FOG || The Downpour
Winds howl and whip at the the fur of the GloryClan cats as the harsh rain cascades from the sky, drenching the camp and it's members. As panic begins to rise, Indigowater calls from the Highstone, accompanied by Brindlepaw and Dimpaw. She announces that they will be fleeing their camp temporarily to seek shelter in the barn Brindlepaw and Dimpaw are from, fearing that the burrows may flood.
Regardless of the kit's age, each kit will be carried by an apprentice or warrior.
Brindlepaw will carry Asterkit.
Tigermoth will carry Beetlekit.
Claypatch will carry Bugkit.
Scorchtrail will carry Burnkit.
Pantherpounce will carry Dark-kit.
Woolyspark will carry Dovekit.
Finchmask will carry Ebonykit.
Goosepaw will carry Eveningkit.
Dunepaw will carry Lambkit.
Indigowater will carry Lupinekit.
Dahliapaw will carry Nightkit.
Goldenlion will carry Privetkit.
Stormskip will carry Spiderkit.
Sunfin will carry Tawnykit.
Indigowater announces this and watches each kit find their partner before leading the way out of camp, flanked by Brindlepaw and Dimpaw.
DIMPAW
dimpaw scrambled to keep up with indigostar. she was so much smaller than the now-leading she-cat and could barely go fast enough and make sure that everyone else was still with them. "Brindlepaw!" she yelled, already breathing hard. "We have to lead them to the barn. it's the only safe spot, it's got to be." she nearly tripped as they exited into the territory. what a horrible time for the kits to be on their first trip out of camp.
GOLDENLION
Goldenlion scrambles to walk beside Orchidpaw, nervously asking the apprentice how she feels. If she's too shaky to walk, he can always carry her on his back.
SCORCHTRAIL
Scorchtrail carries Burnkit, dashing through the tall grass and attempting to shield him from the harsh droplets. His eyes are set on the horizon, narrowed in determination.
STORMSKIP
Dashing just a ways behind Scorchtrail, Stormskip carries Spiderkit in his jaws, eyes wide with uncharacteristic fear.
BRINDLEPAW
"I know, I know!" Brindlepaw sputters, her voice muffled by Asterkit's scruff. "I think we can figure out the way back, it can't be far." She hesitates, eyes wild with fear.
GOOSEPAW
Goosepaw presses his flank against Swanpaw's, eyes narrowed against the relentless rainfall. He refuses to let him out of his sight. "Don't leave me," he mutters, eyeing Swanpaw wearily.
PUDDLEPAW
puddlepaw shakes just a bit as they walk, the rain pelting the group of cats and soaking them to the bone. his legs already aching, the tom pokes his head over the crowd and searches for halfswirl… upon finding it, they push through the sea of cats with lots of saying sorry. he presses himself up against his mentor, worry and fear clouding his gaze. “will we be alright?” they question, looking down at halfswirl.
BURNKIT
Burnkit drew his ears back, terrified of the rain. He had lost his previous home because of an awful rainstorm-- now he felt he was going to lose Gloryclan the same way. Burnkit felt so small being carried by Scorchtrail, as he craned his neck to avoid the top of his head bumping into the warrior's chin.
ORCHIDPAW
Orchidpaw's eyes were already filled with apprehension, but now, fear was seeping into her features. A bundle of leaves hung from her mouth; Orchidpaw couldn't find it in herself to just leave behind some of Remedy's most valuable stocks. The apprentice made no attempt to hide the fact that she was afraid; the weather had never been like this before. She pressed up against Goldenlion, pushing her muzzle into his fur and inhaling his familiar scent to try calm down. "I-I'm g-good... I-I think I can walk... keep holding Privetkit," the molly mewed through a mouthful of herbs. His fur was so wet. And so was her's --- she was cold, and it already felt as if she had been standing in the rain for hours. "T-this is something really bad, isn't it?"
TIGERMOTH
Tigermoth carries Beetlekit, and helps any of the smaller cats move along and nudges them to walk closer to the centre of the group. She advises Indigowater that anyone that is weaker or smaller in size should do so, as it will lower the chances of them being swept away.
MISTYPAW
This was… kind of cool. Fleeing camp because of a torrential, dark storm, with thunder resounding ominously overhead and lightning brightening the sky, all heading to a mysterious barn that he’d never been to before? Now that’s something to write home about.
The tabby stayed close to his mentor, Stormskip, who carried his friend Spiderkit. The sheeted rain already plastered his thick pelt to his frame, which was completely tousled by the wind. Everything was immensely noisy — the sound of the storm overhead and the rain crashing down made it difficult to hear everyone’s panicked conversations and commands. ”This is crazy!” He shouted into the rain.
ASTERKIT
Asterkit was very scared, her ears were down and her gaze was horrified, she looked around seeing everyone there carrying the kits. The kit looked at brindlepaw, gulping and her voice trembling "- W-where are we going?" she asks looking at the apprentice.
CHARREDPAW
Charredpaw finds herself breathing heavily, wide-eyed, as she's pelted by droplets of harsh, almost predatory rain. She didn't hear her name called from the top of the Highstone, which sends relief coursing through her body as she scrambles to find someone - anyone - to metaphorically latch onto as she follows the building crowd to who-knows-where out of camp in the middle of the pouring rain. She doesn't think she could carry a kit right now.
Then, a thought strikes her. Wasppaw, where is he? The tom was absolutely tiny, and she wouldn't be surprised if some of the kits rivaled or surpassed him in size. She looks around, more panicked than before, but doesn't spot him. Mouse-dung!
She does, however, spy her mentor, Clovereye, and her friend Puddlepaw, who is pressed next to their mentor, Halfswirl. Thinking it wise to seek out an older, more experienced cat first, she fumbles her way over to her mentor through the driving rain, hurriedly making her way to his flank.
