A Light in the Mist (book)/Chapter 2

"Squirrelflight loves Bramblestar! She'll never love you. She chose Bramblestar and she always will. They are happy together and you can't change that. [...] If you truly loved Squirrelflight, you'd want her to be happy. You wouldn't be trying to destroy everything she loves. You have no idea what love really is. How could a warrior like Squirrelflight ever love a warrior like you? No wonder she chose Bramblestar. He's everything you're not. He's brave and loyal. He's a true warrior in a way you could never be."

— Shadowsight to Ashfur in A Light in the Mist, pages 18-19

A Light in the Mist (book)
Chapter number:	2 (of 24)
Page numbers:	14-23
Point of View:	Shadowsight
Chronology

Below contains in-depth information for chapter two of A Light in the Mist (book). If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter Number: 2 (of 24)

Page Numbers: 14-23

Chapter description

Shadowsight wakes up in the Dark Forest, scanning his surroundings for any sign of danger. He recounts how only moments before he had been following Bristlefrost through blackness with the song of the Sisters' guiding them to the dark place. Now there, he flattens his ears at the sound of fighting and cringes at the stench of spilled blood. The tom looks around for his travel companion and watches in alarm as she pelts towards the sound of the battling cats. Shadowsight races after her and watches as she throws herself into the fight immediately. Amongst the fighting cats he recognizes Rootspring. The gray tabby wonders how he can help his friends, knowing he was still injured from his last encounter with Ashfur.

He spots the dark warrior amongst the fighting cats, and this has Shadowsight hiding back in the shadows, noticing that Ashfur is deep in concentration. The medicine cat also recognizes his old friend, Spiresight, amongst the fighting cats and is taken aback by the tom's fighting, which causes him to wonder if his friend knew what he was doing. Shadowsight then sees Rootspring and Bristlefrost fighting side by side together before a white-and-ginger tom attacks the latter. He recognizes the tom as Stemleaf and he watches scared as the two former Clanmates fight each other. Shadowsight figures he needs to stop Ashfur's control over the spirit cats and looks back at the dark warrior, noticing how concentrated he is. He wonders if he could distract him long enough to give the spirit cats a chance to escape his hold. The tom decides to use his own unusual connection with Ashfur to cause a distraction. Even thinking about it, he feels the dark warrior's hatred for those who had wronged him and how his thoughts had turned to poison even after his death. Now knowing what to do, Shadowsight calls out just as Bristlefrost becomes overwhelmed in her fight against Stemleaf.

He yowls to Ashfur that Squirrelflight will never love him and that her choice would always be Bramblestar and not him. Ashfur regards him angrily, but keeps his attention on his prisoners. Shadowsight continues, adding that Ashfur doesn't understand the meaning of love if he can't respect Squirrelflight's decision to be happy. The tom throws a few more insults before the control begins slipping on the spirit cats. Shadowsight quickly tells them to fight it and run away. He watches as some cats flee, but those that remain he notices must be true Dark Forest warriors. Bristlefrost helps Stemleaf come around, the tom sharing his desire to have remained with his mate. As they attempt to flee, Ashfur orders his warriors to stop them, and Shadowsight watches on in fear as they charge after the spirit cats fleeing. He watches sadly as some are brought back to the clearing, but looks on hopefully as Bristlefrost and Rootspring escape. However, it's short lived as he watches Mapleshade stop Stemleaf and almost kill him, leaving the white-and-ginger tom on the ground. The she-cat turns her attention to Shadowsight who panics. His panic rises as he is confronted by Ashfur who looms over him, leaving the young tom hoping he'd given his friends a good chance to flee.

Characters

Major

• Shadowsight

Minor

• Bristlefrost
• Tabby tom
• Rootspring
• Ashfur
• Spiresight
• Stemleaf
• Softpelt
• Mottled tom
• Dappletuft
• Unnamed she-cat
• Burly tom
• Mapleshade

Mentioned

• Bramblestar
• Squirrelflight
• Spotfur