Tawnyflower

Back at the camp, everyone mourned. Even the smallest kits, who had no idea of what was going on, knew that something terrible had happened. The other queens tried to comfort me, but I thought I would never be happy again. Even the leader, Graystar, talked with me, making sure I was willing to go on. I would've given up on life right then had it not been for Silverkit and Goldenkit. For those two, I could always continue.

I went to work in finding something to remember Ashkit by. My kits spent their days playing with the others, but they stopped going on badger rides. I couldn't tell how much it hurt them, but I knew the loss of their brother must be nearly as hard on them as it was on me. I searched around the territory, finally settling on a nice smooth stone the color or Ashkit's pelt. This would be my final memory of my second kit.

"Mom, is Ashkit ever coming back?" "Sorry Goldenkit, but Ashkit is gone. He's not coming back, the badger is keeping him." "Mom, I know that the badger left for good. Grassstorm told me all about his attack." "Goldenkit, this is going to seem harsh, but I need to tell you-" "WHAT HAPPENED WHAT DID I MISS?" Silverkit suddenly yowled, rushing into the nursery. "Mom was about to tell me where Ashkit is," Goldenkit explained. "As I was saying, this is going to seem harsh, but I need to tell you someday. Ashkit is with StarClan now. He's dead. He's never coming back. He lives with his Warrior ancestors." "WHAT?!" Two surprised voices screamed at once. "How... how could you keep this from us? Why did they take him? Does he like it there? Why won't he come back?" "Well you two, they took him to Silverpelt because it's safe there. He's very happy there. It's always warm, and there's plenty of prey. He can play all day. Sometimes he misses us, but he tries to be happy because he knows we would want him to. He won't come back because he doesn't know the way. Only the ancestors know, and they aren't allowed to tell anyone." I felt bad lying to my kits so often, but I wasn't prepared to tell them the rest quite yet. And anyways, he probably was happy. I didn't know much about StarClan, but I knew it was good. "I think Goldenkit needs to cool down," Silverkit piped up. She was so calm. I wasn't sure if she had to be for Goldenkit or if she really didn't care. I hoped she was protecting her brother. A warrior without compassion was hardly a warrior at all.

Suddenly, Goldenkit rushed away. "I do need to I have to go I have to think be back soon." I hoped all of that was true. I got up to follow him, butt he rushed away too fast. It seemed all of the queens were in the way and all of the stones and branches in the forest came here to slow me. I had a terrible feeling. How could he just rush away after everything that had happened? The forest was dangerous, and I couldn't be there to protect my kit.