Lost Stars/Chapter 17

==Chapter description==
:Rootpaw and the majority of four Clans are at the Moonpool, conducting a plan to break the ice and hopefully make contact with StarClan again. He notes that the medicine cats appear nervous and agitated by this concept. Annoyed by being forced to wait in the cold, he wonders what any of them can do against solid ice. Tree explains that the leaders decided to use a thick branch positioned over a rock in order to make a dent in the icy surface, but Rootpaw cannot imagine it working. He bitterly wonders whose idea this was. Needlepaw complains, and Violetshine reminds her that they've been chosen to help, despite Fidgetflake's reluctance to let regular warriors into the sacred Moonpool.
:Bristlefrost approaches them and corrects Rootpaw that she's a warrior now. They both apologize to each other for past events, and when Bristlefrost laments that she hasn't done anything useful since rescuing Rootpaw, he assures her that once this leaf-bare is over, she will be the one to help ThunderClan get back on its feet.
:There's an earsplitting crack from down below as the medicine cats try to break the ice, but the Moonpool remains the same. Rootpaw wonders why ShadowClan isn't present, and Needlepaw says she overheard their parents talk about how the Clans suspect Shadowpaw to be the core of the problem. Rootpaw disagrees, remembering how Shadowpaw had treated his paw so quickly, but he cannot voice his opinion due to their meeting at the lake being a secret.
:Frecklewish comes up to the mouth of the hollow and explains that despite denting the ice, they haven't hit water yet, meaning the Moonpool is likely frozen all the way through. She asks for the warriors' help. Jayfeather interferes, arguing that the Moonpool cannot be touched by anyone other than medicine cats, but Frecklewish reminds him that they need all the help they can get to regain communication with StarClan. Alderheart asks for the leaders' input, and they all decide to allow all cats to step in and help, despite some cats' reluctance.
:Tree refuses to touch the Moonpool due to its status, saying it doesn't feel right. Crowfeather tells him that he's a warrior now and should obey his leader's orders, but Tree argues that he is not a warrior, but a mediator. He also says that he doesn't agree with the decision to leave ShadowClan out of this simply because their medicine cat apprentice is a little odd. With Spotfur and Stemleaf also saying that they don't feel comfortable with this, Leafstar allows any objecting SkyClan warriors to leave. Squirrelflight insinsts that ThunderClan is to say, because they need all their strength.
:With the deputies' instructions, the remaining cats work on pushing a rock onto three logs, and then drop it onto the ice. Rootpaw works alongside them tirelessly, feeling unnerved by how dead the Moonpool looks. Jayfeather seems particularly miserable. Finally, they succeed in pushing the rock over the edge, but it only makes another dent in the ice. Crowfeather says that they can try again, but Hawkwing states that they can try countless times; it appears the Moonpool is frozen solid. All their efforts are in vain.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
Category:Lost Stars
Category:The Broken Code arc
Category:Chapter subpages