Not even the Wind speaks [WC Flood Topic]

Barleytuft only half woke when a first wave splashed his nose as he took a deep breath in his sleep. The sandy tabby warrior coughed once, creating bubbles in the water for a moment before he managed to suck in another half-water breath. Then his eyes shot wide open and he scrambled upright as he begun to sputter and cough and sneeze, sending water shooting out of his nose. Still coughing lightly, Barleytuft gazed around the den feeling confused. The sounds of water around him were quickly joined by the sounds of a chaotic Clan; apprentices and warriors alike were yowling and shouting orders and laments across the camp. Where in StarClan's name had all this water come from? How quickly had it arrived? From the sounds of it, the sky had practically opened up. If there was this much water now - here, on the moor - then how much more was there in the forest? How much would there be?

The experienced WindClan warrior exited the den. Upon exiting he saw Rabbitfrost, one of his fellow Clanmates, helping to pull Barleytuft's apprentice Gingerpaw to safety. He heard the other tom instruct the she-cat to leave, and Barleytuft caught Rabbitfrost's gaze for an instant to nod gratefully. His hazel gaze caught Gingerpaw's as well. He could see the fear and concern and desire to help on her face, but he gave her the most reassuring smile and nod that he could before she obediently followed the rest of the Clan as it began to flee the camp. Finchbreeze's voice rang out over the storm, "Find higher ground!"

A flash of two familiar silver tabby pelts outside the medicine den caught Barleytuft's attention, and immediately he gasped, "Graybriar!" The lanky warrior raced across the camp, sending water spraying up on all sides of him, to arrive at Briarpaw and Graybriar's side. The senior warrior had been injured by a fox recently - far too recently for her to her to be able to swim should it come to that. Briarpaw's jaws were full of what herbs he could carry. He needed to focus on those; the Clan would certainly need it. "I've got you, Graybriar," Barleytuft said determinedly, pressing his side against hers and offering support to her side with a bad leg. "Don't worry, Briarpaw, we're going to make it." Make it where? he wondered.

Gently, Barleytuft helped to lead Graybriar towards the exit of the camp.

Swiftstep calculated a few things in his head before answering Finchbreeze's second response, "Let's go there instead then. We need to be at the highest place we can be. Make sure you note where everybody is and who they're with so we don't leave anybody behind by accident. Also, see if you can find Brindlestar. We need her here with us. I'll go assist the elders alongside Grousepaw." The tom had noticed the apprentice run over to the den from the corner of his eye. He definately needed help. Once he was done speaking, he flashed Finchbreeze a confident half-smile and rushed to the elders den.

"Grousepaw, Quailfeather, let us help the other two up and get out of here. The flood water is starting to rise slightly so we must hurry." Swiftstep said with an urgent tone as he began to assist Silentstrike to his paws.

Finchbreeze had never been one to boss. He strived to view all cats as equals, friends. But Windclan needed a leader, and Finchbreeze had made a promise. Decision made, Finchbreeze lifted his muzzle to the sky and yowled, "Windclan! Group together and head towards Highstones! Make sure no cat is left behind!" His voice rang out through the clearing, the silence after quickly occupied with the sound of rushing water. The tom was young, inexperienced and fighting back panic. Confidence was a privilege, one Windclan couldn't survive without. Murkpaw and Aspenpaw stood beside the deputy, both strong apprentices, capable. "Something's going on with the water." He told them, blood roaring in his ears. "You two check the nursery, help the queens with their kits and head toward Highstones." Without another word, the orange and white tabby raced away, wanting to deliver the message to all Windclan's warriors.

The tom skidded to a halt by the medicine cat den, droplets spraying in his wake. Barleytuft. "Highstones." The deputy panted, "Get Graybriar and Briarpaw there safely." Barleytuft was a strong warrior, smart. Finchbreeze knew he could prevail. Grousepaw was spotted diving into the elder's den, more than likely to help with Quailfeather, with Swiftstep's added help, they'd no doubt arrive safely. Finchbreeze's yellow eyes darted back and forth over his clanmates, attempting to account for all of them. Rabbitfrost was assisting Gingerpaw and Blossompetal was already on her way to the nursery.

