Snownose

## Extra story

I took a deep breath and listened to my labored inhale. I felt my chest was slowly growing tighter as my vision started getting worse. I knew my time was coming soon, but I was going to keep fighting until I could assure FrostClan could survive without me, besides, Sunsetfeather didn't seem ready to be an elder alone.

Creekpaw came into the den with another bundle of herbs, there was a saddened gleam in his brown eyes I understood. It was so late for another birth especially in my health condition. I knew Creekpaw was afraid in the end the birthing wouldn't be successful, but he kept that to himself. But I knew his concerns.

Creekpaw left without another word or glance back, to join his sister. Lilypaw glanced around the elders den, making eye contact with me. Sunsetfeather yawned, *No, there's no way I'm letting her be alone any time soon.* I ate up my herbs, swallowing the bitter taste that I no longer fussed about. I searched my nest for that particular spot, I dug it up, a piece of parchment read: *Take care, Snownose.* I sniffed the words, the faintest scent of my mate still lingered. I sighed, *today is different, it doesn't feel the same.* I prayed to StarClan *Please, let me stay a while longer!* But deep inside me, I knew I couldn't reverse time. I took the note carefully in my jaws and unsteadily walked out of the den, below the ledge was a tunnel Tinystar kept away from the Clan, calling it unstable and dangerous. A short jump and a few steps later, I found myself feeling my way through a narrow tunnel. It widened enough just to squeeze through, I found a light to the cave that I stored all my *special belongings.*

There were things scattered on the floor, notes and flowers and prey left there by my beloved mate. Every night, I would secretly sneak over to the small cave to either put something there, or to see if my mate had. It was our unique way of communicating since he was a rogue. "Please Felix, tell StarClan to wait a little longer." I whispered, almost hopelessly. Rogues cannot communicate with StarClan, I don't know what made me do that. I placed the note down next to my favorite note I've had from him, that note read: *So you were the snow that lit my path.* I read it through several times, and it wasn't long before I left the cave, smiling. It only took a minute for me to find my way back to the elders den again. My claws dug into the dirt, one more jump and I would collapse. But I risked it, and made it. I didn't even make it to my nest before flopping onto the ground in defeat, Creekpaw sped outside the den. "Quailburst! Brightpaw! Cinderblaze! ANYBODY!" He yowled. Quailburst rushed into the den and Creekpaw shakingly followed along.

Creekpaw stood by my side, examining me, "Do you think you will make it?" I didn't answer, but I didn't stop fighting either. *I'm not going to leave them! Not yet!* Unbearable pain washed through my body like water, I wanted to yowl as loud as I can, but Froststar...my sister...she would've wanted me to be strong, to live as long as I could before joining her in StarClan. Sunsetfeather watched uneasily as I fought for my life as the first kit came out. "Creekpaw! Lick! Get it's blood flowing!" ordered Quailburst. Creekpaw rushed over obediently and tediously licked the kit clean. I squeezed my eyes shut, another kit. Creekpaw stopped what he was doing to lick that one clean too. "Is that it?" asked Sunsetfeather, her voice shook. Quailburst studied me and nodded, "That's it." The kits were either orange or white like me. The kits yowled for milk, but I knew I was all dried up from age. Sunsetfeather climbed to her paws, "What are you going to name them?" words heavy with sadness, which I understood, she had known me since she was a tiny kit....*Sunsetkit....*I couldn't do anything but watch my kits cry for food, my gaze reached my small white kit. "I'll name this one Whitekit." Creekpaw's gaze dotted around the small kit. "A tom. This one will be Whitekit then?" I nodded, then turned my head to my orange kit, "Flamekit..." a tear escaped my green eye, allowing me to wonder when it was finally over. When the sister of the founder of FrostClan would finally be gone, after so many years. "Goodbye." I said to the cats, "This has been the best fifteen years of my life, and now...I can join my beloved sister in StarClan. Fallenpath will take good care of my kits. I'm sure." I closed my eyes, letting go finally, ready to hunt with Froststar in StarClan. I could sense Creekpaw hoping that I could cling to life for a while longer, but some things don't turn out like they are supposed to be, the last thing I heard was the repeat crying of my kits. *Snowflakes are fables...* that was my last thought, finally, I took my last breath. And didn't take another. I let it happen, I let myself leave FrostClan once and for all.