It was a cool fall afternoon and Whitefeather was laying on the river bank next to Shadepelt, watching the river float by, and the fish jumping in and out if the water."So what do you think of great names for our kits?"Whitefeather lifted her head to look at Shadepelt, shock in her blue eyes"Our kits?"She echoed.

Shadepelt smiled and started to groom her ears saying"Yes we are mates right?"Whitefeather purred and said, "Of course but I was only made a warrior two moons ago, I don't think it will look too good if I'm in the nursery two moons after I've been made a warrior."Shadepelt sat up and sighed, but hope still lingered in his yellow eyes"Your right. But soon."

Then Whitefeather jumped up and leaped into the river, Shadepelt followed her in. Swimming around each other and flicking water at each other, laughing. After some time they hopped out of the river shaking their pelts out, Shadepelt licked her cheek"Well, I got to get back to camp."Shadepelt said and ran into the ferns, the ferns swishing in his wake.

After some time she caught a mouse and padded on the trail back to camp thinking about bringing her mother the mouse, Whitefeather had been trying to make her mother proud of her, but nothing had worked. When she slid into camp all the cats were huddled in small groups, sadness filled the air.

"What's wrong?"Whitefeather asked but everyone just looked at her sadly, Whitefeather looked up as Shadepelt padded up to her a sad look in his eyes."It's Sandfire."He mewed sadly, Whitefeather felt an ice pang in her chest, and horror fill her belly"She's got greencough."

Whitefeather let out a cry and ran past him and into Sandfires den, laying in her nest was Sandfire ribs jutting out from her orange pelt coughing raking her body Treestar was sitting next to the nest when Whitefeather ran in he looked up with grief in his eyes

"We may have to say goodbye to her."Whitefeather looked at her mother."No, I still have so much to do with her, tell her."Then she lay down next to her mother bearing her nose in her mother's fur searching for a sign of life in her mother, but all she heard was Sandfires slow heartbeat.

After the sun had set Shadepelt padded in the den and led her away from Sandfire, Whitefeather protested."No, I can't leave her!"But Shadepelt mewed softly in her ear."You need sleep, come." Whitefeather let him take her to the warrior den, the cats around her bowing their heads to her.

    Then before the sun had risen, Whitefeather woke and ran to her mother's den someone was whispering in her head.Go she is on her last breaths. Whitefeather burst into the den, Sandfire lay there breathing heavily, when Whitefeather burst in she smiled and rasped."Good, it's you, "Whitefeather lay down next to her mother fear and grief griping her belly."I want you to know something..Before..Before I go.."Whitefeather layed her tail on her mothers flank."Hush, you're not leaving me."But Sandfire ran her paw lightly across Whitefeathers cheek.

    "I meant all the words I said, "Sandfire started, Whitefeather looked down with sadness"But I am proud of you. You have a warrior name and a mate, and soon kits of your own to raise."Whitefeather looked up with shock, but she mewed thickly"No, don't go you have to stay here to help me raise them."But Sandfire smiled, the smallest bit of love filled her blue eyes, and she licked the top of Whitefeathers head, then sighed and closed her eyes, she was no more.

     Whitefeather lay there for a moment then tipped her head back and wailed to the sky, arousing all of her clanmates. Treestar burst into the den worry in his amber eyes, but when he saw his orange mate laying in her nest dead, and his daughter laying next to her wailing. Shadepelt was on his heels when he heard Whitefeathers wail, his yellow eyes filled with sadness when he saw the dead Sandfire. Then the black tom slid in and lay next to his mate, Whitefeather let his sent surround her, but nothing could stop the sent of death.