There were still many warriors in camp, and no sign of Brindlestar. And no Brookclover... The tom had lost sight of his mate since the flooding started, but he pushed the thought into the back of his mind. She's strong, she'll be fine. Summoning his last strand of confidence, the deputy yowled one more, earsplitting call, his voice reverberating off the hills. "Those of you outside of camp, keep going! I'll stay behind with the rest of the warriors, and make sure everyone makes it out safely!"

At the first touch of water on his short pelt, Deerpaw shot up and stood on the very tips of his paws. Where had all this come from? Orders from Finchbreeze and other warriors drifted to his ears and he could clearly see that the whole camp - no, the whole territory - was covered with water. Never stagnant, it moved across the rolling hills at a pace that made the iron-willed tom uneasy. Things were going to get worse. He turned to find Mistpaw, moving to her side to ensure they didn't lose each other in the evacuation.


Spiderfur found herself at a bit of a disadvantage. She was short compared to many of her Clanmates, and the water could easily pull her away if she wasn't careful. Tail twitching incessantly, her eyes flashed across camp for something she could do instead of just stand and let herself succumb to panic. She spotted her son moving towards the elders' den and her gaze went from general alarm to fear in but a second. The senior warrior sloshed her way towards where her cousins slept, and though she was afraid of the den collapsing due to the water, she was more afraid of losing her kin. She should've been a tunneler by the way she weaseled her way into the back of the den and came beside a fellow short cat, Gustpuddle. The air felt horribly humid and the water was spilling into the den at an alarming rate. "C-C-Come on, we're not l-leaving wi-without you. W-W-We're going to Highstones." She nudged her cousin and friend towards the exit, her own body trembling as reality set in.

Graybriar let out a sigh of relief when she saw that Briarpaw was all right. Her only living child... she didn't know what she'd do with herself if he was dead. A similar flood of relief washed over her at the sight of Barleytuft skidding through the thin but constant stream of water. "What are you doing, coming back for me? You should be getting out of here!" Her light blue eyes were full of worry, knowing that she'd only slow him down. But he didn't seem willing to leave her... of course, she wouldn't have left him if he were the injured one. "Okay... let's go to Highstones. But quickly." She accepted his support gratefully, leaning heavily on him where her injured leg was, and began limping through the liquid. For being only paw-deep, the water was surprisingly fast and it made the already muddy ground below impossibly slippery. Without Barleytuft, she would have fallen at least three times before they even started getting out of the camp.


Quailfeather took deep breaths, managing to calm herself. Grousepaw, one of Brindlestar's kits, made it in and began helping. But she saw the worry deep in the young tom's eyes. "The rain has made the river overflow," she told him gruffly, trying her hardest to stand up and escape the over-softness of her feather-stuffed, waterlogged nest. "If we can get out before the worst reaches us, we can come back and rebuild once the sun dries it all." If the sun dries it all, her pessimistic brain reminded her, but she shook her head. There was no reason for her to give in to her dead back leg until after she'd helped everyone else out of the elder's den. Swiftstep also appeared, helping her mate to his paws, for which she was grateful. As long as the others got out alive... But just because she acted confident didn't mean she felt like it. The chill of the water had already gotten to her bones, making her three still-working limbs weak and shaky. That, combined with her age and the dead weight dragging uselessly behind her, made it nearly impossible for her to even move in the slippery underground den. She nudged Gustpuddle up along with Spiderfur, and pushed Silentstrike towards the exit, though she made no overt move to attempt an escape herself. She knew it was futile.

The dam is broken and WindClan must reach Highstones to survive. As the waters are too rough, to survive, each WindClanner leap onto the few trees at the edge of the territories as you float by to avoid being impaled to death/crushed/wounded/drowning. To see if your cat makes it, roll the Hunting Die.

1-5 - You make it.
6-10 - You fail, and get swept away... Who knows where you will go?

Disabled cats must roll 1-3 to make it.

All kits must be carried by a warrior or they get swept away by default.

Where to find the die?

Gingerpaw followed the group of evacuating cats of her clan, trying hard to keep running and not letting her thick fur weight her down... however... when the dam broke she froze... and saw a huge amount of water coming.

With a jump of fear, Gingerpaw ran to the nearest tree, leaping at it and holding on for dear life with her claws, climbing as quick as she could.

She manage to hold in a branch as the current of water swept away below her.

