The Day the World Moved [November Gathering 2022]

It had been peaceful. Life had seemed to find its steadiness as the leadership had solidified its transition from Minnowstar to his mate, Mottlestar. Thunderclan saw itself growing despite the cold creeping in, and for once, the small tortoiseshell had been able to take a breath. She let herself rest, to breathe as life simply went on. She had found her tempo in leadership, letting Thistlemask take on certain responsibilities, and relying upon some of her senior warriors for others.

Of course, it seemed peace would only last for such a little time.

As she rested in the sunshine of camp, she would be sent to her paws at the roaring that sounded beneath her paws. It seemed as if she could not get a solid grasp on the ground, falling to the side, before struggling to keep herself solid. Fear seemed to be sent straight into the gaze of the leader as the sound of thundering trees seemed to echo throughout the camp, throughout the territory... throughout the forest. Ears pinned back to her head in a desperate attempt to preserve her hearing, to not be completely destroyed by the way the forest seemed to be screaming at her. Immediately, her chest tightened. Had she done something wrong? Was StarClan angry? Was Thunderclan okay?

...

Was Thunderclan okay?

Immediately, she had to force herself beyond the pain and fear that wanted to root herself to the ground. Panic was swallowed as she looked about to the rest of her Clanmates, running towards whoever seemed to be most shaken. But the world screamed once more, and Mottlestar had to simply press herself to the ground to stay steady. "Thunderclan! GET TO YOUR PAWS AND KEEP TO THE GROUND!" It was the loudest, most booming yowl she had ever sent. Even above the roar of the forest, her voice would carry, at least throughout the camp. All she could do was wait it out...

All she could do was wait it out.

A soft giggle escaped Acornkit as she pouched on a leaf that had been knocked in with Briarrose's recent visit to the nursery, listening to the satisfying crunch as dead leaf cracked beneath the pressure. She drew her paw away, shaking off the bits that tried to cling to her pads - thought when a few pieces refused to fall loose, she was forced to scrape them free on the ground. Once the dreadful leaf pieces was dealt with, she let out a huff and let her gaze fell towards what remained of her target, crouching down as she rested her cheek on the ground, batting at the bigger pieces of the leaf that remained.

But then, a growl ripped through the air and panic struck Acornkit's chest - causing her to flop down to the ground to make herself as small as possible. She had heard stories of dangerous beasts that sometimes stalked the forest that brave warriors would fend off - it was said that they made noises unlike that of a cat so for a brief heartbeat, the kit's imagination wandered to the fearful idea of one such beast lurking near the nursery...But then as soon as that thought crossed her mind, the ground beneath her rocked.

Her small but sharp claws dug into the ground as she tried to keep herself from being knocked around, confusion and panic rising in her chest. B-But she wasn't moving! Why was she moving when she wasn't...? Acornkit's mind raced as she tried to make sense of the terrifying events. She could hear the sound of a loud voice - that was...That was Mottlestar, right? She hadn't properly met the leader but had heard her talking to cats when the young kit would be playing in the camp center. D-Did she not know what was going on either? She heard another familiar voice among the rumbles, calming the panic in her chest for all but a heartbeat before she grew fearful that her Clanmates would get hurt with all of this scary shaking. A whimper escaped her as she drew in on herself, wishing the scariness would just stop and go away!

Darkspirit had been on the outskirts of camp as he usually was, looking just as broody as ever. He was cleaning his own fur, ignoring the warriors around him aside from curt nods and a stoic expression. He'd inherited his grandfather's narrow range of facial expressions. That is... until the ground beneath him began to buck. Utterly confused, he dug his claws into the earth and his fur stood on end. How does a cat flee from the ground??? Mottlestar yelled, but Darkspirit was already doing that. He looked around, wide-eyed and terrified, as the world he'd always known began to shift around him.

What about his clanmates? What if they needed help? Did he defy orders and go to them? "The nursery!" Briarrose yowled, and Darkspirit's eyes snapped over to it. He wasn't entirely sure what he could do, but something powerful inside him began to stir. It forced his feet to move. The nursery was covered by Briarrose, so Darkspirit headed towards the apprentice den.

"Let's move, apprentices! You don't want to be underground right now!" He commanded them loudly, the ones that may have still been in there, and put on a brave face for them so that they would feel confident in what he was saying. He hoped he was doing the right thing.

