Gone with the Wind - Missing Kits [Open, Clan Topic]

A slow, gentle breath, and Morningdove glanced up at the sky, her brilliant green eyes searching for... well, something. She wasn't really sure what, admittedly; not quite a purpose, not quite a sign, but perhaps a little of both. Something to spur her back into action, to allow her to smoothly transition from 'nestridden cripple' to 'determined warrior'. Nothing had come along just quite yet, of course- she'd only been conscious for a few days, not even a quarter-moon- but despite Softbreeze's insistence, the risen warrior wasn't entirely keen on the idea of sitting around for too long. She had things to do, places to see, prey to catch-- well, perhaps not prey to catch today. The fog that had settled upon the moors, carrying with it a cold bite to the air, wasn't exactly conducive to hunting; with poor visibility, a distracting chill, and just enough of a scent to wash out that of any prey... well, it'd be a challenge, but she could at least re-familiarise herself with the territory. It had been so long, after all; who's to say today couldn't be a good day? WindClan had survived far worse than a simple fog before; what's the worst that could happen?


... ah.

So with that, Morningdove sprung to her paws, a little unsteady as she made a beeline for the nursery; it was as simple as 'follow the yowling', really, leaving her mind free to wander as she made her way across the camp, claws instinctively digging into the dirt beneath her. It wasn't that the warrior expected danger, just that she... exp... okay, yeah, maybe that was it. But in her defense, the last time anything even remotely concerning had happened, it'd ended up in her near-death and subsequent incapacitation for moons-- Let's not think about that right now. We have bigger things to worry about. And in this weather, finding any missing kits will be down to pure luck... so let's hope they're just playing hide-and-seek. And, apparently, being really good at it...

The warmth of being curled up with her Crowspirit in their nest felt nice. It was peaceful. Everything was peaceful. Morningdove had woken up, the nursery was filling up with kits. Peaceful.
But it didn't last long.

Spotlake flicked her ears as she heard the distressed mew from a queen. She jumped out of her nest ran over to the nursery. She didn't notice Morningdove, as she entered into the nursery. She sat down besides the queen and put her tail on shoulder."Don't worry, we'll find your kits." Spotlake tried to comfort the queen. They should be able to find the missing kits.

Clearstone had a lot on his mind recently. The disappearance of three kits was simply one more thing to add to the list. Long legs itched to take off across the moor and run, to push some thoughts from his mind and just focus on himself for once. But no. There was work to be done. The large warrior paced back and forth in the entrance to camp, one ear flicking to register the yowl of despair from the queen. A cursory glance told him that others were already rushing to her aid, which left him free to search for any tracks.

They couldn't have gone far, they were kits. Although, as he padded carefully around the sandy floor of camp, he couldn't see any especially small pawprints, nor could he catch much of a whisper of kit-scent anywhere in the area. Clearstone's grim expression turned even more serious. Well, there went his first two ideas. His posture slumped a little, becoming a bit more defeated as he crossed camp to speak with the she-cats in the nursery. He didn't look directly at Morningdove, turning his attention more towards Spotlake and the distraught queen.

"I couldn't find any sign of them in camp. There was a brief scent trail, but it seems to end at the camp borders. I'll speak with Wildflower about a search patrol. They couldn't have gone too far."

The fog had rolled in overnight, and even the ever-present breeze couldn't pierce it. The gloom was a little unnerving to Olivestar, though she wasn't about to say it, as she did her daily groom after having woken up for the duties of the day. The camp was subdued, sounds were muted, and generally everyone seemed to be taking the weather as an oppotrunity to stay in their nests for as long as possible. Honestly, the leader didn't blame them, she'd considered staying curled up close to Zinnia longer than she would normally, if only to escape the biting cold just a little bit longer.

Then a shrill wail broke through the muting fog, clear as day. Olivestar's head snapped up as she processed the words that were yowled to the sky, and she ran over to the nursery, where other Clanmates of hers had already gathered. She caught the end of Clearstone's statement, and nodded.
"Good idea. Find Wildflower and both of you organize some patrols to search the territory on the side of camp nearest to Highstones, and I'll organize patrols to search the territory on the side nearest to Fourtrees."

She knew that she wouldn't have to call the Clan together for a formal meeting, so she simply turned to face the rest of camp, and broke the silence once more.
"Everyone! You all probably heard, but there are kits missing from camp! We need to do a thorough search of the territory, and even the tunnels! Clearstone and Wildflower will be taking patrols to search the territory on the Highstones-side, and I will be organizing search patrols to search the territory on the Fourtrees-side! There will also be patrols to search the tunnels, and if you haven't been chosen for a territory search, search the camp high and low, just to be absolutely certain that they aren't hidden away in camp! That is all!"