"Have you seen Wasppaw?" She asks her mentor, before throwing more questions at them. "Is everyone alright? Is there anything I can do?"
EVENINGKIT
Eveningkit had been uncharacteristically quiet since the storm started, occasional whimpers escaped their jaws as they kept their eyes on the sky. They lay limp in Goosepaw's jaws aside from the trembles that wracked their body from time to time, every lighting strike was met with a sharp intake of air only to be released when the sky was somewhat clear.
Eveningkit hadn't expected that they would be out in the territory again after being abandoned the first time. They thought Gloryclan was finally the home that would keep them, the kind loner who led them there told them that Gloryclan would keep them safe.
"Please.." they trailed off but it was clear their words were directed at Goosepaw, "Plesse don't drop me..I don't- I don't want to be abandoned again. Not again please." They sounded so meek, so scared. The Eveningkit who often tormented Goosepaw and Swanpaw was nowhere in sight, tucked into the darkest corners of their body.
DIMPAW
Dimpaw just nodded. she wondered why she hadn't been given a kit to carry, and her heart sunk. was she not doing enough? if she led the clan to safety with her best friend then surely she would be. right? she thought of flickerpaw and foxfoot, both somewhere back in the group behind her, and desperately hoped that they were alright. it was too busy right now, and her mind was fuzzy. "did anyone see foxfoot?" she asked, scared. she hadn't seen the warrior before she was ushered out of the camp and into the territory by indigowater.
REEDPAW
The apprentice finds himself getting somewhat soaked by various rain droplets. To him it’s almost like the sky was pelting the clan with all its strength. He shakes his head growing uncomfortable by the sensation, but more with his loud everyone being. Reedpaw hears the deputies orders and trudges forward to the nursery,he still had to do something! He sticks his head in every now and again and tries to search for Sunfin’s assigned kit!
GOOSEPAW
Whiskers, why did Indigowater have to make him carry this miserable scrap? Couldn't she have dumped them on literally anyone else? "Shut up," he grumbled, "I won't drop you." Part of him was tempted to, but the kid seemed scared enough. Ugh, even I'm not that mean.
SPIDERKIT
Her whole body trembles as when picked up by Stormskip and not even his presence can stop the frequent shakes. The inky furred kit tries her best to peak around him at the cats behind them hoping that they were all present and none had been left behind. At Mistypaw's shout, she turns her full attention onto him and tries reaching a paw out to offer him some comfort, though it's futile. "We-We'll be okay," she tries, voice uncharacteristically raised over the storm.
SWANPAW
Swanpaw nods in determination, giving Goosepaw a reassuring bump. "You've fought dogs," He reminds him. "Theres nothing you cant handle!"
HALFSWIRL
Halfswirl stares at Puddlepaw, their mouth gone dry. Hesitantly, they nod. "Everything will be fine, just stick by me." They reassure him, forcing on a smile.
GOLDENLION & CLAYPATCH
Goldenlion grimaces. "I don't know." He answers honestly. "Hopefully we'll be fine in the barn." The warrior dips his head, shielding his eyes from the rain as best he can. He looks up when Claypatch bounds over, carrying Bugkit on her back and a bundle of herbs in her jaws. She gives Orchidpaw a wink, her enthusiasm bleeding through in even the darkest situations.
INDIGOWATER
Indigowater nods in agreement and calls for all the smaller cats to go in the middle.
BRINDLEPAW
"He's in the back with Embermask," Brindlepaw relays to Dimpaw before responding to Asterkit. "We're going to our home! Dimpaw and I's. Or, former home. Its a barn, we'll all be safe there." She explains with a reassuring tone.
SUNFIN
Sunfin scoops up Tawnykit in his jaws, trotting hastily next to Reedpaw. "Stay close." He orders, unusually serious. "We'll all be okay." he says, though he seems to be trying to convince himself of the fact.
STORMSKIP
"We'll all be fine." Stormskip hoarsely agrees. "Don't worry, I got you, it'll all be okay." He smiles hopefully despite Spiderkit not being able to see him.
BURNKIT
The cold rain stung at it hit Burnkit -- it made the fur stick uncomfortably to his sides. The wind howled in his ears as he looked around, a terrible realisation gripping him.
"Scorchtrail, where's Sleeksong?" he hoped the warrior could make out his tiny words against the chaos, "And Freckleface? Did they leave with us?"
DAHLIAPAW
Dahliapaw shuddered in fear and chill as the rain pelted down, flattening her thick pelt with heavy water. She follows closely behind Dunepaw, her eyes squinting against the rain droplets.
Lambkit squirmed uncomfortably when Dunepaw first picked her up, but after getting her scruff clamped between his teeth, she went rigid. Her eyes were wide with fear.
WASPPAW
Wasppaw, as soon as the first crack of thunder had came, already wanted his spirit to just leave his body. Now as the rain poured and the sky seemed to shriek in pain, he was trembling uncontrollably and droplets slid down his face. Maybe the raindrops, maybe the result of harsh sobbing. It didn’t matter.
What mattered was that he got out of here.
That was the only thought in him at the time- gotta escape, need to get out of here, have to find safety, I need help- and his mind was going so fast. He blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision, only to look up and realize he was lagging behind significantly. How had he even fallen behind this far? Or maybe it wasn’t that far- the nearest cat wasn’t much more than two feet away.
Still. Absolute panic going through him. Not the greatest thing.
SCORCHTRAIL
"They're in the middle!" Scorchtrail opens his jaws to shout, dropping Burnkit in the process. He quickly scoops up the kit before he hits the ground. "Sorry!" He mumbles.
DUNEPAW
"Okay, okay, okay!" Dunepaw feverishly shouts, scrambling beside Dahliapaw. "You okay?" He yowls to Dahliapaw after scooping up Lambkit.
REMEDY
Remedy stares at Wasppaw, trying to decide if she should shove him to keep moving or stay with the kits. Without warning, she grabs him by the scruff and scoops him up easily. "I got you," She rumbles reassuringly.
