Chapter 13
Breezeheart went to the nursery. Moons had passed since Sunflower had become a warrior, and she was now expecting his kits.
Maplepool's kits had been born. Those were Otterkit, a white she – kit with reddish eyes, Timberkit, a brown tom with a white paw and amber eyes, and Bluekit, a white she – kit with blue – gray splotches.
Clawfur's kits had just been apprenticed. Bramblepaw's mentor was Hazelfrost and Briarpaw's was Ivysong.
Heatherpelt had also moved to the nursery some moons ago and had had Hawkflight's kits. These were Nightkit, a black tom with green eyes, named in honor of Nightstar, and Adderkit, a golden tom with blue eyes.
Breezeheart arrived in the nursery too late. Sunflower had already given birth to a litter of three kits. One was a black tom with blue eyes, another one was a blue – gray tri – color she – kit with blue eyes, and the last one was a pale ginger she – kit with amber eyes.
The black tom reminded Breezeheart of Blacktooth, so he told Sunflower to name him Blackkit. The blue – gray tri – color she – kit was named Daisykit, and the pale ginger one was named Lilykit.
There was an empidemy of Greencough since it was Leaf – bare, and some cats had died. The elders Creamyspots and Fuzzytail had died some moons ago, due to Greencough. Leopardstar had lost a life because of Greencough, and now he had four left. Leopardstar's littermate, Mudfoot, had died and also had Whiteface.
Some cats were infected, such as Blueflower, Ivysong, Fallowpelt, Snowfall and Duskwater.
Breezeheart spent some time with Sunflower and their kits, but suddenly he remembered he had to train Sagepaw. He went out of the nursery and went to the apprentices' den.
"Sagepaw! Sagepaw! We have to go on patrol!", he called. As Leaf – bare was here, the prey was scarce.
He saw the small white she – cat get out of the den. She was very thin, she hadn't been able to eat for days.
They headed towards the forest.
"What can you smell, Sagepaw?", he asked to his apprentice.
"Vole!", she answered excitedly and headed toward a place no cat had ever went. It was a Thunderpath.
"No Sagepaw, wait!", he called, but the she – cat continued running. She suddenly crossed the Thunderpath, but in the middle of it, a roaring monster was going towards the apprentice. Sagepaw saw it and stood looking at it in shock.
"Sagepaw, move out of there!", he called, but it was too late. The monster had run on top of Sagepaw, and she was bleeding a lot.
Breezeheart went running towards her and took her body out of the Thunderpath.
"Sagepaw…", he said, but the apprentice was already in StarClan. He pressed his nose in her flank and felt grief all over him. His apprentice was dead. He carried her body toward the camp.
When he arrived, all the cats were staring at him. Flameheart came running to see her daughter. She stared in horror as Breezeheart left Sagepaw in the middle of the clearing, were the clan would sit vigil for her.
Stripedfur and Flameheart mourned for their daughter in the vigil. Sagepaw's littermates, Finchpaw, Scorchpaw and Vixenpaw were also grieving. Breezeheart was very depressed and went to the warriors den after the vigil. He just wanted to sleep and forget about Sagepaw.