After many more days of travel, Alderpaw is excited to finally see the camp he has dreamed about. Everyone is torn over what to do but Needlepaw believes they should just approach the camp - so they do. A hostile group of cats come to meet them. Alderpaw explains they are looking for SkyClan. The cat in charge, Rain, takes them to their leader who is named Darktail. Alderpaw explains he is there to bring SkyClan to the lake to join with the other clans. Darktail tells Alderpaw that he needs time to think over this and invites the cats to stay with them. Alderpaw doesn't understand why things are so different from his vision. The cats look nothing like the ones he saw and they don't have correct warrior names. Things grow even more confusing when a hunting patrol returns. The cats attack each other over the food, leaving just scraps for the elders and queens. Outraged, Sparkpaw confronts Darktail but he seems amused by her outburst He explains that SkyClan has founded their own warrior code, one that honors the strongest. The clan cats decide to discuss amongst themselves what to do. Some wish to leave but Needlepaw points out that they are looking for something in the darkness and these cats are very dark in their manner. Meanwhile Alderpaw feels Bramblestar and his vision could not have been so wrong and he asks his friends for more time. Even though everyone wants to go they agree.
There is a sick she cat who keeps coughing and Darktail yells at her. Alderpaw decides to intervene and points out that she just needs some herbs. Darktail has no clue what he is talking about and Alderpaw is shocked to realize they do not have a medicine cat. He offers to treat the sick cat. While looking for herbs he finds the abandoned medicine cat's den and some old herbs which he gives to the sick cat. While he treats her Darktail grills him on how to treat different sicknesses and wounds. Alderpaw wonders if maybe his vision is not about saving SkyClan, but returning them to the warrior code. Darktail has Alderpaw teach Rain all about herbs That night he wonders why he hasn't had any visions from StarClan and wonders if it is because they cannot reach him in this dark place. While trying to sleep Alderpaw overhears Darktail talking to his most trusted cats about leaving soon, and Alderpaw hopes this means they will come to the lake with them. Then he overhears Needlepaw talking to Rain and isn't sure he likes the way Rain sounds.
Unwilling to fight other cats for their food, the ThunderClan cats go out to hunt. Alderpaw is hunting a bird when another, mangy, cat tries to catch it first. It is Mistfeather, one of the cats from his vision. Mistfeather tells Alderpaw all about how Darktail and his rogues showed up, driving them out of their territory. Some cats died and the rest scattered. He has no clue where SkyClan is, and he stayed behind because his mate died in the fight. Suddenly everything makes sense to Alderpaw and realizes he and his friends are too late to save SkyClan. Darktail reveals himself, having overheard everything. He kills Mistfeather.
Darktail takes Alderpaw prisoner and brings him back to the camp. He takes all of the clan cats prisoner, accusing them of conspiring with SkyClan. Needlepaw tries to argue that that doesn't make any sense, since they arrived looking for SkyClan unsure if they even existed but Darktail will not listen. While under guard of Raven, one of Darktail's most trusted cats, they try to decide what to do. Some of the cats are upset with Needlepaw for trying to reason with Darktail instead of escaping, but Needlepaw defends her action insisting that if they escaped Darktail would have followed them back to the clans.
Raven falls asleep, and the cats make their escape. Sparkpaw argues that maybe they should stay but Alderpaw overrules her, pointing out that their lives are in danger and they need help from back home. He says the quest is a failure. Even though it is the wrong way, they cross the river so the rogues will lose their scent. They use a tree branch to cross. Everyone but Alderpaw and Needlepaw make it safely across. The branch breaks under those two apprentices, sweeping them down the river and over a waterfall. The two make their way out of the water, completely lost.
So, I did already know that Darktail is an evil cat, unfortunately. But, I didn't realize he was never a part of SkyClan. I thought maybe he was welcomed and took over or something. I am glad Alderpaw found Mistdeather, but now he is no closer to finding the SkyClan cats and everyone is returning home in defeat.
Darktail is obviously going to follow them, since he destroys ShadowClan. But I do wonder just how scattered SkyClan is since the exiled ShadowClan cats find them.
And what, exactly, was the point of this? SkyClan was clearly driven away a while ago. Why is everyone just now having visions about this?
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