The Place of No Stars (book)/Chapter 19

==Chapter description==
:Surrounded by four spirit cats, Rootspring tries to look for a way to escape. Stemleaf and the other spirit cats are closing in on Rootspring, Squirrelflight, and Willowshine when Rootspring suddenly charges at them and surprisingly brushes right past them, managing to escape. The triumph only lasts a moment though, and quickly a paw clamps down on his tail, causing him to fall. Sandynose pins him to the ground and doesn't respond when Rootspring pleads with him as he drags him back to the group. 
:Later, Rootspring crouches on the shore of the island that holds all the spirit cats. He wants to talk to Squirrelflight and Willowshine, but they were dragged to different parts of the island, and he can hardly catch glimpses of them. He's frustrated at the idea of Ashfur keeping them trapped there forever, and resolves to escape the island. He observes the other spirit cats and waits for an opening when they're all focused on Squirrelflight. When it comes and he starts to creep toward the path leading to the shore, Squirrelflight notices what she's doing and instantly lets out a battle cry before throwing herself on the nearest cat, Berrynose. All the surrounding spirit cats leap on her to prevent her escape, leaving Rootspring clear to make his own escape. 
:Rootspring isn't yet to the shore when he hears yowling behind him and recognizes the angry yowl of Stemleaf as he begins to pursue him. Rootspring reaches the shore and tries to look for a place to hide, but runs straight into a tree. He's confused by both the trees and the white mist creeping around him as he flees his pursuers, and by the time he emerges into a clearer area, he's nearly surrounded by spirit cats and Dark Forest cats are heading toward him. 
:Impulsively, he attacks Stemleaf but the former ThunderClan warrior springs aside, allowing Rootspring to rush right past him. He tumbles over the edge of a slope, and rolls down straight into the dark lake. He opens his eyes underwater, only to see the water is opaque, and seems to be seeping through his body. He feels as if his strength is draining away from him as negative memories overwhelm him. He thinks of Bristlefrost, and determination to survive fills him instead. He kicks toward the surface, and emerges, managing to paddle until he makes it to shore.
:Rootspring quickly finds cover. At the same time, he hears the voices of the spirit cats, who are talking about how they reason he must be dead, since no cat has escaped the water before. The Dark Forest cats leave, and Rootspring is able to move again. He climbs a tree to get a good view of the island, and sees the cats on the island have regained control over Squirrelflight. He watches as Willowshine approaches her, and Rootspring thinks she's going to attempt to free her. However, he soon realizes Willowshine has no intention of doing so - the former RiverClan medicine cat isn't narrowing her eyes anymore, and they are blank now, just like the other spirit cats. Rootspring realizes with horror that Willowshine must have been Ashfur's puppet from the very moment he was dragged into the Dark Forest, and had only been pretending to help him the entire time. 
:Shortly after, Rootspring spots movement on the island again, and sees Ashfur himself dragging Bramblestar's body out of cover. He doesn't have long to think about this, however, as he hears claws behind him and sees a skinny white tom climbing toward him. Rootspring threatens him, but the other cat tells him that he's a friend. Rootspring returns he doesn't have friends in the Dark Forest, but then the white cat mentions Shadowsight. His and Squirrelflight's stories seem to match up, so Rootspring decides the newcomer must be telling the truth. The cat introduces himself as Snowtuft, and offers to help him because he doesn't like the way the Dark Forest is shrinking. Rootspring decides to accept his help, and tells him that he's going to work out a way to break Ashfur's hold over the spirit cats.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:The Place of No Stars (book)
Category:The Broken Code arc