Darkness Within
Page 1
Dedication
Special thanks to Kate Cary
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Dedication
Allegiances
Maps
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
About the Author
Books by Erin Hunter
Back Ads
Copyright
About the Publisher
Allegiances
THUNDERCLAN
ACTING LEADER SQUIRRELFLIGHT—dark ginger she-cat with green eyes and one white paw
ACTING DEPUTY LIONBLAZE—golden tabby tom with amber eyes
MEDICINE CATS JAYFEATHER—gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes
ALDERHEART—dark ginger tom with amber eyes
WARRIORS (toms and she-cats without kits)
THORNCLAW—golden-brown tabby tom
WHITEWING—white she-cat with green eyes
BIRCHFALL—light brown tabby tom
MOUSEWHISKER—gray-and-white tom
APPRENTICE, BAYPAW (golden tabby tom)
POPPYFROST—pale tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat
BRISTLEFROST—pale gray she-cat
LILYHEART—small, dark tabby she-cat with white patches and blue eyes
APPRENTICE, FLAMEPAW (black tom)
BUMBLESTRIPE—very pale gray tom with black stripes
CHERRYFALL—ginger she-cat
MOLEWHISKER—brown-and-cream tom
CINDERHEART—gray tabby she-cat
APPRENTICE, FINCHPAW (tortoiseshell she-cat)
BLOSSOMFALL—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with petal-shaped white patches
IVYPOOL—silver-and-white tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes
EAGLEWING—ginger she-cat
APPRENTICE, MYRTLEPAW (pale brown she-cat)
DEWNOSE—gray-and-white tom
THRIFTEAR—dark gray she-cat
STORMCLOUD—gray tabby tom
HOLLYTUFT—black she-cat
FLIPCLAW—tabby tom
FERNSONG—yellow tabby tom
HONEYFUR—white she-cat with yellow splotches
SPARKPELT—orange tabby she-cat
SORRELSTRIPE—dark brown she-cat
TWIGBRANCH—gray she-cat with green eyes
FINLEAP—brown tom
SHELLFUR—tortoiseshell tom
PLUMSTONE—black-and-ginger she-cat
LEAFSHADE—tortoiseshell she-cat
SPOTFUR—spotted tabby she-cat
FLYWHISKER—striped gray tabby she-cat
SNAPTOOTH—golden tabby tom
QUEENS (she-cats expecting or nursing kits)
DAISY—cream long-furred cat from the horseplace
ELDERS (former warriors and queens, now retired)
GRAYSTRIPE—long-haired gray tom
CLOUDTAIL—long-haired white tom with blue eyes
BRIGHTHEART—white she-cat with ginger patches
BRACKENFUR—golden-brown tabby tom
SHADOWCLAN
LEADER TIGERSTAR—dark brown tabby tom
DEPUTY CLOVERFOOT—gray tabby she-cat
MEDICINE CATS PUDDLESHINE—brown tom with white splotches
SHADOWSIGHT—gray tabby tom
MOTHWING—dappled golden she-cat
WARRIORS TAWNYPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
DOVEWING—pale gray she-cat with green eyes
HARELIGHT—white tom
ICEWING—white she-cat with blue eyes
STONEWING—white tom
SCORCHFUR—dark gray tom with slashed ears
FLAXFOOT—brown tabby tom
SPARROWTAIL—large brown tabby tom
SNOWBIRD—pure white she-cat with green eyes
YARROWLEAF—ginger she-cat with yellow eyes
BERRYHEART—black-and-white she-cat
GRASSHEART—pale brown tabby she-cat
WHORLPELT—gray-and-white tom
HOPWHISKER—calico she-cat
BLAZEFIRE—white-and-ginger tom
CINNAMONTAIL—brown tabby she-cat with white paws
FLOWERSTEM—silver she-cat
SNAKETOOTH—honey-colored tabby she-cat
SLATEFUR—sleek gray tom
POUNCESTEP—gray tabby she-cat
LIGHTLEAP—brown tabby she-cat
GULLSWOOP—white she-cat
SPIRECLAW—black-and-white tom
HOLLOWSPRING—black tom
SUNBEAM—brown-and-white tabby she-cat
ELDERS OAKFUR—small brown tom
SKYCLAN
LEADER LEAFSTAR—brown-and-cream tabby she-cat with amber eyes
DEPUTY HAWKWING—dark gray tom with yellow eyes
