The Last Hope

As she struggled to reach the stone, Jayfeather’s attention drifted. He’d been worrying all morning about the fourth cat. Mothwing was the only one who’d offered any help fighting the Dark Forest. It must be her. He cast his mind out, as though releasing a bird, and let it skim across the lake toward RiverClan territory. As it reached the camp, he blocked out the clamor of emotions and probed for Mothwing. He sensed Willowshine, counting herbs, and felt Mothwing beside her, but as usual he could not penetrate the mist that swathed the medicine cat’s thoughts like cobweb.

She has to be the fourth cat! She’s the only cat whose dreams were safe from the Dark Forest. She couldn’t be lured into their treacherous plans.

“Can you finish your exercises by yourself?” he asked Briarlight. “I need to go out.”

“Of course I can.”

Outside the den, the morning sunshine was warm on his pelt. Lionblaze and Whitewing were sharing a mouse beside the thorn barrier. Thornclaw and Sorreltail shared tongues at the edge of the clearing. Ferncloud and Daisy were gossiping outside the nursery, while Seedkit and Lilykit stalked fallen leaves in the shadow of the beech.

Lionblaze hopped out of the way as Jayfeather ducked into the entrance tunnel. “Where are you going?”

“To see Mothwing.”

Alarm flared from Lionblaze. “I’ll come with you.”

“No, thanks.” He didn’t want his brother arguing all the way around the lake that Hollyleaf was the fourth cat. “This is medicine-cat business.”

“But you’re not supposed to be a medicine cat anymore,” Lionblaze called after him.

“StarClan will protect me.” Jayfeather scooted through the tunnel, aware of his own lie. Brambleberry had told him that StarClan could no longer see the cats by the lake. For them, the darkness had fallen already. “Tell Firestar where I’ve gone.” He listened for Lionblaze to follow, relieved when he heard only a sigh of resignation drifting through the thorns.

“If you’re not back by dusk, I’m coming to look for you,” Lionblaze called.

“You won’t need to.” I hope!

He headed for the shore. He’d follow it through WindClan territory. He opened his mouth to taste the air, checking the shore for WindClan warriors. There was a trace of familiar scent…

Onestar!

Jayfeather tensed. The WindClan leader was standing at the water’s edge a few fox-lengths ahead.

Jayfeather approached cautiously. “Greetings, Onestar.”

Onestar didn’t move. “Jayfeather.”

“I’m sorry for trespassing on WindClan land.” Jayfeather dipped his head. “I’m on my way to speak with Mothwing.” He tensed, expecting anger to flare from Onestar’s pelt. But the WindClan leader’s fur stayed unruffled.

“You may pass in peace,” Onestar told him. “Although I thought the medicine cats no longer spoke to one another.”

“That is StarClan’s wish,” Jayfeather meowed. “Not mine.”

“You would go against StarClan?” Onestar sounded surprised.

“Yes.” Jayfeather made no apology. “If it means keeping the peace between the Clans.”

He heard pebbles shift as Onestar sat down. “The Clans have always fought, but this is the first time the medicine cats have been divided,” the WindClan leader said heavily. “I feel as if something bad is coming.” Onestar’s gaze seared Jayfeather’s pelt. “The water is calm,” he murmured. “But currents pull beneath the surface. Though they can’t be seen, they have the power to drag cats to their death.”

“Not if you know where they lie.” Jayfeather leaned forward. “Watch your borders, Onestar, but keep an eye on your own Clan, too.”

Pebbles cracked as Onestar turned to face him. “Are you saying that my warriors aren’t loyal?”

Jayfeather backed away. “Any cat can be tricked into disloyalty.”

Onestar’s breath billowed in Jayfeather’s face. “Are you talking about Sol?”

“No.” The threat from the Dark Forest was far more dangerous than a troublemaking loner. “Just look out for unusual behavior among your warriors.”

Fury sparked from the WindClan leader’s pelt. “I trust my Clan with my life!”

Jayfeather bent his head. “Forgive me.” He slunk past Onestar and walked on toward the RiverClan border. His fur prickled as he felt Onestar’s angry gaze follow him along the shore. Perhaps I shouldn’t have tried to warn him.

The scent line at the RiverClan border reached down to the water’s edge, marking the stones on the shore. Jayfeather crossed it.

“What are you doing here?”

Jayfeather spun around, claws unsheathed. He could smell the fierce scent of Beetlewhisker. Troutstream and Mintfur were bristling beside him.

Jayfeather lifted his tail. “I’m here to speak with Mothwing.”

“You’re not a medicine cat anymore.” Beetlewhisker’s fishy breath grazed Jayfeather’s cheek.

Jayfeather stifled a shiver. He’d heard Beetlewhisker training in the Dark Forest. “ShadowClan doesn’t make decisions for StarClan,” he hissed. “Only StarClan can deny my power to heal.”