THREE YEARS LATER
Rabbit was trotting back to the den with two mice and a shrew. He had a good hunt today. This would feed them all.
Sky was beside him with a crow and a squirrel. She had a good hunt too. She was a great hunter and runner.
Niko stayed back at the den with Scarlet. Scarlet was getting old. She was also getting sick. She was coughing and hacking so hard. Sky, Niko, and Rabbit were worried. What would happen to her?
   Sky and Rabbit entered the den. They dropped their prey in a little crevice in the corner. Then they walked towards their mother. She looked at them and smiled. Then she doubled over and coughed. Sky and Rabbit rushed to her side to help support her.
   "Thank you, children." She managed. She doubled over in another coughing fit. Niko ran to her side.
    "I got her." She answered, catching her with her shoulder. Together they hobbled towards her nest. They sat down together and Niko shushed Scarlet to sleep.
   Rabbit and Sky were scared. They weren't expert hunters yet and they had so much to learn from Scarlet. She couldn't die... they needed her! And they would make sure that she wouldn't. If it meant catching extra prey or collecting leaves as a cover for her, that's what they would do.
   Rabbit walked down to his side of the den. He plopped down in the nest he created. He snuggled down and tried to sleep. It was sundown so it was almost time to rest.
   Finally it was dark and everyone went to sleep. Niko slept right next to Scarlet.
   Rabbit slept peacefully. Suddenly he felt paws pushing his shoulder. It was Sky. It was still dark. Then Rabbit noticed something.
   Sky was crying.
   Rabbit was concerned. "What's wrong?" He whispered. Sky sniffed and pointed to Scarlet. Rabbit gasped. Niko was also crying. Rabbit got up and walked over to Scarlet and Niko. Sky followed.
   Niko nodded his mother. She turned over and smiled at him weakly.
   "My... son...," she said faintly. She was so skinny and in poor health. "It's my time to leave you..."
   Rabbit gasped. "No!..." he managed.
   Scarlet nodded. "Yes, my kit. I have lived a good li-" she stopped to give in to a fit of coughing. She stopped and continued. "I've lived a good life. But you've done everything you can but it's just meant to be. I will watch you forever, my loves. Goodbye and always remember: I love you...." Scarlet's last breath faded as her eyes closed.
   She didn't wake up again.
   Sky and Niko busted into tears.
   Rabbit teared up. He would miss her. She was his life and the only kin left besides Sky. He bowed his head and soon the crying stopped. Niko and Sky both copied Rabbit.
   It was all silent. Then Rabbit said, "Scarlet was a dear to us." He breathed a sigh. "We are all going to miss her. But her spirit will remain in our hearts. And we will do what she said: We will always love her and she will love us. And she will watch us forever until we join her."
   After a while the three went back to sleep and would bury her in the morning.

   In the morning, the woke up and dragged Scarlet outside the den. They took her to a spot where they would always see her grave. They dug a hole together and laid Scarlet into it. They pushed her into a position that made her look like she was sleeping.
   Yet she wasn't. And she would never wake up.
   They filled the hole back up with dirt and flattened the ground. They got a small rock and Rabbit carved words into it with his claw. 
     "Here lies the amazing mother,
                        Scarlet.
      She was mother and a friend.
       And we will always remember
                          Her. 
     Love, her children and Niko,"
    They looked at it one last time before going inside the den for the day.