Goldengale approached, blue eyes intense as she caught the end of Clearstone's report. "I'll join as well." She mewed, looking around for Wildflower or Olivestar. Olivestar approached just as the thought crossed her mind. They would need at least one patrol to check the tunnels that course under the moors, a curious kit would be quick to squeeze into any of the holes that dotted the territory. "I can lead a patrol to check the tunnels, if you'd like." She offered, considering who she would invite to join if taken up on her offer.

Water roared in his ears, licking hungrily at his tail as he clung to the trunk of a lone tree. His claws ached and he shivered against the chill of his wet pelt. It was the flood. He watched helplessly as his Clanmates and family alike were swept away in the muddy waters, their struggles worth nothing. A screech cut through the noise of the currents, tearing into his already weakened heart. But that scream wasn't just in his nightmare, it was real.

Deerhawk awoke with a sharp intake of breath, and he laid motionless in his nest, heart beating faster than if he'd just run across the whole of WindClan territory. It took a few moments for him to notice cats going towards the nursery with haste, and the words of the scream came to him. Kits were missing. He scrambled to his paws and peered inside the den, orange eyes flashing to see something in the darkness. There was Spiderkit, safe and sound, but...

"Where are Tawnykit and Henkit?"

His voice came quiet, almost expressionless. Almost. Slowly he backed away, his hackles raised. They must have wandered away somewhere close by. A predator couldn't have taken them, right? A fox or badger would be easy to smell, and an eagle wouldn't take more than one. There was no clear answer. Though his Clanmates and even Olivestar were immediately planning search patrols, his paws moved to leave before they'd even gathered. 'StarClan, let us find them quickly.' His daughters were in danger.

As voices chimed through, Amberpaw pushed her way closer to the middle in order to listen to what was happening. It seemed that some kits had disappeared. More specifically, Henkit, Finchkit, and Tawnykit. The Apprentice spotted her Mentor in the crowd and made her way closer, hearing that he was suggesting to go for a search patrol. She stepped closer. "I can come with you." She suggested.

Daypaw was still trying to get used to her new nest, not to mention the fact that she hadn't gotten used to the other apprentices around her. The fluffy she-cat hadn't experienced anything too awful, though, so he couldn't exactly complain about anything. Plus, who would like an apprentice that whined and complained about every little thing like a newborn kit? With her new suffix came new expectations, and that included acting mature.

Being a light-sleeper was something that Daypaw couldn't control. Perhaps it came from the fact that she was constantly nervous. The chilly morning breeze whisked through the air, zig-zagging through her long fur, and causing a tiny shiver to run up the newly-appointed apprentice's spine. Miraculously that wasn't enough of a disturbance to pull her out of her sleep, but the ruckus coming from the nursery definitely was. Her head immediately lifted from the ground and her ears shot up as both fear scent and yelling threw her out of her slumber.

Worry churned in her stomach as she quietly approached the source of the noise. Kits were missing? The worry in her stomach became so strong that it was practically a bellyache at this point. Daypaw looked up towards the sky. StarClan was watching over those kits, correct? Hopefully they'd be alright. Horrible outcomes began to race through the apprentice's mind, causing her to shrink back and let out a tiny, inaudible whimper. Daypaw knew that she couldn't do anything to help outside of the camp's boundaries. She had no idea how to fight, and that would only end badly for her if she joined a search patrol that ran into something dangerous.

Violetpaw was laying in the apprentices den, she was about to doze off when a sound hit her still-alert ears. Her eyes darted around, kits? The tall 'paw stood up, grabbed her feather and ran towards the clearing. Cats were gathering in the nursery. Meowing to each other about finding kits... "Uh oh..." The tall grey cat murmured. "Okay okay, I think Softbreeze and Downtuft can deal with this... It's.. This is a big cat problem." She was about to step into the apprentice's den when she heard the opportunity to join in on a search patrol.

Not very silently, the apprentice found herself pushing into the nursery. Counting the kits she realised that three were missing. "Three.. whole... kits.. gone?" She gasped. How...? They just can't disappear. And right into the fog too! "Um, if we're doing.. a uh... search... perhaps I could come... Too?" Her voice was small, but loud enough for cats to hear. Her jaws shut tighter on her little white feather. "I have luck... It's good...." She offered but the plump she-cat's voice had turned almost to muttering.

A small feeling of pride swelled up in Olivestar's chest as her Clanmates all sprung into action without a moment's hesitation. Goldengale spoke up beside her, offering to lead a search patrol into the tunnels, at which Olivestar nodded, secretly relieved that someone else had jumped at the chance to search underground. Despite her excursion in the tunnels several moons ago, the leader still feared going underground, and avoided setting foot in the tunnels if possible.
"Good idea. Choose who you'd like to go with, and good luck."

In the chaos, Olivestar spotted Deerhawk approach, stick his head in the nursery, and then quickly back out, wondering aloud where two of his kits were. The leader mentally berated herself for not checking herself as to which kits were missing, and she followed Deerhawk's example, sticking her head into the nursery and doing a quick head-count, her heart dropping into her stomach as she noted Finchkit, her youngest son, along with Henkit and Tawnykit's absences.

