The nursery was finally beginning to feel like home
Ryestalk looked at Palebird
The four kits were climbing over the black-and-white she-cat
Wrenkit glanced at Ryestalk with her piercing-green eyes
Joy was there
Joy
That was what she felt when Hawkheart and Barkface told her the news
She and Shrewclaw were having kits
I am going to be a mother
I am going to have wonderful kits who love their father and me
Shrewclaw and I will grow old together hunting and protecting the Clan
Ryestalk fell into sleep
She was on a hill that looked down over Fourtrees
She saw cats scuffling by the border
Among the cats was Talltail
He fought as valiantly as any although he had recently left the Clan
Dawnstripe swiped her paws at Raggedpelt
Shrewclaw leaped for Blizzardwing
Terror crept over Ryestalk
She knew what was going to happen
Her tom flew through the air
His paws were outstretched
Blizzardwing crouched
Dawnstripe and Talltail watched in horror
Shrewclaw's belly was exposed
Blizzardwing jumped and spun
He took one long claw down Shrewclaw's belly
The blood came spilling out
More terror
More horror
The joy was gone
Ryestalk tried to run
Her paws wouldn't move
The terror swallowed her body
Shrewclaw was bleeding out
Raggedpelt hissed at Redclaw
Dawnstripe and Talltail hovered over Shrewclaw
The brown tom was gone
He's gone
Ryestalk felt a squirm in her belly
Shrewclaw's kits
The kits he would never meet
More horror
More terror
Ryestalk eyes shot open
Her heart ached
Worried voices and howls sounded from the camp
Ryestalk knew that it was not a dream
Wrenkit was still looking at Ryestalk
It will be okay.
Wrenkit moved from Palebird and curled into Ryestalk's belly
The terror was slipping away
Ryestalk knew that her mate was dead
He was in StarClan
Waiting
Waiting for her to come to him
I will come, Shrewclaw
First, I must raise our kits