"S-Starclan please help us...!" she mewed pitifully.

The member 'zeroa5raven' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 2

Graybriar was full of hope for once as she limped towards the camp exit, Barleytuft and Briarpaw on either side. But then, they all heard a loud crack. Slowly, unwillingly, the warrior turned her head towards the source of the sound... And saw a giant floodwall of water racing towards them. She would have run to the sparse trees on the territory's edge, hoping to find shelter there, but her injured leg crumpled beneath her and she was helpless as the river reached her, sweeping her off her paws and away from her son... and her mate. "Briarpaw! Barleytuft!" she cried out in anguish, watching their faces retreat from her before she was pummeled down under the water, swallowing thick muddy lungfuls of the stuff before pushing painfully up to grab a desperate breath of air. Where was she going? Where was it taking her? Would they be safe?! Thoughts raced improbably through her head, but for now her main objective had to be survival. There was no way she could stay afloat with her damaged leg.

The member 'Ash' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 5

The ground began to rumble underpaw, making the flooding water ripple more than it already was. Looking up to find a large wave of water practically upon them, Rabbitfrost gasped. He took a few paces back, then turned and raced through the water, trying to avoid the current while simultaneously finding any kits to save at the last minute. He quickly came across one who had been separated by their mother and gripped its scruff tightly before continuing his race to the tallest point in camp -- Tallrock -- where the higher ground would provide some kind of protection from the flood.

He leaped as high up as he could onto the rock during the final neck of the race against the wave, just narrowly avoiding getting washed away. With his adrenaline not yet wearing out, he failed to feel the harsh gash created in his inner right leg when it got caught on the pointed end of a broken branch dragged in from the moors.

The member 'Yoshachu Scorchachu' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 1

Quailfeather didn't see the wall of water- she only heard the loud crack before hearing the screams and frantic splashing of cats above. Though she knew she couldn't get out of the elder's den, her heart was full of fear for the other cats that had come into this death-trap to help her. "Go! Get out!" she hissed at them, voice harsh to cover up the terror and worry. She shoved at Swiftstep, Spiderfur and Grousepaw, then tugged urgently at her fellow elders to get out. Then, the water poured in, thick and full of mud and grass. There was nowhere for her to go. Water forced itself down her throat as she tried to yell, choking her. She was a goner. At least she wouldn't be a burden on anyone's life anymore, like she'd been for so many moons. With her last waterlogged breath, she forced somecat out of the elder's den, not knowing who it was... as long as they were safe, her life had been worth something. But now, she could die in peace. Without knowing whether her friends and family were safe. The injured elder didn't bother struggling against the pounding force of the intrusive river, just let it carry her to the ceiling of the den, following the ebb and flow of its furious currents. Her limp body had the life battered out of it against the walls, and her last thought was of Silentstrike... hoping with all her heart that either he'd be safe, or they'd meet soon in StarClan. After so many moons of life, defending her Clan with every breath, Quailfeather had been beaten by a flood of water, left dead in a muddy, disgusting pool with a destroyed back leg and ruined eye... but now at least her soul would be intact. Her time had come. She was going to her reward.

Would Laurelsong be there?

The member 'Ash' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 4

"Flooding?" Grousepaw questioned as water continued to pour in. A deep sense of urgency building in his chest as he pulled at her scruff to fight against her dead leg working against them when the dull rumbling became a full on roar.

The cries of clanmates echoed through the camp, and as Grousepaw was shoved out of the elder's den by Quailfeather he could tell the grim truth. He wouldn't see her again. The fierce tumbling wave of mud and grass choked his lungs. His eyes felt blinded by murk and for a long moment fear clutched his heart.

The last time he had been in such complete darkness was when he was a tiny kit at his mother's side. The last time he was so deaf was when he couldnt hear his own mewls. Now, he didn't hear his own voice as he cried in desperation for Brindlestar. Tears hidden by mud in his eyes as he felt his limbs drag out from beneath him and swept him. The rushing water offered him only one token of solace. A large black thing that floated on top of the flooding water that reeked of twolegs and monsters so strongly that for a moment he thought it was one. Yet, as it crushed into him he dug his claws into the hard surface and clung on for dear life as the water took him. A single wail following as he yowled desperately for the one who could save him... his mother.