Here for You [Open]

The small Skyclan patrol had barely crossed the border when the damage became evident. Rippedsky's eyes widened in horror. Clearly, Thunderclan had not experienced the same miracle that had come upon their clan. His blue eyes cast a nervous glance over the charred earth. Where are they? He had never stepped foot into their territory before. This was the black and white warrior's first time seeing it, and it was vastly different from the normal luscious forest that typically dominated this land. The tom shook his head sadly. He was grateful for the fact that his own clan was safe, but seeing Thunderclan territory in this state caused a pit in his stomach.  Instantly he knew that is had been a good call to come here.

"We will look around a bit and see if we find any Thunderclan cats." He left the idea hanging that there were none. Rippedsky send up a silent prayer to Starclan that this was not the case. His tail flickered anxiously as they padded further in. With Lilyheart and Pansyface behind him, the Skyclan warrior hoped not to look like too much of a threat. They were simply here to try and help. He had figured that both Shadowclan and Riverclan territories were safe from the effects of the fire. Thunderclan had taken the worst of it. The tom raised his noise in the air, searching for any sign of the other clan cats.

Hailkit, Tigerkit, Splashkit, Redkit, and Birchkit looked over at the Skyclan cats and muttered among themselves.

Cloudstorm followed behind her children and ushered them behind her. "Hey! We're over here!!" The soott covered white she cat meowed, her fur looked light gray and she had some burns.

Lilyheart didn't know how she managed to get onto the patrol to Thunderclan, but she was chosen by Rippedsky and she supposed that was reason enough. But she wasn't in the best shape, she had inhaled a lot of smoke and possibly could of died if it hadn't been for Hawkstrike pulling her out of that mess. Her face scrunched up in confused, her beautiful black and white fur much less white than it had been before. The taste of the soot had been foul on her tongue so she didn't wish to continue any further, she'd have to deal with being a black cat for now.

A cough riddled the young she-cat as her face scrunched as she tried to hold it back, wouldn't due to show any weakness on such an important patrol. The she-cats eyes opened at the sight of the kittens, mixed feelings bubbling in her guts. They had survived the fire! But... they were alone? Lilyheart felt a wave of relief as she saw another she-cat follow after the kittens, padding up to be more beside Rippedsky she meowed.

"Hello! You're from Thunderclan I assume?" She questioned before turning to look down at the kittens, a soft gleam to her eyes. As she matured she started feeling more fond towards kittens, a silent wish that she could have kittens sometime soon. Shaking her head she looked back to the thunderclan cat. "These are really beautiful kits you've got here, are they yours?" She pondered, her voice as gentle and soothing as ever.

Cloudstorm purred. "Yes they are my first litter of kits. My second is back at Sunningrocks with the rest of my clan. Can I help you?" She meowed looking at the troop of cats.

Pansyface couldn't suppress a shocked gasp as their small patrol entered ThunderClan territory, and the full extent of the tragic fire became apparent. The scent of smoke and ash clouded the once clear air, and though the patched she-cat had managed to avoid inhaling too much smoke during the blaze, she began to cough a bit. Blackened twigs and leaves were everywhere, and most of the trees and bushes were darkened skeletons of their former selves. A great rush of pity was apparent on her face, as she turned her attention back to the path ahead of them.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Lilyheart looked less than comfortable; her close friend had taken some of the worst effects of the smoke and Pansyface shifted so she walked closer to the white and speckled warrior. The sudden appearance of the kits surprised her a bit, but once their mother appeared the young warrior was relieved. At least there are a few survivors.... "I'm glad to see you and your kits managed to escape the fire, is the rest of your clan as fortunate?"

Sadness flashed in Cloudstorm eyes at the mention of her clan mates. "All but my brother. He died from a burning branch. But everybody else is at Sunningrocks. Would you like me to take you there?" She meowed.

Rippedsky managed to smile down at the kits as they stood near their mother. It was a relief to see that there were still Thunderclan cats around. He had half expected them to have vacated the territory given the state it was in. Even more shocking was the fact that they were on Sunningrocks. For a while now Riverclan had a hold on the rocks. They probably did not take kindly to the another clan was currently staying there. Although, Fishstar wasn't heartless. Maybe she understood. Regardless, it was good to know that the clan was safe.

