Squirrelfight was the kind of cat who broke easily. As soon as Hollyleaf had started to speak at the gathering, she had had died inside. Since then lots of things had happened. Since then a lot of things had killed her inside, again and again. At that very second she was weeping, in fact. Her white paw was on her head. Squirrelflight hated herself. Brambleclaw hated her. Lionblaze and Jayfeather hated her. She was alone in the universe. She had just learned that she had cansa.
Squirrelflight weeped her green eyes away, tears staining her fur. She coughed up blood. She was going to die. At least it was her, not another cat. At least everyone in the world hated her guts. At least she didn't have to worrying about people missing her if she popped dead any second. At least except for Leafpool, of course. But the brown tabby she-cat was probably out "hunting". Squirrelflight was sat in the forest. Her blubbering had scared the birds from miles away.
And that was how Firestar found her. He had just got the news. He was on a search for his depressed daughter. Suddenly there was a sound at the edge of his hearing. He followed it, coming to a clearing. He saw Squirrelflight as soon as he got there, not to mention heard her. She was crying her eyes out. He watched at a distance as she coughed up blood. Tears brimmed in his eyes for her. Squirrelflight's eyes were tight shut, but her ginger fur was stained with tears.
Squirrelflight only realised that he was there when he was gripping her in a tight hug. Her green eyes open wide. She seemed to be looking at a mirror image. Firestar her father, she reasoned. Of course he looked like her. But his eyes glimmered with the same sorrow. They reassured her. Here he was, the one she expected to care the least, comforting her the most. She weeped into his shoulder now. He gave comforting words and she sat back and listened.
"Squirrelflight, remember this." He moved in to see her eyes. She nodded.
"I will always be here for you."
Squirrelflight smiled knowingly, "No you wont."
Firestar ignored her, and rubbed her back in comfort. Squirrelflight closed her eyes. She knew that she had to trust him.
***A FEW MOONS LATER***
Squirrelflight sat up in her nest. It was night. Jayfeather was asleep, but Firestar watched over her with Sandstorm by his side. Sandstorm was asleep too. Firestar crouched next to her.
"What is it? Are you O.K?" Firestar asked frantically. Squirrelflight's heart pumped fast. It was time, she knew it.
"Goodbye, Dad. See you in Starclan," Squirrelflight croaked weakly. She gave him a toothy smile.
"What? No, no, no! Sandstorm! Wake up! Get Jayfeather!" Firestar shouted, and his mate groggily ran off. Squirrelflight looked up at him.
By the time Jayfeather and Sandstorm got back, it was too late. Squirrelflight was drawing her last breath.
"Goodbye..."
EPILOGUE
All of the clan except for queens and kits went to the funeral. They all weeped. Squirrelflight watched Firestar lay his head down in the earth, his eyes brimming with sorrow. That night Starclan welcomed a new cat and a new life into their ranks.