GOOSEPAW
Goosepaw rolls his eyes playfully at Swanpaw. He didn't fight dogs so much as served as their personal chewtoy. But he manages a slight smile.
Darkkit hangs in Pantherpounce's jaws. He is completely silent— which is not out of the ordinary— but tucks his legs and tail in to make himself smaller. He stays still, frightened at the prospect of accidentally being dropped in the fray ... but, still, a sense of safety rolls over him. Pantherpounce will keep him safe.
As the storm howls on, the water begins to pour downhill, a steady stream of water a cople inches high rolls through the field and drenches the paws of the GloryClan cats.
ORCHIDPAW
She had to admit: Claypatch's demeanor and energy never failed to bring her hopes up. Orchidpaw was more than glad when her sister agreed to help carry some of the herbs as well, and her confidence was something that everyone surely needed in a time like this. After taking in another breath of Goldenlion's fur, she drew back to give Claypatch a mustered smile of her own. Orchidpaw found that putting a smile on her face, even if it was forced, seemed to make her feel temporarily better. As if things were going to be okay. Perhaps it was the muscle memory associated with all the carefree times she'd had in GloryClan. "W-we... w-we'll be fine...! We'll be fine. L-let's get there quickly...!"
The water sloshed against her toes.
MISTYPAW
"Yeah! Totally!" He replied to Spiderkit, genuinely optimistic. Despite his drenched discomfort, the apprentice was grinning, wrapped up in fascination and adrenaline. The intensity reminded him that they were all alive. He tilted back his head, squinting, and let the rain batter his face. "It's you, Stormskip!" He called playfully, referencing the warrior's namesake. Rivulets began to rise around his ankles, and Mistypaw kicked at the water with a forepaw, glancing back down to watch it spray. Admittedly, it was becoming a little unpleasant to walk in.
TIGERMOTH
Tigermoth narrows her eyes anxiously, and noses the elders closer to the centre. This isn't looking good. She's seen her fair share of storms in her life, but this was severe. There were no trees to give the Clan cover…
PUDDLEPAW
puddlepaw nods, practically glued to halfswirls side- though they scan the crowd for their friends. watching wasppaw get scooped up, he was at least safe... for now. he wonders if he should head over and talk to him..
as the water rises, panic also rises in puddlepaws chest. they let out an ‘eep’ noise, somehow pressing himself even closer to halfswirl... they turn to them and say, “we’re gonna be okay, right?”
though they didn’t seem to convince themselves.
DAHLIAPAW
Dahliapaw nods at Dunepaw's question, her vocal answer of "Yes! Are you okay?" drowned out by a loud thunderclap. She yelps as more water hits her paws, glancing down at the mucky water before splashing towards Dunepaw in fear.
"W-we'll have to sunbathe for days to dry off," she chuckled shakily, eyes doing horribly at masking her uneasiness.
DIMPAW
falling into a slightly steady cantering gait to keep up with indigowater, brindlepaw, and in general just keep going, dimpaw begins to whimper. the water on her paws is a dark murky brown and the rain is soaking her to the skin. "Brindlepaw..." dimpaw was shaking. she moved closer to the other cat, afraid. subconsciously, she checked that the feather and flower were still in her fur. they were. she weaved them in tight enough, she guessed. the water around her legs was freezing. "This way!! we have to turn, my head is telling me to." she was sure that the barn was this way. in the panic of the moment, she didn't even think of seeing her parents again. only getting there.
EVENINGKIT
Eveningkit is hardly soothed by Goosepaws nonchalant answer. Whimpering they pull their paws closer and watch as the rain only gets worse, Please don't drop me, please don't drop me they repeat in their head, "I hope Tigermoth and Beetlekit are okay...I really hope they're okay." Eveningkit mumbles, more to themselves than Goosepaw and Swanpaw. They fall silent and still again paws trembling as they attempt to soothe themselves by humming and muttering to themselves.
BURNKIT
The mid-length of Burnkit's tail became soaked as the rain continued to beat the earth.
"Scorchtrail, it's too much!" his voice broke as he shouted out to the warrior, "I don't know if I can handle this much longer!"
He closed his eyes, feeling an incredible shiver take hold of his body. He wished for sun.
SPIDERKIT
Spiderkit attempts at nodding despite the obvious inability to. And despite how scared the storm leaves her, she knows Stormskip wouldn't lie to her. They'll be okay. They'll get to the barn and they'll be safe and Spiderkit can forget that this ever scared her. "I-I believe you. I k-know you'll keep us s-safe,"Which is no lie.
She lets out a shaky giggle at that, trying her best to push down her worry and fear. "B-but we're not skippin'" Well, they probably could be…
WASPPAW
Wasppaw squeaked with surprise as he felt himself grasped by another cat, looking up with wide eyes to see Remedy. Now he himself knew he was definitely crying, as tears of both relief and terror escaped him. “Th- thank you-“ His voice was barely more than a whisper, almost inaudible through the storm. He closed his eyes and tried to think about other, better, safer things. But it was hard.
REEDPAW
The ginger tom’s pelt begins to feel colder and colder as the water drenched him from head to toe. He resists the urge pat himself down to be rid of the odd sensation all the while Sunfin manages to get Tawnykit first. He wonders if he’ll be able to come back for his animal collection soon. He stares at the storm, flinching as the water rose to cover his own paws. He nods his head at his father, although he isn’t all that pleased by the situation they’re all going through.
GOLDENLION
Goldenlion nods. "we're about a third of the way to the quiet creek!" He calls as the droplets come down in sheets. "Just keep moving! We'll be there soon!" He yowls to the whole clan.
HALFSWIRL
"we'll be fine." Halfswirl replies through gritted teeth, shivering against the chill.
