Quotes from Erin Hunter

She had never doubted her decision to give her life to StarClan and tread a medicine cat's solitary path—but suddenly she couldn't help wondering if she was missing something.

When you make mistakes—not if, Fireheart, when

A hawk swooped overhead and Mapleshade imagined it feasting on Ravenwing's body after she had finished with him. He would bleed a river of blood, every drop spilled for her helpless kits. . .

Your path has been hard, harder than most," Firestar rasped. "But you fought a great battle here, and you won. You are a worthy deputy of ThunderClan.

Could blind cats be heroes? Jaypaw wondered. Perhaps . . .

Hawkfrost, a RiverClan warrior, was willing to do whatever it took to please Tigerstar, but at the last moment Brambleclaw realized his loyalties lay with his Clan leader, not his long-dead father, and he killed Hawkfrost instead.

Leafpool glanced at Alderheart. "My son seems to have forgotten that I've been running the medicine den since before he was born.

He could not trust her. He could not trust the sun. He could only trust himself and his Clan.

I'm here to heal you. If you want sympathy, go to the nursery." Jaypaw padded to the back of the den. Warriors! They might be brave in battle, but one thorn and they squealed like kits.

You'll need the whole of StarClan on your side for this one," answered Graypaw. "Call out if you need a hand. If she looks like she's going to get you, I'll sneak up behind her and whack her on the head with a stiff rabbit.

CLOVERFOOT—gray tabby she-cat RIPPLETAIL—white tom

Fireheart couldn't bear to see her in such low spirits. "I'll take you out into the forest again," he promised. "We'll find the oldest, slowest mouse in the woods. It won't stand a chance against you.

Sparrow Fur, terrified

The Dark Forest will win if we do not forgive those cats who were once their allies. Forgiveness is far more powerful than hatred and suspicion. United, we are as strong as we ever were. Divided, we will fall. Remember that the Dark Forest is still out there, ready to prey on our dreams. Hostility and distrust among us will give them more force than they deserve. Do you want that?

The creature's pelt was like moleskin, the fur gone except for a few tufts along his spine, and his sightless eyes bulged like eggs. His long, twisted claws flexed on the smooth branch that lay at his paws. The branch was stripped of its bark and, even in this light, Fallen Leaves could see claw marks etched along it, a crowded series of straight lines scarring the pale wood.

You're lumbering around like a badger today," Ashfur scolded. Spiderleg and Mousepaw padded out of the ferns with Honeypaw and Sandstorm. "More like a hibernating hedgehog!" Mousepaw teased.

but dying leaves and water. Fear yawned like a dark pit in his belly. Rock knew about the prophecy long before StarClan crowded Silverpelt, and

Leaf-bare left us with little prey. But we also know that WindClan, RiverClan, and ThunderClan lost many kits in the freezing weather that came so late this season. ShadowClan did not lose kits. We are hardened to the cold north wind. Our kits are stronger than yours from the moment they are born." The ShadowClan

The power of three is coming, and the Clans must be ready.

After what seemed like an eternity, Stormfur spoke. "You'll have to kill me first, Tigerstar." Tigerstar's tail twitched with menace. He signaled to Darkstripe. "Kill him." Horror shrilled through Leopardstar as Darkstripe leaped at Stonefur. She could hardly breathe as she watched Stonefur fight fiercely against the cruel tabby. Though half-starved and beaten, he managed to haul Darkstripe to the ground and dig his claws into the warrior's throat.

I love you too much for that," she mewed. "For my sake, go.

It is me. It's Ashfur." This stranger spoke with a voice harsher than Bramblestar's.

Ashfur?" Ferncloud had left the nursery and was padding toward her brother. Lionpaw knew that their mother, Brindleface, had been killed by Tigerstar to give a different dog pack a taste for cats' blood.

Before all is peaceful, blood will spill blood, and the lake will run red