For the next few days, neither Stormstar nor Moonflower spoke to Skyfeather. Of course, she was depressed that her own mother wouldn't talk to her, but it was Stormstar's silent treatment that threw a guilt trip at her. She would do anything to regain Stormstar's forgiveness, but he wouldn't even let her set foot in his den. It was hopeless.

"Skyfeather, stay still," Tawnyspot mewed, annoyance layering her voice. "You're shifting in every way possible."

Skyfeather didn't say anything. She continued to let Tawnyspot groom her neck, but didn't bother share tongues back. Her depression was causing the whole Clan to act sullen, except for Tawnyspot, of course. She refused to let the depression spell affect her.

"Tawnyspot, don't you ever think about Oakleaf?" Skyfeather finally asked. "Aren't you ever sad that you can't see him again, let alone speak to him?"

Tawnyspot sighed and pulled away from Skyfeather's pelt. "Of course I am," she replied, "but I don't sulk over it. Skyfeather, you need to get on with life. Stormstar has to forgive you sometime, and if he doesn't then that's his problem, not yours."

Skyfeather sighed. If only it were like that, she thought.

"Think of it this way," Tawnyspot continued. "At least you can see him."

"But it's even harder that way," Skyfeather meowed in a whiny tone. "I see him every day and can't say anything. It's so hard, Tawnyspot."

Tawnyspot shrugged. "You're going to have to let it go."

Skyfeather scented Littlerock padding toward the nursery, but didn't bother looking up to greet her. Ever since the incident after the Gathering, she stayed obediently in the nursery, missing out on every exciting Clan event. She even agreed to skip the next Gathering, which was coming up soon.

Littlerock slithered through the narrow brambles and dropped two pieces of fresh-kill on the earthy floor. "Here you go," she mewed. "Oh, and Skyfeather, Icepool gave me some poppy seeds to give to you. He says that you need to sleep more if you want your kits to be healthy."

Skyfeather nodded and lapped up the poppy seeds that were lying on a large leaf. After that she picked the smaller piece of fresh-kill up, the sparrow, and nibbled on it blankly.

When Littlerock left, Tawnyspot mewed in a whisper, "Skyfeather, you'd better not let this affect you that much. I want to see you leave the nursery tomorrow."

Skyfeather looked up. "But the last time I did that, Moonflower and Stormstar stopped talking to me," she muttered sarcastically. "Why would I do it again?"

"Listen to me," Tawnyspot hissed. "If you know what's best for you, you will walk over to the elders' den when Moonflower isn't there and speak to Goldenheart. She's been even more miserable with the Clan going under serious depression, and it's your entire fault. If you want to make it up to her, I suggest you visit her tomorrow."

Skyfeather pondered Tawnyspot's words. She hadn't seen Goldenheart in forever, and did want to make it up to the sick elder. So far, Icepool has reported that Sparrowstripe has been getting better, but no news on Goldenheart.

"Fine," she eventually murmured. "But if Moonflower catches me, you might not see me again."

Tawnyspot didn't so much as chuckle at Skyfeather's remark. She rested her head on her paws and closed her eyes, not speaking another word.

Skyfeather followed her actions absent-mindedly, hoping the poppy seeds would help her sleep. Eventually, blackness surrounded her, and she fell into unconsciousness.

That night, Skyfeather saw Cherrypaw, Snowstorm, Dustcloud, Frostfur, and Whitepaw again. All five of them were standing in the clearing with three trees, multiple unfamiliar cats surrounding them.

Valley! Valley was there. They found him! Skyfeather exclaimed silently. The patrol had found Valley, and was most likely returning home with him.

"Oh, please come home soon," she murmured in her sleep. "I miss you; please come home."

"Skyfeather, wake up," an urgent voice mewed from beside Skyfeather. She opened her eyes to see Tawnyspot hovering above her. "Skyfeather, I really think you want to see Goldenheart now."

Skyfeather yawned and mumbled, "Okay, okay, I'm going. Give me some time to wake up."

