Warriors: Omen of the Stars #6: The Last Hope (25 page)

Ivypool flattened her ears. “I’m not the only Clan cat visiting the lake from the Dark Forest,” she mewed defensively. “The others come too.”

“Why?” Lionblaze lowered his voice.

Ivypool glanced over her shoulder to check no one was listening. “Brokenstar says we need to learn about each of the Clan’s territories. So we can help one another if there’s an emergency.”

Anger pulsed through Lionblaze’s paws. “Do the Clan cats actually believe that?”

Ivypool twitched one ear. “Most of them don’t realize how evil he is.”

“But some do?” Lionblaze tried to understand.

Ivypool’s mew dropped to a whisper. “A few of them
want
the Dark Forest to win. They think their leaders have grown too soft.”

Lionblaze’s eyes widened. How could warriors turn on their own Clanmates? Didn’t they believe in the warrior code? “Who are these cats?” he hissed.

Ivypool stared at her paws. “They may still change their minds, once the battle starts.”

Lionblaze growled. “Tell us who these traitors are! We should warn their leaders.”

Jayfeather padded between them. “Let’s trust Ivypool on this,” he cautioned. “They may decide to fight on the right side when the battle comes. If we condemn them now, we risk making them enemies for sure.”

Ivypool flashed a grateful glance. “We have to do what Brokenstar says.” Her tail quivered. “Or he says he’ll kill us. And he means it. He killed Beetlewhisker.”

Lionblaze gripped the ground with his claws. “Beetlewhisker?”

Dovewing was already pricking her ears. Ivypool nodded, staring round-eyed at her sister. Lionblaze knew the Dovewing was listening for signs of the young RiverClan warrior. He held his breath, praying Ivypool was wrong.

“Well?” Lionblaze couldn’t bear the suspense.

“He’s gone,” Dovewing reported. “RiverClan can’t find him. I can hear them calling for him but there’s no sign.”

Ivypool shrank back, trembling. “He’ll lie in the Dark Forest forever.”

“We know what we’re up against,” Jayfeather growled. “If Brokenstar is prepared to kill his own recruits before the battle has started, he must feel confident.”

Lionblaze nodded. “And they’re clearly scouting the territories for the best places to attack.” He lifted his chin. “We have to tell Firestar.” He padded from the shadow of the beech and crossed the clearing. “Come on, Ivypool!”

Dovewing started to follow but Lionblaze waved her back with his tail. “Stay with Jayfeather.” Firestar’s den would be crowded enough. “Give Ivypool some space.”

He leaped up the tumble of rocks, showering Ivypool with grit as he reached the ledge. He waited for her to catch up, then nosed her into the den.

Brambleclaw looked up, surprised. “What are you doing here?” He was sitting beside Firestar.

Ivypool shifted from one paw to another.

“You need to know what’s going on.” Lionblaze could just make out Firestar’s pelt in the shadows at the back of the cave. “Ivypool has been visiting the Dark Forest in her dreams.” As Firestar stiffened, Lionblaze went on, “She’s been spying for us.”

Brambleclaw jerked his head up. “What in the name of StarClan is going on?”

Firestar’s tail swished over the den floor. “The Dark Forest is rising, Brambleclaw.” His eyes gleamed as he stared at Ivypool. “And I’m guessing these are the cats invading our territory each night.”

Ivypool nodded. “Brokenstar and Tigerstar have convinced cats from every Clan that they’re learning to be great warriors, and that training them together will make them stronger.”

“Tigerstar?” Brambleclaw’s eyes shone in the half-light. “What’s he got to do with it?”

“He’s one of the senior warriors in the Dark Forest,” Lionblaze explained. “He’s been recruiting cats from around the lake and training them in their dreams. Now he’s found a way to bring his warriors onto our territory.”

A growl rumbled in Brambleclaw’s throat. “Will I never be free from my father?”

Firestar’s eyes glazed, as though he was reaching for some distant memory. “This battle has been coming for a long time.”

“What battle?” Leafpool’s mew sounded at the mouth of the cave.

“Who are we fighting?” Squirrelflight peered, wide-eyed, over her sister’s shoulder.

Firestar padded forward and leaned close to Lionblaze. “It’s time you shared your destiny with your kin. They are here now. Tell them.”

Lionblaze backed away. “It’s none of their business!” Heart racing, he glanced from Brambleclaw to Leafpool. “And they’re not my kin!”

Firestar’s breath touched his muzzle. “Leafpool kitted you. Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw raised you. Without them, the prophecy would never have been fulfilled.”

It still hasn’t been!
How was any of this going to help find the fourth cat? Or fight the Dark Forest?

Brambleclaw got to his paws. “Come with me.”

Lionblaze suddenly felt like a kit again. The warrior he’d known for so long as his father padded past him and left the cave. Quietly, Leafpool turned and followed, Squirrelflight on her tail.

“Tell them everything, Lionblaze,” Firestar murmured. “They need to know.” He sat down. “While you’re gone, Ivypool can tell me what she’s learned from her dreams.”

Reluctantly, Lionblaze scrabbled down the rock tumble and followed Brambleclaw, Leafpool, and Squirrelflight toward the camp entrance.

Jayfeather darted over. “What’s going on?”

“Firestar says I have to tell them about the prophecy,” Lionblaze growled.