DUNEPAW
"Yeah! Yeah, I'm fine!" He calls back, trying to shake the water from his fur but its doubled before he can even try.
BRINDLEPAW
"Okay! Okay, okay!" Brindlepaw nods, trembling.
STORMSKIP
Stormskip resists the urge to roll his eyes at Mistypaw before nodding. "As long as you're with me, you'll be just fine." He tells them.
SCORCHTRAIL
"You're fine!" He yowls to Burnkit. "We're almost to the creek, don't worry!" The tall warrior sound confident but he cant stop his teeth from chattering.
PUDDLEPAW
puddlepaw nods, continuing to trudge through the storm, but worry eats away at them.... they hoped their friends were alright.
BURNKIT
Burnkit worries about drowning in the creek, but keeps it to himself. Scorchtrail has enough to worry about. He won't be a burden.
DIMPAW
dimpaw glanced behind her and nearly tripped. she called out to every distracted cat, barely able to see their pelts through the rain and tears in her eyes. what about their camp...? "we're turning left!!" she made sure that nobody missed her call. any cat left behind would be a horrible thing, and she couldn't even bear to think about it.
CHARREDPAW
Charredpaw decides, rather impulsively, not to wait for a reply from Clovereye, turning on her heels and heading backward, fighting against the crowd of cats surging forward against the flood. She hadn't seen Wasppaw in the immediate fray, and that had deeply concerned her, seeing how high - and powerful - the water was becoming. At the very least, going in the direction of the water wasn't quite as exhausting as fighting against it.
Sure enough, as she pushed to the back of the crowd, muttering a few apologies as she bumped into some of her clanmates, she spied Remedy dragging along Wasppaw at the very back of the group. At least someone else had had the same train of thought that she had. That was a relief.
Regardless, she didn't just leave the two - Remedy would surely need help, especially as the water and storm were seemingly worsening. Her heart pounding in her chest, she fell in place next to Remedy and Wasppaw, though staggered a bit in case one of them lost their footing. She tried her best to keep pace with the two.
"Are you alright?" She called to the both of them, her voice wavering a bit.
ORCHIDPAW
She wasn't sure if the herbs in her mouth would be salvageable after this; it was raining so hard. Surely some leaves had to be drenched to a degree by now. But Orchidpaw believed in her father, and spotting the shade of his golden fur gave her the motivation to push onwards --- or was that Claypatch? Either way, they were her family, and she knew that for as long as they were here, she would believe in them and the Clan.
DARKKIT
Darkkit is over this whole mess.
PUDDLEPAW
puddlepaw gingerly wades through the quiet creek, sticking to halfswirl the whole time.
DIMPAW
dimpaw trips in the river, the current nearly getting her. she slips and bites onto the fur of brindlepaw's tail to get back up, quickly and profusely apologizing to her. now completely soaked, she barely moves in a straight line from shaking. her shoulder is stinging and all she's wondering is where the peace of yesterday went.
BURNKIT
Burnkit cringes as the cold sweeping water flowed against his flank. His scruff stings as Scorchtrail grips it tighter to avoid dropping the terrified kit into the water.
ORCHIDPAW
Despite it all, Orchidpaw refused to leave Goldenlion and Claypatch's sides. They were near the back, and although the temptation for her to run forwards into the unknown was growing, she refused to give into her irrational fear. She was safe as long as she was with her father and sister. A dad and sister. Who knew that... she would discover family in this place? Well, it wasn't as if she... really remembered any family to begin with. Orchidpaw'd eventually figured out that she had been borne from anonymous rogues, and some predicament led to their separation, but... for all the dark clouds and smoking mess that was her memory of them, she knew that she'd rather not remember them. The thought of her biological parents... for some reason, evoked a sort of nervousness in her heart that strayed far too close to fear. Either way --- that didn't matter now. She had Goldenlion and Claypatch, and that was more than most other kittens. She couldn't ask for anything else.
EVENINGKIT
Eveningkit cringes as they reach the river, whimpering they begin to wiggle in the Tom's jaws their breathing picking up. "D-Don't drop me G-Goosepaw, please, I can't swim, don't drop me." their subtle wiggling continues subconsciously in an attempt to get farther away from the water.
BEETLEKIT
Beetlekit struggles against Tigermoth initially, protesting that they can manage themself! As the water level began to rise, though, their protests grow silent, the kit finally realizing how serious this situation was. They’d never seen so much water before…
CHARREDPAW
Charredpaw was visibly fearful as she and Remedy - still carrying Wasppaw with a vice grip - finally came upon the surging creek. Some cats were almost across already, while she and the two others were in the very, very back. It was absolutely terrifying to her. If she fell - nobody would be there to catch her. Wasppaw was being carried by Remedy, and Wasppaw was so much smaller than her...she would hope that Remedy would prioritize him over her.
So, if she got swept away?
So be it.
She padded forward slightly as the three of them eased there way ever closer to the creek, her eyes darting between the barely visible stepping stones some distance in front of her and Wasppaw.
"Are you doing okay?" She shouted to Wasppaw over the driving rain, her voice shaking a bit.
GOOSEPAW
"Stop wailing and squirming, otherwise I will drop you!" Goosepaw hissed angrily, his neck already beginning to ache from carrying a kitten in his jaws.
SPIDERKIT
She warily eyes the creek as they approach it and flexes her claws out of panic. And although she doesn't particularly want to get even more soaked than she already is, she reaches out with a flexed paw for Mistypaw's attention. "P-please be c-careful, please." It's probably an overreaction on her part but she's terrified and it's not like Mistypaw's being carried. Following that, Spiderkit taps her tail against Stormskip. "Y-you be careful too."
As the cats begin to cross the creek, a deep rumbling sounds, but this time not from above, instead from far away. Howls of terror fill the air a a wall of water surges through the creek, the flash flood heading straight for the clan.
