The Last Hope/Chapter 19

"Destroying the puny warriors who huddle like mice around the lake will be fun, but when we kill StarClan...that will be the final revenge."

— Brokenstar about destroying the Clans and StarClan in The Last Hope, page 226

The Last Hope
Chapter number:	19 (of 27)
Page numbers:	216-233
Point of View:	Dovewing
Chronology

Below contains in-depth information for chapter nineteen of The Last Hope. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter Number: 19 (of 27)

Page Numbers: 216-233

Chapter description

Dovewing is awakened by Poppyfrost announcing Brightheart's kits. The gray she-cat jumps out of her den and into the clearing, while Cloudtail is pacing back and forth in front of the nursery. Cloudtail tells Mousefur that there are three kits, two toms and a she-kit. As Jayfeather emerges from the brambles, Cinderheart tells Cloudtail that Brightheart is fine, and motions for the tom to see. Mousefur says that if Firestar had sent Brightheart to kit outside the territory, it would have been safer, but Graystripe protests, saying that the camp is the safest place for any kit. Lilykit comes out of the den, and Dovewing tells her that ThunderClan fights for its kits, gently nudging her to go inform Sorreltail of Brightheart's kits. Firestar jumps down from the Highledge, stopping by Graystripe to ask how many kits have been born. Graystripe informs him there are three. When Firestar says now is a dark time to have kits, Graystripe questions his leader, and Firestar explains his dream. Before Graystripe can reply, Cloudtail arrives.

Jayfeather comes in and Firestar pads away, calling to Cloudtail, that he will welcome the kits into the Clan later. Mousefur meows that she is glad Firestar is leader. Graystripe nudges the elder, recalling when she argued with Bluestar about bringing him in. As Dovewing glances at Firestar, she reflects on how hard it is to imagine how Firestar went from a kittypet to ThunderClan's leader. Mousefur states that she was wrong to argue with Bluestar.

When Firestar asks Dovewing to get Lionblaze, she complies. After she gets Lionblaze, the gray she-cat explains to him that Jayfeather just got back from the Moonpool, and Firestar is acting weary of the battle. The two go into Firestar's den, where Firestar explains to Lionblaze that at sunhigh, they all meet with the other leaders and medicine cats. As he tells them about how Jayfeather united StarClan, and so he must unite the Clans, Jayfeather tells them that Firestar is the fourth cat.

Dovewing follows her Clanmates out of the hollow, where the battle suddenly feels soon to her. When they reach the island, it is empty, until they see Onestar and Kestrelflight enter the clearing. Kestrelflight sits beside Jayfeather, while Dovewing listens for other cats. She hears other leaders and medicine cats arriving. Expanding her senses, she hears WindClan cats chatting. Blackstar and Littlecloud show up, and Blackstar asks Firestar why he brought warriors. Mistystar arrives with Willowshine, who says that Dark Forest are planning to invade Clan territory. Mistystar is skeptical about this, but Mothwing states that Willowshine has never been wrong before. Blackstar tells Mistystar that Littlecloud told him they learned how to cross their borders. Onestar states that it is impossible and Jayfeather accuses him of questioning a medicine cat. Blackstar says that StarClan and the Dark Forest have always been beyond their reach, but now they are telling them that the Clans are part of a war between them. Firestar says that it is not just a war between them, but rather a war between all the Clans. Onestar asks him if he brought warriors to force them to join him.

Firestar replies that they are part of a prophecy, and explains it, as well as how the three cats have their own powers. When Blackstar asks, each of the Three explain their powers. Dovewing explains to Mistystar that she can hear her Clanmates if she tries, and Mistystar accuses her of spying, but Dovewing denies the accusation. Blackstar acknowledges that Lionblaze can never be defeated, and then says that Ratscar told him that he had shredded Lionblaze. The golden tabby snaps that he let Rowanclaw shred him. Blackstar backs away from Lionblaze and looks at Firestar. Firestar explains that he kept it hidden for so long because the time was not right before. Willowshine pads over to Dovewing, asking if she can hear as far as the Dark Forest. Dovewing is unsure, and the RiverClan medicine cat asks her if she will try. Dovewing nods and stretches her ears.

Willowshine tells Blackstar that she is showing them their enemy. Dovewing lets her hearing spread in every direction at once and hears the murmuring of the Clans. Dovewing keeps reaching further, past the Clans, into darkness. She can hear distant yowling far away and rushes towards it, exclaiming that she is in the Place of No Stars. Onestar gasps, but Littlecloud tells him not to disturb her. Blackstar whispers to his medicine cat, doubting that she can visit the Place of No Stars in her thoughts. Mothwing points out that he believes that all the cats in StarClan can see beyond normal boundaries. Mistystar tells them to be quiet, and Dovewing begins to concentrate harder. She hears a deep growl telling some cat to dig their claws deeper and that he must feel the fire touch his bones. Dovewing hears a screech and then realizes this is where Ivypool trains every night. The gray she-cat states that they are training for battle, and Jayfeather adds that they train every night. Another blood-curdling screech sounds and Dovewing instinctively begins to pull her senses away, but Willowshine urges her to keep going. She watches two warriors fight each other and hears a dark tabby threaten to shred all the Clan cats who have lived and subsequently kill StarClan.

