Softstar traveled to the snake den where Adderwater had been killed. She shuddered at the memory. It was still fresh in her mind, Oynxleaf rushing into camp to inform her that Adderwater had been bitten by a snake. Waterleap been shaken at his mate's death leading him to doubt himself almost to the point of depression. Everycat had been in shock. Even the kits. Hareice, Tawnyfeather, Blizzardstorm and Oynxleaf herself had been on that patrol, and her kits, Weedpaw and Windpaw respectively. Softstar checked its den, its reddish brown tail, lay still and Softstar quickly sniffed it and smelt horrid, like a dog with fleas. Softstar moved it with her paw and didn't strike out. Instead it remained motionless. Had it eaten something odd? The smell made Softstar's nose wrinkle and she left checking back over her shoulder twice, the snake didn't move it lay as still as a twig, with its tail out of the den. Softstar would have to ask Honeywisp about it....

((Le time skip))

Softstar returned to camp feeling eerie about what she'd just witnessed. Her kits came running to her, Shaggykit falling behind. Softstar felt worried for Shaggykit.

Pebblewhisper welcomed the sudden cramps she was experiencing. Better late then never. Softstar poked her head in the nursery entrance and witnessed Pebblewhisper trying to get comfortable and she shot her head out of the den and raced to the medicine den to see Sandpaw and Honeywisp. Softstar was panting heavily. "It's Pebblewhisper, I...I... Think she's having her kits...."