Pushing cats frantically forward, throwing the smaller cats and apprentices, Goldenlion can feel his heart slamming in his chest as the huge wall of water descends on him. Throwing Orchidpaw forward, Goldenlion stares at his daughters, tears freely streaming down his face. "Okay, okay, listen to me." His voice is cracked with fear. "I don't think I can make it out of this one, take care of each other, please, I love you both so much, I'll see you again soon." The large warrior sobs to Orchidpaw and Claypatch, forcing a smile before tackling Freckleface, shielding the elder as the water swallows them whole.
Pantherpounce's mouth goes dry as he sees the wave, rooted in place, Dark-kit still in his jaws. Woolyspark's frantic screaming snaps him out of his daze and he throws Dark-kit to the other side but misses and ends up throwing the kit into the water. Hardly thinking, Pantherpounce leaps after him, curling himself around his son as tightly as possible, never letting go. If this is how he dies, so be it, there's no other way he'd go than protecting his family.
Foxfoot scrambles through the fields, bringing up the rear with Glorystar. As soon as he sees the flood, he barrels through the grass and to the creek, running so fast he wouldn't be surprised if his paws bled. Seeing Woolyspark slipping and scrambling on the slick stones with Dovekit in his jaws, adrenaline and instincts kick in, leaping in front of them and shielding them with his weight. 'Please, keep my family safe.' He begs to StarClan. 'Thats all I ask of you.' The warrior prays as the wave crashes onto him.
"No, no NO!" Glorystar howls as the rumble of the flood shakes the ground. "You've stolen so much from me," They scream to the sky. "you cannot take my clan from me, you can't!" Tears stream down their face as blood roars in their ears, hardly thinking as they follow Foxfoot, shielding the closest cat, Aphidpaw, with their weight. "I don't fear you!" They cry, face angled to the sky. "I never have and I never will. You may claim my soul but you will NEVER have my clan." They grit their teeth and dip their head, bracing for the impact of the wave.
Swanpaw stares at the descending wave, ears flattened and eyes wide. Is this it? Is everything he's ever lived for amounted to this? Struck down by a flash flood? "If I don't make it, take care of yourself, please." He calls to Goosepaw whos already clear on the other side, unable to stop the tears streaming down his face. Maybe this is how it was supposed to go down. Maybe this was his grand plan. Maybe thats okay, Swanpaw decides as the wave devours him.
Remedy drops Wasp-paw on the stones as soon as she feels the rumbling. Trying frantically to nudge him forward but quickly realizing that he wouldn't make it. "Okay, okay okay," Remedy's lip quivers and she lets out a sob. "Look at me, look at me," She grabs Wasp-paw's face in her paws. "We're gonna make it out okay, just look at me and we'll be fine. I promise." as the wave descends upon them, Remedy pulls Wasp-paw into her chest, wrapping him in her paws.
The wave crashes onto the cats stuck on the stones, taking with it Woolyspark, Darkkit, Pantherpounce, Swanpaw, Dovekit, Aphidpaw, Charredpaw, Wasppaw, Remedy, Foxfoot, Freckleface, Glorystar, and Goldenlion.
DAHLIAPAW
As the wave quickly approached, Dahliapaw's screams mingled in with the rest of the clan, darting forward with the apprentices to get away as fast as she could.
She pushes Dunepaw forward with a nudge of her head, not wanting him and Lambkit to get swept away too.
The molly managed to get to the other side, but looked back to watch as a few cats were Los to the water. A branch swam to her as fast as a trout and knocked her over, splashing into the murky water.
Her head emerges from the depths, gasping desperately as she paddled towards shore, eyes shot wide with tears.
DIMPAW
Dimpaw could barely even call out to her clanmates, turning at the rushing sound of the water. it screamed through her ears and her entire body as it told her to run. but she couldn't. she stood, completely still. where was foxfoot?
BEETLEKIT
The kit watched in horror as cat after cat was swept away by the raging current— this is why their mother wanted them to stay inside. This is why they were so scared of them leaving without provision— because even with the strength of an entire clan of cats, they were no match for the forces of nature.
They wailed as Woolyspark and her kits were pulled under by the waves. No! They were nice! They liked Woolyspark! They wanted to watch their kits grow!
They writhed under Tigermoth’s grip again, ears flattened to their skull. ”Lemme go! I can help them! We can’t just leave Woolyspark!” Tears we’re welling in their eyes as they screamed, voice growing hoarse.
GOOSEPAW
His world was ending.
Goosepaw watched as the water surged forward hungrily, ready to swallow Swanpaw whole.
His world was ending.
His jaws were stretched open, but Goosepaw couldn't hear his own scream.
He couldn't hear anything beyond the roar of blood and flood water in his ears.
His world was ending.
He couldn't move until it was too late
His world was ending.
Anger burned through his body, and he found himself blaming Eveningkit and Indigowater. If she hadn't dumped this kit on him, then he could have grabbed Swanpaw and dragged him to safety.
His world was ending.
CHARREDPAW
The young she-cat whips her head around, distracted from Wasppaw as she hears yowls pierce the air. She catches sight of the huge wave and immediately freezes.
This was it, wasn't it?
She turns back to Remedy and Wasppaw, both feeling a surge of emotions and nothing at all at the same time.
She sees the medicine cat comforting her smaller friend, as the roar of the wave and the yowls of her clan grow steadily louder around her.
She hears Remedy, appreciates her words. But deep down, she knew. Deep down she knew they wouldn't all make it out of this.
Throwing herself toward the other two as the wave grew even closer, she wrapped her chimeric body around the other two cats to the best of her ability, positioning herself so that she was outermost and closest to the wave.
In a flash, the water descended upon them.
Charredpaw decided, as water swirled in her ears and dominated her senses,
That maybe it was alright if she died today.
Maybe she'd at least saved somebody else.
