"She's been killed!"

"No, she's still alive!".                                                        

"Is that Zinniabloom?"

"Doesn't she have kits?"

The patrol had just returned with the queen, Zinniabloom's, limp body. Her remaining kits, Whitekit, Brookkit, Lavenderkit, and Pebblekit, circles their mother's body anxiously, like they don't understand she was hurt.

On the other side of camp, her mate, Cloudyflame, discusses Zinniabloom's condition with one of the healers.

"She's alive, but barely."

One of her kits, Whitekit, pads up to me.

"Is Zinniabloom gone, like Rainkit?"

Her question breaks my heart.

"She's not going to Borealis yet, Whitekit, she isn't."