Barley shivered in the cold, pale sun as he followed his mother. It was leafbare, and a miserable one, too. He thought longingly of the sheltered place they'd had in greenleaf, but didn't complain. Because his mother was sick. She wouldn't admit it, but she was coughing and had to rest almost every two steps. He was glad Truffle was old enough to understand things now. "What's wrong with Mother?" she whispered into his ear, dragging him out of his thoughts. He blinked, there was no point in hiding the truth. "I don't know," he answered honestly. Suddenly, Pearl fell and began to cough violently. "But whatever it is, it's getting worse..." They had slowed to barely a walk when Pearl slipped and fell again. But this time, she didn't get up. "Mother!" Truffle and Barley screeched simultaneously in horror. Barley gazed down at his mother. "Don't leave us!" he begged. "We need you!" Pearl fought for breath. "Make sure you-" she began, then coughed again and died. 

Barley stumbled as he padded alongside Truffle. They had done their best to bury Pearl, bringing her all the way to the forest. Now, back in Twolegplace, they had nowhere to go. They were wandering aimlessly. "Hey, Truffle," he meowed quietly to his sister, "

COMBUSTS