Spat from the Waves [West Shore, Closed]

How many hours had passed? How many more hours would pass? Soon after the floodwaters had washed him away from RiverClan camp, Scorchclaw had been fortunate enough to encounter a suitable-sized branch in the water. Half-draping his large form over the "life buoy," he had then proceeded to cling on with all of his strength. For all he knew, a long stretch of time had now gone by. The rough waters tossed and shook the branch like a plaything within their grasp, and it was all he could do to simply keep from falling off. His muscles were beginning to ache from their extended exertion. He had long left the forest behind, and unfamiliar scenery continued to sweep by on either side of the shore, far out of his reach.  The river's roar never left his ears. When, at last, the current began to slow, a rocky cliff had risen against the sky. The fluffy deputy lifted his head, pale-green gaze directed at the quickly-approaching shore—land at last.

Scorchclaw allowed the current to sweep him towards the rocks. By now, the river's rage seemed to have ceased somewhat. Reminiscent of a spoiled kit whose temper had finally been appeased, it began to grudgingly release the fragments of the playthings it had so violently shredded. When the flow of the waters had slowed enough, Scorchclaw slipped off the branch and began to slowly paddle towards shore. Before long, he had once again clambered up unto dry land. The sensation of sun-baked rock beneath his paws evoked a sense of relief that he had never imagined he would feel. As a RiverClan cat, it was his second nature to be swimming in the water with the fish. For the first time in his life, however, he had just experienced the full force of a flood. He could have drowned. The danger had been a real one, and the full of impact of that realization was still sinking in. Plopping down unto his haunches, the large tabby drew a shuddering breath.

Right. His clanmates. He had not been the only one swept away in the flood's fury. Were they safe as well? He had to find them as quickly as possible. Jumping back up, Scorchclaw swept his line of vision up and down the rocky shore. Dirty-green shrubs cropped up along the water's edge, partially obstructing his view. Is anyone there? For a moment, he considered calling out. The words lingered on the tip of his tongue, before he swallowed them at the last moment. He had no idea what inhabited this place and no idea who could be around. Before he called attention to himself, it was best to have a look around.

Water lapped at a soft silver pelt that lay motionless next to a log that rolled gently against the gently rolling waves. The large belly of the she-cat who lay helpless on the shore made a rapid stuttering movement as she fought for breath. Pain shredded through her in waves almost as large as the one that swept her away. Her legs felt numb, her right foreleg had no feeling at all... not an unusual sensation anymore, but one she distantly recognised as wrong. All of this was wrong. She was supposed to be in camp with Gingerstripe and Blossomstream. With the gentle words of Tinytip and Snowblossom never far away...

She distantly remembered fear. A white pelt rushing to her aid, the glimmer of a treasured stone as it hit the water. Flurryshine. Blue eyes opened slowly to see equally blue skies above... white fluffy clouds drifted overhead. It was blinding. She closed her eyes immediately. A spasm of pain rocked through her again. This time, the sensation of thorns in her legs as something moved behind her. She lifted her head from the sticky shore, mud clinging to her cheek as she managed enough balance to get up enough to see. Her eyes widened in shock.

Nothing was familiar.

Terror raced through her as she staggered in an attempt to stand. The mud grabbed hungrily at her pelt as she slowly pushed through. Her right foreleg dragging and wrenched out of place as she finally made it to drier ground, only to fall to it desperately. Her fluffy tail curled around her as cold sunk into her bones despite the warm sun. Where was Gingerstripe? Where was Blossomstream? She wanted the answers, but the pains kept coming. Her pelt was so damp she wasn't even sure how she had survived. The log she had clung to, Flurryshine had clung to the same one, but it was difficult to see... she gasped as she curled up tighter to nose at her belly. Something was wrong.

Great StarClan, everything hurt. The sky was too bright, the waves were too loud, the ground was too suffocating. Mumbling a soft groan, Flurryshine struggled to crack her eyes open, only to shut them closed again. Too bright. Everything was too bright. Everything hurt too much.

Memories of the events that happened previously flooded into her mind, much like the tsunami that washed the Clans away from their homes. She still remembered it clearly: at one end of camp, she had seen her beloved mentor Dewshine being swept away by the waves while holding onto a log for dear life. At the other end, her last living kit Sunpaw had been crushed underneath a large rock, calling out for her mother to save her.

