Prologue
"Let go of my mommy!" I cried out, charging toward my mother.
"Nightkit, no!" she yelped as she was pushed closer to the edge of the cliff.
"Back off, mousebrain!" Goldenpelt hissed, pushing me out of the way. "This is for the good of the clan!"
"But all you're not doing them any good!" Starlight growled, motioning toward me and my brother.
"The clan is more important than two worthless kits!" the enraged she-cat yowled. "You should always put the clan first!"
"No," the medicine cat stood her ground. "Family comes first. I may no be related to these kits, but they are my family, and I will do anything to protect them and their mother."
"Well then, it's too bad you can't fight," Goldenpelt snarled. She backed up, forcing my mother even closer to the edge.
"Goldenpelt, leave me be!" she pleaded.
"No. This must be done!"
"Nightkit, I'm scared!" my brother whimpered.
"It's alright, I'm here," Starlight nuzzled him.
"But what about mother!?"
"What about your mother?" Goldenpelt turned to face us. "She is a traitor, as simple as that!" Goldenpelt turned back to the frightened she-cat at the edge of the cliff. She aimed a swipe at her head – my mother gasped as her rear paws slipped over the edge. My mother struggled for a foothold with her front paws.
"Starlight! Help me! Nightkit! Birchkit! Do something!" she yowled.
"Mommy!" I yelled, running toward her, but I was held back by a white paw. "Starlight, what are you doing?! We have to save her!"
"Not you," she breathed, pushing me aside. Starlight lunged at Goldenpelt, intending to knock her out of the way. "I can fight if I need to!" Goldenpelt dodged the attack.
"Really? That's too bad, since you're breaking the warrior code by doing this," she smirked.
I landed in front of Nightkit's mother, reaching out a paw toward her. "Grab hold!"
"Take care of them…" she whispered, and slipped away.
"Dayflower! No!" Why didn't she hold on?