The Last Hope

Firestar was waiting beneath Highledge, his head high and his pelt smooth. Dovewing scurried around the edge of the clearing to join her Clan leader. “They’re coming to talk about the fight with Lionblaze,” she whispered.

“Thanks, Dovewing.” Firestar shifted his paws and lifted his chin higher as Blackstar halted in the center of the clearing. “Lionblaze!”

Lionblaze padded from the warriors’ den, eyes narrowed. The wounds from his fight were still visible through his pelt. His muzzle was striped with dried blood. His gaze swept past Blackstar and met Firestar’s. “What do they want?”

Blackstar growled. “You know what it’s about!”

Firestar stepped forward. “Lionblaze crossed your border and provoked a fight.”

Ratscar drew back his lip. “At least they admit it.”

“ThunderClan warriors don’t lie,” Firestar told him evenly. “Nor do they make excuses for their mistakes.” His green gaze flicked to Lionblaze.

Dovewing felt tension thicken the air. She fixed her gaze on Blackstar, trying not to look at Tigerheart, even though his dark, sleek pelt flashed temptingly at the edge of her vision.

Firestar’s tail twitched as he frowned at Lionblaze. “Well?”

Lionblaze flexed his claws, then sheathed them again. “I’m sorry,” he muttered.

Blackstar tipped his head to one side. “By the look of you, I’m not surprised you’re sorry.” He turned back to Firestar. “Ratscar is a fine warrior, but he expected Lionblaze to be harder to beat.”

“It was like fighting an apprentice,” Ratscar scorned.

Lionblaze flattened his ears. Dovewing could hear a soft growl rumbling in the golden warrior’s throat.

Blackstar circled his Clanmates. “Now is not a good time to be losing your edge,” he snarled menacingly to Firestar.

Firestar stepped forward, fur spiking. “And it’s not a good time to be making threats you can’t back up.” He met the ShadowClan leader’s stare without flinching. “I think you should leave.”

“Only when you’ve given your word that your warriors will stay off our land,” Blackstar countered.

“I crossed the border once,” Lionblaze hissed.

“There was another scent,” Stoatpaw blurted out.

Dovewing gulped. I must be more careful! She sneaked a sly look at Tigerheart. He was staring at his paws.

Firestar’s ear twitched. “Are you sure your Clanmates aren’t mistaking rabbits for warriors?”

Blackstar’s gaze flitted toward Lionblaze. “If we are, it’s an easy mistake to make.”

“Are you calling me a rabbit—”

Firestar cut Lionblaze off. “It’s time you left,” he ordered Blackstar. “Do you need an escort?”

“What about the trespassing?” Blackstar held his ground.

“No ThunderClan warrior will cross your border,” Firestar told him.

Blackstar flicked his tail. “Good.” He turned and headed for the barrier. “And don’t bother with the escort. We can find our own way home.”

Dovewing watched Tigerheart fall in behind the ShadowClan leader. As he passed her, his gaze caught hers. She looked away quickly, feeling hot.

Bumblestripe crossed the clearing as the ShadowClan patrol disappeared. “Do you still want to go hunting?”

Dovewing blinked at him. “What?”

“You said you wanted to go hunting after tree training.”

“Did I?” Dovewing stared at the entrance. The thorns still trembling where Tigerheart had slid through.

Bumblestripe’s pelt lifted along his spine. “And while we’re out, we can make sure those ShadowClan cats have left our territory.”

Dovewing dragged her gaze from the brambles. “Let’s take Foxleap.” She didn’t want to hunt alone with Bumblestripe. He’d only fuss over her stalking technique. “Hey, Foxleap!”

The russet warrior was pacing by the entrance to the hollow, his tail twitching. “What?”

“We’re going hunting,” Dovewing called. “Do you want to come?”

Foxleap narrowed his eyes. “I want to make sure Blackstar’s crossed the border.”

Bumblestripe stretched his claws. “We can do that as well.”

Blossomfall crossed the clearing. “I’m coming too,” she growled. “While I still have the taste of ShadowClan on my tongue.”

As Bumblestripe headed for the entrance, Blossomfall raced past him and slipped out of the camp first. Foxleap chased after them. Dovewing paused. The clearing still smelled of Tigerheart.

“Come on!” Foxleap beckoned her with his tail.

She hurried to catch up. By the time she ducked out of the thorns, Bumblestripe, Foxleap, and Blossomfall were racing up the slope.

“We’re heading for the ShadowClan border,” Bumblestripe called over his shoulder. “Are you coming?”

“I’ll check the beeches, in case they’ve strayed deeper into the forest.” Dovewing was glad of the chance to be alone.

“Pssst!” A hiss from an elderflower bush made her jump.

Dovewing tasted the air. “Tigerheart!” Heart lurching, she jerked around, scanning the forest for her Clanmates.

“It’s okay.” Tigerheart slid out from beneath the bush. “They’re busy tracking Blackstar. I doubled back to find you.”

“How did you know I’d be out of the hollow?”

His whiskers twitched. “Just a hunch.”

She flattened her ears. “And you assumed I’d follow you?” she mewed indignantly.