She had chosen to save her mentor over her own kit.

She knew that any mother would have at least attempted to save their kit above anything else. But she had still been so shaken up over all the losses in her life. She didn't want to lose the cat she cared most for, more than any other cat in existence. It had seemed like the most logical choice. It still did.

Hopefully someone would've saved Sunpaw before she was swept away. That was all Flurryshine could hope for her only living child left.

Then she remembered Dewshine. She had gone after her mentor and held onto the log that swept the both of them away. Was she still nearby? She had to find her.

Forcing her eyes open again, Flurryshine strained against the thick mud and sand weighing her thick white pelt down, pushing herself up to her paws. After a few stumbles, she managed to lock her legs into place to remain standing. Scanning the unfamiliar landscape, it thankfully didn't take long to spot the muddied light gray queen collapsed at the shore on drier land. Dewshine!

With a wince, Flurryshine forced her legs to carry her away from the soggy riverbank and towards her beloved mentor, finding she had a rather painful limp in her right foreleg. She must have hit it hard while the waves carried them away or something. She couldn't remember how she hurt it, but now she couldn't even place her paw down without a bolt of pain shooting through her entire being like lightning during a thunderstorm. Still, she carried on towards Dewshine.

Once she finally reached her, she collapsed next to her with a pained squeak. She stretched out her neck to gently nuzzle her cheek with her nose. When she spoke, her voice sounded hoarse and gravelly, as if she had swallowed all the sand in camp and threw it right back up. "Dewshine.... Dewshine.... Are you alive?... Don't be dead.... Please...."

Perhaps it had been an understatement to state that "his muscles were beginning to ache"—no, it definitely had been. Scorchclaw was close to completely worn out. As soon as the adrenaline of his near-drowning started to wear off, he began to lose the strength in his legs. They seemed to quiver with every step he took, and his steps faltered. His body had taken a greater toll than he had initially assumed. He had lost two claws on his right forepaw, and the throbbing pain was finally starting to make its presence felt. He needed to rest, even if only for a moment. Still, he stubbornly forced his paws onward. An unfamiliar sky, an unfamiliar shore, unfamiliar waters, and an unfamiliar cliff—in whichever direction he turned his gaze, he was met with an unfamiliar environment. Not once in his life had he ever been this far from home. A sense of panic stirred within him, but it was distant and suppressed in the somewhat muddled depths of his mind. The river had brought him this far out; if he only followed it upstream, surely it would lead him back home? Yes, not all hope was lost. He could still return to RiverClan. The river would guide him. Things would turn out all right. Guided by such fractured lines of thought, he slowly made his way over the rocky beach.

Rounding the gentle bend of the shore, the large tabby stumbled to a halt. Initially, he did not understand what he was seeing. Reflected in his narrowed gaze were two soaked, pale-furred forms lying amidst the driftwood. It took a moment for the realization to sink in. As one of the forms twitched, drawing breath, his green eyes widened. In an instant, he was limping over to them. "Dewshine! Flurryshine!" He exclaimed breathlessly. Whatever his relationship had been with these two cats, whether they had gotten along, they were his clanmates. His assumption had been correct. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he registered the fact that he was not alone. There was little time for relief, however. Gritting his teeth, he knelt by their side. "Are the two of you all right?" His grave tone and expression only mirrored the even graver situation they were in. Almost immediately, his line of sight was drawn to Dewshine. The pregnant queen's sides had been swollen for moons; and as he watched, she seemed to be in visible discomfort. His brow furrowed. Of all the possible timings! Turning to Flurryshine, he declared in a tone tinged with helpless exasperation, "Her kits could very well be on the way." What would Gol—Fallowlight do? He had heard that medicine cats often gave birthing queens a sturdy branch to bite down on. Was there any such branch around? He turned, gaze searching. What entered his vision, however, was something else entirely.

