“She died almost as soon as she fell asleep,” Mothwing muttered. “She barely had a chance. Something knew she was there.”
The  assembled  cats  exchanged  uncomfortable  glances.  “But  how?” Bristlefrost asked. “The Dark Forest is big . . . isn’t it?” At a few nods, she went on. “What are the chances that something was waiting in exactly the right place when Willowshine passed through?”
Rootspring heard a growl of annoyance, then looked over at Jayfeather. “Unless they knew she was coming,” he suggested with a scowl.
“How  would  they  know?”  Rootspring  asked.  “Is  Ashfur watching  us somehow?”
Mothwing sat up, a sudden clarity in her eyes. “Maybe he doesn’t have to,”  she  meowed.  “Willowshine  reached  out  to  Softpelt  in  her  thoughts, remember—to guide her.” She looked around at the other cats, who were nodding.  “Maybe  Ashfur  intercepted  that  message?  Maybe  it  gave  him warning that a Clan cat was crossing over.”

The Place of No Stars, Chapter 6