Cloverspot laid quietly in her nest, her vacant gaze fixated on the entrance of the medicine den. It had been two days since she birthed three stillborn kits and one since she buried them. The image of their tiny, lifeless bodies was burned into her mind. They had been so beautiful, yet they never got the chance to take their first breaths.

She felt like a failure.

She felt like she had done something wrong—something that angered StarClan and made them take away her kits. Minnowspeck had tried to assure her that sometimes things just happen without any reason or explanation, but she couldn't believe that even if she tried.

She had done something egregious and this was her punishment—that is what she believed. Her grief wouldn't allow her to think otherwise.

Her mate, Cardinaltuft, entered the den and stood in front of her with a small fish in his jaws. He set it down before her, his brownish-red pelt prickling with unease.

"Please eat." He murmured, almost begging her to do so. His gaze hardened as he looked down at her. "I cannot stand to watch you waste away like this."

Cloverspot did not reply. She didn't meet his gaze either, just continuing to stare off into space.

Cardinaltuft flattened his ears. "So this is what you've chosen to do? Lie here like a brainless hare while the rest of the clan moves on?" He asked in a sharp tone. "There are still mouths to feed! You are one of the best hunters this clan has and they need you!"

"I.. am.. grieving!" Cloverspot suddenly snarled, her words slow but filled with rage. She sunk her claws into the moss below her. "Our kits are dead! Have you no decency to acknowledge their loss?"

"I mourn what could've been, but I also recognize that I must move on!" Cardinal retorted. "Why is that so difficult for you to understand?"

"Because I can't simply 'move on' as easily as you have! I am their mother! I carried them, I brought them into this world, and then I lost them! I am not capable of acting like nothing happened!"

"You can't grieve forever! There must be a time where you can find the strength to move on."

"I will always grieve them! The time to move on is not three days after their passing!"

In the midst of the argument, neither cat noticed Heronstar entering the den.

"That is enough!" She declared in a booming voice, silencing them both. Her narrowed eyes flicked to Cardinaltuft, who had taken a step away from Cloverspot's nest. "I will not tolerate such treatment in my camp. Cardinaltuft, leave us."

Cardinal lowered his head and left the den without a word, his tail lashing behind him.

Releasing a heavy sigh, Heronstar relaxed her posture and set her gentle gaze upon Cloverspot, who remained on the verge of tears.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

Clover swallowed thickly and nodded. "Y-Yes... thank you." She murmured. "Did you need something?"

"Yes. I would like to ask something of you." Heron stated as she sat down beside Clover's nest. "This may seem sudden, especially after what you've gone through, but I want you to know that you have the right to refuse what I'm about to offer you."

Clover shifted her gaze when she saw Minnowspeck padding through the entrance of the den. There appeared to be a dark bundle in his jaws that she nearly mistook for a bundle of herbs.

"Is that a... kit?" She asked, scarcely able to believe her eyes.

Heron watched as Minnowspeck carefully placed the kit in the nest. "Indeed. One of our patrols found him near the border. They believe he was abandoned by his mother."

Cloverspot looked down at the tiny kit that laid by her side. His fur was completely brown—not a spot or stripe to be seen—and his eyes were still closed. He couldn't have been more than a few days old. She found herself smiling a little as he instinctively wriggled toward her belly and latched on to begin suckling.

"It's a miracle that he survived for as long as he did." Minnowspeck explained. "I believe it's a sign from StarClan."

"If this is too much for you, I can give him to one of the other nursing queens." Heronstar said, wanting to make sure that Clover was comfortable.

"No, I think this is quite alright." Clover replied, her smile growing as she curled her tail around the tiny kit. "I'll name him Otterkit for his sleek brown fur."

Heronstar smiled as well and rose to her paws. "Welcome to StreamClan, Otterkit. May you prosper in your new home." She purred.