MEDICINE CATS FRECKLEWISH—mottled light brown tabby she-cat with spotted legs
FIDGETFLAKE—black-and-white tom
MEDIATOR TREE—yellow tom with amber eyes
WARRIORS SPARROWPELT—dark brown tabby tom
MACGYVER—black-and-white tom
DEWSPRING—sturdy gray tom
ROOTSPRING—yellow tom
NEEDLECLAW—black-and-white she-cat
PLUMWILLOW—dark gray she-cat
SAGENOSE—pale gray tom
KITESCRATCH—reddish-brown tom
HARRYBROOK—gray tom
CHERRYTAIL—fluffy tortoiseshell and white she-cat
CLOUDMIST—white she-cat with yellow eyes
BLOSSOMHEART—ginger-and-white she-cat
TURTLECRAWL—tortoiseshell she-cat
RABBITLEAP—brown tom
APPRENTICE, WRENPAW (golden tabby she-cat)
REEDCLAW—small pale tabby she-cat
MINTFUR—gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes
NETTLESPLASH—pale brown tom
TINYCLOUD—small white she-cat
PALESKY—black-and-white she-cat
VIOLETSHINE—black-and-white she-cat with yellow eyes
BELLALEAF—pale orange she-cat with green eyes
QUAILFEATHER—white tom with crow-black ears
PIGEONFOOT—gray-and-white she-cat
FRINGEWHISKER—white she-cat with brown splotches
GRAVELNOSE—tan tom
SUNNYPELT—ginger she-cat
QUEENS NECTARSONG—brown she-cat
ELDERS FALLOWFERN—pale brown she-cat who has lost her hearing
WINDCLAN
LEADER HARESTAR—brown-and-white tom
DEPUTY CROWFEATHER—dark gray tom
MEDICINE CAT KESTRELFLIGHT—mottled gray tom with white splotches like kestrel feathers
WARRIORS NIGHTCLOUD—black she-cat
BRINDLEWING—mottled brown she-cat
APPRENTICE, APPLEPAW (yellow tabby she-cat)
LEAFTAIL—dark tabby tom with amber eyes
APPRENTICE, WOODPAW (brown she-cat)
EMBERFOOT—gray tom with two dark paws
BREEZEPELT—black tom with amber eyes
HEATHERTAIL—light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes
FEATHERPELT—gray tabby she-cat
CROUCHFOOT—ginger tom
APPRENTICE, SONGPAW (tortoiseshell she-cat)
LARKWING—pale brown tabby sh
e-cat
SEDGEWHISKER—light brown tabby she-cat
APPRENTICE, FLUTTERPAW (brown-and-white tom)
SLIGHTFOOT—black tom with white flash on his chest
OATCLAW—pale brown tabby tom
HOOTWHISKER—dark gray tom
APPRENTICE, WHISTLEPAW (gray tabby she-cat)
FERNSTRIPE—gray tabby she-cat
ELDERS WHISKERNOSE—light brown tom
GORSETAIL—very pale gray-and-white she-cat with blue eyes
RIVERCLAN
LEADER MISTYSTAR—gray she-cat with blue eyes
DEPUTY REEDWHISKER—black tom
MEDICINE CATS WILLOWSHINE—gray tabby she-cat
WARRIORS DUSKFUR—brown tabby she-cat
MINNOWTAIL—dark gray-and-white she-cat
APPRENTICE, SPLASHPAW (brown tabby tom)
MALLOWNOSE—light brown tabby tom
HAVENPELT—black-and-white she-cat
PODLIGHT—gray-and-white tom
SHIMMERPELT—silver she-cat
LIZARDTAIL—light brown tom
APPRENTICE, FOGPAW (gray-and-white she-cat)
SNEEZECLOUD—gray-and-white tom
BRACKENPELT—tortoiseshell she-cat
JAYCLAW—gray tom
OWLNOSE—brown tabby tom
GORSECLAW—white tom with gray ears
NIGHTSKY—dark gray she-cat with blue eyes
BREEZEHEART—brown-and-white she-cat
QUEENS CURLFEATHER—pale brown she-cat (mother to Frostkit, a she-kit; Mistkit, a she-kit; and Graykit, a tom)
ELDERS MOSSPELT—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat
Maps
Prologue
Leafpool shivered. A cool wind streamed around her, fragrant with the scent of the wide green fields of StarClan’s hunting grounds. Clouds pressed at the distant hills. She fluffed out her fur, drawing her gaze back to where Firestar was sniffing the pool that marked the heart of StarClan territory. Bluestar crouched nearby, paws tucked under her chest, while Tallstar sat stiffly beside her, his amber eyes dark with worry.
