The Last Hope

Ivypool blinked at the dark tabby. “Okay. Let’s go.” Her gaze flitted desperately to her Clanmates. We have to play along for now! She charged after Breezepelt’s patrol as it sped toward the WindClan camp. “We don’t have to attack WindClan cats once we’re there,” she hissed to Birchfall as he fell in beside her.

Heather brushed her pelt, its flowery scent smothered by the stench of decay. The peaty earth felt slimy beneath her paws. The moor’s turning into the Dark Forest! Ivypool pushed the thought away. It can’t! I won’t let it!

“Hurry!” Mousewhisker dashed past her. “We can’t let them get there first.”

Scrabbling up between the bushes, her lungs aching, Ivypool followed Birchfall and Blossomfall. From the top she could see into the WindClan camp. The clearing teemed with shrieking cats. Emberfoot reared over a Dark Forest warrior who lunged, screeching, at the WindClan warrior’s hind legs. Another Dark Forest tom slapped Crowfeather to the ground and began thrashing him with claw-spiked paws. Ivypool recognized Whitewing, Berrynose, and Hazeltail, broad-shouldered and sturdy among the lithe WindClan cats. Mallownose of RiverClan and Shrewfoot of ShadowClan fought beside them. A Dark Forest warrior batted Mallownose away with a vicious swipe. A tom clawed at Hazeltail’s belly while another tore lumps from Whitewing’s flank. The Clan warriors were outnumbered and fighting for their lives.

Breezepelt paced the top of the rise, tail lashing. Thistleclaw gazed down into the camp.

“When do we attack?” Applefur sounded scared.

“When the first patrol has weakened them,” Thistleclaw told her.

Blossomfall shifted her paws. Ivypool could feel the tortoiseshell’s pelt pricking with frustration. “Why don’t we help them now?”

“Wait.” Thistleclaw lifted his gaze to the far side of camp where Hawkfrost sat, silhouetted against the clouds. His patrol weaved impatiently beside him. Tigerstar’s tabby pelt shone among them.

A wail flared below. Ivypool caught her breath as she saw a queen rearing up to grapple a Dark Forest tom away from a tiny kit shivering beside the frayed camp wall.

Hurry up! She fought to keep her paws rooted to the spot, then saw Hawkfrost lift his tail. Lashing it down, he gave the signal.

“Attack!” Thistleclaw yowled and charged down the slope, crashing through the heather wall into camp. Snowtuft charged after him, Blossomfall on his tail.

Ivypool blocked Applefur’s way. “You’re not going to fight on their side, are you?”

Applefur stared at Ivypool, her eyes wild with terror. “B-but I have to!”

“You have to defend the Clan!” Ivypool hissed. “Isn’t death better than having Brokenstar as your leader?”

Applefur blinked.

“You are still a warrior,” Ivypool reminded her. “And the warrior code says we should lay down our life for our Clanmates. They have never needed us more than they do now!”

Applefur nodded. “You’re right,” she whispered. “My life is a small price to pay, considering what I’ve done.”

“There’s no time for guilt now,” Ivypool told her. “Fight loyally, and with courage. That is all your Clan asks of you.”

“Then that is what I will give them!” Applefur sprang away toward the camp. Ivypool raced after her. She had to get to Breezepelt. She exploded through the heather and landed, skidding, on the peaty clearing. Cats grappled and yowled on every side. She scanned the camp. Breezepelt was chasing Thistleclaw through the throng. Ivypool snaked after him.

“No!” As Breezepelt reared up to attack a WindClan warrior, Ivypool launched herself at him. Smashing into Breezepelt’s flank, she sent him flying. “You can’t fight for the Dark Forest!”

“Are you crazy?” Breezepelt struggled free and stared at her. “This is what we’ve been training for!”

“But you can’t believe that this is right!” Suddenly claws raked Ivypool’s cheek. Pain shot through her and she staggered sideways.

Thistleclaw loomed over her, his lip curled to show long, yellow teeth. “Traitor!”

“I’m no traitor!” Ivypool hissed. “I’ve been loyal to my Clan all along! I only came to the Dark Forest to find out what you were planning!”

Her heart froze as Hawkfrost appeared behind Thistleclaw’s shoulder. Then Snowtuft landed beside her, his eyes darkening with hate.

“We won’t fight for you either!” Birchfall flung himself at a Dark Forest tabby.

Applefur lunged for a ragged tom. “I fight for the Clans!”

Rage flared in Hawkfrost’s gaze. “Then we shall kill you first, before we destroy your wretched Clans!”

Ivypool braced herself, stiffening as fur flashed beside her. Claws pierced her flank. She spun around as the full weight of Snowtuft sent her sprawling. Jumping to her paws, she hurled herself at the skinny, white tom. She hooked her claws into his shoulders and hauled him backward, but he twisted and snapped at her throat. She dodged just in time and crashed into a dark tabby flank.