Stormy Night [Open Clan Event] [Trail by Fire prt. 3]

Crowstar sat outside his den. The night was in full swing. Clouds covered the sky making it dark an impossible to see the stars. In the distance the black fluffy leader could hear the rumbles of a storm approaching. The wind hadn't calmed down too much since he lost his other life. It went between blowing down branches to just a gentle breeze some days but it was always there.

The leader had been around long enough that he knew this storm was going to be bad. He had a feeling the other warriors knew too, but they were safely nestled into their nests while he was stuck being awake. Suffering was the only word he could use to describe these past few moons. He was far to weak to do anything. Anytime he left the camp something bad happened. He just wished that he could get better. It was bad enough that Starclan cursed him with slow healing. His voice was weak, he had trouble walking ever since the tree fell on him. Was he ever going to be back to the strength he had before?

The leader flinched as he felt the first drop of the storm fall right on his head. He looked up to the sky once more as the rain slowly dripped from the sky and increasing in intensity as time shortly passed by. Soon enough he was soaked. His fur stuck close to his thin form. The ground in the camp was soaked. They only dry area left was in the dens to which the leader refused to go back into. Either way something was going to happen to where he was going to get soaked anyway.

Crowstar's ears twitched when the wind picked up. The trees and branches swaying in the strong wind. Groaning in protest to the movement making the leader paranoid. His attention went to the edge of camp as soon as he heard a snap, and a tree branch fell crushing the barrier at the edge of camp. This wasn't good... They needed to leave.

Musing up as much volume as he could the leader shouted. "Skyclan! We need to leave! Head for Moonlit Creek!" It was the safest area in their territory.

Tinylegs awoke from the loud crash of thunder and the small cat's head shot up. What in StarClan's name... Hearing the heavy sound of rain, the white tom turned his tired gaze to the den entrance to see raindrops hit the ground. Hm, it'd been a while sense they'd gotten such a storm like this one. hearing the sound of their father outside, the little warrior stood up and prodded his brother awake and headed out of the den. Within seconds, his pelt was dripping with water and the ground was starting to become soggy, making it somewhat hard to walk with his short legs. Making his way to Crowstar, the rain made his pelt heavy and his tired muscles screamed to go back to bed.

