Darkness Within/Chapter 16

"I won't be thwarted. You saved my life, and because of that, you have ensured my success. Because once I'm back to full health, I'll be able to bend any cat to my will..." The following content contains major spoilers for the true identity of Bramblestar's impostor. Please proceed at your own discretion.

"It's a poor hunter who tries to trap a mouse with its weakest paw."

— Lionblaze to Squirrelflight in Darkness Within, page 233

Darkness Within
Chapter number:	16 (of 25)
Page numbers:	230-241
Point of View:	Bristlefrost
Chronology

Below contains in-depth information for chapter sixteen of Darkness Within. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter Number: 16 (of 25)

Page Numbers: 230-241

Chapter description

Bristlefrost approaches the ThunderClan border, realizing that Spotfur is alone with Rootspring and Needleclaw. She assures herself that the queen would be okay, and carries on. She enters camp, seeing cats out of their nest, all looking at two cats. The she-cat realizes that Squirrelflight is angrily staring at Lionblaze. The former berates the golden tom for attacking Bramblestar's body. Lionblaze apologizes, but Squirrelflight states that her mate could've died. Lionblaze acknowledges this, and adds that Squirrelflight may be able to reason with Ashfur. This enrages the leader, stating that he will not be reasonable.

As more cats intervene, Bristlefrost realizes that she has to declare that the Sisters have come. She does, and Squirrelflight asks if every cat is safe. Bristlefrost nods, but Squirrelflight asks where Spotfur is. Bristlefrost explains, stating that she came to get her while Rootspring escorts the Sisters to SkyClan camp. Lionblaze challenges this, asking ThunderClan why they are asking a bunch of rogues something when they already know that Bramblestar is gone. Squirrelflight states that Lionblaze doesn't know that, but the deputy again recommends killing Ashfur. Squirrelflight asks that Lionblaze would kill the cat that raised him, and Lionblaze states that he cares about Bramblestar, but he doesn't let that stop him from doing the right thing.

Squirrelflight states that Lionblaze is assuming that she is letting her emotions cloud her judgment, when she is just doing what Bramblestar would've done. Lionblaze retorts that they don't know what Bramblestar would've done, but they think they do. If they had known, then they would have seen right away that Bramblestar was an impostor. Squirrelflight asks if Lionblaze thinks that she should've known sooner that her mate was an impostor. Lionblaze states that she was closest to him. Alderheart defends his mother as he tells Lionblaze he is not being fair. Lionblaze states that he is grateful to Squirrelflight, but she has committed mistakes, like allowing Ashfur to live in Bramblestar's body. Bumblestripe and Mousewhisker agree, while Twigbranch does not.

Jayfeather intervenes, stating that arguing won't solve the problem, and that they should talk with the Sisters first. Squirrelflight agrees, and gathers a patrol of Twigbranch, Bristlefrost, Finleap, and Alderheart. The patrol enters SkyClan camp, spotting Snow, Hawk, and Sunrise. Leafstar greets Squirrelflight's patrol, stating that Mistystar, Tigerstar, and Harestar will come soon. Squirrelflight and Snow greet each other, but are interrupted as Tigerstar enters camp, asking Squirrelflight if the Sisters might be able to help them. Sunrise walks between them, and states that she is not sure that they can help them, as there is a strange energy there. Hawk agrees. Mistystar, Willowshine, and Shimmerpelt enter camp, citing that Harestar is on his way.

Sunrise nods, stating that they would begin as soon as Harestar arrives. Tigerstar asks if the Sisters would be able to locate Bramblestar. Snow replies that they don't know, but there are many spirits around the lake, and they can bring them all there. Tigerstar states that they don't need every spirit, only Bramblestar. Sunrise asks why Tigerstar isn't looking for his ancestors as well. Tigerstar states that they should start with the living first, before the dead. This causes Bristlefrost to hope that Tigerstar thought there was a chance to find Bramblestar. Sunrise again states that they should wait for Harestar, declaring that they will need the help of a Clan cat. She gazes the crowd of cats until stopping on Rootspring, calling him forward, telling him to stand beside her. Sunrise arranges where the leaders will go, and guides Rootspring to the center. The WindClan patrols arrives.

Characters

Major

• Bristlefrost
• Squirrelflight
• Lionblaze
• Sunrise
• Tigerstar

Minor

• Mousewhisker
• Alderheart
• Bumblestripe
• Birchfall
• Twigbranch
• Finleap
• Jayfeather
• Snow
• Hawk
• Leafstar
• Rootspring
• Frecklewish
• Tree
• Puddleshine
• Dovewing
• Tawnypelt
• Mistystar
• Willowshine
• Shimmerpelt

Mentioned

• Spotfur
• Needleclaw
• Bramblestar
• Ashfur
• Harestar

Quotes

Lionblaze: "Without Bramblestar's body, Ashfur will have nowhere to hide."

Squirrelflight: "Are you sure of that?"

^{Darkness Within, pages 234-235}

Errors

• It is said that Sunrise waves Squirrelflight and Leafstar out of the clearing, but then it is stated that she noses Tigerstar and Leafstar away as well, though Leafstar is already out of the clearing.