The Last Hope

Chapter 5

Dovewing watched Jayfeather pad away.

There’s a fourth cat. Her paws trembled. Aren’t I good enough? Perhaps StarClan had hoped for more when they made her the third cat in the prophecy. So what if she could hear the Dark Forest warriors coming? It didn’t mean she could defeat them.

She glanced at Lionblaze. “Are we going to hunt?”

“Go ahead without me.”

Dovewing shifted her paws. Lionblaze had been her mentor. He was one of the strongest, bravest warriors in ThunderClan. Why did he seem so lost? “I’ll see you later, then?”

“Okay.” Lionblaze didn’t look at her.

She trotted into the trees, snatching a glance over her shoulder, wishing he’d follow. But he stayed where he was.

She leaped a small stream and pushed deeper into the forest, soothed by the shade and relishing the musty scents of nettle and fern. The first fallen leaves of the season specked the forest floor. Surely Ivypool was the fourth cat? She risked her life every night fighting with the Dark Forest warriors. She deserved to be the fourth cat.

“Ow!” Dovewing squeaked as a thorn speared her pad. She’d been so lost in thought she’d stepped into a trailing bramble.

A sharp growl made her freeze. “Did you hear that?”

ShadowClan stench flooded Dovewing’s nose. I’m at the border! She’d wandered up to the scent line like a mouse in a daze. She froze, ducking beside the bramble that spilled over the boundary. Holding her breath, she listened to the ShadowClan warriors prowling behind on the other side.

“Don’t worry, Dovewing.” A hiss sounded through the branches. “I’ll get rid of them. Just stay still.”

Tigerheart!

“It was just a rabbit,” Tigerheart called to his Clanmates. “It’s escaped into ThunderClan territory.”

“I don’t smell rabbit.”

Dovewing recognized the growl of Ratscar. The bush rustled as he snuffled his way into the brambles. She caught sight of his fox-red pelt through the leaves. StarClan, help me! Her lungs ached for air but she didn’t dare breathe.

“Come on!” Rowanclaw called to his warriors. “Blackstar wants us at the shore. A dog’s running loose there. We need to scare it off before it decides to head into the forest.”

Dovewing heard Ratscar give a dissatisfied growl. “But I can smell ThunderClan.”

“I’ll stay and check it out,” Tigerheart offered.

“Okay, but stay this side of the border,” Rowanclaw warned.

Ratscar growled again. “Let me stay too. If ThunderClan cats are sniffing about I want to make sure they know—”

“Tigerheart can check it out.” Rowanclaw cut the warrior off. “We need to meet Blackstar. You can lead a patrol back here later to re-mark the borders.”

Dovewing drew in a long, deep breath as the ShadowClan patrol pounded away toward the lake.

“Dovewing?” Tigerheart whispered through the thorns. “Were you looking for me?”

“Of course not!” Relief flared to fury. He must think she was a wide-eyed kit! And a traitor! “I heard you accuse Jayfeather of murder, don’t forget!”

Tigerheart crawled out from underneath the bush. “I had to support Dawnpelt.” He stared at her imploringly.

“Why?” Dovewing hissed. “She was lying!”

“She’s my littermate.” Tigerheart blinked at her. “And my Clanmate. What did you expect me to do?”

“You could have kept your mouth shut!” Dovewing lashed her tail. “Or do you believe her?”

Tigerheart’s ears twitched. “I couldn’t let her stand up alone. Not when she was making such a serious accusation.” He moved closer, eyes round. “You’d have done the same for Ivypool, wouldn’t you?”

“Not if I didn’t think she was telling the truth.”

Tigerheart narrowed his eyes. “And what if Ivypool had done something terrible? Would you abandon her?”

Dovewing’s fur prickled. “Ivypool couldn’t do anything terrible!” Tigerheart’s tone unnerved her. “She wouldn’t!”

“Really?” His eyes gleamed with a hint of a challenge.

“What do you mean?” she demanded. Dovewing knew he and Ivypool both trained in the Dark Forest. Had something happened there, something Ivypool had kept secret?

Tigerheart dropped his gaze. “Nothing.”

Dovewing lifted her chin. “This doesn’t have anything to do with Ivypool. This is about Dawnpelt’s dumb lie!”

“Dawnpelt believes what she said.”

“Do you?” Dovewing arched her back.

“I miss you, Dovewing.” Tigerheart’s amber gaze pierced her. “Why do we have to argue?”

She flinched back in surprise as he leaned closer.

“Why can’t we meet like we used to?” He sliced a bramble leaf with his claw and watched it flutter to the ground. “When it’s just the two of us, everything’s so much simpler.”

Dovewing opened her mouth to argue. They were from different Clans. She shouldn’t even be thinking about him, let alone talking to him. Not like this. “I—I don’t know,” she stammered.

“You do know!” He took a step forward until their muzzles were almost touching. “You feel the same way as I do. I can tell.”

He trains in the Dark Forest! Dovewing tried to back away but his strength and warmth pulled her closer. For the first time in moons she felt safe, as though she could melt into him and never be afraid again. Ivypool trains there too, she reminded herself. Perhaps Tigerheart is spying for his Clan, like she is.

His breath was soft on her cheek. Just like it had been when they’d sat together in the old Twoleg place, away from Clan territory, alone beneath the moon.

“Tigerheart!” Ratscar’s yowl made her jerk away. The ShadowClan warrior was on the other side of the brambles.

“Coming!” Tigerheart scrambled under the bush. “Meet me tonight!” he hissed at Dovewing. “I’ll wait for you here.”

Trembling, Dovewing turned and ran. I can’t meet him! Her thoughts raced with her paws as she skimmed the drooping grass clumped between trees.

But why not? I’ll just meet him once. If it still feels wrong I won’t meet him again.

An orange pelt flashed in front of her. Skidding, Dovewing stumbled to a halt, missing Firestar by a whisker.

He reared back, surprised. “Dovewing!” Finding his paws, he stared at her. “Sorry. I was thinking about something. I didn’t even hear you coming.”

“I should have been looking where I was going.”

He gazed at her sympathetically. “Were you worrying, too?”

Yes. About Tigerheart. “I w-was just…” As she stammered guiltily, Firestar interrupted.

“…listening for danger?”

Dovewing bristled. There’s more to me than ears! I can hunt and fight as well!

The ThunderClan leader shook his head. “It’s hard knowing, isn’t it?”

Dovewing frowned. “You mean, knowing about the Dark Forest?”

“Yes.” Firestar stared deep into the forest. “The Clan feels it too, even if they don’t know what the danger is. They know something’s wrong. I ordered them to increase patrols and reinforce the dens. They’re not mouse-brains. They sense danger.” He suddenly turned toward her. “Are you okay?” His gaze was as green as the forest. “You’re young to have so much responsibility.”

Dovewing straightened. “I can handle it.”

“I know.” Firestar tipped his head. “But make sure you’re getting enough prey and rest, and remember…” He paused, glancing into the trees once more. “…the final responsibility is mine. You don’t hold the whole Clan in your paws. I just need you to do what you can.” He lifted his chin. “I’ll take care of the rest.”