"I'm sorry for your loss." He meowed grimly, glancing at the blackened floor. It had been a good decision to bring along Pansyface and Lilyheart. Both were kind cats and had already made a friendly connection with the Thunderclan she cat. The deputy nodded his head in response to Cloudstorm's words, "I would like to speak with Darkstar if possible. It would mean a lot if you were able to lead us there." Since he had only ever been in Windclan and Skyclan, the deputy had no idea where Sunningrocks was. He was grateful for her willingness to take them.

Cloudstorm nodded and turned beckoning everybody with her tail. She led three through the territory she knew by heart, although true forest was blackened and charred she knew her way around. As they approached Sunningrocks she slowed down a little to wiat for the Skyclan cats to catch up.

"That must be hard on all of you.. Skyclan had caught fire too, one of our apprentice's say that it was a grey tabby tom with fire in his jaws." She meowed solemnly, unsure if she should be mentioning that mysterious...mist. She had been too out of it at the time, having been on the edge of unconsciousness for the arrival and departure of that mist. The young she-cat stumbled briefly, hissing at the curse that was the ground.

Lilyheart looked to the devastation above her, the trees too packed and burnt to really climb and travel through. The she-cat gave a soft wistful sigh before stumbling over a root, her fur flushing from how ungraceful and unprofessional she was being. Pulling up her head she fluffed out her fur before shaking it just the right way to flatten it once more.

Cloudstorm flinched. "Rockthorn?" She meowed. That was the only tom she knew who had a dark gray tabby pelt, and he would have loved to cause and watch all this destruction.

Pansyface murmured sympathetically as the ThunderClan queen mentioned her brother's unfortunate death, and fell in to walk with the group as they made their way towards where the clan was camping. Listening as Lilyheart made friendly conversation, she was shocked to hear a name connected with the alleged cat who started all this; and in the end it didn't surprise her at all. Rumors had been speculated for a while about Rockthorn's whereabouts and intention, and none of what they had come up with was good. With a slight growl, Pansyface slid her claws out and dug them into the earth, tearing up bits of soil as she walked. "That fox-heart....trying to kill his own clanmates, maiming apprentices, and now setting the forest on fire?! Great StarClan....if it's all true, how could any cat be so heartless?" She had no idea of the connection this she-cat shared with Rockthorn, and the last thing she wanted to do was offend or sadden her, but Pansyface was known for always speaking the blunt truth.

Cloudstorm flinched. "He wasn't always like this.. He used to be so kind and sweet, but I don't know what happened. Apparently after asulting one of Windclan's apprentices he assulted one of our kits and warriors. He was about to be put to death but he escaped." She meowed bitterness seeping into her voice.

A Thunderclan warrior had maimed a Windclan cat, threatened his own clanmates? It baffled Rippedsky how the tom had managed to escape from the clan without any further harm done to him. Unfortunately, that had lead to the forest fires as well. His features darkened. Normally, the black and white tom would try to see the best in others or offer up forgiveness, but this particular cat needed to be taken care of. Rockthorn would need to be hunted down by all the clans if that was what it took. Internally, the deputy vowed to make sure that grey tom would never harm his clan again.

He nodded along with Pansyface's words. All that his warrior had said was true. With an internal sigh, he looked up to meet Cloudstorm's eyes, "Regardless of who he used to be, Rockthorn has become a danger to all the clans. He has destroyed your territory.. and most likely harmed the others as well. We will need to take care of him, much like we did with Bear." Mentioning the rogue's name felt wrong. It had been so many moons and yet the vicious brown tom's mark was still on many cats in the forest. His tail flickered as he glanced around for the clan leader or deputy. They needed to talk.

Cloudstorm nodded. "He was once my mate but I agree. Rockthorn must die at all costs. And with him running around the forest our kits will never be safe from him. Especially his own." The she cat meowed her chest tightening with each and everyone of her words.