WASPPAW
Wasppaw yowls with terror as the wave begins to descend upon Remedy, Charredpaw, and himself. He starts writhing around as soon as Remedy starts to lower him, as if pleading for her not to let him go. “No! No, no! No! No, Remedy! No!” he wails loudly, scrabbling against her pushes as she tried to nudge him forward.
I can’t leave her. I can’t. I can’t. I can’t. I can’t.
Wasppaw flung himself straight back at her, not even surprised as she takes him back and holds onto him. He can only feel nothing, though. No safety, no relief, no terror, no pain. An empty nothing was all that remained in his mind as he clung to her, burying his head in the fur of her chest, sobbing desperately and staring down at the river with wide eyes as he anticipated the water coming up faster and faster and faster.
And then the flood hits, it comes up and around the three of them, it fills his ears, fills his nose, fills his eyes-
Sooner than he can register, everything is black.
BURNKIT
Burnkit's ears began to ring as the wave crashed down upon his clan: his friends, his leader... It felt all too familliar. He wailed out a heart-wrenching scream as he watched the water take them away. He couldn't take it anymore.
Burnkit dug his face into Scorchtrail's fur, his screams coming out more like choked gasps.
TIGERMOTH
Her heart aches. There's nothing that they can do now. "We need to get to safety," Tigermoth murmured, her throat tightening. "We'll be good no nobody if we are caught in the flood, too." She refuses to release her hold on Beetlekit, refusing to allow any other cat get swept away. Pulling Eveningkit close to her, Tigermoth signs shudderingly.
BRINDLEPAW
Brindlepaw watches the flood with bated breath. This is what you get. You wanted the life of the wild, you left your home you wanted this she reminds herself, watching so many cats get swept away. "We need to keep moving." She agrees, shoving her way forward to lead the clan. You wanted this, this is what you get.
BUGKIT
.
.
The world was spinning around her - or maybe ending … she didn’t really know. The distant screaming and waves that crashed against everything all pitched out into a distant , muffled sound.
Bugkit could feel her nails dig into the ground, her body pressed against a rotten tree that was somewhat yet not hit with water. She didn’t know who to go for or where to go. Everyone was out for their own families and friends, nobody had time for her. Aphidpaw was gone… she had nobody- now what?
There was never a time she had to fend for herself, it was always aphidpaw….. Suddenly, bugkit began crying and screaming as she clung to a trees root “please help…someone help me” her voice cracked, unfortunately it was not louder than the piercing screech of the clan.
DIMPAW
she could only let out a piercing wail into the dark and muggy air as she watched everyone be swept away around her, and still she could barely force her paws on. she nearly collapsed onto brindlepaw, leaning into her friend. she couldn't see. who was gone? who was still there? brindlepaw was there, and for all she knew that was the only cat left in the clan. "brindlepaw where is foxfoot? where is she?" she asked through sobs. "i cant keep going." she stopped, staring back over her shoulder. if they were gone, she should have been, too.
EVENINGKIT
Eveningkit hardly caught the wave, their wiggling didn't cease as they let out a fearful howl. But they made it across fine, Goosepaw made it across fine, it was Swanpaw they were howling for. They hardly felt the impact of falling when Goosepaw dropped them their eyes glued to where Swanpaw used to stand.
Turning to Goosepaw they became almost pleading "G-Goose..Goosepaw please!" they don't know what they were begging for, forgiveness? Mercy? "Goosepaw I didn't mean for this to happen! I didn't mean for my wiggling to cause this, please Goosepaw I didn't mean it! I didn't mean this, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'm just a dumb kit and-and you didn't deserve this!" they pull against Tigermoth their eyes solely on Goosepaw.
"Goosepaw!" they shout as if being louder would bring forgiveness, "Please hate me, hate me all you want, I didn't mean for this to happen!" they're a sobbing mess now as they allow Tigermoth to drag them away.
Please, just hate me, it's what I deserve.
APHIDPAW
Aphidpaw hated walking through the sludge of the field, the mud squelching up between his toes, icky and mucky and slimy and gross, which normally wouldn't even be a problem. This storm has made a neat freak outta me! He kept up with Claypatch nearly the whole time, sticking beside his sister. It was just a storm- storms happened all the time! They reassured her from time to time that nothing that bad was gonna happen. It's just a storm! Only a storm, and look, everyone was safe right now.
As soon as it stepped foot in the water, the rumbling beneath its paws froze it in place. The matted fur along his spine rose, ruffled and soaked as he yelled at his paws to move! But they didn't, he didn't even duck, didn't even look at the wave, just at the terrified cats in front of him, listening to their horrified voices as they realized how inevitable it was. He side-eyed the cats across the river, teary-eyed, looking for his sister's gaze. His paws felt cold when he saw her, his stomach churning with anxiety and fear as he stared for what felt like ages.
Mom was right.
Then his face contorted with a breaking sob as he covered his head with his paws and leaned his head down to the water as the wave crashed over him.
BEETLEKIT
”Please!! Tigermoth! Those kits are so young! They can’t even talk yet we can’t just let them—“ Their throat tightened completely at the thought. Die..They can’t just let such young kittens die. Finally, an all-consuming sob overtook Beetlekit.
Maybe their mom was right- maybe the world wasn’t a place for cats like them. Their eyes closed tightly shut as they wished for this to all have been a terrible dream.
ASTERKIT
She couldn't be seeing this, couldn't. Asterkit raised her paw forward, seeing the cats she wished she had known. But now it was too late, the kit let out a shaky breath and looked at Brindlepaw with watery eyes.
"- th-they're gonna come... aren't they?"
She asked in a shaky voice as she looked at the apprentice, no…she wished they were alive. But deep down she knew the truth, they were dead and gone. She looked forward again, not moving.
MOTHPAW
What's going on? What's happening?" All that flooded her vision was water; her feet felt numb like they were moving by themselves. Her pace quickened, breaths more shallow as she frantically looked around. Where were her friends, she need to find them now, and Scorchtrail! Where was he? Is he okay?
