saved my life!”

Hollyleaf staggered and fell to the ground.

“Hollyleaf!” Ivypool darted to her side and saw blood pulsing from a wound in her neck. Panic formed a hard lump in Ivypool’s belly.

Grasping Hollyleaf’s scruff in her teeth, she began to half drag, half carry her Clanmate toward the ThunderClan border. Jayfeather would know what to do.

“I’ll get you home,” Ivypool growled through gritted teeth. “I promise I’ll get you home.”

A tabby pelt crashed through the gorse toward them. Ivypool braced herself, ready to fight again.

“Let me help!” Tigerheart stopped beside her and shoved his nose beneath Hollyleaf’s shoulder. Taking half the weight, he pressed his flank against Ivypool. “We can do this together.”

The screeches of the battle for WindClan faded behind them as they began to haul the injured warrior away.