The Last Hope

“I’m afraid so.” Mistystar nudged him to his paws. “It would be best if you left now.” He nodded to Mothwing and headed through the tunnel.

Beetlewhisker paced the camp, Hollowflight and Minnowtail flanking him. Reedfeather stepped forward. “We’ll lead you to the border.”

“Thank you.” Jayfeather dipped his head to the RiverClan deputy. Four warriors to escort me home? He flattened his ears. I’ve done nothing wrong!

He felt Mothwing at his heels. “I’ll come and tell you if I manage to persuade the others to see reason,” she whispered.

“I think the Clans have lost their reason,” Jayfeather hissed back. He could sense the RiverClan warriors flexing their muscles as though they were about to go into battle. You’re fighting the wrong enemy! Forcing his pelt to stay smooth, he followed Reedfeather out of camp. Hollowflight and Beetlewhisker walked on either side, hurrying him up onto the fallen tree, while Minnowtail nudged him from behind.

“Do you want me to fall in?” Jayfeather hissed as his paw slipped off the trunk and dangled in thin air for a moment. The river splashed hungrily below.

“Hold tight, then,” Beetlewhisker growled, nosing him onward.

Jayfeather dug his claws into the rotting bark, his heart lurching as he scrambled along the log. At the other end, he jumped down before Beetlewhisker could give him a shove. He held his tongue while his escorts steered him through the marsh grass. At last, he scented the WindClan border and crossed it without a word.

“If you want to come back, bring a patrol and be prepared to fight!” Hollowflight growled after him.

Lashing his tail, Jayfeather marched away from her. He tasted the air. Where’s the shore? He could smell heather above him and hear water lapping below, but it was quiet, meaning he was too far inland. Turning his paws toward the lake, he weaved through the tall grass, the ground boggy beneath his paws.

Suddenly a chill touched his tail-tip and spread over him like a leaf-bare fog. It carried the stench of decaying prey. Jayfeather stopped and jerked around. Shapes swarmed around him like hornets, dark and cruel. His mind flooded with images of bloodstained pelts.

“Who’s there?” Spinning the other way, he lashed out with a paw. Fear shot through him as his claws grazed hard flesh. “Who are you?”

A shoulder buffeted him. Claws scraped down his spine.

Jayfeather ran. Blind, he stumbled over the marshy earth, his paws sliding on the mud and plunging into puddles. Sharp as thorns, claws raked one side, then another. Pelts jostled him and hot, stinking breath scorched his ears. He tripped and fell sprawling into the mud, scrabbling to his paws, fighting the blurry shapes that jabbed from every side.

“Can’t StarClan guide you?” Brokenstar’s sneer made Jayfeather freeze in horror.

Have the Dark Forest cats broken through into the real world?

Hawkfrost pushed him from the other side. “We shall taste victory soon!”

Now Tigerstar blocked his path. Jayfeather lashed out but strong paws blocked his desperate swipes. “All the power of the stars in your paws?” Tigerstar’s growl dripped with scorn. “I don’t think so.”

Jayfeather crouched, his body pulsing as his heart seemed to thump the ground beneath him. “You’ll never win!” Terror exploded into fury. He sprang forward, claws stretched, and slashed at his shadowy attackers. Claws raked his muzzle and teeth sank into his tail.

Yowling with rage, Jayfeather fought harder. “You can kill me!” he screeched. “But that won’t stop me. I’ll find you beyond my death, and I’ll stop you!”

“Jayfeather!” The call of a WindClan warrior made him stop in his tracks. The stench of the Dark Forest warriors faded and the scent of Owlwhisker, Nightcloud, and Gorsetail flowed around him, warm and familiar.

“Are you okay?” Owlwhisker leaned over him. “Did you fall into a thornbush?”

Jayfeather could smell his own blood as it welled in his stinging wounds. “Y-yes.” He struggled to find his paws and felt Gorsetail’s muzzle beneath his shoulder as he helped him up.

“What are you doing?” Jayfeather recognized Crouchpaw’s mew. The WindClan apprentice sounded frightened. “That’s the medicine cat who killed Flametail!”

“Murderer!” Nightcloud growled.

“Be quiet!” Gorsetail silenced them. “This is a Clan cat who needs our help.”

“I—I’m okay.” Jayfeather fought the tremor in his voice.

Owlwhisker brushed past him. “We’ll escort you to the border.” His mew was brisk.

“Can you walk that far?” Gorsetail asked.

Nightcloud growled. “If he can’t, we’ll drag him.”

Owlwhisker ignored his Clanmate and sniffed Jayfeather’s pelt. “It’s just a few scratches.” He headed down to the shore. “Come on.”