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

by Erin Hunter

Midnight cut in. “Darkness we saw born like littermate alongside the light. Now all must stand and fight.”

The end of the stars draws near. Three must become four to challenge the darkness that lasts forever.

Tigerheart wouldn’t bother about whether she climbed the trunk or rustled too many leaves. He was a warrior, not a worrier!

“Four Clans will unite as one when it matters most.”

“Don’t close eyes and wait for path to choose you. Choose path and follow it.”

“I get it, okay?” He didn’t even look at her. He just kept running. “You don’t like me the same way I like you. I’ll get over it. I’m just disappointed you’re not the cat I thought you were.”

I am one of the Four.

When all cats have closed eyes, we gave the gift of sight to the cat who is blind. You see more than most.

You already know the answer.

I’ll teach Brightheart how to defend Snowkit, Amberkit, and Dewkit.”

“You have a destiny,” he began. “Just like every cat. But you also have a choice.”

“Then I choose the life of a warrior.” Her blue eyes shone. “And I choose you.”

Firestar

nodded to Brambleclaw. “You stay in camp. Choose your patrol.”

Brambleclaw turned to Squirrelflight first. “Will you...

Their eyes met for a long moment. “Always...

“G...

Leafpool looked down at his paws. “Perhaps if we’d stayed together, things would be different.” Crowfeather’s gaze sparked for a moment, then he sighed. “It was never meant to be.” Leafpool flinched, but Crowfeather touched his tail to her flank. “I don’t regret anything,” he murmured. His gaze flicked toward Lionblaze. “Nothing at all.” Ears twitching, he shouldered his way through the battle to the brambles sheltering Hollyleaf’s body. He slid beneath them and touched his muzzle to her lifeless pelt.

The thorns at the entrance quivered again as a battered warrior staggered, bleeding, into camp. Hawkfrost. “The battle’s over,” Firestar growled. “Not for him.” Brambleclaw followed Hawkfrost in. “I found him in the forest trying to run back to his Clanmates.”

Hawkfrost glared at the ThunderClan deputy. “Let me return to my Clan.” Yellowfang stirred and lifted her head to watch the two warriors. Ivypool darted forward, her eyes dark. “You killed Hollyleaf!” She sprang toward the dark brown tom. He slammed her away but she landed nimbly and turned on him again. “No!” Dovewing raced to help but Firestar blocked her way. “Let Ivypool settle this,” the ThunderClan leader ordered. “But he might kill her!” Dovewing’s breath caught in her throat as she watched Ivypool fly at Hawkfrost, claws flashing. “You murderer! Liar! Betrayer!” She gouged at his eyes and raked his belly with her hind claws. With a howl, Hawkfrost flung her off. Ivypool grunted as his powerful paws crushed her spine. “You’re the traitor.” He pushed her muzzle into the earth. “And this time I’ll kill you.” “No, you won’t!” Brambleclaw flung himself at Hawkfrost and peeled him away. Before the Dark Forest warrior could twist free, Brambleclaw sank his teeth into his neck. The snap of bone echoed through the hollow and Hawkfrost fell dead. As Ivypool staggered to her feet, a deep growl sounded from beside the medicine den. Tigerstar stepped into the moonlight. “Well done, Brambleclaw.” Brambleclaw stared at his father in horror.

“You’re no leader, Tigerstar.” Firestar padded closer. “You never were.” Tigerstar snarled, “I’m a better leader than you could ever be.” “A leader puts his Clan first.” Firestar lashed his tail. “Instead, your Clanmates are made to fight your battles, not theirs.” “Real warriors love battle,” Tigerstar sneered. “I give them a chance to die for a cause.” Dovewing searched Tigerstar’s gaze. Was he mad? Countless cats had died in his battles. Did he really believe he’d done them a favor? Firestar’s pelt rippled, his muscles twitching. “And what have all your battles been for, Tigerstar? What cause is worth the lives of so many warriors?”

Tigerstar’s eyes burned. “Defeating you, of course.” Firestar met his gaze. “You haven’t defeated me yet.” Dovewing held her breath. There was a wildness in the dark warrior’s eyes that terrified her. “That’s why I’m here,” Tigerstar growled. “The Dark Forest cats won’t follow you,” Firestar told him. “They know now that they can’t beat the Clans. They won’t try again.” “I don’t need them.” Tigerstar glanced at the cats bristling at the edge of the clearing. “I only have to beat you. Then I can pick off your Clanmates one by one, moon after moon, till there’s no one left.”

Firestar’s gaze flitted from Ferncloud’s body to Hollyleaf’s. “I’m not going to let you harm another of my cats, not ever.” H...