"Quite a storm!" Tinylegs meowed to his father although his words were lost from the crash of thunder that sounded in the distance. His father seemed to be just a miserable as him with his longer pelt and he wondered what the leader was planning with his idea of going to the Moonlit Creek.

~~~

Being woken up from his peaceful slumber, the black tom gave a yawn. Looking around, he saw his brother leave the den and noticed the heavy rain that thudded against the earth. Why was Tinylegs going into the rain? He'd catch a cold! Angry that his brother was so clueless, Antdrop got up, grumpy as usual, and made his way to the entrance of the warrior den, not daring to go into the rain. What did Crowstar want? He wondered, but stayed where he stood; warm, dry, and clearly the only sane cat in the clan.

Breezewhisker woke up to his father's yowl, glancing outside to see the bad storm clouds. He noticed with horror that the den was leaking- it was that bad already? The thought of more damage to the camp was alarming. He ran outside, wind ruffling his fur. Rain fell heavily on his already-wet pelt, chilling him to the bone. "Help the kits and queens first!" he yowled urgently. He ran into the nursery, ding for Fawnsplash. "Get up, get up!" If his mate wasn't safe, his life would be over. He was worried- the Clan couldn't survive another disaster. They were just starting to rebuild... Why, StarClan?

Squirrelpaw had fallen asleep with her fluffy tail resting on her nose, and it had been very easy to drift off into slumber as it had been a very long day. However, her peaceful dreaming had been interrupted by the sound of harsh wind, harsher than it should be. The young apprentice tried to block out the sound by flattening her ears against her head, but it only made the wind seem to echo and get louder. Finally giving up on sleeping, the she-cat lifted her head and looked around. Squirrelpaw tried to calm herself down, until she heard Crowstar's call outside. The last thing she wanted to do was go out into the wind and the falling rain, but if the rest of her Clan was going to go, then she would have to go too. The moment she exited the den, her fur was blown the wrong way, and her fur was automatically drenched. It made her look like a ginger, white, and brown mop. Squirrelpaw shivered, wonder in where her mother was.
"I just hope it doesn't get any worse." She muttered under her breath, but it was hard to hear her own self, as her voice was drowned out by the wind.

♣~♣~♣~♣~♣~♣~♣~♣~♣~♣~♣~♣~♣~♣~♣~♣~♣~♣~♣~♣

What is with the wind...? Was the first thought that popped into Vixenheart's mind as the silence of sleep was disturbed by the wind. At first, she thought it was just apart of a dream that she was about to have, but as it continued and got louder, she got a bit concerned. The deputy lifted her head up slowly, blinking the sleep out of her eyes, but being snapped back to reality as she saw what was going out outside of the den. The next thing she heard, even though it was hard to hear over the wind, was Crowstar's call. Vixenheart immediately rushed forwards to leave the den, nudging every warrior that she passed to wake them up.
"Wake up! We're leaving!" She said to the cats in the den, just in case they didn't hear, before she left the warriors den swiftly. She was startled by the cold water that got straight to soaking her ginger-and-white fur, and the wind caused some of it to spray into her eyes. She followed Breezewhisker into the nursery, looking at the kits that were curled up with Fawnsplash. In turn, she gently nudged each of them.
"Wake up, little ones, we're going somewhere else." Vixenheart said, trying to make it sound like an adventure and not a death hazard.

Fawnsplash woke up to the sound of harsh wind and Crowstars yowl. Her first instinct was to look down and make sure Eaglekit, Sparrowkit, and Tigerkit were still there. She let out a momentary sigh of relief when she realized they were safe and sleeping before her mate crashed into the nursery, drenched in water and soon followed by a just as wet Vixenheart. "Breezewhisker? Vixenheart?" She meowed, her heart immediately starting to race when she saw the urgent looks on their faces and heard the turmoil outside, but kept a calm façade so her kits wouldn't worry. She rose to her paws, helping Vixenheart nudge her little ones awake. "What's happening?" She meowed loudly over the wind, attempting to keep it calm. What was happening outside didn't sound very great and the thought of having to bring her kits out into it made her shudder. She was starting to panic and she knew that wasn't good, but then she looked at Breezewhisker and she seemed to get her bearings again. I will not let anything happen to my family. She vowed silently to herself. She took a deep breath before turning back to her kits and picking up Eaglekit and handing him off to Breezewhisker, then Sparrowkit to Vixenheart. Then she picked up Tigerkit. She didn't even ask if they'd help, she just assumed and somehow knew they would. Why else would they be in the nursery if they didn't want to help. She was still getting used to being noticed and cared about. She gave them a greatful smile, as best she could with Tigerkit in her jaws, and sent a quick prayer to StarClan that they'd all end up okay after all this was over.

Moonlight was sitting near the entrance of the den like she used to, it was already part of her daily routine to look at the stars for some time before going to sleep on a nest right next to Tinylegs’. This night, however, the storm clouds and strong winds covered the sky, much to her dismay, and if she wasn’t on her nest yet was because her body had grown so used to her schedule that she simply couldn’t fall asleep just yet.

It was then when the thunder made her jump, and though she couldn’t see it she did hear the branch falling on the barrier that surrounded the camp. That mixed with Crowstar’s yowl was more than enough to make her run out from the warrior’s den, regardless of the rain that soon soaked her entire figure and chilled her to the bone.

