Firepelt felt numb with grief. Although many days had passed since Echokit's death, and her remaining kits were almost old enough to become apprentices, Firepelt still grieved like her two kits had died just yesterday.

She knew that if she stayed with MudClan, her remaining kits would end up just like their siblings. She knew now that she had to leave. Her kits were old enough, she was strong enough, and newleaf had begun. It was her time.

She lay in the nursery, bathing her sleeping kits. Robinkit was still the same scared, anxious kit that he had always been. Cloudkit and Stonekit were horrified to leave the nursery after Echokit died, but now they had started to forget about it. They were much happier and more energetic now that they were almost apprentices.

Heavy pawsteps jerked Firepelt out of her thoughts. Then, she heard Blurrypelt whispering, "Are you sure we should go so early? The clan might not be asleep yet.."

"Do you see any cat that's awake? We'll be fine." That was Shadeclaw's voice. "Let's go before any cat wakes up!"

Firepelt blinked. Slowly, she stood up, stepping over her kits and sliding out of the nursery just in time to see Blurrypelt and Shadeclaw leaving camp. She followed more slowly, careful not to be seen.

Shadeclaw and Blurrypelt headed for the river. They rushed down to steppingstones, stopping and sitting as if waiting for something.

"What did you say their names were again?" Blurrypelt asked.

"Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn." Shadeclaw replied.

"What in StarClan do those words mean?" The older warrior looked baffled.

"They're the kittypet words for the four seasons." Shadeclaw said. "It was Spr-" He stopped as a cat suddenly squeezed out of the bushes on the other side of the river. To Firepelt's surprise, it wasn't a GreenClan cat, but rather, a kittypet.

"Sprinkle," Shadeclaw greeted the she-cat. "This is Blurrypelt. Where are our kits?"

"Come on!" Sprinkle called quietly. Slowly, four kits, not much younger than Firepelt's, crossed the river. The largest, a dark ginger and brown tom, spoke first.

"Hello, Blurrypelt. I'm Spring. Shadeclaw's son.." He greeted the massive tom. "These are my sisters, Autumn and Summer." He flicked his tail towards the two she-cats. "And this is Winter." He swatted at the remaining cat with a paw.

Firepelt couldn't believe it. Shadeclaw had kits with a kittypet! Winter looked just like his father, with white fur, grey ears, and green eyes. He was long and slim, with small shoulders and massive claws.

To Firepelt's horror, Winter lifted his head and sniffed the air. The breeze couldn't have carried Firepelt's scent, it was blowing the opposite direction. But Winter could smell her, she realised.

"What's that smell? It smells like MudClan, but a she-cat..." He muttered.

Too late, Firepelt tried to run. Before she could get away, Shadeclaw was on top of her, digging his claws into her back. She writhed underneath him, kicking out with her back claws and attempting to bite his shoulder.

"Wait!" Winter called, but he was ignored and Shadeclaw sliced as Firepelt's sides, seeming to attack her in several different places at once.

"Someone's coming!" Blurrypelt yelled suddenly. Moments later, every cats had disappeared from view.

"Firepelt!" Owlflight suddenly stepped into view. His ears were flattened in terror. "Firepelt, no! What happened? I have to get you to Brownfur."

"No use. There's no hope for me." Firepelt spat, suddenly furious. "But there is hope for our kits! That is, if you take them and leave our horrible clan forever.."

"Leave? No! You can't die, Firepelt.. Don't leave me.." He whimpered.

"Please, Owlflight, take the kits! Something terrible is coming to the island. Leave! Before they end up like Songkit and Echokit... And me..."

"But.. But.."

"Owlflight, please. I love you.." She let out a dying gasp. "Please!"

Owlflight squeezed his eyes shut, shivering with fear and loss. "Okay." He whispered at last, opening his eyes. "I love you... I'll leave."