The Place of No Stars (book)/Chapter 14

==Chapter description==
:Sitting beside the Moonpool, Bristlefrost watches over Mothwing and Shadowsight, with the latter currently in the Dark Forest. She is still shaken after having witnessed Rootspring being dragged into the Moonpool. Tree admits out loud that he didn't think he'd lose Rootspring this way. He goes on to say he had to prepare himself for the possibility of losing his son in battle after joining SkyClan, but he never thought he'd lose him to the Dark Forest, or StarClan, adding that he's not sure if they even exist. Bristlefrost remarks that lack of belief in StarClan has to be against the warrior code. He says he's glad he got over his uncertainty, as he wouldn't want to be a codebreaker.
:Tree then confesses he was afraid he might lose Rootspring to another Clan, implying he knows about his and Bristlefrost's relationship. Bristlefrost explains that they decided they didn't have a future together as mates, as she couldn't leave ThunderClan, and he couldn't leave SkyClan. Tree is surprised at this news, telling her they should believe in love completely. He asks what ThunderClan means to her. She answers that it's her birth Clan, and that it's her family. Tree suggests having her own family, asking her what might happen if she had her family somewhere else. Bristlefrost points out that Tree is talking about himself, stating that Rootspring told her how Tree wanted to leave the lake and that he never would've stayed in SkyClan if it hadn't been for Violetshine wanting to stay. He agrees with Bristlefrost's observation, saying he believes in individual cats' rights to be happy, and that they're more important than the rules of the Clans. Bristlefrost asks him if it's strange having the Sisters in the area, and Tree says that it is, but that they seem more capable of dealing with the Clans' current problem than the Clans themselves.
:When Tree suggests she could find a home away from the lake, Bristlefrost immediately snaps at him that she'll always be a Clan cat. Their conversation is then interrupted by Mothwing, who has just woken up. She tells them that it wasn't easy for her to switch Clans, saying that she misses RiverClan, even though ShadowClan welcomed her warmly. She won't return because Mistystar refused to take back the cats who fought against the false Bramblestar, and Bristlefrost thinks she's being too prideful. Bristlefrost thinks about the possibility of leaving ThunderClan for Rootspring, and abruptly excuses herself, saying she's going to go hunting. She's afraid she doesn't know if there's anything left of ThunderClan now, with everything that's happened to it. She respects Graystripe as the temporary leader, but he's an elder and he doesn't have nine lives. She catches a rabbit and thanks StarClan for the prey. 
:When she returns to the Moonpool again, it's dawn. Mothwing, Tree, and Bristlefrost share the rabbit, and afterward Bristlefrost is about to go to sleep when she says aloud she wishes she could go after Rootspring. Mothwing warns her, reminding her of what happened to Willowshine. Bristlefrost points out that many other cats have dreamed their way to the Dark Forest and left again safely, like her mother Ivypool. Mothwing shuts her down, saying she's not going to send another cat into the Dark Forest. Tree interrupts, telling the medicine cat she might as well let her now that Bristlefrost has set her mind to it.
:Mothwing finally gives in, and explains how Bristlefrost should dream herself into the Dark Forest. This time, she warns her not to focus on some of her dead Clanmates after what happened to Willowshine, admitting she's concerned that's what got her killed. Bristlefrost agrees to this, looking back at Mothwing - now determined on what she's going to do.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:The Place of No Stars (book)
Category:The Broken Code arc