Catching a glimpse of pitch black fur Mothpaw ran as her legs could go. "Spiderkit!" She shouted, rushing over to her friend. Noticing Mistypaw and Stormskip around, she let out a sigh of relief. But there was still the question of where Scorchtrail went. "H-hey. You guys okay?" She pressed herself against Mistypaw trying to look past her dripping fur. "H-have you seen anyone else around?"
FINCHMASK
Finchmask watches his sister and best friend get swept away, sobs and cries racking his body. They were gone. What was he to do? There was still Lambkit, Ebonykit, and Nightkit. What as he to do? Trembling the warrior crawls over to Tigermoth. "When we-when-" He pauses to let out a cry. "When we get to safety, can you help me take care of them, please." He motions to the remaining kits, his nieces and nephews. "I-I don't know what to do," He confesses, collapsing on the ground, sobbing.
TIGERMOTH
She presses her flank to Finchmask's, and helps him stand up. "Lean on me, dear," she rasps, licking between his ears. "We'll find them. Once everyone else is safe from the flood, we'll go out for them." Tigermoth looks to Beetlekit and Eveningkit. "I need you two to be brave and keep watch on the others while we go search. They'll need you."
BURNKIT
Burnkit's heart felt like it was being shredded apart like prey under a hawk's talons -- he knew the cats who were swept away were most likely gone for good. That's what happened to his brothers, and now that's whats happening to his clan.
"Scorchtrail, you won't get swept away, right?" his eyes were glossed over with anguish, "Promise me you won't get swept away!"
DAHLIAPAW
Chaos. All of it was insane.
When the screaming began, Lambkit wailed just as loud, unable to wriggle in Dunepaw's jaws. She was unfortunate enough to get but a glimpse of Woolyspark and Pantherpounce get swept away.
Her cries fell on deaf ears.
LAMBKIT
The dark furred tom squirms in Dahliapaw's hold on him. No longer by his mother and sibling's sise, the coldness of the world shakes him to his core. He perks up at Lambkit's cry and wails twice as hard then he ever has!
MISTYPAW
Okay, this officially wasn't fun or cool or exciting anymore. As the murky wave descended upon his Clanmates, Mistypaw felt he had no option but to cling to Stormskip and Spiderkit, pushing them with all his weight as far aside as he could as mud churned up beneath his paws. As the initial surge passed, leaving his clanmates drenched and knocked about, the tom realized that some of the group had been swept away by the torrent. He frantically glanced among the current for familiar faces, taking note of cats he recognized and others who seemed lost. His amber gaze flickered with fear. Were all of his friends okay, at least?
When the tabby heard Mothpaw's voice nearby, so much relief washed over him that his chest hurt. "Mothpaw!" He exclaimed breathlessly, leaning against her and pulling her into a huddle with the other two cats. "I don't know. I don't know! Everyone's gotten separated."
As the flash flood storms by, taking with it half of the clan, the water seems to ease and pass, while the rain loosens up, it still hammers down. At least you can cross again.
PUDDLEPAW
puddlepaw shrieks, watching his only friends get swallowed by the wave, being swept away by the roaring waters. before they know it, tears are streaming down their face, hot and awful and making them feel even worse. sobs rack their body and they crouch down, covering their face with their paws.
it was all over.
they don’t even want to cross the river anymore. they wanted to stay there, waiting, waiting and holding onto that shred of hope that they could still be alive.
they run towards halfswirl, sobbing into their side.
BEETLEKIT
The kit sniffles, rubbing their face with a large, soggy paw as they look up at Tigermoth and Finchmask. ”I- I’ll keep them safe.” They meowed with a shaky voice, a hint of determination showing in their eyes. ”Un-until Woolyspark gets back.”
EVENINGKIT
Eveningkit hardly heard Tigermoth, their gaze still locked onto the still form of Goosepaw, the place where Swanpaw used to stand. Sure the medicine cat apprentice didn't like them but they still felt the weight of this falling onto their shoulders. They sniffle and sob, they wished Goosepaw would just be mad at them, scream and shout, his silence was far more hurtful than any words he could have possibly said to the kit.
Turning they stick to Tigermoths side still sobbing as they went, the stumble a few time their vision blurry from tears. They look to Beetlekit with a choked sob, they open their jaws before closing them again. Eventually words fall through, "Beetle..Beetlekit..please don't go too, please don't disappear." They mumble to them their gaze pleading. They wouldn't know what to do if they lost another cat they cared for.
DAHLIAPAW
Dahliapaw struggled against the current, paws splashing wildly at the water as she made her attempt towards shore. She'd completely forgotten about the kit in her jaws, the shock settling in far too soon- but after the water chilled Dahliapaw to her core, the weight in her jaws became paramount.
She kept her head up to keep Nightkit from swallowing in more water, dipping under a few times as she gulped in air through her nose. "Ah'm sorry, ah'm sorry," she whispered to the kit, looking wildly for someone, anyone, to help them.
ORCHIDPAW
It's not too long before she feels teeth in her scruff, and the feeling of air sweeping past her limbs. Orchidpaw lets out a tiny meep as she's tossed to the other side of the creek, her paws stumbling for solid ground --- to find out that oh, the grass is easier to grip than the stepping stones. Her claws sinks in far more nicely than how they had scrabbled erratically against the hard rock just seconds ago, and Orchidpaw finds herself pivoting her momentum forwards, half-tripping over her feet. But by strange, learned instinct, one of her front legs shoot out before her, and she barely manages to steady herself against the earth when she turns around.
