Darkness Within/Chapter 12

==Chapter description==
:Rootspring looks at the Sisters, and sees the similarity between him and them. The Sisters have power, and are huge and muscular. Snow is the current leader of the group, and Sunrise had introduced them to the other cats, namely Furze, Tempest, Flurry and Sparrow, Sunshine, Hawk, Moon and Squirrel. The Sisters have new members, and Rootspring tries to recall early memories of them to his mind, but fails. Rootspring had told them of the Clans troubles, and Snow is thinking it over. Bristlefrost is protective of her Clanmate, Spotfur, who's injures are glanced at by Flurry and Hawk with concern. Needleclaw starts to speak, but is cut off by Snow who says that Clan troubles are the Clan's to handle. 
:Rootspring carefully says that they had thought that the Sisters would understand the importance of the dead, and Bristlefrost adds that they can't contact them. Snow tells Spotfur that their kin, when they died, either stayed or just disappeared in answer to her question. Spotfur's eyes glisten with emotion, and while Snow offers to treat her wounds, the queen refuses. The tom says that he was hoping they would help, and while Sunshine is pregnant, the she-cat assures Snow that she can travel. Tempest recalls the recent battle, but Furze counters that SkyClan took them in, and Moon mews that a SkyClan queen had nursed her and her littermates. Furze reminds them that the Clans killed Moonlight, but her groupmates tell the ginger she-cat that Moonlight had died in a rockfall, as had Leafpool when she was trying to save them. Sunrise believes that ThunderClan will be better off with a new leader, pointing out that Bramblestar had refused to treat her wound.
:Moon states that they can help in exchange for catmint, but Snow says they will do it out of honor. Furze and Hawk express interest in reuniting with the Clans, specifically SkyClan and Squirrelflight. Rootspring apologetically mews that they will only be allowed in SkyClan land, and refuses to tell them of ShadowClan, RiverClan, and WindClan, knowing ThunderClan would let them in. Sunrise is angered and Snow glares at Rootspring, saying that they aren't the Clans' servants.
:Moonlight's spirit appears, and confirms with Rootspring that he is Tree's kit. She tells him that she is his grandmother, and is amused when he says he'd thought he'd never meet her even if Rootspring clearly has the power to speak with the ghosts of the dead. Moonlight turns to the Sisters, insisting they help the Clans as they owe Squirrelflight and Leafpool for standing up for their kits, and they should return the favor by searching for Bramblestar. Snow believes that the Clans haven't changed, and Sunrise grumbles that they that they don't respect the Sisters. Moonlight insists that they don't need the Clans' respect. She asks if the Sisters aren't curious as to why spirits can't reach them through the stars and earth when they've done it in the past. Hawk nods, meowing that this might affect their ancestors too.
:Snow meows they will help the Clans, and other experienced and vulnerable members agree. Moonlight purrs that they first needed to celebrate new life, and Rootspring soothes Spotfur by saying they only want to congratulate her. Spirits appear, and the living weave among the dead as Snow tells Spotfur that her kits are special. The cats purr, and the clearing fills with the sound. Spotfur stiffens, but gradually relaxes, until gratidude sparkles in her eyes. Bristlefrost gets emotional, and along with Needleclaw, she pads up and joins the Sisters' song.
==Characters==
===Major===
*Rootspring
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
Category:Darkness Within
Category:The Broken Code arc
Category:Chapter subpages