Nightdancer had been listening to the idle sounds of ThunderClan's camp, trying to enjoy the fact that she got to live another day within its walls. It was hard to take joy in little things, sometimes, and even harder when the ground beneath her paws shook- once, then again, and again; and Mottlestar's voice was the only thing that sent her into motion. Following the leader's orders, she leapt to her paws and held her ground as steadily as she could.

She tried to remain composed, but her voice was shaky. "Wh-what's happening? Mottlestar, what's happening?"

Crimsonpaw had been waking across the ThunderClan camp. Comfreyheart had instructed him to gather moss while she was hunting, and he'd found a decent amount. His long claws were useful for removing the moss. He was heading towards the medicine den with a mouthful of moss to give to Thistlemask when it happened. Crimsonpaw dropped the moss he was carrying dug his claws into the earth in a futile effort to stabilize himself. What's happening?! WHY IS THE GROUND SHAKING?! Crimsonpaw was filled with a fear that he had all but forgotten since being accepted into the clan. The same fear he had felt while Aster threatened him. His ears flattened to his head, and his green eyes grew wide. Was he going to die?

Looking around, he saw his clanmates bunkering down, trying to stay stable the same as him. His longer claws actually had a use right now, as he had a better grip on the quaking ground. Mottlestar instructed everyone to get to the ground, but Briarrose was headed towards the nursury. The kits! Briarrose! Oh no. It's not safe to go in there! Crimsonpaw began to follow her towards the nursery, partially because of his worry for the kits and queens inside, but mostly out of worry for the cat who had brought him here. He had to keep her safe!

Briarrose had gotten a head start, but he was closer and had the advantage of longer claws to stabilize himself in the ground with. Crimsonpaw knew there was nothing he could do to stop her from entering the unstable den, so he would join her in evacuate those inside. Not that he didn't care for the kits and queens, but helping was also the best way to minimize the time she spent in the collapsing structure. "Briarrose! S-stop! Let me help!"

It had started out like any other day for Beetleshade, going through the motions of completing her duties whilst silently complaining about how boring they were. However, her boredom wouldn't last long. She was standing near the fresh-kill pile when the noise began, as she'd just dropped a plump blackbird into the already teeming pile. She turned to Sunpaw, ready to jokingly imply that the toms stomach was the source of the low growling noise, when the ground suddenly shook and she was thrown off her paws. The camp exploded in a flurry of panicked yowls, Beetleshade barely registering Mottlestar and Fawnshine's instructions. She dropped immediately, tucking her tail close to her body and digging her claws into the ground beneath her.

Whitewhisker's nap was inturpted as the old elder was shook awake. He glanced around expecting that maybe an apprentice had shook him awake to give him some lunch from the fresh kill pile but no one was in the den except for him hmm odd. He gave a big yawn and stretch and put his head back on his front paws. His bones ached and he didnt feel like getting up yet.

He was about to fall back asleep when the shaking got worse and cries from outside the den could be heard. He blinked confuesd and still half asleep. He could hear what sounded like maybe mottlestar giving orders but his old ears couldnt hear what they were.

hmm he shakily got to his paws, he had hard enough time getting around with his old age yet alone when the entire ground was shaking below him. He was knocked down several times just trying to get out of the den. Blinking in the bright light that was outside, cats were going all over the place the camp in total disarray. He had no idea what was going on at all.

Molepaw was laying in a patch of dirt, trying to relax in the sun as much as she could. As she was resting in the warmth, the earth seemed to start rumbling. Soon, she saw everything around her shake. What was happening? She started to panic when she heard Mottlestar yowl to get to our paws and keep to the ground. Molepaw crouched to try and stay as close to the ground as she could. Why is the world shaking? Will everyone be safe?

Starlingflare had been stretched as far as he could, enjoying the shining sun, taking in the warmth it provided in the cooling days. Every little hair on his body sung with warmth, eye closed in contentment. Of course everything changed in the next few moments. Yellow eye blinked open at the sound coming from.. below?

The tom straightened up. All four paws now on the ground fully as questions raced through the tom's mind. The movement seemed to be getting worse, the world seemed to spin for the tom. Vision blurring slightly.. He felt sick. He could hear words being shared among his clanmates, but nothing was reaching him. He couldn't move, he didn't dare. He just hoped the spinning in his single eye would end soon.