Hurt and pain raked the tabby's insides. Her sky blue eyes were clouded with grief. How could they do this? What thing had she done to deserve this from her housefolk?

Princess was staring in despair out the window at the stranger who carried her two kits away. She wanted to yowl to the skies. She wanted to dash out there and snatch her kittens away from the man who had them in his paws. They stared at her as they grew further away, mouths open in silent cries. She felt her heart beating frantically as they disappeared from view… Somehow she knew she would never see her kits again.

That had been two days ago and it was happening again. Panic flared in her chest and she held her remaining kit, Rajah, close to her.

"What's happening mama?" squeaked Rajah fearfully. Princess didn't dare respond. The loss of her two kits had shaken her badly and her heart still hurt. She was hiding from her housefolk in a small den with clutter inside. She could tell from the tones of their voices that they were looking for her. No! She whispered silently. I'll never come to you again! Not after this… You won't take her away from me! They had taken Esther and King away. Now she had to protect her only kit left, she had to keep Rajah safe. Did she dare make a dash for the cat door? She had to try. She knew it was hopeless… She was powerless against the humans! But she had to try anyway.

"Come with me, Rajah, and move quickly!" she whispered. Rajah didn't argue. She was terrified. Princess waited until her housefolk disappeared into another den before racing out of her hiding place, towards the cat door. Her heart fluttered in her chest. If she wanted her kit to stay with her, she had to make it out that cat door. Maybe then there would be some chance... She cast a furtive glance over her shoulder. She felt miserable, knowing what she wanted to do was impossible.

Quite suddenly her human's large paws were right in front of her. She yowled in surprise, just managing to stop before running into him. Why hadn't she noticed he was coming? As she watched, frozen, he reached down and scooped Rajah up in his paws. Her breath caught in her throat as Rajah began mewling helplessly. She couldn't let it happen again! She trotted at her human's paws, meowing as loud and as desperately as she could. Surely he would realize… Surely he would hear her this time! But again, she watched as her last kit was placed into the stranger's paws and, helpless to prevent it, she watched as he took Rajah away. Her heart broke and tears flowed down her face, invisible to her housefolk. What did I ever do? She thought. What did I ever do to you to deserve this?

It was days later and the emptiness in her heart refused to go away. She missed her kits. She stared silently out the window, despair clawing at her heart. She found her thoughts turning to her oldest kit. Where was Cloudkit now? Was he okay? Was he safe? She longed for Fireheart to come and see her, for him to reassure her that she had done the right thing in giving her firstborn away. She jumped down from her outpost in the window and walked to her cat door, hoping Fireheart would be out that night. She stepped into the cool night air and breathed deeply. She recalled the first time her kits had come out here. She smiled sadly, recalling King's reaction when he saw his first butterfly. She could still hear their voices as the three of them chased the winged creature into the garden, laughing all the white. Her tears fell to the ground silently. I hope where ever you are, you're safe and happy tonight… she thought, looking at the night sky. The stars twinkled reassuringly at her. What did Fireheart call them? StarClan? She hoped StarClan was watching over her kits… Wherever they were…