Despite the moons that had passed since she had come to StarClan, Leafpool still found it strange to be around cats she’d only heard about in nursery tales growing up. And yet she felt at home in the tranquil forests and meadows of her ancestors, reunited with Firestar and Sandstorm, caring for the kits Squirrelflight had lost before they’d had a chance to know their mother. She felt a sense of acceptance that she’d rarely felt in her final moons in Thunderclan. Back there, she’d known that some cats would never truly forgive her for lying about being the real mother of Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Hollyleaf. The secret she’d kept for so long, and the guilt she’d felt after it had been revealed, had stuck like thorns in her heart. Here, all was forgiven, and for the most part her heart was free of pain.
But even in the midst of her joy, worry managed to find her. She’d promised to watch over Squirrelflight until her sister could join her. But how could she keep that promise now, when a shadow had fallen over StarClan? As she stared at Firestar, fear pressed harder in her belly.
Her father sniffed again at the pool, where branches twined and snaked into the water. “There’s still no way to see the Clans,” he growled.
Leafpool remembered how she and Squirrelflight had watched their Clanmates in the waters of this pool when they’d first come to StarClan. Squirrelflight had dived in and swum back through the murky depths to return to the cats she loved so much. But now that route was blocked.
Branches crisscrossed the water, vines knotting them into an impenetrable web. No cat could see through such a tangle, and there would be no chance for any cat to reach the living Clans now.
Even Squirrelflight wouldn’t be able to make it through. Leafpool’s heart fluttered with alarm. She was losing track of how long the branches had covered the pool, but she knew it had been too long. Squirrelflight, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze were alone with no cat to watch over them. She saw Firestar’s fur prickle along his spine. He must feel the same way, as anxious about Squirrelflight and the Clan he’d left behind as she was. Where had the branches come from? Why were they blocking StarClan’s way? She knew her father was as mystified as every other cat in StarClan.
She padded closer. “I keep hoping they’ll have disappeared each time I come here,” she mewed.
Firestar’s pelt twitched nervously. “What if we never make it past them?”
“We have to,” she breathed. “We can’t be separated from the living Clans forever. They need us.”
Bluestar pushed herself to her paws. “Have faith,” she mewed. “They are warriors, and they’re resourceful. They might not need us as much as we think.”
Panic sparked in Leafpool’s belly. “What if we need them?” A thought flitted at the edge of her mind, too frightening to reach for. And yet she couldn’t resist. “Will we disappear if we have no connection to the living Clans?”
“Of course not.” Firestar blinked at her. She saw doubt in his emerald eyes. He doesn’t believe what he’s saying. Firestar’s gaze flitted back to the water. “Why did we allow a cat like that to go down there?”
Bluestar snorted. “We were going to keep an eye on him, remember?” she mewed wryly.
Firestar poked a vine angrily. It shivered, sending ripples over the water. Leafpool caught her breath. Had he managed to dislodge something? She peered hopefully into the water, but there was still nothing to see except the gray mist that seemed to swirl beneath the surface.
“It was too important to put in the paws of such a cat,” Firestar growled. “We should have sent some other cat.”
“It doesn’t matter who we sent—” Tallstar began.
“Really?” Firestar swung his gaze toward the WindClan leader. “Don’t you think it’s strange that we trusted a cat we should never have trusted in life and this happened? We’ve lost our connection to the Clans. Do you think it’s a coincidence?”
