there was a reason behind this so she kept playing.

-------------------

Jade lay still at home his thoughts kept reflecting the things that had happened. 

"She can't be gone!" he whispered but deep down he knew he wasn't right. He had been to late, he hadn't been able to save her! But Clover had been saved though.

"Clover?" Jade looked up in a shook his mind had been blurred for the past few days. He had no idea where Clover was, how she was feeling. The truth hit him in the face. He hadn't been there for her when she needed him. He quickly stood up and ran to the door but as he was about to exit Kit stuck her head through the doggy door. 

"Kit?" Jade asked in a surprise

"Oh!" exclaimed Kit, as she almost bumped heads with Jade. In all honesty, it had surprised her that Jade was actually on his feet and running. But it was most definitely nice that he was looking a bit better, more conscious.

"Oh Jade! You're up" seeing him looking better, she suddenly decided to hold back her epiphany. He didn't need to know..at least not yet "How are you feeling?"

"I'm a little better but where is Clover?!" Jade asked in a hurry.

"She is playing on the beach with Utah" Kit answered, surprised by his eagerness. 

"Thank you for helping her!" Jade said and nuzzled her before running towards the beach.

Kit was taken aback by his rush, especially since he looked ready to die less than an hour ago. What did that nuzzle mean?

"Jade wait" called Kit, running to catch up to him " I think you should know, that I already told her that her mother is never coming back. I'm sorry, it just seemed like..." she suddenly wished that she had kept her mouth shut. Today was a bad day altogether for her

Jade came to a stop and looked back at Kit. 

“Oh, I should have told her before but…” He stopped and looked to the ground trying to get his face together. He couldn’t keep on being depressed; he needed to take care of his daughter.

“I’m really thankful for you helping Clover through this.” Jade said with a sad smile then turned back around. 

“I’m going to try and fix our relationship again!” he called back to Kit who was still following him. 

Jade could‘t wait to see Clover again. He needed to see her again, embrace her, because she was all that he had left. And it was a wonderful blessing.

“DAD!” Clover noticed Jade coming and ran to greet him. She nuzzled his thick fur and he took her into his embrace. 

“I’m so sorry honey.” He said and a tear slipped down his cheek. 

“So you are not sick anymore?” Clover asked and Jade looked surprised in Kit’s direction. She looked down a bit embarrassed and Jade understood.

“No honey, I’m feeling better now. Was it fun playing with Utah and Kit?” Jade asked and Clover nodded happily.

“It was really fun! Kit told me mom could never come back why is that?” Both Utah and Kit looked at Jade as he struggled to put it right.

“She had to go but some day in the future we will meet her again but that will be a long time away, so in the meantime, we have to think about her and also you can speak to her. She will always be listening to you.” Jade answered hoping she would understand.

“Oh...” Clover looked up at the sky. “Hi mom, I really do miss you and I hope can come meet you someday, me and Kit are good friends now and also Utah, he is really funny!” She said and giggled to herself. 

Jade looked at her with a sad smile on his face.

Kit watched with a small feeling of grief in her heart. She really wished that she hadn't gotten so involved, it seems as if she had only messed up the situation more.

"Didja hear that, she thinks I'm funny" smirked Utah, in a playful manner

"She must've meant your face" muttered Kit, returning the affection

"Aw, don't be jealous" he laughed "C'mon, lets leave them alone. They have some catching up to do"

Kit nodded and caught Jad'es eyes. She gave a soft smile and waved her tail in departure before following Utah. She hoped he got the message. Jade watched them leave and gave a small smile.

Jade spent the day playing with Clover on the beach before taking her home. As they were walking home Jade noticed that someone was watching them. He pushed Clover to the site so he was covering her. 
Jason went back into the shadow and walked the other way; Jade really wanted to run after him and revenge Aiyanna but he noticed Clover looking up at him worried. 

"Lets go home" He said with a smile and followed her inside. 

