The Last Hope

Find the fourth cat! Rock’s voice wailed in his ear. Find the fourth cat!

Chapter 12

“Lionblaze! Quick!”

Lionblaze jerked his head as Jayfeather’s hiss woke him. He sat up in his nest, blinking in the pale dawn light of the warriors’ den. The dream was still vivid in his mind: the cavern, the blind tom, and the ghostly Ancients. He hauled himself out of his nest and padded, paws numb, out of the den. He shivered as he looked around for Jayfeather.

“Lionblaze.” Jayfeather darted from beside the warriors’ den. “We have to talk about the dream.”

Lionblaze nodded toward the apprentices’ den. “Is Dovewing awake?”

“I just woke her.”

As Jayfeather spoke, Dovewing crept from the den, her eyes bleary with sleep.

“Come on.” Jayfeather hurried toward the thorn tunnel with Dovewing close behind. Lionblaze scampered after them.

Jayfeather rounded a bend in the trail and stopped beside a bramble. Lionblaze halted beside him and glanced over his shoulder.

Dovewing’s eyes were bright. She was fully awake now. “So we did all share the dream?”

Jayfeather nodded.

Lionblaze narrowed his eyes. “And you’ve met those cats before?”

“Yes,” Jayfeather snapped. “But that’s not important.”

Dovewing brushed past Lionblaze, pacing anxiously. “I can’t believe that all those cats have been waiting for so long!”

Lionblaze curled his tail over his back. “Since before the dawn of the Clans!”

“We need to concentrate on what happens now!” Jayfeather insisted, flexing his claws. “We are here because the faith of our ancestors has brought us here.”

“And the Dark Forest,” Lionblaze reminded him grimly.

“Without faith, there would be no Dark Forest,” Jayfeather snorted, echoing Rock’s words. “But there is. And we have to find the fourth cat.”

“It’s not Ivypool.” Dovewing twitched her tail. “I’ve asked her.”

“Did you find out if it was Mothwing?” Lionblaze gazed at Jayfeather.

Jayfeather shook his head. “She’s given no sign.”

“Then it must be Hollyleaf!” Lionblaze was absolutely convinced. His sister had been part of this since the beginning. And she’d returned just in time to save ThunderClan from WindClan’s attack.

Dovewing was frowning. “I think we’re looking in the wrong place.”

“What’s the right place?” Jayfeather snorted.

“I don’t know.” Dovewing sighed. “It could be a warrior from another Clan.”

“Why don’t we ask Firestar to make an announcement at the next Gathering?” Jayfeather muttered sarcastically. “He could ask the fourth cat to stick their tail in the air so we know who it is.”

Dovewing ignored him. “We must be missing something obvious.”

“Yes.” Lionblaze began to pace. “Hollyleaf!”

“But if it’s not Hollyleaf,” Dovewing ventured, “we need to start looking for a cat who was born with a special destiny, like we were.”

Jayfeather narrowed his eyes. “A cat with the power of the stars in their paws.”

“Breezepelt?” Dovewing suggested. “He’s your half brother. Maybe he’s special too.”

“He’s not kin of Firestar’s kin,” Jayfeather pointed out.

“That was the StarClan prophecy,” Dovewing argued. “Perhaps the new prophecy doesn’t care if it’s kin.”

Lionblaze swished his tail. “You can argue till the sun sets!” he snapped. “I’m going to try to find out.” He turned and ran down the slope back to the hollow. If he could just spend some time alone with Hollyleaf, then he’d know.

The dens lay in shadow, even though sunlight was beginning to color the tips of the trees above the hollow. Below Highledge, Brambleclaw washed his face, swiping a heavy paw over his muzzle, his eyes still blurry with sleep. Spiderleg stopped to stretch as he emerged from the warriors’ den. On the other side of the clearing, Ferncloud poked her head out of the nursery. Foxleap and Toadstep practiced battle moves while they waited for their Clanmates to gather.

Lionblaze fell in beside Cinderheart as she padded toward Brambleclaw.

“Are you okay?” she asked without looking at him.

He glanced at her. “Fine, why?”

She kept her eyes fixed ahead. “You were murmuring in your sleep. Bad dreams?”

“Just dreams.”

When she didn’t comment, he went on. “I made a mistake.” He knew that he should never have tried to choose a different destiny. Too many lives depended on him following the path laid out for him. “It won’t happen again.”

He felt Cinderheart stiffen beside him. She knew what he really meant. I won’t be distracted by you anymore.

She stopped and turned to face him, her eyes glistening. “Okay.” Her mew was calm, but he could see sorrow in her gaze.

Lionblaze’s heart twisted. I’m sorry, Cinderheart.

“The Clan comes first,” she murmured softly.

“The Clan comes first.” Lionblaze dipped his head and padded past her. He stopped in front of Brambleclaw. “Is it okay if I go hunting with Hollyleaf?”

Brambleclaw stopped washing. “Just the two of you?”

“Yes. I need to speak with her.”