Tallstar’s ears twitched. “It’s no coincidence that this has happened when the Clans have been breaking the code whenever it suits them. They’re the ones who have caused this mess.” He jerked his muzzle toward the knotted branches obscuring the pool.
“The code has been broken before,” Firestar retorted. “In worse ways, and nothing like this has ever happened.” He frowned. “There’s only one cat responsible for this. We must find a way to fix it. If we don’t, the living Clans might be lost forever.”
Leafpool’s mouth grew dry. Was he right? Could this be the end of the connection between the lake Clans and their ancestors? And, if it was, how long could the living and the dead survive?
Chapter 1
As Squirrelflight’s mew rang across the island, Bristlefrost’s heart seemed to skip a beat.
“I know who has taken over Bramblestar’s body!”
Who? Bristlefrost jerked her muzzle toward the acting Thunderclan leader, who stared down from the Great Oak, her orange pelt milky in the moonlight.
“But I can hardly believe it,” Squirrelflight mumbled, beneath other cats’ exclamations of surprise.
The Clans stopped in their tracks. Mistystar had ended the Gathering abruptly, angry at demands that she allow Harelight and Icewing to rejoin RiverClan from their exile, and the Clans had been preparing to leave the island. But now every cat seemed to halt as though snared by the same thought, ears pricked, faces lifting toward Squirrelflight. Warriors who had been heading toward the tree-bridge turned back and pushed their way from the long grass, their eyes glittering anxiously as Squirrelflight went on. Graystripe, one of Thunderclan’s elders, turned back, his ears angled forward with curiosity.
“And if I’m right”—in the moonlight, shadows darkened the Thunderclan leader’s face—“it’s even worse than we thought. This warrior will not stop until every Clan cat has paid for what he believes was stolen from him when he was alive.”
Bristlefrost’s pelt sparked with dread. It sounded as though the cat who’d stolen Bramblestar’s body was well known to
Squirrelflight. She flattened her ears. Only part of her wanted to know who it was. Clearly some dark spirit had possessed the Thunderclan leader, dividing the Clans and turning Clanmate against Clanmate, until a bloody battle had left warriors dead and the impostor a prisoner of ShadowClan. Bristlefrost didn’t want to believe that a warrior could wreak such horrors on the Clans. Once Squirrelflight named the cat who’d driven out Bramblestar’s spirit and left it to wander the forest, neither living nor dead, the Clans would have to accept that one of their ancestors had betrayed them.
Squirrelflight hesitated, her gaze flitting nervously over the waiting cats. Was she scared to say the warrior’s name out loud?
“Well?” Tigerstar shouldered his way through the gathered cats and stopped at the base of the Great Oak. “Who do you think it is?”
Bristlefrost’s belly tightened. She saw pelts spike around her. Would naming the cat who had stolen Bramblestar’s body divide the Clans once more? Would they fight again? Here? Now? She glanced back at Squirrelflight. There was fear in the Thunderclan leader’s gaze; it seemed to spark like lightning through the Clans, setting whiskers twitching and fur on end.
“Tell us,” Tigerstar demanded.
Squirrelflight glanced at the ShadowClan leader, then took a deep breath. “I know this is going to sound crazy,” she began.
Tigerstar’s tail twitched ominously.
“But I’m sure I’m right.” Squirrelflight’s mew grew more certain. “It has to be. It can’t be anyone else.” She lifted her chin. “I think Ashfur has returned.”
Bristlefrost frowned, puzzled. Ashfur? He had been a Thunderclan warrior, she thought. He’d died, many moons ago, in an accident. She tried to remember the times she’d heard older warriors talk about him. There had been something strange about his death, hadn’t there?
“Why would Ashfur come back?” Mistystar was threading her way between the cats. When she reached the Great Oak, she scrambled up beside Squirrelflight.
Tigerstar followed her. “He wanted to be your mate, didn’t he? Before you chose Bramblestar.” As Harestar and Leafstar hurried to take their places beside the others once more, the ShadowClan leader went on. “Is that why you think he’s returned?”
Squirrelflight avoided Tigerstar’s eye. “He might feel he has unfinished business here,” she mewed.
“Maybe with Thunderclan.” Harestar looked unconvinced. “But not enough to stir up trouble with the rest of us.” He glanced at the other leaders.