The Last Hope

“Firestar,” Sandstorm hissed. She walked over and stood between Firestar and his Clan. “This is your last life.” Dovewing heard her whisper fiercely. “You can’t risk losing it now. Your Clan needs you.”

“They need me to fight,” Firestar replied.

“But what will they do if you’re killed?”

“They’ll fight harder.” Firestar’s green eyes glowed. “My warriors have only one life, and they are willing to give it up for their Clanmates. I’m no different. My place is beside them.”

Sandstorm pressed her cheek against Firestar’s. “I love you,” she breathed.

“I love you too,” Firestar murmured. “Stay with Brambleclaw and guard the camp.” He broke away and raced for the entrance. Lionblaze and Graystripe led the patrol after him, sweeping past Dovewing. She chased behind them, fear surging beneath her fur. Where’s Ivypool? There was no sign of her sister’s black pelt.

Heart pounding, she broke from the thorns. Firestar had scrambled to a halt outside the camp and was commanding silence with gleaming eyes. The patrol clustered around him, bristling. Above them, the forest shivered with movement. Dovewing held her breath. Firestar whispered in Graystripe’s ear, then silent as an owl, flicked his tail one way, then the other, ordering the patrol to split in two. Dovewing shuffled toward Graystripe and found herself squeezed between Cloudtail and Snowbird. The ShadowClan she-cat smelled like pinesap, her fur sleek and the muscles beneath it like stone. Firestar nodded Graystripe toward the slope that circled one side of the hollow. Then he padded to the slope opposite, beckoning his half of the patrol to follow.

He wants us to climb up from both sides and trap the enemy at the top.

Dovewing waited for Firestar to give the order to charge, surprised when he summoned her forward with a jerk of his muzzle.

“Are they everywhere?” he hissed as she reached him.

She stretched her ears. A shriek rang out from beyond the ShadowClan border. On the moor, heather creaked as warriors pushed through and, beyond the lake, reeds snapped beneath paws. Her breath quickened. “Yes. They’re attacking all the territories at once.”

Firestar nodded. “We knew this would happen.” His muzzle brushed hers. “Stay strong. Good luck.” Eyes flashing at Graystripe, he lashed his tail.

It was the signal to begin fighting back. Dovewing took a deep breath. This is it. The battle is here.

May the powers of the stars truly be in my paws.

Chapter 23

Dovewing swerved, feeling the patrol turn with her, and began to head up the slope, treading lightly, moving slick as a weasel through the thick undergrowth.

A thorn ripped her leg. Stumbling, she yelped.

“Are you okay?” Cloudtail crouched beside her.

“My paw’s caught.” A bramble was looped around it.

“Let me help.” He pressed closer.

Dovewing could feel him trembling. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” He swallowed. “I never… I never expected this.” He grabbed the bramble in his jaws. Twisting, he loosened its grip on her leg.

“What do you mean?” She pulled her paw free.

“Being attacked by dead cats.”

Dovewing suddenly remembered that Cloudtail didn’t believe in StarClan. It was the only part of his kittypet birth that he carried with him. “I don’t think any cat expected this,” she meowed.

As she spoke, paws skidded on the slope above. Someone had come back to find them.

“It’s okay! We’re comin—” Dovewing froze as she recognized the black-and-silver pelt of Darkstripe from her vision of the Dark Forest. “Look out!” She screeched a warning to Cloudtail, but the white warrior was already on his hind legs, claws flashing.

Muscle thumped against muscle as the toms crashed together. Cloudtail staggered backward but stayed on his paws. “Darkstripe! I’m not surprised to see you’re with the Dark Forest traitors,” he snarled.

“So you believe in StarClan now?” Darkstripe challenged.

“I believe in evil!”

“At least you believe in something, kittypet!”

“I’ve always believed in the warrior code and I always will.” Flattening his ears, Cloudtail swiped at Darkstripe. Blood spattered the brambles as he sliced the tom’s nose. Darkstripe growled and charged Cloudtail like a badger, knocking him backward and leaping onto his exposed belly. Cloudtail struggled to find his paws. Dovewing sprang forward, hooking her claws into Darkstripe’s pelt. Grunting with the effort, she heaved him off Cloudtail.

“Brave little warrior!” Darkstripe hissed and thrust out his hind legs. He pushed himself backward with such speed that he sent Dovewing flying. She landed, winded, and Darkstripe found his paws first. Flying at her, he caught her muzzle with a vicious kick.