A little further down the shore, a cat's body had been washed up on the shore. It lay half-submerged in the water, the gentle lapping of the river's waves tugging at its ginger fur—muddied and waterlogged, but very visibly ginger fur. A familiar face was turned toward Scorchclaw, sand clinging to its features. The green(?) eyes were closed. For a moment, the RiverClan deputy was speechless. The first thing to occur to him was that neither Flurryshine nor Dewshine seemed to have noticed the body yet. He himself had not noticed it at first glance, for a conveniently-placed shrub had shielded it. The second thing to occur to him was that the body was no longer breathing. At least, not as far as he could tell. "Flurryshine." His voice sounded distant and strangely quiet even to his own ears. "Is there anything we could do for Dewshine?"

The rasping voice of the she-cat whom was so close to her eased her half-drowned mind. Flurryshine... She was alive. Another spasm racked through her body as she didn't fully comprehend the words of the cats beside her. Her weary gaze instead saw a slip of red in the mud. A mud covered red tom. Unmoving, lifeless.

Dewshine regarded the body before her, mere tail-lengths away. Warmth deep in her bones as though her Beloved mate was curled up beside her. She could almost believe that they were at the nursery. With it's woven reeds protecting them from all dangers.

Even as the spasms continued, memories eased gently through her mind. Like a mist carried in on a gentle breeze. Soft, calm... Embracing. A delicate scent struck her nose. It carried the undertone of lillypads, whispered of the way the willows carressed the surface of the flowing river like a dearest kit. The soft vibrant blue eyes that she saw so clearly in her mind came closer. Green ones not far behind, and amber ones stayed back. The starry slate coloured she cat that licked her tears as she lay in the murk pained her so much to see.

Her mother had been gone her entire life.

Now she would burden her last kits with that same curse. Her heart clenched tightly in her chest as a large spasm warned her of the inevitable. There was no holding it back. If she tried, it would only kill them too... And the gentle whisperings of comfort as her kits told her that would be unacceptable. Fate may be cruel... But it was no reason to end a life before it began.

Vision returned to her then. Reality sank in with the waves of water so close to her. She saw them now Flurryshine and Scorchclaw. Her chest tight with grief as she blinked back tears of regret. The inevitable, painful and jarring led to the birth of three helpless squalling kits that she ached to soothe. Gentle purrs and a couple licks to each forehead was all she had time for as she lifted her gaze to Flurryshine and Scorchclaw.

"StarClan calls me..." she whispered hoarsly. Aware they couldn't see the starry cats around her, coaxing her away from the familiar pain to a new one as her gaze fell back to the kits. She nosed a grey and white one gently. "Dapplekit... Grow to be as gentle as the shade the trees bless us with in the hottest summers... Otterkit... Be strong... Be swift no matter what the current is like. " her head rested gently on the tiny other grey and white kit before she licked the forehead of the last one. "I hope you grow to be as strong as your namesake... Rowankit. Your sisters will need you..."

Finally, her head lifted. Blue eyes clear despite the tears that fell down her face. "Flurryshine. You are my beloved daughter. I am proud of how far you've come. Of everything you've achieved. Don't seek StarClan before your time. My dearest ones need all the help they can get. This lake is not home... the journey there will be rough. But I have faith in you." her gaze turned to Scorchclaw. "I have made mistakes Scorchclaw, but you are a strong tom. Jaystar chose well to make you deputy. Wherever you lead Riverclan... I will be watching."

Her head lowered slowly. Then fell as the energy to speak slowly became too much. Mud covered her jaw as her body lost the battle... But as she looked at the small group of her StarClan family... She trusted and knew things would be alright. It had to be.

The small gray and white scrap of fur that had just been named Dapplekit mewled desperately as she blindly squirmed toward the warmth and comfort of her mother's body. Pressing into the side of Dewshine, she shivered as the breeze cut through her thin, newly developed fur. The body she was pressed against did not move though, and steadily grew colder as time passed. Dapplekit's small mouth opened wide as she wailed.

At first, there was nothing, simply darkness, a sterile environment, it had been comfortable and warm. Suddenly it changed, and the world was full of feelings and scents. Rowankit felt a few raspy licks against his forehead, through the ginger fur his father had given him. Suddenly his mother withdrew. He wriggled towards her first, pressing his small paws combined with sharp claws against her soft fur. She wouldn't respond to any of his poking and prodding with his paws and claws. He then wriggled closer to his siblings and then began to mewl for his mother. Rowankit wanted his mother to respond and come groom and feed them. Yet she did not come.