“I’ll come with you.” Jayfeather fell in beside him.

“Get Hollyleaf,” Lionblaze meowed. “She’s part of this.”

“She’s not part of the prophecy,” Jayfeather reminded him.

“She’s our littermate,” Lionblaze insisted. “She knows as much as we do.”

As Jayfeather headed back across the clearing, Lionblaze ducked through the tunnel. He snorted as Leafpool’s tail trailed over his muzzle. By the time he emerged, thorns scraping his pelt, Brambleclaw was sitting in the shallow dip beyond the camp entrance. His tail was tucked over his paws while Squirrelflight paced solemnly beside him. Leafpool settled a fox-length away.

“What’s the matter?” Hollyleaf’s mew sounded from the tunnel. She pushed her way out, blinking in surprise when she saw the cats gathered outside the camp.

Jayfeather crept out after her and nudged her forward. “We’re going to tell them about the prophecy.”

“Now?” Her ear twitched.

Yes, now.
Lionblaze gripped the earth, dead leaves crackling beneath his claws. “A long time ago, Firestar was given a prophecy,” he began. “He was told that three kits would be born with the power of the stars in their paws.”

Brambleclaw stiffened. “You three?” His gaze flitted from Lionblaze to Jayfeather and Hollyleaf.

“Not me,” Hollyleaf corrected him quickly.

Jayfeather moved closer to his sister. “Though we thought she was one of the Three at the beginning.”

Squirrelflight leaned forward. “Who’s the third cat?”

“Dovewing.” Lionblaze pressed on. “We are destined to save the Clans from the Dark Forest.”

Anger flared in Brambleclaw’s eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me? Was it because I’m not your true father?” He glared at Squirrelflight. “Did
you
know? Is that why you lied about them being your kits?”

Squirrelflight backed away, eyes widening. “No!”

Lionblaze walked between the two warriors. “None of you knew.” He glanced at Leafpool. “Only Firestar and us.”

Jayfeather took a step forward. “We had to fulfill our destiny on our own.”

“But we could have helped you.” Leafpool’s eyes clouded. “You didn’t have to carry this burden alone.”

Lionblaze growled at her. “We wouldn’t have had to carry it at all if you hadn’t broken your code!”

As hurt flashed across Leafpool’s gaze, Squirrelflight darted in front of her sister. She glared at Lionblaze. “Would you rather have never been born?” she snapped. “Who would have saved us from the Dark Forest then?”

“We haven’t saved you yet,” Jayfeather muttered.

“But you will.” Leafpool padded past Squirrelflight. Her gaze cleared. “You were born to save the Clans.”

Brambleclaw’s tail flicked angrily. “Did there have to be so many lies?” He was staring at Squirrelflight. “Couldn’t you have told me the truth?”

Squirrelflight dipped her head. “It was never my secret to tell. Leafpool had so much to lose.”

“She lost everything anyway,” Brambleclaw snarled.

“No, I didn’t.” Leafpool lifted her muzzle. “I watched my kits grow into fine warriors, and I still serve my Clan with all my heart.”

Lionblaze felt his heart prick. Perhaps this was the truth that was most important. Leafpool had sacrificed so much and, even though her kits rejected her time and again, she’d never stopped loving them. In his darkest moments, he couldn’t deny that.

“Brambleclaw, I’m sorry.” Squirrelflight moved closer to the ThunderClan deputy. Her voice was stronger now, as if she was tired of being punished for something she had believed to be right. “You have to understand that I never intended to hurt you. I loved you, and was proud to raise these kits with you. You were a wonderful father.”

“But I wasn’t their father!” Brambleclaw hissed.

“Yes, you were!” Squirrelflight thrust her muzzle close to Brambleclaw’s. Her eyes blazed. “Don’t throw away everything just because you are angry with me!”

Lionblaze swallowed. “I was so proud to be your son.”

Brambleclaw looked at him in surprise, as if he’d forgotten Lionblaze was there. Something in the deputy’s expression changed. “And I couldn’t have asked for a better son. And you, Jayfeather. Or a better daughter, Hollyleaf.” Hollyleaf opened her mouth as if to protest, but Brambleclaw spoke first. “You played no part in this deception, I know that. Whatever you did, it was because of the lies that had been told when you were born.”

“It was my fault alone,” Leafpool meowed quietly. “You are wrong to blame Squirrelflight. She was just being loyal to me. And now that we know about the prophecy, surely the only thing that matters is that these kits were accepted by their Clan? It’s not about us, after all. It’s about
them.
Their destinies shaped ours, right from the moment they were born.”

Squirrelflight nodded. “Everything was meant to be.”

Lionblaze looked down at his paws. If these cats could accept their destinies, then he had enough courage to accept his.
I am one of the Four.

Jayfeather paced along the edge of
the Moonpool. The stone felt icy beneath his paws and a cold wind moaned above his head.
Please, StarClan, let them come!
Last night, the medicine cats had promised to meet him here.

It seemed a moon away now. When Lionblaze had revealed the prophecy that afternoon, it felt as though he’d shaken the world between his claws. Leafpool’s words echoed in his mind.
You were born to save the Clans.
Hope had sparked from her pelt, and the anger, which had been knotted around Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw for so long, finally began to unravel.

A pebble clattered beyond the lip of the hollow.

“Watch out!” Kestrelflight snapped.