Squirrelflight's Hope/Chapter 17

==Chapter description==
:Squirrelflight and her Clanmates arrive at the Sisters' camp that night, though the group is wary of ThunderClan's late night visit. Leafpool asks to check on Sunrise and her injuries, though Moonlight is skeptical that is the only reason for their visit. Squirrelflight informs Moonlight of a sickness tainting prey. Though the Sisters are initially dismissive, Moonlight and the others recognize the symptoms as the result of meadow saffron poisoning caused by prey who eat its roots and seeds. Hawk and Sister mention seeing the purple flowers on ThunderClan's territory earlier. Moonlight reveals that dandelion root is the cure, though it must be administered promptly. Bidding them thanks, Squirrelflight and her Clanmates hurry back to camp.
:While Leafpool, Finleap, and Twigbranch leave to gather dandelion roots, Squirrelflight and Ivypool return to camp. In the medicine den, Jayfeather and Alderheart are tending over Sparkpelt, Larksong, Berrynose, and Thriftpaw, and Squirrelflight is disheartened to hear that Larksong is still very ill. Leafpool arrives with dandelion root and treats the unconscious black warrior first. Before he can swallow the herb, Larksong begins to seizure, and Sparkpelt is alerted with horror to her convulsing mate. After a few moments, Larksong lies still, and Jayfeather reveals that they are too late to help him. While Sparkpelt crawls to his side, Squirrelflight and Bramblestar beg her to eat the dandelion root to treat her own illness. Suddenly Sparkpelt's flanks begin to spasm: her kits are coming early. While Leafpool orders Alderheart away with Berrynose and Thriftpaw to the nursery, she and Jayfeather help Sparkpelt with the birth. Soon the first kit is born, a tortoiseshell she-kit. As Squirrelflight grooms her, a black tom-kit is born. Sparkpelt stares at Larksong, his eyes half-focused, as she gives birth to their final kit, a black-and-orange tom-kit. 
:Squirrelflight places the she-kit in front of Larksong. The tom's eyes seem to recognize his daughter, softly purring before dying. Realizing her mate is dead, Sparkpelt begins to yowl his name, Squirrelflight notices Leafpool staring at the unmoving final kit, who was born dead. Worrying the grief might be too much for Sparkpelt, Squirrelflight tells Bramblestar that they should bring the two remaining kits to Sorrelstripe to nurse. She places the dead kitten outside the medicine den in a bed of leaves so Sparkpelt doesn't notice, telling her mate that they can plan the vigil once the two other kits are safe. As they head to the nursery, Squirrelflight is determined to help her daughter.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Important events==
===Births===
*Finchkit, Flamekit, and Flickerkit: born to Sparkpelt and Larksong
===Deaths===
*Larksong: succumbed to the prey sickness
*Flickerkit: stillborn
==Notes and references==
Category:Squirrelflight's Hope
Category:Super Edition arc
Category:Chapter subpages