Chater 26: Giving up Hope

Chapter 26:  Giving up Hope

     Grayfur couldn't believe her ears.  "What did you say, Snowfur?"  she repeated, her eyes wide.  "It's no use!"  Snowfur said while tears rolled down her eyes, "The kits are gone.  If they're alive, they'd come back.  I just know they would!" 
"But Snowfur!"
"It's useless!  We're wasting our breath.  They drowned in the river.  I'll tell Flamestar we can sit vigil tonight,"  As Snowfur walked away, Grayfur knew the conversation was over.  They're dead.  After all that searching... Grayfur thought in despair.  Though she didn't realize it, that light in her her heart hadn't gone out, unlike Snowfur.  But her mind had won the battle.  Without hope, the kits were as good as dead. 
     That night, Grayfur huddled next to Snowfur, her head on her paws.  Normally it would be a long night, but it extended forever on a vigil.  She glanced at Flamestar, who was on Snowfur's other side.  He seemed deep in thought.  Grayfur sighed and gazed at the stars.  She didn't know why she did, but it would help the night go by quicker.  She had never really studied the stars before, and she was shocked at their beauty.  So many stars, some shining brighter than others.  She looked at each and every one, forming a pattern with different shapes and sizes.  Maybe one is an omen?  One that Brambleberry sent me?  As hard as Grayfur looked, she couldn't see a pattern, no matter hard she looked.  Or maybe there isn't one.  Hey, what's that?  Grayfur couldn't believe her eyes.  A new star began to form, a pure white one.  And it combined with it's neighbord to create a shape.  Oh StarClan... my first omen!  But... what is that shape?  It looks like a cat, a white one... OH STARCLAN!  IT'S SNOWFUR!  Snowfur, innocent, sad Snowfur, in the stars.  Grayfur's brain could grasp the meaning, but her heart couldn't.  She felt a lump sink deep in her heart.  She glanced at Snowfur, who looked up at her.  She sighed.  "Oh Grayfur, I will miss you,"  she said.  "Snowfur!"  Grayfur gasped.  "I can't live any longer, Grayfur,"  Snowfur said, "I want to join my kits in StarClan." 
"Snowfur no!  You can't!"  Grayfur could tell she was losing her sister.  "Why can't I?"  Snowfur asked, her heartbeat slowing.  That's when it hit Grayfur.  "Because they're not dead,"  she said.  As Snowfur slipped away, Grayfur got the sense that Snowfur didn't believe her.  "Oh Snowfur,"  Grayfur cried,  "I promise I'll find Frostkit and Rosekit while you watch over them!"  Wether Snowfur heard her from the earth or the stars, Grayfur knew she had made a promise to her lost sister, and she knew she had to keep it.