"Dad? can we meet Kit and Utah again tomorrow?" she said as she lay down next to him yawning. Jade looked surprised at her, she really had taken a liking to Kit and Utah. 

"Maybe, we will see tomorrow." Jade answered and laid his head down next to her.

As they drifted off to sleep, Kit and Utah barely made it home, and Utah was chatting away.

"I gotta tell ya, Clover is one awsome puppy" chatted Utah once they left the small family behind.

"Yeah, she is"

" I mean, she so small and she managed to get me to fall over. Thats crazy! Crazy cute though"

"Oh yeah?"

"OKay, whats wrong" he said, not being able to stand her half hearted responses. He knew that she wasn't trying to be so gloomy. It meant that something was really bothering her.

"Its just..." she inahled and spilled her emotions on her brother. She told him about her realization and her dread. "All I want to do is help out as much as I can. But everytime I try, I only make i worse. Like, Jade should've told Clover that her mother was gone for good. And its my fault that Aiyanna is dead"

"What?!" yelped Utah "How can you say that, thats a load of cats fur and bones. You weren't anywhere near them when Aiyanna was attacked."

"But Clover had to show Jade something important. And since Jade was talking to me, she went and got Aiyanna instead, and now she dead. If Jade had never been talking to-"

"Stop right there" said Utah firmly and moved in front of his sister "You had nothing to do with Aiyanna's death. Nothing. It was bad luck that her ex wanted revenge, not you. How could you have any idea? You shouldn't feel responsbile for anything that happened"

"But I can be responsible for leading Clover on. Utah, I promised her that her mother would be okay" she cried

"And as far as Clover knows, her mother is okay. Whatever happends next will just happen, but it wouldn't be your fault. Got it?"

Kit nodded, still not feeling completely guilt free. But she did feel a bit better. Gosh, she had such an awsome brother. And she let him know my nuzzling him

"Thanks" she said into his fur

"Its all good" he then yawned " its getting late"

And with that they pair of them entered their home that they shared together, and fell asleep

----------------------------------------------------

Jade woke up the next day and noticed Clover wasn't lying next to him. 

"Clover?" He looked around shocked. Where did she go?

"CLOVER?" He called again looking around the house. He finally found her in the kitchen asleep next to the food bowl. She looked up and yawned after hearing her name.

"Hi dad!" She said with a small wag of her tail. Jade went over to her and nuzzled her. He had to calm down. He was really afraid of letting Clover out of his sight. 

"JADE COME HERE BOY!" his owner called from outside. 

"Oh I forgot I have to make a run to White mountain today" He said to Clover. He had promised her that they would do something fun today. 

"Can I go meet Kit then?" Clover asked hopefully. She had been looking forwards to spending some time with her dad finally but she understood the importance of his job. 

"JADE!" Jade noticed his owner was in a hurry. 

"Okay Clover go check if Kit is home but if she isn't you go straight to either Ruby or Maggie, understood?" Jade received a nod from Clover who then ran to the door.
Jade gave out a sigh he really wished he could spend more time with her.

Kit was snoozing softly to herself, with Utah grumbling in his sleep beside her. She felt comfortable and well energized.

"Kit? Are you there?" came a muffled cry from the othersdie of the door

Kit raised her head in confusion, letting loose a big yawn. She stood up, looking a bit bleary and poked her head out through the doggie door. What she saw woke up her up quickly

"Clover? Oh hey sweetie" she greeted "Is everything allright?"

From the otherside, her hind leg kicked Utah's back

"I didn't do it!" he said, waking up suddenly. He looked around and saw Kit's headless body "Hey. who's there?" he asked aloud. He pushed his head through and saw Clover there

"Well look who it is? Its my favorite little cutie" he said.

Clover blushed after hearing Utha's greeting but she shock it off. 

"Can I be with you today? Daddy went to deliver the mail and I don't want to be with Maggie or Ruby today. They are so busy