Jayfeather exclaims that she has found Brokenstar, and Onestar asks how Jayfeather knows. The gray tabby replies that he can see into her thoughts, and adds that he is talking to his Clanmates. Blackstar asks what he is saying, and Dovewing begins to quote Brokenstar's words. Dovewing shrinks away to a different part of the forest. A white she-cat asks why they have to train in a stinking forest and why they cannot train on their own land. Dovewing recognizes the cat as Icewing and realizes she cannot betray her. Dovewing shuts off the sound and presses closer to Willowshine, opening her eyes and arriving back at the island. Mistystar is dismayed, and Onestar stares at Firestar, asking how to stop them. Firestar says they fight. Blackstar hisses that they don't stand a chance on Clan territory, because they barely know it, but Dovewing says they know it too. She explains how they send patrols out every night onto Clan territories to scout out the best fighting places. Blackstar hisses if she heard them. Lionblaze says that the scents they found were from the Dark Forest. Mistystar says that there are Clan scents among them. Lionblaze tells them that they recruited Clan cats. Blackstar protests saying that ShadowClan would never do such a thing.

Firestar tells them cats have been recruited from every Clan, and Onestar demands Dovewing to tell them who the cats are, but Dovewing refuses. Blackstar asks if she is a traitor too. Firestar defends her, claiming they will not know who will choose what side until the battle happens. Frightened, Mistystar asks Dovewing to tell them who the traitors are. Dovewing says that she can't tell them, and that Firestar is right. Firestar explains to them that they think they are training to help the Clans. Lionblaze also explains that only some cats stay because Brokenstar threatens to kill any cat who betrays the Dark Forest. The golden tabby tells Blackstar that they must stand together. Onestar asks how they can trust each other, to which Firestar says that the time has come to fight their greatest enemy, and that they can stand together or alone. He says that the Clans are stronger together, like how they were in the The Great Journey. RiverClan, WindClan and ShadowClan agree to join an alliance with ThunderClan, but Blackstar has one condition: ShadowClan is in charge of cats on their territory and Firestar agrees. The medicine cats sit by each other, and Jayfeather states that StarClan will be pleased.

Firestar brings up creating a battle plan. Mistystar asks where the Dark Forest will attack, and Lionblaze replies that it can be anywhere. Onestar says that patrols should move through all territories at night and day, and they should temporarily ignore the borders. Blackstar disagrees but Firestar reminds him that they are no longer enemies. Firestar says that he will send three warriors to each Clan's camp at dusk, telling Mistystar that they must be prepared. The leaders agree to each send three warriors to ThunderClan.

Onestar asks which cats to trust, and the leaders list cats who have been acting suspiciously. Onestar and Mistystar say they do not want traitors on each other's territory. Dovewing exclaims they should be concentrating on the battle and not accuse cats of being traitors yet, and Blackstar asks what will happen if the potential traitors tell their plans to their Dark Forest allies. The leaders plan to prioritize protecting the camps, keeping the kits and elders safe, and having the two fastest cats from each Clan as messengers, who cannot participate in the battle. Afterwards, Firestar demands they all go home to prepare for the battle.

As they begin to leave, Dovewing notices that Tigerheart is watching her and tells Firestar, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze that she will catch up soon, before asking Tigerheart why he is here. Tigerheart says that he has never seen her use her powers and goes to nuzzle her cheek, but Dovewing jerks her head away. When asked, Dovewing says she is not sure if things have changed between them, before declining another night together because of the upcoming battle. Tigerheart tries to declare his love for her, but Dovewing tells him now is not the right time. He asks about what after, and if she can give him up so easily, but the gray she-cat says she has to. She then begins to run back to ThunderClan camp, ignoring Tigerheart's calls of her name.

Characters

Major

• Dovewing
• Firestar
• Onestar
• Blackstar
• Mistystar

Minor

• Poppyfrost
• Cloudtail
• Mousefur
• Jayfeather
• Cinderheart
• Graystripe
• Lilykit
• Sandstorm
• Dustpelt
• Squirrelflight
• Lionblaze
• Kestrelflight
• Unnamed WindClan warriors
• Willowshine
• Mothwing
• Littlecloud
• Tigerheart

Mentioned

• Brightheart
• Sorreltail
• Bluestar
• Ratscar
• Rowanclaw

Important events

Other

• The Clans agree to form an alliance to fight off the Dark Forest.