The Darkest Hour
Authors: Erin Hunter
This book is for Vicky Holmes and Matt Haslum,
who helped find Fireheart's destiny.
Thank you.
Special thanks to Cherith Baldry
Rain fell steadily, drumming on the hard black Thunderpath thatâ¦
Watery shafts of light sliced through the bare trees asâ¦
As Fireheart bounded across to Bluestar's den, Speckle tail spunâ¦
Something was prodding Fireheart in the side. With a muffledâ¦
All was darkness and cold. Fireheart had never been soâ¦
Firestar jolted awake in terror. He was lying in theâ¦
Twilight was thickening the shadows under the trees by theâ¦
A raw, damp cold pushed its way through Firestar's furâ¦
The snow had stopped by the time Firestar and Bramblepawâ¦
Firestar made his way thoughtfully back into the camp. Glancingâ¦
Sorrelkit was curled up in a mossy nest near theâ¦
Firestar emerged from the forest near Sunningrocks and paused toâ¦
Firestar paused at the top of the hollow before leadingâ¦
The squall was soon over. Firestar led his cats homeâ¦
“Firestar,” meowed Graystripe. “I want to ask you something.”
Graystripe growled deep in his throat and gathered himself toâ¦
“No.” Graystripe's voice rasped in his throat.
“Quickâthe stepping-stones!” Firestar hissed.
“Disappeared?” Firestar echoed in alarm. “What happened?”
Firestar leaped up the slope leading into WindClan territory fromâ¦
The sun had begun to set over the river, turningâ¦
Firestar woke to see the den floor washed by theâ¦
Dismay kept Firestar's paws rooted to the ground as heâ¦
Firestar stared, speechless with shock, as Scourge turned away andâ¦
When Firestar emerged from his den the following morning, theâ¦
After they said good-bye to Princess, Cloudtail went off toâ¦
Firestar wondered if the rest of his Clan had noticedâ¦
It was the time before dawn when the moon hadâ¦
The first faint streaks of dawn were showing as Firestarâ¦
Firestar opened his eyes. He was lying on the grassâ¦
The clearing fell silent. Blood glistened on the grass asâ¦
THUNDERCLAN
LEADER | FIRESTARâ |
DEPUTY | WHITESTORMâ |
MEDICINE CAT | CINDERPELTâ |
WARRIORS | (toms, and she-cats without kits) |
 | DARKSTRIPEâ |
 | LONGTAILâ |
 | MOUSEFURâ |
 | BRACKENFURâ |
 | DUSTPELTâ |
 | SANDSTORMâ |
 | GRAYSTRIPEâ |
 | FROSTFURâ |
 | GOLDENFLOWERâ |
 | CLOUDTAILâ |
APPRENTICES | (more than six moons old, in training to become warriors) |
 | THORNPAWâ |
 | FERNPAWâ |
 | ASHPAWâ |
 | BRAMBLEPAWâ |
 | TAWNYPAWâ |
 | LOSTFACEâ |
QUEENS | (she-cats expecting or nursing kits) |
 | WILLOWPELTâ |
ELDERS | (former warriors and queens, now retired) |
 | ONE-EYEâ |
 | SMALLEARâ |
 | DAPPLETAILâ |
 | SPECKLETAILâ |
SHADOWCLAN
LEADER | TIGERSTARâ |
DEPUTY | BLACKFOOTâ |
MEDICINE CAT | RUNNINGNOSEâ |
WARRIORS | OAKFURâ |
 | LITTLECLOUDâ |
 | BOULDERâ |
 | RUSSETFURâ |
 | JAGGEDTOOTHâ |
QUEENS | TALLPOPPYâ |
WINDCLAN
LEADER | TALLSTARâ |
DEPUTY | DEADFOOTâ |
MEDICINE CAT | BARKFACEâ |
WARRIORS | MUDCLAWâ |
 | WEBFOOTâ |
 | TORNEARâ |
 | ONEWHISKERâ |
 | RUNNINGBROOKâ |
QUEENS | ASHFOOTâ |
 | MORNINGFLOWERâ |
 | WHITETAILâ |
RIVERCLAN
LEADER | LEOPARDSTARâ |
DEPUTY | STONEFURâ |
MEDICINE CAT | MUDFURâ |
WARRIORS | BLACKCLAWâ |
 | HEAVYSTEPâ |
 | APPRENTICE, DAWNPAW |
 | SHADEPELTâ |
 | MISTYFOOTâ |
 | LOUDBELLYâ |
QUEENS | MOSSPELTâ |
BLOODCLAN
LEADER | SCOURGEâ |
DEPUTY | BONEâ |
CATS OUTSIDE CLANS
BARLEYâ
black-and-white tom that lives on a farm close to the forest
RAVENPAWâ
sleek black cat that lives on the farm with Barley
PRINCESSâ
light brown tabby, distinctive white chest and paws, a kittypet
SMUDGEâ
plump, friendly black-and-white kittypet that lives in a house at the edge of the forest