Squirrelflight followed his gaze. “Do you think they’ll mind if I visit? I want to see how Moonlight is doing.”
“Moonlight is dead.”
Squirrelflight’s breath caught in her throat. “But Frecklewish and Fidgetflake were taking care of her.”
“They did their best.” Hawkwing’s gaze was dark. “But she was too badly injured in the battle.” His tail twitched angrily. “Four Clans against a small group of loners. I’m just glad SkyClan wasn’t involved.”
Shame washed Squirrelflight’s pelt. She wanted to apologize for her Clan’s part in the attack, but she knew Bramblestar had only done what he thought was right at the time. “I hope next time, ThunderClan won’t be involved either.”
“Let’s hope there isn’t a next time.” Hawkwing looked toward his camp. “The Sisters will be moving on once Moonlight’s kits are weaned. Violetshine is feeding them since none of the Sisters can. We’ll probably be in our new camp by the time they leave.”
“Then the battle was for nothing.” Squirrelflight blinked at him. “We could have waited until they left, and Moonlight would still be alive.” Anger surged beneath her pelt.
“You want to see them? Tempest and Snow are in our camp right now.”
“I’d like to talk to them before they go,” Squirrelflight told him. “I want to tell them I’m sorry for their loss. Moonlight will be missed.”
Hawkwing nodded her across the border. “You can speak to them there, and meet Moonlight’s kits. They’re growing fast.”
Squirrelflight blinked at him gratefully. “Thanks.”
He called to Blossomheart and Sparrowpelt. “Carry on hunting,” he told them. “I’ll catch up with you once I’ve seen Squirrelflight to the camp.”
Blossomheart flicked her tail without looking up. She was stalking something between the brambles.
Hawkwing led Squirrelflight toward the camp.
“Do you think you’ll like your new territory?” Squirrelflight asked.
“Yes.” Hawkwing ducked under a low branch. “It’s fine land and there’s good hunting there. I’m looking forward to getting out of the forest. I never could get used to living in the dark.” He purred teasingly. “You and ShadowClan live like owls.”
“We’ll be warm in leaf-bare,” she told him.
“So will we.” Hawkwing shook out his pelt. “That valley seems pretty sheltered. I can see why the Sisters chose it.”
They were nearing the camp now; SkyClan scents washed Squirrelflight’s muzzle. She could smell the Sisters too. Snow’s scent hung in the air at the entrance. Squirrelflight ducked through it after Hawkwing and padded into the SkyClan camp.
Leafstar was sharing a rabbit with Harrybrook and Sandynose at the far end of the clearing. She looked up as Squirrelflight crossed the camp. “Welcome.” She got to her paws.
“Hi.” Squirrelflight dipped her head politely as Leafstar reached her. “Hawkwing told me about Moonlight.”
“I was sorry that she died.” Leafstar glanced toward the nursery. Violetshine was tugging old bedding outside while Rootkit and Needlekit chased after the trailing bracken. Snow was outside, curled around two gray, fluffy kits while Tempest washed a third gray kit, who mewled in complaint.
“I’m not dirty!” the kit wailed indignantly.
“You’ve got moss stains behind your ears,” Tempest told him between laps.
“Can I speak to Snow and Tempest?” Squirrelflight’s heart quickened.
“Of course.” Leafstar nodded and turned back toward her meal. “Take as long as you like.”
Snow looked up as Squirrelflight neared, her eyes shining. The gray, fluffy kits clambered over her flank and charged away. They flung themselves onto the bedding Violetshine was dragging.
“Don’t make a nuisance of yourselves!” Snow called after them.
“It’s okay!” Rootkit began to help Violetshine haul the bracken to the edge of the clearing, while Needlekit bounced around it, making faces at the two younger kits.
“I want to play too!” The third kit ducked away from Tempest and raced toward the others.
Tempest watched him go, her eyes shining. “He’s going to be trouble,” she mewed affectionately.
“He’s a tom,” Snow joked as she got to her paws. She nodded to Squirrelflight. “I’m glad to see you looking so well.”
“You too.” Squirrelflight felt a surge of fondness for the white she-cat. “Moonlight’s kits look happy here.”
“They are,” Snow told her. “It’s good of Violetshine to feed them.”
“But we want to leave as soon as we can, to make sure they don’t become warriors,” Tempest mewed.
Squirrelflight understood. Warriors had killed their leader. “I’m sorry to hear about Moonlight.”
Snow’s gaze glistened with sadness. “She died defending her kits,” she mewed. “It was an honorable way to die. Besides, we still see her.”
Of course. Squirrelflight’s pelt prickled. The Sisters could see the dead. “Do you talk to her?”
“Yes.” Snow brightened. “She wanted me to thank you for saving her kits from the landslide. And for trying to save us from your Clanmates. It was a courageous thing to do.”
“I’m sorry it turned into a battle.” Squirrelflight blinked at her earnestly. “I wish I could have persuaded the Clans to wait.”
“You did what you could.” Tempest shrugged. “They have our land now, which is what they wanted. I just hope it brings them the peace that they’re looking for.” She looked doubtful.
Snow shook her head. “Toms never want peace,” she sniffed. “We’re better off without them.”
“Some toms like to fight,” Squirrelflight mewed quickly. “But Bramblestar never wanted it to go so far. He was outnumbered by the other Clans.”
“At least you stood up for us,” Tempest mewed.
“Even though you were outnumbered too.” There was an edge to Snow’s mew. “We know what it cost you.” Her gaze darkened. “Tree told us about Leafpool. We’re sorry she died. Our kits owe her their lives. Sunrise does too.” She glanced toward the kits, who were chasing Rootkit and Needlekit across the clearing. “Moonlight will always be grateful.”
“Where will you go?” Squirrelflight asked.
“Moonlight says we should head across the lake,” Snow told her. “Beyond the moors. We haven’t been there before.”
“Will she travel with you?” Squirrelflight wondered if dead cats could wander wherever they pleased.
“For a while,” Snow murmured. “Until the kits are grown. She’ll move on then.”
“Where will she go?” Did the Sisters have their own version of StarClan?
Snow shrugged. “Who knows?” Her gaze flitted past Squirrelflight.
Tree was approaching. “Hi, Squirrelflight.” He pricked his ears happily. “It’s good to see you looking well.”
“Will you escort me to the border?” Squirrelflight nodded to the camp entrance. It was time she got back to her Clan. Sparkpelt was going to give Finchkit and Flamekit their first taste of mouse, and she wanted to be there to see if they enjoyed it.
“Sure.” Tree whisked his tail.
“Travel safely.” Squirrelflight dipped her head to Snow and Tempest.
“Thanks for everything you did.” Snow blinked.
Tempest shifted her paws. “You didn’t ask what we’d named the kits.”
Squirrelflight pricked her ears. “What?”
Snow purred. “Leaf, Squirrel, and Moon.”
Squirrelflight’s pelt pricked self-consciously. “I’m honored.” She wondered if Leafpool was watching. Did she know that the Sisters had named a kit after her? “Thank you.” She padded away, Tree at her side.
As they ducked out of camp, he looked at her eagerly. “I’m so glad I didn’t have to deliver your message.” His pelt prickled as though remembering made him nervous. “I didn’t think you’d make it. I’ve never spoken to a ghost that wasn’t dead before.”
“Do you see Moonlight now?”
Tree fluffed out his fur. “I don’t want to,” he grunted. “She abandoned me in life. Why should I have to put up with her in death?”