Ivypool is in the Dark Forest listening to Tigerstar speak. He is talking of leading patrols into clan territory so they can learn the layout of each land. Blossomfall is excited, feeling this will help her when it comes down to fighting for other clans and Ivypool wonders how she can be so stupid. Tigerstar names ThunderClan land as the first they will explore and names all cats from other clans to explore it. Ivypool asks after the apprentices she is training, hoping Tigerstar will refuse so the others can see that this is actually an invasion, but Tigerstar agrees, telling Ivypool she will lead the patrol. As they head out Redwillow and Hollowflight tell Ivypool how they wish they were real Dark Forest warriors. She asks them about being the best in their clans, but they feel the Dark Forest is superior and that only the strong should survive. She asks if that means their weak clanmates should die and Redwillow looks alarmed at the idea, making Ivypool feel as if Redwillow revealed too much. Tigerstar stops the group and has Blossomfall start to explain ThunderClan's landscape and fighting tactics. Ivypool is upset that Blossomfall is just giving all their secrets away and is relieved to see that Birchfall is just as upset as she is. Tigerstar and Mapleshade sense Birchfall's reluctance, which forces him to reveal even more secrets in an attempt to prove his loyalty. Suddenly they hear cats approaching. Ivypool wishes to go back to the Dark Forest but Tigerstar wants to fight back. Ivypool warns him that Firestar will start night time patrols if cats are caught on the land - and everyone else voices that they are there to learn the land, not fight - so Tigerstar allows everyone to leave. However, he does attack Ivypool for questioning his order. Birchfall is upset, and distracts Tigerstar so he will go easier on Ivypool. The Dark Forest cats ask what it was like there and Darkstripe mockingly asks if they saw the stars. Ivypool fears for her clanmates who have no idea what is coming.
Jayfeather listens as Firestar, Brambleclaw, Graystripe, and Sandstorm discuss the voices and scents in their territory from the previous night. They argue whether it was rogues or the other clans - and the possibility that the other clans have united against them. Jayfeather can feel the despair in Firestar. Jayfeather goes to his nest. As he tries to sleep images and voices from the Dark Forest fill his mind. He tries to list the herbs and their uses to drive them away. He finds himself in ThunderClan by a tunnel leading down. Lionblaze and Dovewing are there too. They enter the tunnel to the cave where they find Rock, Midnight, and the ancient cats. Rock tells them that this is the fault of the clans for not letting their ancestors die. He also says this is happening because the three have been born. Everyone is angry at them for not having found the fourth cat yet and for not accepting their destinies. Before leaving Rock tells them they must succeed or all the dead cats will die again.
Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Dovewing meet to discuss the new prophecy. Dovewing no longer feels that Ivypool is the fourth cat, and Jayfeather no longer feels that Mothwing is either, so Lionblaze assumes it must be Hollyleaf. The idea is put forth by Dovewing that it could be Breezepelt but it is just as quickly rejected by Jayfeather since Breezepelt is not related to Firestar. Lionblaze leaves, impatient to find out if it is Hollyleaf. He goes back to camp where he tells Cinderheart he made a mistake - meaning he made a mistake in denying his destiny to try and be with her. His words hurt Cinderheart but she accepts them and tells him they have to do what is best for the clan. He then seeks out Hollyleaf to assess her without her knowledge. However, after asking her to do a bunch if things Hollyleaf tells him she is onto him. He blurts out that he thinks she is the fourth cat but she quickly rejects his idea.
Everyone is getting ready to go to the Gathering. Jayfeather is being left behind. Dovewing is short with Bumblestripe, causing them to finally get into a fight. Rosepetal tells Dovewing that she is being unnecessarily mean and that she better apologize. Feeling guilty, Dovewing goes to but Bumblestripe tells her he is done with her being mean to him. At the Gathering the leaders give their reports. Mistystar admits they have been scenting strange scents in their territory. The other leaders admit they too have found odd scents - generally in places perfect for an ambush. When Firestar suggests sharing any information found out about the rogues the other leaders shut down, insisting they only take care of their clan, and the Gathering breaks up. Dovewing is able to sneak off and see Tigerheart quick but Bumblestripe catches her. She lies and says they were discussing the strange scents but Bumblestripe doesn't care. She leaves and on the way home starts to feel overwhelmed by the prophecy and her relationship with Tigerheart. As it rains she hides her tears.
Ivypool is at a meeting in the Dark Forest. Beetlewhisker is late, having been at the Gathering, and Tigerstar tells him he cannot be in two clans at once. Mapleshade starts telling the cats she is proud of them, but that some are too hesitant to deliver the killing blow. Applefur speaks up, saying warriors don't kill. Mapleshade responds that if Applefur was happy then she wouldn't have sought out the Dark Forest. Ivypool wishes Applefur would stop talking before she is punished. Brokenstar starts speaking of victory over their enemies. Ivypool asks who their enemies and Mapleshade starts to hint that their enemies are their clanmates. Beetlewhisker speaks up, causing an argument of ideals between him and the Dark Forest cats, with the Dark Forest feeling it should be survival of the fittest and Beetlewhisker speaking of protecting clanmates who cannot protect themselves. Beetlewhisker thanks the Dark Forest cats for all the training they have given him, but he insists he is loyal to his clan and is leaving now. Ivypool watches as Brokenstar moves in on him, Beetlewhisker unaware of the danger he is in. Applefur realizes, however, and begs Beetlewhisker to stay. Beetlewhisker insists on leaving, however, and Brokenstar kills him. Applefur is horrified and Ivypool presses against her, trying to reassure her. Ivypool also hopes that now all the clan cats in the Dark Forest will realize the truth and stay away. Applefur is asked if she too is having second thoughts but she insists she is not. Breezepelt is asked and he responds that he is loyal to the Dark Forest, that they are his clan. Ivypool realizes he sympathizes with the Dark Forest cats. She cannot believe he actually is loyal. They are told to tell no one about Beetlewhisker's death, and that if they spread lies about the Dark Forest then they too will be killed.
Okay, I need to take a moment to complain about Rock and that dream scene. He tells the three that this is their fault for being born - and not that they were born to stop this uprising - and also tells them that this is their fault for not letting their dead cats die - and then promptly begs the three to save all the dead cats from dying again. I don't think I have ever sworn on my blog before, but WHAT. THE. FUCK. That was poor writing all around. Yes, prophecies can be a double edged sword. If the three were never born the Dark Forest couldn't rise - yet, also, the three couldn't be born unless the Dark Forest rose. It goes both ways. That was low to blame them for being born. Talk about a shitty pep talk. Then to blame them for not letting their ancestors die and to turn around and beg them to save their ancestors? Talk about mixed messages all around. That was lousy writing.
On to more important stuff. Finally, the Dark Forest is revealed as evil. It sure did take long enough. It was bad enough that Antpelt was killed (though, by that point in time he was evil) but now Beetlewhisker too. I hope he finds his way to StarClan. In the end he was a loyal clan cat. But hopefully now the clan cats will either rise up against the Dark Forest or refuse to fight on their side. And I cannot say I am shocked by Breezepelt's loyalty to the Dark Forest. He always had too much hatred and anger inside.
And Dovewing, as always, is making a mistake with Tigerheart. And now, even worse, she seems to have destroyed her relationship with Bumblestripe over it.
As for the fourth cat, as much as it would have been nice for it to be Mothwing, Ivypool, or Hollyleaf since it cannot be all there I am glad it is none. I could not have picked between them. Well, maybe Mothwing - maybe. But, it does make me ask who the fourth cat is. I honestly have no idea.
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