Darkness Within/Chapter 2

==Chapter description==
:Shadowsight watches as ShadowClan camp bustles with cats going about their usual work, despite the air of nervousness around them. He eyes the gloomy looking hollow tree, knowing that the impostor is kept there. Positioned outside of it, he spots Scorchfur and Sparrowtail standing guard, both sharing nervous body language. Shadowsight pads to the medicine den with rosemary that he had gathered, giving it to Mothwing. She tells him to dry it out before storing it, which confuses him but he doesn't argue. He asks after Tigerstar, and the golden medicine cat tells him that the leader is with Dovewing. Shadowsight goes to check on them, and eavesdrops on their conversation concerning the impostor's true identity and his connection with Squirrelflight.
:Dovewing believes that Squirrelflight will get the truth out of the spirit, while Tigerstar weighs up the risks involved. Tigerstar catches his son, asking if he has anything to add. The younger tabby asks about Ashfur when he had been alive, and is given the description of a dark hearted cat. Shadowsight then goes on to explain that he had seen Ashfur connected to Bramblestar's body once when he had eaten deathberries. His parents share a look of shock as he nervously asks if it could be the ThunderClan tom, but Dovewing states they will have to wait until Squirrelflight confirms it for them. Cloverfoot appears at the den's entrance, alerting Tigerstar that the border patrol would be leaving. Shadowsight takes his leave, returning to the medicine den as his thoughts drift to the impostor and his previous attack. He wonders if the Clans have finally encountered an enemy simply too powerful to defeat.
:As morning falls, Shadowsight works on herbs from Mothwing's instructions while she consults with Puddleshine. He listens out for pawsteps, noticing that his Clanmates were also likely just as nervous as he was. Suddenly, paws thrum into camp as Cloverfoot calls out that they're under attack. With a flash of movement, ShadowClan cats spring to action in order to defend. The deputy clarifies that there are ThunderClan cats on the border with SkyClan and RiverClan, while WindClan is on their way. She adds that they were coming to kill the impostor, stating that Bramblestar has to die. Tigerstar announces that they must defend their territory as he begins assigning cats to stations. The tabby leader leaves, leading his cats as Shadowsight watches Scorchfur and Sparrowtail also abandon their post in front of the impostor. The impostor starts speaking to a trembling Shadowsight as the medicine cat questions if he is even scared of cats wanting him dead. Their conversation keeps the young tom on edge as he silently wishes for Squirrelflight, and the other Clan leaders to arrive.
:From the corner of his eye, he spots the ginger pelt of the ThunderClan she-cat as the impostor questions him with a sharp stare. Squirrelflight reveals herself to the impostor, acting in order to have him reveal his true identity to her. She tells him that she loves him and that they could be together forever, all of which shocks Shadowsight as he listens. At this, the impostor reveals himself as Ashfur and Shadowsight realizes that the ginger she-cat is faking her affection as her plan. Ashfur at first hesitantly reveals his intentions, before humbly bragging about his deception to Shadowsight in order to kill the real Bramblestar. The spirit states to Squirrelflight that he did it for her and that StarClan would no longer interfere either. At this, Shadowsight pushes Squirrelflight aside and questions him, demanding to know what he had done to their ancestors. Ashfur goes to attack him, but misses and Squirrelflight urges that they need to leave. The spirit offhandedly comments he should've killed Shadowsight the first time and at Squirrelflight's shock, explains his attempt on Shadowsight's life with the help of Berrynose. 
:At this, Tigerstar's yowl sounds as he attacks the impostor. The two tussle as Harestar calls for them to stop. At the WindClan leader's call, warriors stream into the camp and Tigerstar is pulled away from the impostor. Ashfur is held back by Reedwhisker, Hawkwing, and Lionblaze, and snarls at Squirrelflight, stating that she had betrayed him again. He is taken back to the hollow tree, and as he is he screeches that he won't be held forever. Shadowsight is shocked as his thoughts wander to their ancestors and if he had done anything to harm them. He notices that Tigerstar is also visibly shaken as he watches the deputies deal with the impostor. Harestar is the first to break the silence, questioning what they are to do with the tom as they can't hold him as a prisoner forever. Squirrelflight reminds them that they need to keep the body intact for the real Bramblestar, which earns glances from Mistystar and Leafstar. The leaders come to the decision that they can't act rashly with Ashfur and that each Clan should offer two warriors to help guard him. 
:Tigerstar bluntly states that killing him is their best option, but is met only with Leafstar's gaze at the suggestion. Squirrelflight remains firm that they shouldn't kill him and Leafstar adds that they should at least hold off for now and keep him under guard until a proper decision is made. Mistystar also adds that holding out until Bramblestar's ghost or StarClan return might be easier, for guidance's sake. The idea is met by some uncertainty, as Tigerstar suggests the idea that StarClan may not be able to return while Ashfur is alive through Bramblestar's body. Shadowsight trembles as he stares at his father, wondering if it didn't matter if Ashfur was using Bramblestar's body, knowing that he is capable of appearing as a ghost. His thoughts continue as questions the possibility that killing Bramblestar's body may prove to do nothing and that it may simply be a sacrifice.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Important events==
*Ashfur reveals himself as the spirit that stole Bramblestar's body.
==Notes and references==
Category:Darkness Within
Category:The Broken Code arc
Category:Chapter subpages