The Last Hope

Dovewing began to quote Brokenstar’s words. “Destroying the puny warriors who huddle like mice around the lake will be fun, but when we kill StarClan… that will be the final revenge.” The growl in his throat suddenly turned into a wild purr, so loud it hurt Dovewing’s ears. She shrank away, turning her ears to another part of the forest.

A white she-cat was slinking through the trees, complaining.

“Why do we have to train in this stinking forest?” Dovewing repeated the warrior’s words. “Why can’t we train on our own land?”

“Is that a Clan cat?” Mistystar exclaimed.

“Why would a Clan cat be in the Dark Forest?” Onestar snapped.

Dovewing focused harder, until she recognized the snowy pelt. Icewing! It was a RiverClan warrior. I can’t betray her!

Dovewing shut off the sound, and pressed closer to Willowshine.

“Thank you, Dovewing.” Firestar’s gentle mew sounded in her ear. She opened her eyes, relieved to see the island clearing.

Mistystar was staring at her in dismay.

Onestar didn’t move, his gaze leveled at Firestar. “How do we stop them?”

Firestar straightened up. “We fight.”

“And we’ll win!” Blackstar hissed. “They don’t stand a chance on our territory. We know our own land like we know our own markings.”

Dovewing got to her paws. “They know it, too,” she ventured.

“What?” Blackstar turned on her.

“They’ve been sending patrols onto every Clan’s territory to scout out the best places to ambush and fight,” Dovewing told him.

“Have you heard them?” Blackstar hissed.

Lionblaze flattened his ears. “The scents you found?” he snapped. “They were from the Dark Forest. This enemy is better prepared and more deadly than any we’ve faced before.”

Mistystar tipped her head. “There were Clan scents mixed with the rogue stench.”

“They’ve recruited Clan cats,” Lionblaze told her.

“Never!” Blackstar spat. “ThunderClan might have traitors among its warriors, but not ShadowClan!”

“They’ve been recruited from every Clan,” Firestar told him grimly.

“You must have seen them!” Onestar challenged Dovewing. “Tell us who they are!”

Dovewing shifted her paws. “I—I can’t say,” she stammered.

Blackstar padded toward her. “Are you a traitor, too?”

“Of course she isn’t!” Firestar stepped in front of her. “No one’s a traitor yet. We don’t know which side any cat will choose until the battle begins.”

Onestar prickled. “But if we know who they are, we can be prepared.”

For the first time Mistystar looked frightened. “Tell us who you’ve seen, Dovewing.”

“They must be punished.” Blackstar hissed.

Dovewing dug her claws into the earth. “I can’t tell you,” she meowed steadily. “Firestar’s right. They haven’t betrayed anyone yet.”

Firestar flicked his tail. “They believe they are training for the sake of their Clan. They don’t realize they are being prepared for our destruction.”

“Then they’re fools,” Blackstar snarled.

Mistystar swished her tail. “They may be foolish, but Firestar is right. Until they turn their claws on their own Clanmates, we cannot condemn them.”

“Some are only staying because Brokenstar has threatened to kill any cat who betrays him,” Lionblaze explained. “You’ve had a glimpse of how ruthless the Dark Forest warriors are. Their recruits might be too scared to disobey their new leader. We must be ready to fight our own Clanmates.”

Onestar tilted his head. “Or free them.”

“So what do we do about the Dark Forest?” Blackstar demanded.

Lionblaze stepped forward. “We must stand together.”

Blackstar backed away. Mistystar glanced at her paws.

“How can we trust one another?” Onestar asked quietly.

Firestar glanced at the medicine cats, then back to the leaders. “The time has come to fight our greatest enemy,” he declared. “We can fight alone, or we can stand together. We’re stronger side by side, as we were for the Great Journey. Uniting against the Dark Forest is our only hope.”

Silence gripped the clearing, broken only by the fretful song of a sparrow high above them.

“Very well.” Mistystar dipped her head. “RiverClan will join ThunderClan in this battle.”

Dovewing suddenly realized she’d been holding her breath. She let it out, her chest aching.

“WindClan will join the alliance.” Only Onestar’s tail-tip moved, twitching as though caught by a breeze.

Firestar turned to Blackstar. “We will do what we can to defend you, even if you choose not to join.”

Blackstar curled his lip. “My Clan will join.” He began to pace around the others. “But there will be one condition.”

“Very well.” Firestar pricked his ears.

“On ShadowClan territory, ShadowClan is in charge of any warrior from any Clan.” He scowled at Firestar. “Even a Clan leader.”

Firestar nodded. “Okay.”

Jayfeather sat down beside Kestrelflight. Willowshine, Littlecloud, and Mothwing gathered around them. “StarClan will be pleased,” Jayfeather meowed as the other medicine cats murmured their approval.

Firestar faced the Clan leaders. “We need to make a battle plan.”