Her mind wasn’t on herself though. Instead of joining the gathering crowd of cats in camp she followed Breezewhisker and Vixenheart inside the nursery, heart beating quickly against her chest “The kits won’t be able to keep up with the rest of the clan on their own, we’ll need to carry them” She said as she stepped inside, greeting Fawnsplash with a quick polite nod. She smiled as the queen took action even before she was done speaking, heading towards the remaining kits and making sure they were fine “The dens are starting to leak and a branch already crushed part of the barrier, we need to leave camp right now. We'll be heading to Moonlit Creek!” Moonlight did her best to answer Fawnsplash's question as quickly as possible, shivering at the thought of another branch falling on the fleeing cats or the dens collapsing over their heads.

The silver tabby she-cat was clearly starting to panic, each second they spent there was a true risk for the lives of everyone in the clan, they had to leave, there was no time to waste “We need another cat, Vixenheart!” She mowed in a hurry as she gently grabbed Viperkit by the scruff and tried to hurry Ashkit out of the nursery, hoping that someone would help her carry him.

Viperkit squealed as she was picked up by the scuff. Already so much was happening around the tiny she-kit, the small little bundle of thicket-grey fur. "What's going on?" Viperkit asked, her voice raised as much as it could be. She grappled at nothing but air with batting paws, and outstretched claws. She looked down at her chest fur, and licked it. Perhaps she shouldn't have raised her voice, but she was merely a kit. As she dangled from Moonlight's jaws, she caught sight of an ebony blur. Yellow beads nestled in its skull, and Viperkit watched it with admiration. Crowstar, the leader! Viperkit thought with awe.

The world spun as cats clambered. Their paws were quick and fleet, and Viperkit was slightly envious. If only she could be as swift as them, their legs long and bodies lanky. Oh, but she wasn't. It was clear she looked up to the leader with silent esteem. Already her abilities were unusually mature, but she barely spoke unless it was of dire need. And now, the leader was addressing the clan. Get out, now! Go to the Moonlit Creek! Now, what was the Moonlit Creek? Wonder filled Viperkit's mind.

She soon saw the world swirl into a pit of darkness, and finally went limp.

Run.

Breezewhisker took Eaglekit gently in his mouth, nodding along to Moonlight's words. Moonlit Creek... the place where he and Fawnsplash had become mates. It was a very symbolic place to him- where he and the she-cat had confessed mutual love, healed each other's hearts. It was that moment that had fixed Breezewhisker's life, and he was not throwing away his shot letting it be the same place to ruin his newfound peace. Though Eaglekit, Tigerkit and Sparrowkit were the kits of another tom and his mate, Crowstar's had decided to treat them as his own. After giving a reassuring nudge to his mate, he headed out of the den with Eaglekit in his jaws.

The driving wind and rain were intensifying, nearly blowing Breezewhisker off of his course. What little leaves had been left on the trees swirled through the air at violent speeds. The ground was slick, wet and muddy, and the gray tabby tom had to use his long tail to balance himself as he headed out towards the Moonlit Creek. The air was freezing cold, but the wetness of the air and his pelt combined to make an uncomfortable level of humidity. His pelt was no longer drenched only with rain, but also with sweat from the effort of running through the mud and against the wind, breathing hard through his slightly open mouth, concentrating on keeping him and the kit in his jaws safe. A territory full of trees was not a safe place for a storm of this caliber- the opposite, in fact. The warrior couldn't stop glancing up in terror of a tree branch landing on him, killing or injuring him and the kit he held in his jaws. Though he was terrified on behalf of both him and Eaglekit, his thoughts kept on drifting back to Fawnsplash. Was she right behind him? Still in the nursery? She was a strong warrior, he knew, but she had recently given birth, which he knew was very taxing. Thornpaw, Poppysong, Crowstar.... Were his family members okay, too? StarClan, dear StarClan, be merciful, please...

Rowanpaw emerged from the apprentice's den at the call of his leader. The brown and ginger apprentice looked around at the panic unsure of what to do. Others were calling to each other. The leader for once was moving around the camp. He had heard the thunder and the wind but chose to ignore it, but it seemed he couldn't anymore. He heard the warriors cries of needing to leave. Rowanpaw turned back into the apprentice's den and started nudging others awake. "Hurry! We need to leave! To Moonlit Creek!" He told the others. Outside he heard another snap of a branch that soon came crashing down onto the camp.

---

Crowstar watched as chaos started. He knew this was the best choice. He needed to keep his clan safe. He looked at Tinylegs seeing Antdrop int the background. "Get out of here. Get anyone who needs help and get to the Moonlit Creek. It's safer there." The leader told his sons. He needed to make sure everyone was out. He had lives to risk. They didn't. They only had one.. He needed to keep them safe. The black leader moved on closer to the nursery and the apprentices' den to make sure if anyone needed help he would be right there to help them. He kept a count of everyone he saw in his head. He wouldn't leave without everyone. Everyone needed to be safe.

In the midst of chaos, Cherrypaw sat hunched against the back of the apprentices' den. Around her, the whiteness was madness, all the sounds making her dizzy and pained with horror. "SAGEPAW! TINYLEGS! MOONLIGHT!" she called with tears in her beautiful but blind eyes. She tried to push herself upwards, but as lightning struck outside, the shock send the she-cat curled down on the ground. The mud staining her white pelt sent her in a miserable state and sobbing and screaming for help, to scared to go outside on her own.

