The Last Hope

“Midnight!” Graystripe called to the badger as she lumbered across the clearing. Dark Forest cats and ShadowClan warriors fled from her path, terror lighting their eyes. “It’s okay!” he yowled. “The badger is an ally!”

With a roar, Midnight plucked a Dark Forest warrior by the back of his neck and lifted him high, then tossed him away like a piece of prey. Hope flaring, Lionblaze grabbed the nearest stinking tom and pinned him to the ground. He slashed his cheek and raked his flank, then kicked him away.

“Nice move.” Half Moon fell in beside him, her pelt as pale as mist.

A Dark Forest tom lunged at her. She ripped her claws across his cheek. The tom snapped at her legs. Quick as a fox, Lionblaze slid under the tom and thrust upward, sending him flying. Half Moon leaped up and snatched him from the air as though she were plucking a bird from the sky.

“Help!”

Lionblaze jerked around as a shriek sounded beyond the brambles. He jumped over the remains of the camp wall and raced through the trees.

“You’ll die like a traitor!” A vicious Dark Forest tom was pinning Ratscar between the roots of a pine.

“No, Shredtail! Please!” Ratscar struggled in terror as Shredtail curled his claws tighter around his throat.

Lionblaze skidded to a halt. “Let him go!”

Shredtail lifted his head. “Let him go?” He stared scornfully at Lionblaze. “But he betrayed his Dark Forest Clanmates.”

Lionblaze stared at Ratscar. “Clanmates?”

“They never told me they were training me to destroy my own Clan!” Ratscar croaked.

Shredtail tightened his grip, making Ratscar’s eyes bulge. “You knew what would happen if you disobeyed me!” He lifted a paw, claws flashing.

Ratscar writhed desperately.

“Get off him!” White fur streaked past Lionblaze and knocked Shredtail sideways. Snowbird landed hard on all four paws, back arched and spitting with fury. “Ratscar’s my littermate!” she hissed as Shredtail recovered his balance. “He’d never betray his Clan.” Behind her, Ratscar scrambled to his feet.

Shredtail glared at Snowbird. “Oh, really?” he sneered. “Then why has he been training in the Dark Forest?” He flicked his muzzle toward the camp. “And he’s not the only one.” His gaze fixed on a dappled ginger tom who was dragging Dawnpelt across the clearing by her scruff.

“Redwillow?” Snowbird stared in disbelief.

“Yes,” Shredtail snarled. “Redwillow.”

Redwillow spun around as he heard his name and let go of Dawnpelt.

The ShadowClan warrior leaped to her paws, eyes wild with fury. “What are you doing, mouse-brain? I’m not the enemy!”

“Come here, Redwillow!” Shredtail called.

“What is it?” Redwillow raced toward Shredtail, his eyes glittering with excitement.

“How’s the battle going?” Shredtail tipped his head.

“Great!” The treacherous warrior glanced hungrily back at the action. “At last I can fight properly. You’re right about the Clans being weak and lazy. This is easy. They’re so obsessed with being honorable and sticking to the warrior code, I can pick them off like mice!”

Snowbird lunged at him. “The warrior code is more important than any cat’s life!” She flung him backward and dug her claws into his throat. “I’m going to kill you.”

“Stop, Snowbird.” A voice trembled behind Lionblaze.

Blackstar was limping toward them, the scent of death still on him.

Snowbird backed away. “But he’s a traitor!”

“I’m loyal to my new Clan!” Redwillow jumped to his paws and stood beside Shredtail. He glared at Blackstar. “Your time is over,” he snarled. “You’re nothing but an elder growing old over and over. Why don’t you just give up and die?”

Blackstar padded closer to the young warrior. “I am still leader of this Clan,” he growled. “And you have betrayed us all.” Fast as a bird, his paw flew out and slashed deep into Redwillow’s chest. Blood gushed from the wound, pulsing onto the forest floor. Redwillow stared in astonishment, then glanced down at the gash. Legs buckling, he collapsed. As his head thumped onto the pine needles, his eyes rolled and turned dull.

Shredtail turned on Blackstar. “You killed my loyal warrior!”

Blackstar met his gaze, unflinching. “I killed one traitor, and now I’m ready to kill another.”

Shredtail’s eyes lit. “You think you can kill me?”

“No!” Lionblaze sprang between them. “Fight me!” He narrowed his eyes at Shredtail. “Or are you afraid?”

“Nothing scares me.” With a hiss, Shredtail leaped at him.

Lionblaze felt the thud of muscle against his chest, surprised for a moment by Shredtail’s strength. He dug his hind claws hard into the needle-strewn earth and reared up, ready to swipe Shredtail’s muzzle. But Shredtail backed away and crouched down, his eyes gleaming as if he knew every move that Lionblaze would make.

Lionblaze paused. Shredtail thinks he can win. Doubt pricked his belly. He batted it away and attacked. Hurling himself at Shredtail, he twisted and hooked a paw around Shredtail’s forelegs.