Firestar wants to believe they can get out of this without a fight, but he isn't sure. Tigerstar wants them to join TigerClan and he won't take no for an answer. He turns to his warriors and raises his voice, and yowls they know why they're here. The ginger leader replies he wants to know what's going on in case they run into an ambush. Cloudtail appears next to him almost immediately, and asks Firestar why they are standing around when they should get on with the meeting. At the top of the slope, he crouches in the shelter of the bushes to look down at the clearing.

Each gust brings a string of rain from the gray clouds pushing each other in the sky. A stiff breeze is blowing as Firestar leads his warriors up the slope to Fourtrees, rippling the grass and carrying the scents of many cats.

As Firestar thanks her and walks away to muster his warriors, he wishes he shares her faith.

She shakes her head, but tells Firestar she knows StarClan hasn't forgotten them, and how their warrior ancestors decreed long ago that there should be four Clans in the forest, and they won't stand to let Tigerstar change that. He wonders if he should have gone to the Moonstone to share with StarClan, and he asks Cinderpelt why StarClan is being silent. With a momentous meeting ahead, he wonders why there has been no sign from StarClan, and if their warrior ancestors abandoned them in ThunderClan's greatest time of need. Firestar knows she's right, but her words chill him to the bone. Cinderpelt tells Firestar that she can tell by common sense and she doesn't need omens to tell her everything. He asks her if she thinks there's a battle coming and if StarClan told her. Cinderpelt says everything's in order with a grave look in her eyes. He walks over to Cinderpelt's den and asks if everything is in order. Firestar predicts the elders will have to be pushed to fight, and thanks Whitestorm. He also talks about how Brightheart is shaping up to be a great fighter thanks to Cloudtail, and the elders can still raise a few claws. The deputy agrees and tells him to take as much strength as he needs. Firestar tells Whitestorm he's in charge of the camp with as many warriors he can spare. The ginger leader approves of this, Tigerstar could bring some cats to Fourtrees and another group of cats to attack ThunderClan. The clearing is deserted until Whitestorm steps out, and tells Firestar he sent out the dawn patrol to the ShadowClan border. He carefully steps out of the den into the chilly morning. Chapter description Firestar awakes to find Sandstorm still asleep in his den.

Warriors book 6 the darkest hour