Iceleap curled around Silverkit like she always did in the nursery. She purred as she spoke.

"You three worried us so much. Whitekit and Shimmerkit had been searching for you since the three of you started playing a little after dawn. At sunhigh, they were whining about how they couldn't find you, so we helped them look. We searched for hours, but when we couldn't find you, we got frantic. When Moonstar and Foxbreath returned from the border patrol, we told them and they tracked you to that mossy tree you used to sneak out of camp.

"They left to search for you outside of camp and-" she took a deep shuddering breath and continued. "Soon after, Birdflight ran into camp, carrying you by the scruff. Brightkit and Crystalkit came in soon after you. Frostfoot took care of you and Brightkit and then-" she paused and her voice broke as she whispered, "I'm sorry Silverkit. Your father died during the battle."

Silverkit stared at her mother in shock. "What?" she wailed. "He's dead?! But-" Iceleap stroked Silverkit's flank with her tail to calm her. "Shhh. It's okay." she meowed softly, trying to hold in her own sadness to soothe Silverkit. With every stroke, Silverkit felt her eyes droop more and more until they were closed completely and she was fast asleep.