A mewling Otterkit clung, claws flexing and kneading, on her mother’s still-warm stomach. An ache had settled in her stomach that only meant one thing; hunger. Squealing and pushing against the force of her siblings, she tried to get the attention of her still mother, patting blindedly around with sealed eyes for her mother’s milk. The strange senses around her were bad enough, but this was even worse; where was her mum?

Flurryshine felt the presence of another cat approaching the two mollies. She looked up, finding great relief to find Scorchclaw approaching them. Before she could say anything, she felt Dewshine's body tense up and quiver uncontrollably, as if she had just been hit with a strong gust of frigid wind. Great StarClan, of all the possible times for her kits to arrive.... Looking up at Scorchclaw at his question to her, then back at Dewshine, she finally stumbled up to her paws and faced the deputy, keeping her voice as level and clear as she could manage despite the circumstances. "I've only ever had one litter before, but I remember what Goldeneye did for me. You must find some moss and soak it in clean water for her to drink. I'll stay here by her side and help her warm up her kits when they arrive." Nestling back down next to her mentor, she placed a paw on her swollen belly. She was no medicine cat -- stars, how she wished Fallowlight or even Goldeneye were here! -- but she had to do her very best. She could feel one of the kits inside trying to break free. "Okay, Dewshine, just focus on breathing. Push when I tell you to." After another spasm, she sharply meowed, "Okay, push now!"

Right before her eyes, Flurryshine watched as Dewshine gave birth to three beautiful kits. Two mollies and a tom. They looked so beautiful and strong and full of life, just like their parents. At this thought, she suddenly wondered where Gingerstripe was. Pushing the thought to the back of her mind for now, Flurryshine busied herself with vigorously licking each kit the wrong way to warm them up and help them breathe after she nipped them free of their sacs.

Unfortunately, just before she was able to deliver the litter to their mother, Dewshine began her slow, weak speech. Flurryshine stared in horror at her beloved mentor, the last cat in her life who was still alive that she loved so very much. Dewshine had done everything for her. She taught her how to swim. She helped her find and retrieve the beautiful shell she had always kept in her nest ever since; who knew where it was now? She had been just as much a mother to her as Snowblossom herself. And now ... she was dying. "No.... No, Dewshine, please!... Please, please don't die! Your kits need you! I need you! Don't do this to me, Dewshine, please!"

Dewshine was closing her eyes. Desperate to keep her alive, Flurryshine forcibly opened her eyes again with her paws and even rolled her over onto her back so she could gently pummel her chest with her paws. "No! No! Dewshine! Dewshine, wake up! Wake up, please! Don't leave m-me, please! Pleeease!..." Her deceased mentor's image began to swim and distort as tears formed in her eyes, and it wasn't long before they began falling down her cheeks and onto the queen's soft gray fur. Yet no matter what she did, she didn't wake back up. She didn't move, nor did she respond.

Flurryshine's worst fear had come true. Dewshine was dead.

"NOOOOO!!" The white molly threw back her head to howl up to the stars above, her voice full of despair and heartache ringing out through the land, startling nearby birds into panicked flight. Then she collapsed on her mentor and sobbed noisily into her fur, nuzzling her cheeks and chest and wrapping her tail around her. Stars above, her body warmth was already beginning to fade away....

After several long, agonizing moments that felt like eternity, Flurryshine lifted up her head and slowly shifted her green teary-eyed gaze to the three kits: Dewshine's last litter, and the last cats that could possibly remind her of her beloved mentor and keep her memory alive. Sniffling and weeping, Flurryshine withdrew her tail from Dewshine's back and gently ushered Dapplekit, Rowankit, and Otterkit close to her to keep them warm. She curled her entire body around them and hugged them close, fighting through her sobs to groom them. Dewshine had been kind and loving enough to act as her mother when Snowblossom passed away, and even while she was still alive. So now, Flurryshine would be their mother. For Dewshine.

Right now, she didn't even notice Scorchclaw standing next to her. She didn't notice the harsh wind or the freezing air or the heavy weight of water and mud and sand on her fur. All she had in her world were Dapplekit, Rowankit, and Otterkit, with Dewshine laying by her side.

She would keep her mentor's kits safe. She would love them. She would cherish them just as she cherished their mother. She would protect them from anything life had to throw at them, or she would die trying.