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Below contains in-depth information for chapter twenty-eight of The Darkest Hour. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.
As Firestar approaches Fourtrees, the first faint streaks of dawn are appearing. His heart swells with pride as he looks at all the warriors behind, his gaze flicking to each one. Pain suddenly tears at his heart as he realizes what they all mean to him and what fearful danger they are about to face. He raises his voice so that everyone can hear him, telling them that whatever happens, no leader has ever had better warriors than them. Graystripe comments back, saying that there was never a leader like him. Firestar's throat is too choked to speak.
Crossing the stream, he hears a whisper of movement from the direction of the river and peeks down the slope to see the cats of RiverClan and ShadowClan slipping silently toward the meeting place. He sees Blackfoot and understands that though they might have an alliance, they will never be friends. Firestar observes warriors from other Clans interacting amongst themselves. They continue onto Fourtrees with Firestar and Leopardstar leading them.
When the Clans approach Fourtrees, Firestar sends Mousefur and Graystripe up to scout ahead. Graystripe comes back with Tallstar, Barley, and Ravenpaw, whom all announce their support with the Clans. When asked where BloodClan is, Tallstar responds, saying that they are somewhere in ShadowClan territory. Firestar feels some admiration for him, but when he learns that the WindClan leader is also afraid, Firestar admires him even more.
Just as he sees Mousefur running back toward LionClan, BloodClan appears. Scourge calls out to them, demanding that they show themselves. After being urged on by Leopardstar and Tallstar, Firestar continues and leads the Clans into Fourtrees. Scourge sits the base of the Great Rock and asks them if they will leave or fight against BloodClan. Firestar offers that instead of fighting, the BloodClan cats can leave in peace. When it is clear that BloodClan will not leave, he looks at the aggressive cats and remembers how Tigerstar died. He makes one last effort by claiming the forest belongs to the Clans by the will of StarClan, but Scourge only calls it a tale and calls for BloodClan to attack.
Firestar does the same, and the battle is begun. A tabby tom fights him, and all of the cats are in the clearing, being led by the Clan leaders and fighting their opponents. When Firestar is able to get the tom away, he sees that Scourge is no longer sitting near the Great Rock. His Clanmates are all fighting against BloodClan warriors. He fights off one tom who is fighting against Longtail. Once the tom is driven away, Cinderpelt helps Longtail away from the fighting to heal his wounds. Brightheart and Cloudtail cooperate against an enemy, confusing and defeating him. Barley and Ravenpaw fight against two toms, one of which recognizes Barley and calls him a coward for leaving. The barn cat responds, saying that he was brave for leaving and that his opponent should not be part of BloodClan, then making them retreat. Morningflower chants out the name of her dead son as she fights.
Firestar looks for Scourge, knowing that if he kills the small tom, the battle will be won. The ThunderClan leader reflects on how instead of having to fight against Tigerstar, he has to fight against his murderer. A she-cat fights against Firestar, but he rakes his claws against her belly and she retreats. Exhausted, he wonders how much longer the battle has to go on. He fights against another she-cat, who he defeats, and then discovers Darkstripe. Darkstripe is fighting with BloodClan, even though he does not have any particular loyalties, but expresses his desire to kill Firestar. They fight, and the dark warrior almost kills Firestar, but Graystripe pushes him off. He slashes Darkstripe's throat open, killing him. Firestar and his friend touch noses, but Graystripe notices something behind him.
Bone, the BloodClan deputy, is seen wounding another cat, who is revealed to be Whitestorm. Graystripe and Firestar race toward him. Ashpaw and Bramblepaw push Bone off Whitestorm, distracting him. As his dying word, Whitestorm nominates Graystripe to be the next deputy after him and passes away. Firestar appoints Graystripe to be the next deputy, and he gets yowls of agreement from other warriors.
When Firestar turns to fight against Bone, he sees several apprentices rush forward and kill him. Jaggedtooth appears and hauls Bramblepaw off Bone, but when the apprentices turn their attention to him, he retreats. Firestar observes the battle, wondering who will win. Though some powerful cats in BloodClan might have died, so have some LionClan cats. Some cats are being taken out of battle so that their wounds can be treated. He knows that the only way to win the battle will be if Scourge is killed.
Finding Scourge, Firestar discovers him fighting against Onewhisker. Firestar attacks the BloodClan leader, who wounds Firestar on his shoulder. Firestar, after becoming weaker from the injury, has Scourge slip away from him and deliver a killing strike. Firestar gets knocked down, and his consciousness fades to black.
Whitestorm, ThunderClan's deputy is killed by Bone. Graystripe is his successor.[13]
Firestar loses his first life as leader after Scourge kills him.[14]
Ceremonies[]
Graystripe's deputy ceremony
Firestar:
Whitestorm, no! Graystripe, find Cinderpelt.
Whitestorm:
Too late, I go to hunt with StarClan.
Firestar:
You can't—the Clan needs you! I need you!
Whitestorm:
You will find others. . . . Trust your heart, Firestar. You have always known that Graystripe is the cat that StarClan destined to be your deputy.
Firestar:
Whitestorm . . . […] You heard what he said. He chose you. I say these words before the body of Whitestorm, that his spirit may hear and approve my choice. Graystripe will be the new deputy of ThunderClan.