"Skyfeather, now," Tawnyspot hissed. It was then when Skyfeather noticed Icepool and Bluetail sitting impatiently outside the nursery entrance. She got to her paws and padded up to them.

"Skyfeather, Goldenheart wants to see you," Bluetail mewed. Her voice was hoarse and layered with worry.

Skyfeather glanced from Bluetail to Icepool. "What?" she meowed. "Is she okay? What's happened?"

Without waiting for an answer, she bounded past the two cats and raced to the nursery, ignoring the pain throbbing in her sides.

Moonflower was waiting just outside the nursery, a nervous gleam flickering in her eyes.

"Move," Skyfeather meowed firmly.

Moonflower hesitated, but eventually got to her paws and stepped aside. Skyfeather trotted into the elders' den and straight up to Goldenheart's side. She struggled not to turn around and flee when she saw Stormstar positioned above the gold she-cat. Gingerfoot was there too.

"What's happened?" Skyfeather demanded, padding next to Gingerfoot.

"She's not going to make it," Gingerfoot mewed in a small, weak voice.

Stormstar shot an angry glance at the white and ginger warrior. "Don't say that," he hissed. "You don't know what's going to happen."

"Well, I'm no medicine cat," Gingerfoot mumbled, "but I know that there's not much hope."

Skyfeather bent down and rasped her tongue over Goldenheart's wheezing side. "Come on, Goldenheart," she pleaded quietly. "Don't leave me now."

Goldenheart's eyes opened, cracking the crust the enclosed them. "Skyfeather?" she rasped.

"Don't speak," Icepool ordered firmly from the entrance of the den. "It'll only make it worse."

Skyfeather snapped her head sharply at Icepool, who was looking down on the scene. "And what are you doing?" she snarled, tears welling up in her eyes. "Your RainClan's medicine cat! You should be doing everything you can to help her!"

Icepool, scared into obeying Skyfeather's orders, crept away to the medicine cat's den to fetch some herbs. Skyfeather looked back down at Goldenheart.

"Don't worry about me, love," the old cat croaked. "Every cat's time comes eventually, and now's mine."

"No!" Skyfeather yowled. "I won't let you die, Goldenheart! You can't die!"

Stormstar pressed his muzzle against Goldenheart's side. "Please, Goldenheart," he meowed softly. "You can't possibly be telling the truth."

"Every cat dies, love," she responded. "And I want you all to be with me when I descend to StarClan."

"No!" Gingerfoot mewed, thrusting her side against Goldenheart's. "Don't go, Mother! Please don't…"

As Icepool padded into the den, Goldenheart rasped a quick lick over Gingerfoot's ear. "I love you all," she meowed. "And you Skyfeather. I know you weren't my kit, but I always treated you like one. You were the daughter I never had. I'll miss you all."

Bluetail pushed past Icepool and leaned over Goldenheart's head. "You were my mentor," she whispered. "You can't go."

Goldenheart swept her eyes over every cat in the den: Stormstar, Gingerfoot, Bluetail, Icepool, then finally Skyfeather. She kept her eyes at the silver queen for some time before they finally closed, and Goldenheart's stopped rising and falling.

"No!" Gingerfoot yowled, hiding her face in her mother's thick golden pelt.

Stormstar ducked his head and pressed his muzzle against his mother's shoulder. Bluetail rested her muzzle on her former mentor's head, while Icepool sat back, placing the pack of herbs he had collected down next to him.

Skyfeather took a pace backward. She couldn't believe any of this was happening. Stormstar, her mate, and Moonflower, her own mother, weren't talking to her. Goldenheart, her faithful elder, died. Her belly was getting bigger and bigger, and her kits were expected yesterday. What was happening to RainClan?

A/N: What's going to happen next? How will the many Clan cats that were close to Goldenheart manage???

I know killing off Goldenheart was a hard thing to do (believe me, I was choked up while typing it...) especially for all those "A New Beginning" readers. She was a VERY iportant character...BUT ERIN HUNTER DIDN'T HAVE TO KILL OF CINDERPELT, DID SHE????