Talonclaw told her gently. "No, I'm leaving. Not you. I'm leaving because I'm sad that a cat died." Ashenkit stared.
"That's a stupid reason," she said finally. "Emberkit got sad because there wasn't any prey he liked because Lilypaw took it all to the elders even though he wanted some, but I told him not to think about it." Talonclaw stifled a laugh. That wasn't at all like his situation, but at least she was trying. Ashenkit looked down.
"Just because you're sad about something doesn't mean you can be sad forever. It's just one day in a whole lotta moons." Talonclaw nearly choked at her words. They were wiser than a kit's words usually are. And they were nearly an exact match of Silverdawn's.
Talonclaw sat down in the Warrior's Den and moped around. Silverdawn padded over. "Something wrong?" she asked. "Since my father died," he answered, "I'm afraid my mother will miss him too much to do anything." He looked out the entrance to see Quietsong, her head buried in her paws in grief. Silverdawn nudged against him.
"Just because you're sad about something doesn't mean you can be sad forever. It's just one day in many moons. If Briarstar lost a life defending from foxes, would she be sad about it and mope? No. She lost it doing something that mattered to her- fighting for her Clan. Just like your father." She looked out of the den. "And Quietsong knows. She won't dwell on anything like that. When your brother died, and you were her last kit, did she stop? No, she kept working. She raised you. She knows that if she stays sad, she won't get anything done." The look in her eyes was wise beyond years. "And that is what makes her strong. Stronger, than you believe her to be…"
Talonclaw smiled at the memory, but his smile faded. Silverdawn was gone. And there was nothing he could do to save her. Nothing. But, he decided, perhaps he shouldn't dwell on the pain too long.
AN: This is actually the second-to-last chapter before the epilogue, I think.