The first thing she sees is her sister: Claypatch, with her yellow pelt soaked gray by the heavy lighting of the storm. Orchidpaw doesn't know that this is what the Warrior's mother looked like --- that Ivytalon was identical to Claypatch, only that she was blue throughout --- but the older feline looks like she's seeing a ghost. Cheek fur dripping with water, the molly turns to look in the same direction as her sister, chromium green eyes glinting against the relentless rush and downpour of rain --- and Orchidpaw thinks everything's changed for a moment, that this is an unreal dream --- because the sight of Goldenlion, tears streaming down his face and the endless, deep, dark wall of water behind him is too wrong to be true.
His words are nearly lost to the wave. Orchidpaw and Claypatch catch them in time.
But they lose their father.
A screech rips out of her mouth, the molly's pointed gray features contorting in a shriek that denotes nothing but fear --- the herbs drop from her jaw and they fall away to the ground and let them fall to the ground --- let them be wasted StarClan --- she doesn't even think about how her efforts in carrying them will been in vain so far --- she doesn't think about how she wouldn't be able to save this part of Remedy's stock that she's painstakingly scrambled to carry in her panic --- the herbs can go --- let the herbs go --- and Orchidpaw can do nothing but stand at the other side of the bank, body frozen, her mouth torn open in a now silent wail.
The last thing she sees of him is a flash of dull gold, and spots. Must be Freckleface's.
And when the water's rushing at the shore again, after the wave is gone, Orchidpaw's never felt so cold. Her bones feel like shattering. She can't keep looking at the space where Goldenlion was before; the apprentice turns to Claypatch, and lets out a weak, thin, grief-struck caterwaul.
DIMPAW
dimpaw looks lost. she just stands, sobbing as huge tears roll down her cheeks. she can barely breathe, and she shrieks again, her front legs nearly folding under her.
it feels like her whole life just ended. brindlepaw wouldn't ever bring back everyone in the clan.
BURNKIT
Burnkits cries died down as exhaustion gripped him. It's too much. The cold, the wet, the raging wind, and now all the loss-- it's just too much.
His heart screamed as he saw Sleeksong a few paces back-- they lost everything; Freckleface, their son, Woolyspark, and half of their grandkits... the cries returned.
It's too much.
CLAYPATCH
Claypatch crumbles. All her walls, all her anger, all her rage, everything is gone in a second and replaced by agony. Agony that grips her heart and rakes through her flesh, everything is just inside but it feels like shes on fire then submerged over and over and over. She can't breathe. When Orchidpaw cries, Claypatch cries with her, though she can hardly hear anything over the blood roaring in her ears. It feels like a piece of her has be ripped out and burned.
CHARREDPAW
For a while, she is conscious. Somehow.
It's not like she could do much, though.
Within moments of the water coming down on her, she loses sight of Wasppaw and Remedy. She loses sight of most things, in fact. As water and blood swirl and pound in her ears, she flails in the water, distinctly not having any sense of which way is up or down. Somehow, miraculously, she breaks the surface - for just a moment. She takes in a huge gulp of air as her body is being pushed around, just before she gets pulled under once more. She could feel herself losing track of her senses; everything was numbing, ebbing away.
And then, suddenly, she felt a huge, searing pain go all along her flank. Had anyone been around to see into the murky, deep water, they may have noted a tinge of red.
Things went dark for her then.
NIGHTKIT
A thorough splash went against Nightkit leaving him sopping wet despite Dahliapaw's efforts. It was too late but he wasn't swept away like his other litter mates in storm. He gave a weak whimper, slightly coughing back the storm water ingested. At best he yearned to be settled next to his kin. Not in the damp place where noised and water dared to swallow him whole. In response to Dahliapaw's reassurance, Nightkit gives another impatient shake sigbaling he wasn't down for the count just yet.
ORCHIDPAW
Orchidpaw crumbles. Her paw's on Claypatch's shoulder, and perhaps Claypatch's paw is on her back, and the sisters are holding each other--- but she knows that nothing will feel the same as Goldenlion's embrace.
SPIDERKIT
She should’ve kept quiet. She shouldn’t have opened her mouth. Spiderkit could hear the sounds of pained yowls over the sound of the crashing waves and she flattened her ears down as much as possible to drown it all out. Spiderkit didn’t want to think about it, if she ignored it maybe it would go away. They’d be at the barn and everyone would be happy. She’s quiet, wrapping her tail tightly around Stormskip’s leg for any hint of comfort. "I wanna.. I wanna go h-home." She chokes out, eyes clouded with mist.
A part of her doesn’t even want to look up and see the damage done, she doesn’t want to know who made it across and who didn’t. But the second Mistypaw cries out, she snaps her head up and chokes on her own breath. Relieved that Mothpaw had made it and if the situation was different, she’d giggle at how funny she looked when drenched. She can’t do much more than stare at Mothpaw, relieved that they made it, that they were safe.
DIMPAW
dimpaw put her tail over brindlepaw's back and allowed herself to collapse. where was the peace of yesterday? where was the happiness she felt when foxfoot gifted her a flower, and when she learned how to climb?
her heart felt pounded by a heavier weight than she'd ever known.
she just laid, completely exhausted, and wept into the damp ground below her. why did anything have to happen? why did she ever stay in the clan? if she'd never even known them, she couldn't know of the loss.
MOTHPAW
She couldn't move. She wanted to scream but couldn't, it was like a nightmare as she watches cats get pulled away by the rushing water. Cats she had only talked to once to cats that she was just starting to get to know like Goldenlion. Wait, Goldenlion?
Mothpaw's eyes widened, what. what? no! Mothpaw let out a blood curdling scream, her heartbeat increasing and she started to run full force to the water. "N-n-no, no, no! P-please!" She was a terrible apprentice to Goldenlion, she tried to avoid doing any duties possible and was just getting out of her shell! She wasn't ready! She'll work harder! She'll never skip a chore again! Just please come back…
STORMSKIP
Stormskip just looks deflated, his features drooped and the bags under his eyes seem much more noticeable. "Lets keep going." He says, his voice lacking all emotion. With that, he grabs Spiderkit by the scruff and follows the clan to the barn.