The Last Hope

“StarClan sent no signs.” Spottedleaf tipped her head to one side. “We can’t even see the lake.”

“One of you must have!” Jayfeather shook rain from his pelt. “Last time I tried to find Flametail, I never made it past the Moonpool. But now I’m here!”

“StarClan sent no sign,” Spottedleaf insisted.

Jayfeather padded past her and stared into the trees. “Well, someone did.” Was it Rock? “I have to speak to Flametail. I have to reunite the medicine cats.”

Spottedleaf glanced around warily. “You know StarClan is divided. You won’t find Flametail. He’ll be in ShadowClan’s part of the hunting grounds.”

Jayfeather snorted. “There are no borders here.”

“There are now,” Spottedleaf snapped.

“They’re not real!” Why was she making this so difficult? “I’m going to find Flametail!”

Spottedleaf narrowed her eyes. “Things have changed!”

“The truth hasn’t,” Jayfeather spat. “And I’m going to make Flametail tell Littlecloud that I didn’t kill him.”

“It won’t be as easy as you think,” Spottedleaf warned. “ShadowClan won’t let you cross their scent line.”

Frustration surged through Jayfeather. “You don’t have to help me!”

He flinched as Spottedleaf thrust her muzzle close. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t help you!” she hissed. “I’m just warning you it won’t be easy. Yellowfang’s been feeding StarClan’s fears like a mother feeding her kits! The stupid old fleabag!”

Jayfeather backed away, startled by her anger. “Then you’ll take me to Flametail?”

“Of course!” She began to head up the trail. “ShadowClan’s territory is this way.”

Jayfeather scurried after her.

“Did you actually think I’d abandon ThunderClan?” Spottedleaf muttered.

“This isn’t just about ThunderClan,” Jayfeather corrected her. “It’s about all the Clans now.”

They broke from the trees and crossed a meadow. The long grass was crushed, battered flat by wind. Jayfeather narrowed his eyes against the stinging rain, his paws squelching over rotting flowers. He heard the river ahead. As they reached the bank, his heart twisted. The water was brown and foaming, running in full flood, crashing over rocks and swirling between the muddy banks.

“Where is everyone?”

Spottedleaf flicked her tail toward a huddle of cats crouching upstream, beneath a rocky overhang. Whitestorm? Jayfeather hardly recognized the white warrior. His pelt clung to him, showing jutting ribs beneath the soaked fur.

“Prey’s scarce now,” Spottedleaf explained.

Longtail was sitting beside Whitestorm, staring out from the cramped cleft. His eyes were clear and bright, his eyesight restored, but his gaze was tinged with sadness.

Jayfeather broke away from Spottedleaf and headed toward his Clanmates. “Longtail!” He greeted the old tom with a purr.

Longtail dipped his head. “It’s good to see you,” he murmured.

A pelt flashed at the corner of Jayfeather’s vision. Brindleface was picking her way down the steep bank edging the rocks. “Jayfeather? Is that you?” She broke into a trot as she drew near. “Something terrible has happened to StarClan! We can’t see the Clans anymore.”

“I know,” Jayfeather mewed. “It’s because of the Dark Forest.”

“How is Firestar?” Whitestorm asked, standing up and circling Jayfeather.

“He’s fine.”

“What about Mousefur?” Longtail blinked anxiously at him.

“Grumpy.” Jayfeather forced out a purr. He wanted to reassure them that nothing had changed in ThunderClan territory. “And Ferncloud rules the nursery as ferociously as any warrior.”

“What about Briarlight?” Longtail asked. “Has she recovered?”

“She’s doing well,” Jayfeather promised. “And Brightheart’s expecting kits.”

Whitestorm’s eyes gleamed. “That’s great news!”

“Jayfeather!” Spottedleaf’s mew called from behind. “We should get moving.”

“Where are you going?” Longtail leaned forward.

“To find Flametail.” Jayfeather’s ear twitched.

Whitestorm’s gaze darkened. “Don’t cross the border,” he warned.

“StarClan shouldn’t have borders,” Jayfeather growled.

Longtail lowered his head. “StarClan shouldn’t have leaf-fall, either.”

“I have to find Flametail.” Jayfeather turned away.

Whitestorm whipped around him, blocking his path. “You can’t go there!”

Spottedleaf ran her tail down the old warrior’s spine. “We must,” she mewed gently.

Whitestorm blinked at her, worry sparking in his gaze. “They’ll force you back.”

“They won’t stop me.” Jayfeather flattened his ears. “This is too important.”

Whitestorm backed away, letting Jayfeather pass.

“Be careful!” Brindleface called as he followed Spottedleaf away from the rocks.

She led him downstream, following the river across the meadow till it turned and headed away toward a distant wood, finally stopping beside a tree stump. “We’ve reached the border.”

Jayfeather could smell the washed-out scent of ShadowClan clinging to the dripping brambles that lined the path. He glanced nervously around. This is StarClan! he reminded himself. All cats are safe here.