The Place of No Stars (book)/Chapter 22

==Chapter description==
:Rootspring and Snowtuft are hiding in a bush near the shore of the dark lake, trying to work out a plan. Rootspring thinks they may be able to attack Ashfur in order to break his hold over the cats on the island long enough to tell them what's going on. He's optimistic that they'd help them, but Snowtuft is doubtful on their chances of achieving this. They creep closer to the shore in order to see what's going on at the island, and see Squirrelflight surrounded by spirit cats and Ashfur's followers. They're just trying to sort out how they could possibly lure Ashfur off the island when Bramblestar approaches them from behind. 
:Rootspring is thrilled to see him, and it's obvious by his clear amber eyes that Bramblestar is not being controlled by Ashfur. Like Squirrelflight, the ThunderClan leader assumes Rootspring is dead, and expresses his sorrow that he's there in the Dark Forest too, but the young SkyClan warrior quickly assures him that is not the case, and that they're trying to rescue Squirrelflight. At the mention of his mate, Bramblestar seems to become more alert, and seems angry when he spots her on the island surrounded by Ashfur's followers. He challenges Snowtuft, but after Rootspring explains he's just trying to help, Bramblestar seems to reluctantly allow it. 
:Now that it seems like Bramblestar is going to help them with Rootspring's plan, he warns them he could still be controlled by Ashfur, and that the gray tom still has his body. However, Bramblestar insists on getting involved because he believes everything has only happened due to Ashfur's twisted jealousy of him, and he seems resolute on setting things right. He's quick to come up with a plan for them, and soon they carry it out.
:After Bramblestar explains his plan, Snowtuft wryly admits he's having second thoughts about going along with it and Rootspring, feeling sympathetic, asks the white tom why he's really helping them. Snowtuft explains that when the forest began shrinking, he felt resigned to his fate because he believed he must have done some terrible things in life to deserve ending up in the Dark Forest, so at the time it felt fitting that his story would end badly. Rootspring tells him that his story doesn't have to end badly. Snowtuft shrugs, and goes on to say that when good cats started showing up - like Shadowsight, Rootspring, and Bramblestar - he began to take it as a sign that his last actions before he fades away should to be good ones. Even Bramblestar seems moved by this, and it solidifies the group's trust in each other.
:The plan then commences. Snowtuft runs down the slope, directly toward the island, while Rootspring and Bramblestar hide near the path that leads to it. Snowtuft yowls for Ashfur, who appears and demands what he wants. The white tom tells him that he's found Bramblestar's spirit, trapped under a fallen tree. Ashfur is suspicious, and asks why he's telling him this. Snowtuft replies that it's obvious Ashfur is in charge of the Dark Forest, and he just hopes that if he helps him, then his corner of the forest can stick around for as long as it can. Ashfur seems to accept this response, and allows Snowtuft to lead him on to Bramblestar's spirit. Snowtuft leads him into the trees, away from Rootspring and Bramblestar. Rootspring remarks that he hopes Snowtuft will be able to escape once Ashfur realizes he's been tricked. 
:With Ashfur gone, Bramblestar and Rootspring charge down the slope toward the island where Darkstripe is guarding the path. He takes one look at the furious warriors before turning tail and fleeing onto the island. The pair of them easily cross the path onto the island, where the ThunderClan leader is able to easily swat spirit cats aside. Rootspring gets locked in a tussle with Stemleaf, as battle erupts on the island. Squirrelflight is struggling among the mob, and still can't make an escape. Meanwhile, Bramblestar is distracted by Squirrelflight and fights his way toward her instead of finding his body. At the same time, Darkstripe creeps up behind the huge tabby leader, but Rootspring manages to stop him just in time. After he pins him down, he spots Bramblestar's body, and brings Bramblestar's attention to it. 
:Darkstripe tries to throw off Rootspring, and the young tom loses his balance and skids in the muddy ground. The Dark Forest cat plunges down into the lake, but to Rootspring's horror, Darkstripe has caught hold of his tail and seems determined to drag him into the lake as well. Rootspring manages to tear free though, and the other tom falls completely into the lake where he apparently drowns. Rootspring makes his way back toward the middle of the island, and sees Bramblestar reunite with his body. Squirrelflight bounds over to her mate joyfully, and Bramblestar lets out a triumphant yowl. At the sound of this, the spirit cats suddenly seem confused, particularly the ThunderClan cats, and many of them even look like they don't want to go on fighting anymore. Though their eyes are still blank, a few of them look as if they're conflicted. Even the Dark Forest cats don't seem to want to fight Bramblestar.
:Squirrelflight takes advantage of the pause to lead the way through a gap in the spirit cats, where Bramblestar and Rootspring follow her off the island. Ashfur appears at the edge of the trees ahead, and Rootspring quickly offers to hold him off, as Bramblestar isn't yet used to being in his body again, and he wants to make sure both he and Squirrelflight get away. Rootspring attacks Ashfur, but the gray tom steps back enough for him to avoid the blow. He then pulls Rootspring's legs out from under him, and pins him as he furiously hits him over and over again. Then, Snowtuft appears suddenly to pull Ashfur off of him, and yowls at him to run. 
:But it's too late. Ashfur's followers have rushed off the island to rescue their leader. Rootspring observes that both Bramblestar and Squirrelflight have escaped, which makes him relieved. Both Rootspring and Snowtuft flee, and Ashfur commands his followers to pursue them. They catch up to Bramblestar and Squirrelflight, who stop to let them catch up. Snowtuft then offers to lead them to where they can get out of the Dark Forest, and Rootspring is about to follow when a wet body slams into him, pinning him down. Rootspring loses consciousness as the cat presses his muzzle against the forest floor. 
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:The Place of No Stars (book)
Category:The Broken Code arc