Silverflash took the kits out on a trip a few weeks later. Waveheart stayed behind in camp, helping to repair the nursery walls.
Silverflash walked down to the river for some water.
She dipped her head in and drank deeply. Her kits started playing around. They rolled around eachother and play hissed. The black kit pounced on the ginger kit playfully. The ginger kit stumbled backwards a few steps. Silverflash moved her head up. The ginger kit lost its footing and fell into the swirling river. Silverflash ran to the edge and tried to get the kit out. But she couldn't. She couldn't leave the other two kits by themselves on the bank. The ginger kit was swept down stream. Silverflash ran after it with the two other kits following the best they could. The ginger kit did its best to keep it's head over the water, but it struggled desperately.
On the bank another cat joined the running crew, Fireheart.
"What's going on?" he called. "My ginger kit fell into the river, stay with these two!" Silverflash replied as she jumped into the river. She pulled her head above the water and looked until she saw the ginger kit. She swam towards it as fast as she could. The current was pulling the kit farther and farther away. But somehow Silverflash caught up to it. She grabbed the kit's scruff and started swimming upstream. Her energy was almost used up.
Her soaking paws managed to reach up onto the bank. Fireheart bent down and pulled her up. Silverflash rolled on her back gasping for air. She dropped the ginger kit softly on the ground. It was still breathing, but barely. "I'll go and get Cinderpelt!" Fireheart said as he disappeared into the forest. Silverflash started to lick the ginger kit. Her eyes were closed and her body was limp. The black kit and silver kit walked over and sniffed their sister cautiously. The ginger kit tried to lift her head, but failed. Her breathing got quicker as she tried desperately to get enough air.
Cinderpelt and Fireheart appeared and ran towards the ginger kit. Cinderpelt sighed and shook her head. "It's too late." She said gravely. Silverflash hung her head sadly. Fireheart picked up the limp body and took it to burry.
Silverflash, Fireheart, and Cinderpelt led the two remaining kits back into camp. Waveheart ran over. Fireheart had already told him the news and when Silverflash shook her head he dropped his.
Silverflash went into the newly repaired nursery with her kits to sleep. But nightmares haunted her throughout her rest.