Her nose picked up the scent of her leader, and Cherrypaw dragged herself with exhaustion, calling with a drowned out voice. "Crowstar! Crowstar, I'm here, don't leave me!" she yowled, hoping that through the storm, the leader will hear her.

Vixenheart padded swiftly over to Ashkit after Moonlight's call. It was a bit difficult to hold two scruffs in her mouth, but Vixenheart managed to carry the two in her jaws as she raced over to Antdrop. She felt Sparrowkit begin to slip, threatening to fall out of her jaws. When she reached Antdrop, she set Ashkit down at his paws, not bothering to ask him, like Fawnsplash had done. After passing over Ashkit to Antdrop, the she-cat made sure that Sparrowkit wouldn't fall out, before making one last check of the nursery.
No more kits to carry...Fawnsplash is out. Vixenheart thought. Her heart was racing as raindrops went straight into her eyes and the wind buffeted her fur. She was silently praying to StarClan as she rushed around, hoping that none of her Clanmates would die tonight. They didn't deserve to. The deputy turned around to look at Cherrypaw after hearing her wails, and she ignored the exit to the camp that she had been headings for.
She decided not to say anything, since Sparrowkit was still hanging from her jaws, but gently and swiftly nudged Cherrypaw towards Tinylegs, her father. Vixenheart knew that Cherrypaw was blind, and she couldn't help but feel a little bit sorry for the she-cat at a horrifying moment like this. Vixenheart stopped nudging the apprentice after she was beside Tinylegs, and then moved away to head towards the exit.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

Squirrelpaw sighed in relief as her mother and her siblings were taken out of the nursery. However, her short moment of relief was transformed back into fear after another gust of wind threatened to knock her off of her paws. She began to pad towards the entrance, as quickly as she could, with the wind pushing against her smaller frame. All the while, she continued to shiver as more cold rain soaked her long fur. Up in the sky, a bright and quick flash of lightning illuminated the sky. It streaked across the darkness with jagged movement, before striking a tree branch that had been shaking back and forth due to the wind. Right after being hit, the tree branch exploded into a burst of red flames, with gray smoke rising up from it. That was enough for the tree branch to fall from the tree itself, and it hurtled down, straight towards and oblivious Squirrelpaw.

From the warriors den a silver warrior with yellow eyes padded out hurriedly from her father's calls. "Dad! What's going in why are we leaving?? Wait where is Magpiepaw and Pineeye?" Ghostpelt meowed and looked around worried for her mate and daughter. The warrior dashed off to the apprentices den and looked in only seeing her brothers blind daughter. "Cherrypaw dear calm down. Nobody's gonna leave you I'm right here. It's me your aunt Ghostpelt. I'm gonna get you out of here ok? I want you to bite on my tail and I'll lead you out of here? I'll get you back to my brother." The silver she cat meowed coming closer and putting her tail in front of the she cat. "Ok grab on honey." she meowed and waited for her to do so.

Crowstar wanted to answer his daughter about what was going on, but when he saw the tree branch light up in flames and start falling towards Squirrelpaw the leader dashed over and shoved the small apprentice out of the way as the heavy tree branch fell on top of him. He managed to scream out "Leave!" Before another life was taken from him. They needed to be safe. They needed to be alright. He needed to protect them. The black leader laid limp as the fire singed his fur, but the heavy rain soon put it all out. The only danger being the weak trees threatening to fall on their camp.

OCC: I wanted to jump in on this with Eaglepaw because he's an apprentice now, but everyone has him down as a kit in this. Any chance I could RP him as an apprentice here?

Noticing the fear scent, Tinylegs looked around at the panicking clan. The wind howled and the storm raged on as he tried to look around through the rain that pelted his eyes. What in StarClan's name was happening? Cats were yelling left and right and unable to clearly see anything, he prayed that Moonlight was alright. After a few moments of looking around and unable to find Antdrop or his father, the small tom let out a huff. They'd be alright, right?

Barely able to hear his name being called a few times, Tinylegs looked around and noticed most of the clan was making their way to a certain area that was luckily clear of the fire. Running as fast as his little legs could carry him, he ran towards the crowd of cats, following them to where ever they were going. Most of him wanted to stay behind and help, but he knew that he'd probably get in the way, so following the rest of the clan was probably the best idea.

~~~

Looking in horror as his world burst into chaos, Antdrop sprinted out into the rain, not caring if he got soaked anymore. Looking around, his heart pounded as he tried to find Tinylegs but not looking where he was going, the tom slipped in the mud and fell on his side with a thud. Hissing at the pain, he scrambled to get up and let out a yowl as he watched a burning tree branch fall down into the camp.

Just a few foxlengths away, he gazed in horror at the tree as it reeked havoc upon the cats and he didn't know what to think of anything anymore. Where there cats under the tree? Questions and thoughts raced through his mind as he stood frozen stiff until something caught his attention. Crowstar? The leader's fluffy black pelt was hardly visible under the singed tree but being his son, he could recognize his father from anywhere.

Racing over to the older tom, he looked at the situation. "I'll get you out!" he meowed hastily and put all of his weight on the branch. The burning tree stung his shoulders like nothing he'd ever felt before and as much as he disliked his father, he'd never let him lose a life, not like this at least.