“Then you’re going to have to kill me.” Firestar narrowed his eyes. “Has it been worth it, Tigerstar? All the hate? All the death?” Tigerstar flattened his ears. “Every moment.” Eyes slitted, he attacked. Hooking his claws deep into Firestar’s shoulder, he raked his spine with churning paws. “The moment Bluestar found you, I became nothing! I have waited all this time to have my revenge!” Firestar twisted free and slashed at him. The dark warrior ducked back, head low, and grabbed Firestar’s hind paw in his teeth. Biting hard, he dragged Firestar onto his belly, then reared up and slammed his forepaws onto Firestar’s spine. “When you’re dead, I can rule the Clans or kill them.” Graystripe darted forward, teeth bared. “Never.” Whitestorm blocked him. “No, Graystripe. This is Firestar’s battle.” Firestar heaved himself to his paws and turned to face Tigerstar. “I will not die until the forest is safe from you.” He leaped for the dark warrior. Swerving in midair, he landed a whisker away from Tigerstar’s flank. As Tigerstar spun to defend himself, Firestar smashed his paws into the dark warrior’s side. Unbalanced, Tigerstar staggered and fell. Firestar rained slashing blows onto Ti...

Firestar jumped to his paws. “You lived like a rogue. You can die like a rogue.” Flashing like lightning across the clearing, he flew at Tigerstar, aiming for the dark warrior’s throat. With a vicious snarl, he sank his teeth deep into Tigerstar’s neck. He held on while Tigerstar thrashed and staggered and finally collapsed to the ground. Firestar kept hold of the dark warrior as blood flowed over his paws. When Tigerstar finally stopped twitching, Firestar let go of his throat. He straightened up and watched Tigerstar fade away, his gaze blank. Dovewing turned to Ivypool, shaking. “Tigerstar has gone!” As she spoke, thunder cracked the sky. She looked up as a bolt of lightning struck the fallen beech beside Firestar. The tree exploded into flame. Smoke rolled over Firestar. Eyes streaming, chest burning, Dovewing struggled to see her Clan leader. As she peered through the smoke, the clouds opened. Rain pounded the hollow. The burning beech hissed and crackled as the fire faded and died. Dovewing lifted her tail, relief flooding through her. “It’s really over!” she gasped to Ivypo...

She pelted after Sandstorm. He can’t be dead! She skidded to a halt and stared in horror at Firestar’s body. Sandstorm buried her nose deep into her mate’s sodden fur. “I told you not to waste your final life,” she whispered. Brambleclaw crossed the clearing, rain streaming from his whiskers, and stood beside her. “He didn’t waste it.” “Fire will save the Clan,” Leafpool whispered. Graystripe pushed past Tigerheart and Whitestorm and cr...

Purdy nosed past him. “Is he dead?” “Yes.” Bumblestripe wrapped his tail gently over the elder’s back. Tigerheart’s ear twitched. “It was his last life?”

“Yes.” Dovewing nodded toward Boulderfur and Troutstream, who lingered uncertainly near the entrance with their patrols. “It’s time for you to go home. The battle is won and I need to be with my Clanmates.” And yet it feels as if everything has been lost. She drew in a breath, then slid quietly in beside Bumblestripe. Rain dripped into her eyes and she blinked it away. Bumblestripe shifted so that his pelt rested warmly against her. Dovewing felt his breath against her ear.

“Spottedleaf isn’t with StarClan anymore.” Grief thickened her mew. “But she gave Firestar a life for love.”

She looked at Brambleclaw. “If you have half the courage and loyalty of Firestar, you will be a fine leader for ThunderClan.”

As she spoke the StarClan cats drew closer around Firestar’s body. Touching pelts, they gazed down. A shadow stirred over the orange shape. Dovewing gasped. Pale as moonlight, graceful as the wind, Firestar stood up. “His spirit is leaving,” Jayfeather murmured. Firestar’s gaze swept slowly over his Clan. Dovewing swallowed as it reached her, then relaxed. It felt warm like sunshine. “It’s time to go,” Bluestar breathed. Firestar dipped his head to Brambleclaw, then leaned down and touched his muzzle to Sandstorm’s. She stared up at him, her eyes glistening with grief as he turned and followed the StarClan cats out of the hollow.

“It’s time to choose a deputy,” he prompted gently. Dovewing glanced around her Clanmates. Surely, Bramblestar would choose Lionblaze? He was the only warrior who couldn’t be beaten in battle. He’d make a powerful deputy and leader one day. “Will you be my deputy, Squirrelflight?” The she-cat stared at him, every hair on her pelt quivering. “Really?” Bramblestar nodded. “There is no cat I trust more. Everything you do is for the best of reasons. I understand that now.” Squirrelflight dipped her head. “Then I accept.”

There will be three cats, kin of your kin, with the power of the stars in their paws. They will find a fourth, and the battle between light and dark will be won. A new leader will rise from the shadows of his death, and the Clans will survive beyond the memories of his memories. This is how it has always been, and how it will always be.