The Last Hope

As hurt flashed across Leafpool’s gaze, Squirrelflight darted in front of her sister. She glared at Lionblaze. “Would you rather have never been born?” she snapped. “Who would have saved us from the Dark Forest then?”

“We haven’t saved you yet,” Jayfeather muttered.

“But you will.” Leafpool padded past Squirrelflight. Her gaze cleared. “You were born to save the Clans.”

Brambleclaw’s tail flicked angrily. “Did there have to be so many lies?” He was staring at Squirrelflight. “Couldn’t you have told me the truth?”

Squirrelflight dipped her head. “It was never my secret to tell. Leafpool had so much to lose.”

“She lost everything anyway,” Brambleclaw snarled.

“No, I didn’t.” Leafpool lifted her muzzle. “I watched my kits grow into fine warriors, and I still serve my Clan with all my heart.”

Lionblaze felt his heart prick. Perhaps this was the truth that was most important. Leafpool had sacrificed so much and, even though her kits rejected her time and again, she’d never stopped loving them. In his darkest moments, he couldn’t deny that.

“Brambleclaw, I’m sorry.” Squirrelflight moved closer to the ThunderClan deputy. Her voice was stronger now, as if she was tired of being punished for something she had believed to be right. “You have to understand that I never intended to hurt you. I loved you, and was proud to raise these kits with you. You were a wonderful father.”

“But I wasn’t their father!” Brambleclaw hissed.

“Yes, you were!” Squirrelflight thrust her muzzle close to Brambleclaw’s. Her eyes blazed. “Don’t throw away everything just because you are angry with me!”

Lionblaze swallowed. “I was so proud to be your son.”

Brambleclaw looked at him in surprise, as if he’d forgotten Lionblaze was there. Something in the deputy’s expression changed. “And I couldn’t have asked for a better son. And you, Jayfeather. Or a better daughter, Hollyleaf.” Hollyleaf opened her mouth as if to protest, but Brambleclaw spoke first. “You played no part in this deception, I know that. Whatever you did, it was because of the lies that had been told when you were born.”

“It was my fault alone,” Leafpool meowed quietly. “You are wrong to blame Squirrelflight. She was just being loyal to me. And now that we know about the prophecy, surely the only thing that matters is that these kits were accepted by their Clan? It’s not about us, after all. It’s about them. Their destinies shaped ours, right from the moment they were born.”

Squirrelflight nodded. “Everything was meant to be.”

Lionblaze looked down at his paws. If these cats could accept their destinies, then he had enough courage to accept his. I am one of the Four.

Chapter 18

Jayfeather paced along the edge of the Moonpool. The stone felt icy beneath his paws and a cold wind moaned above his head. Please, StarClan, let them come! Last night, the medicine cats had promised to meet him here.

It seemed a moon away now. When Lionblaze had revealed the prophecy that afternoon, it felt as though he’d shaken the world between his claws. Leafpool’s words echoed in his mind. You were born to save the Clans. Hope had sparked from her pelt, and the anger, which had been knotted around Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw for so long, finally began to unravel.

A pebble clattered beyond the lip of the hollow.

“Watch out!” Kestrelflight snapped.

“Sorry!” Fur brushed stone as a cat heaved her belly over the ridge.

Jayfeather padded forward, feeling the rock dimpling underpaw. “Willowshine, is that you?”

“We’re here.” The RiverClan medicine cat followed the spiraling path toward the Moonpool. “Mothwing sends good wishes.”

“Why didn’t you wait for us by the stream?” Kestrelflight bounded down to join them.

“I wasn’t sure you’d come.” Jayfeather shifted his paws.

Littlecloud padded stiffly into the hollow, his old bones tired from the journey. “We told you we would be here.”

“I’ve had to leave a camp full of sneezing warriors.” Kestrelflight fluffed out his pelt. “The first cold of leaf-bare has brought sickness.”

“Anything serious?” Littlecloud asked.

“Nothing more than runny noses and a cough or two,” Kestrelflight told him with obvious relief. “I’ve left Whitetail in charge of the herb store. She knows how to treat a sore throat.”

Willowshine’s paws scuffed the stone. “Perhaps it’s time you took on an apprentice?”

Jayfeather cut her off. “Kestrelflight won’t need an apprentice if the Dark Forest destroys us!”

Willowshine’s breath touched his nose. “What do you mean?”

“They’ve found a way of crossing over from the Place of No Stars,” Jayfeather announced.

“Into our territory?” Willowshine whispered.

Littlecloud’s claws scratched the rock. “It’s been them all along!” Fear edged his mew. “It’s been Dark Forest warriors sneaking into our territory!”

“Into all our territories,” Jayfeather corrected him. “They’re looking for the best places to fight. They could attack any day!”