The Last Hope

Molepaw bounced around Rosepetal. “Can I go with Graystripe?” he begged. “My hearing’s sharper than his. I’ll know if they’re coming way before him.”

Rosepetal gazed sternly at her apprentice. “Graystripe has the experience to know the difference between the sound of threat and the sound of action.” She nudged him toward the fresh-kill pile. “We don’t want any false alarms. Now go and eat.”

As Molepaw stomped away, Dovewing joined Lionblaze and Jayfeather. “WindClan is furious,” she warned. “They’ve found enemy scents all over the moorland, especially ThunderClan scent.”

Has Ivypool been there too? Lionblaze’s tail twitched.

Jayfeather narrowed his eyes. “At this rate the Dark Forest won’t need to invade,” he muttered. “The Clans will tear one another to pieces on their own.”

“We have to find out exactly what Brokenstar’s planning.” Lionblaze leaned closer to Dovewing. “Get Ivypool. It’s time she told us what’s going on in the Dark Forest.”

“She must be sleeping.” Dovewing glanced at the apprentice den. “I don’t like to wake her.”

“I don’t care,” Lionblaze hissed. “Go get her!”

As Dovewing headed for the yew bush, Lionblaze nudged Jayfeather toward the fallen beech. Poppyfrost was stretching outside the warriors’ den. Berrynose pushed past her and headed for the fresh-kill pile, where Foxleap and Toadstep were already rooting through yesterday’s catch.

“Has Brambleclaw organized the patrols?” Foxleap hooked a shriveled shrew with his claw. “We’re going to need something fresher than this.”

“I should think so.” Ferncloud padded from the nursery. “Brightheart’s hungry and she won’t want to eat stale mouse. With the kits coming soon, her appetite is fussier than ever.”

“I’ll go hunting!” Molepaw offered.

Rosepetal sat down. “We just got back from patrol!”

Foxleap rubbed his nose with his paw. “I’ll take Molepaw and Cherrypaw out while you rest,” he told the dark cream she-cat.

“Thanks,” Rosepetal breathed.

The yew bush shivered and Dovewing emerged. Ivypool followed, her eyes bleary with sleep. Lionblaze signaled to them with his tail, huddling deeper into the shadow of the beech.

“What is it?” Ivypool yawned as she reached him.

Jayfeather shifted his paws. “You have to tell us what’s happening in the Dark Forest,” he hissed.

Lionblaze beckoned Ivypool closer with a flick of his muzzle. “There are Dark Forest scents all over Clan territory.” He fixed her gaze with his. “And yours.”

Ivypool flattened her ears. “I’m not the only Clan cat visiting the lake from the Dark Forest,” she mewed defensively. “The others come too.”

“Why?” Lionblaze lowered his voice.

Ivypool glanced over her shoulder to check no one was listening. “Brokenstar says we need to learn about each of the Clan’s territories. So we can help one another if there’s an emergency.”

Anger pulsed through Lionblaze’s paws. “Do the Clan cats actually believe that?”

Ivypool twitched one ear. “Most of them don’t realize how evil he is.”

“But some do?” Lionblaze tried to understand.

Ivypool’s mew dropped to a whisper. “A few of them want the Dark Forest to win. They think their leaders have grown too soft.”

Lionblaze’s eyes widened. How could warriors turn on their own Clanmates? Didn’t they believe in the warrior code? “Who are these cats?” he hissed.

Ivypool stared at her paws. “They may still change their minds, once the battle starts.”

Lionblaze growled. “Tell us who these traitors are! We should warn their leaders.”

Jayfeather padded between them. “Let’s trust Ivypool on this,” he cautioned. “They may decide to fight on the right side when the battle comes. If we condemn them now, we risk making them enemies for sure.”

Ivypool flashed a grateful glance. “We have to do what Brokenstar says.” Her tail quivered. “Or he says he’ll kill us. And he means it. He killed Beetlewhisker.”

Lionblaze gripped the ground with his claws. “Beetlewhisker?”

Dovewing was already pricking her ears. Ivypool nodded, staring round-eyed at her sister. Lionblaze knew the Dovewing was listening for signs of the young RiverClan warrior. He held his breath, praying Ivypool was wrong.

“Well?” Lionblaze couldn’t bear the suspense.

“He’s gone,” Dovewing reported. “RiverClan can’t find him. I can hear them calling for him but there’s no sign.”

Ivypool shrank back, trembling. “He’ll lie in the Dark Forest forever.”

“We know what we’re up against,” Jayfeather growled. “If Brokenstar is prepared to kill his own recruits before the battle has started, he must feel confident.”

Lionblaze nodded. “And they’re clearly scouting the territories for the best places to attack.” He lifted his chin. “We have to tell Firestar.” He padded from the shadow of the beech and crossed the clearing. “Come on, Ivypool!”

Dovewing started to follow but Lionblaze waved her back with his tail. “Stay with Jayfeather.” Firestar’s den would be crowded enough. “Give Ivypool some space.”