She backed out of the den, and took a deep breath as she tried to push down the grief and the hollow feeling forming in her chest. Voices from the apprentice's den grabbed her attention, and she padded over with a small smile, as Violetpaw offered to help.
"We'll need everyone's help for this. How about you join my patrol, once we get all the patrols sorted, and Daypaw," she noticed the other apprentice's apprehension, "you can stay and help search the camp if you'd like."

She turned back towards the rest of the camp in time to see Deerhawk's tail tip whisk into the gorse tunnel, and her paws itched to follow, to get searching immediately for both her son, and Deerhawk's daughters. However, she knew that she needed to organize the rest of the search patrols, and that she was going to do.
"Morningdove, Zinnia, Lilacpaw, and Violetpaw, with me, Amberpaw, you can go with Clearstone's patrol, and any apprentice that would like to tag along with their mentors' patrols can do so. Spotlake, help Daypaw, Shyfawn, and anyone else that stays behind to search the camp, just in case. Anyone that hasn't been assigned elsewhere, come forward to me or find Wildflower and Clearstone, and they'll direct you from there."

The grief was already setting in, and she dug her claws into the grass as she fought the urge to race into the gorse tunnel and search the moor immediately for the lost kits.

Wildflower was barely aware of the tumult all around her until startled shrieks cut through the air. She scrabbled upright in her nest, trying to figure out what was happening. Typically it was hard for her to sleep, but the one time it was important to be awake, she slept in. Her ears separated sounds and she narrowed her eyes in confusion, but her chin tilted in realization as she heard Deerhawk say 'Where are Tawnykit and Henkit?' Missing kits. The deputy groomed herself messily and headed out to Olivestar. "I- I'm so sorry, I was asleep, but I heard... missing kits? Would you like me to take a patrol out, stay here, do whatever? I'm available." The speckled molly was trying to think of who or what could have taken the kits, but her vision was still blurry and her brain was still warming up.

Lilacpaw was not prepared for what she was about to witness. It was just a normal day. She had just woken up, although she had not yet left her nest. She thought she would train with Wildflower. But everything changed with that scream.

She had stumbled out of her den, fur still in knots, to find that a crowd had already gathered outside of the nursery. She heard pieces of what was happening. Missing kits. Patrols. But her mind was reeling too much for her to comprehend much. She heard her mother assigning patrols, Lilacpaw was to go with her and Zinnia. Alright, she could do that. She moved to stand beside her leader, her pelt brushing the older she-cat's, and gave a brisk nod. She was still entirely confused, and not yet fully awake, but she would help anyway she could.

Clearstone nodded when his instructions were given and moved to brush past Olivestar, into the rest of camp. Amberpaw had appeared by his side, eager to go on patrol with him. That was one other cat...who else? Wordlessly, the tom's dark gaze swept over the cats still in camp. Olivestar had her patrol mostly set. Wildflower hadn't been assigned to a patrol just yet, so he would leave her be. For a moment, the warrior's gaze fell on the disappearing tail of Deerhawk as the old tom left to try and find his kits all on his own.

"Deerhawk!" Clearstone called, hurrying to catch up with him. "I don't think you should go alone. Join my patrol with Amberpaw and I. We'll collect more cats willing to join and then we will head out, as soon as possible, you have my word." Clearstone wasn't a father, nor did he particularly feel a need to be, but he understood the urgency WindClan felt in trying to get the kits back as soon as they could. His face didn't show it, but the lanky warrior was just as concerned for the kits' wellbeing as anyone else in the Clan.

"I'll come with you, Clearstone. Violetpaw, listen to Olivestar. This is important. Daypaw, go to Softbreeze and see if she needs help. No doubt she'll give the stressed queens herbs or whatnot. Deerhawk, breath, it'll be okay. We'll find your daughters. Henkit and Tawnykit will be okay." Downtuft nodded as he addressed each cat, first confirming Olivestar's orders to his apprentices, then attempting to comfort the senior warrior Deerhawk.

Shyfawn paced anxiously around the nursery, eyes wide. She offered her tail as support to Heatherrain, an attempt to console the frantic queen. "Shush, darling, hush your cries. You must be strong for Spiderkit. The Clan will find them, you need to rest. All this worry will do you no good. Daypaw!" The queen called out, turning as she addressed the young apprentice, "Do what Downtuft tells you. Ask Softbreeze for poppy seed for Heatherrain, please."

Softbreeze was on her paws in an instant, she could feel the panic from inside her den. Immediately, she grabbed three herb wraps for stress, which contained lavender, poppy seed, chamomile, and honey. If she needed more she could grab more. Spotting Daypaw, she nodded and passed one parcel gently over to her, free to grab a fourth one now. Assured this would do until the crisis was adverted, she rushed to the nursery, urging Daypaw to follow her. Although unsure the entirety of what was occurring, she knew the Queens were stressed and kits were missing.