Turned Upside Down [Sitewide]

It had all happened so fast. Acornpaw had been napping in a sunbeam, curled contently on her side when a slow roaring noise shook her from her slumber. The older cats had explained it as the warning noise of monsters - their rumbling threats being the only sign of their rapid approach if a cat was to ever cross paths with the lightning-quick beasts. Normally their growls were distant but it was growing louder, causing her to lift her tired head in confusion until the ground seemed to shake a little - fear striking into Acornpaw's chest as she clambered to her paws.

Then, they descended. Strange, tall beasts that towered like trees and covered in furs of all colors. "Wha-" was all that she managed to get out before the terror constructed her throat, silencing any call to warn her Clanmates as her whole body shivered. As one of the strange beasts made a move towards her, she found her paws and darted forward - barely dodging their strange long paws as she weaved between their legs and towards the safety of the trees. But as she reached the border of the clearing, she slide to a stop with wide eyes.

H-Her friends! She couldn't leave her friends! She dove into a nearby bush, before quickly wiggling so that she would remain hidden but could keep an eye out for the state of her friends and Clanmates, praying that all of them would be okay.

Lousekit was all but dead to the world, curled up into as tight a ball as they could manage. Their paws and ears twitched as they dreamed, lost in the kind of deep sleep only a young kit could experience. Beetlekit lay close beside them; although Lousekit made it a point to sleep separate from their twin in some act of defiance, the two always managed to drift together as they slept. Though they had no nursery or even a real nest, the two kits lay in perfect comfort as their mother curled around them, watching vigilantly over her children.

Then, suddenly, their mother vanished. At least that was how it seemed to Lousekit, jolted awake by the sudden change. They blinked in confusion. All around them were tall, hairless predators with loud meows and terrifying spindly paws. They held wire dens in their claws, each one containing a yowling Clan cat. Lousekit wasted no time in pouncing on their twin, batting at their face in panic. "Beetle! Beetle! Wake up, dungbeetle! They'll get us! We have to get to Mother and Father, they must've run away!"

One moment, Dawnfeather was trotting back into Fourtrees, plump dove in her jaws, looking for her little Smokekit, who was growing bigger and bigger each day- and then- and then-

All too familiar noises filled the air- unearthly rattles and moans and shrieks- she’s heard this all before- the chaos of Twolegs- they were coming, coming, picking up cats in their hands and dumping them into- cages, that was the word. During her two, long, involuntary stays with Twolegs, Dawnfeather had managed to decipher some of their speech and pick up some of their words- yet all she could make out amid the noise was ‘cat’. Helpful, that- yet the way they were pointing and the cages and the many figures clued her into their purpose, at least somewhat- they were taking them- away- again-

Dawnfeather bounded forwards, dove forgotten on the ground, one thought and one only on her mind- Smokekit. She- she was not going to leave her daughter- she’d promised herself to never abandon SkyClan again, and yet it was not her Clan she thought of as she surged forwards- it was her daughter.

A strong grip suddenly grabbed her scruff as she leapt over cowering cats. She’d been caught like this, before, but then- then she hadn’t fought- not like she did now, twisting and spitting and lashing out with her claws and teeth, filled with a mother’s protective fury. She felt her claws sink into something that gave- but then she was dumped into a cage, and the door slammed shut, and despite the yowling and shrieks, Dawnfeather felt utterly alone. In a moment, her infuriated energy faded, and the golden molly slumped to the hard ground, despair welling up within her. Why- why did it have to go so wrong? Why- she- she couldn’t leave them… not again… there was no point in clawing at the door, she knew. There was no point in doing anything-

Except one-

Dawnfeather pressed herself up against the cage, listening intently. Were there others, here? She could see hardly anything-

“Run! Hide!” she yowled at the top of her lungs. “You won’t be able to get me out- run! Please!” Hopefully- hopefully that would warn some others-


Russetpaw’s nap was rudely disturbed by a shaking and shrieking that startled her wide awake in a way her mentor and friends had always failed to do. At first, she thought this was just another nightmare- but such terror and chaotic yowling surely would’ve jolted her awake by now. The red-pelted apprentice cowered, looking around for Silverwing an’ Sleepypaw- oh stars oh stars oh stars-

”Silverwing! Sleepypaw!” she yowled, finally forcing herself to move move move, darting left and right to escape the Twolegs’ notice and to look for- to look for- she saw Whisperear being snatched up out of the corner of her eye- was Sleepypaw there? “Coyotegrin-“ she’d always been there, Shrikestar’s real second in command- “Wheatgrass, Whiteburn- Mama!” The red-pelted apprentice rushed around like a cornered hare, ears plastered to her skull.


Frondkit was minding his own business, as usual, curled up peacefully in ThunderClan’s corner of camp when the world turned upside down and everything and everyone began to scream and rush around and it was terrifying-

Frondkit cowered in his moss nest, pressing himself against the moss as if- as if- maybe if he couldn’t see it, it would all go away?


Hartstep was lounging in the sunlight near the fresh-kill pile, letting the feeble warmth sink into her long coat. With her good ear pressed to the ground and eyes half-lidded, she was nonetheless one of the first to spring to her paws at the sudden cacophony. Twolegs? Invading Fourtrees? Why- The tortoiseshell hurtled into action, ignoring the sparks of pain that raced through her old bones, in protest at having moved too fast and too suddenly-

No one was barking orders, yet, but Shrikestar would have a plan- and if he didn’t, Smallbean would. Common sense, however, dictated her actions- shepherding kits and elders towards the undergrowth, waking up those who were still blearily blinking their eyes-

And then long, spindly paws reached towards a kit, and Hartstep flung herself at the paw, biting down with all the force she could muster. But some unfamiliar, sharp pain flared through her… and then a completely unnatural exhaustion grabbed at her limbs… Hartstep was dimly aware of being tossed into a silver bramble. Blearily, she raised her head. Maybe… maybe she- no. No matter her age, she never would naturally grow so tired when her Clan needed her… it was some foul Twoleg thing, she was certain, that induced this terrible tiredness… she weakly pawed at the bramble, but it was hard, and cold, and Hartstep’s eyes slowly fluttered shut.


Dawnfeather has been captured by Twolegs and is trying to warn others to run.
Hartstep has also been captured by Twolegs.
Russetpaw is rushing around like a chicken with its’ head chopped off, trying to find her mentor or Sleepypaw.
Frondkit is hiding in his nest, too scared to move.

Nightstar should have been smarter, should have realized sooner, that the twoleg presence wasn't temporary and that the twoleg presence around their camps should have clued someone into the invasion of fourtrees. Starclan didn't give them any warning, didn't give them any sign other than the disappearance of the territories entirely. What were they to do about that? Self-blame turned to anger against their warrior ancestors, as the crashing got closer. Nightstar heaved himself to his paws, "Shadowclan! Head towards highstones! If these twolegs give chase, we will not stop running! We will go past, to the mountains." his yowl rang at least clear and true, but with the rush of twolegs through the brush, we was not sure he'd been heard. Hobbling did the best he could, he tried to herd his clan out, to push the kittens to their little legs if they could not be carried, but before he could even try he felt a large paw grasp his scruff.

Nightstar screeched, claws immediately unsheathing as he lashed at whatever he could reach, meeting resistance with each claw swipe until he was quickly packed away into a cold, den that had plenty of holes to see through. In his 'battle' against the twoleg, he had re-opened his back wound, smearing blood against the cold vines that was the den he was trapped in. "Go! Get out of here! To Highstones!" Nightstar yowled, hoping that any cat could hear him.

Nightstar got captured by the twolegs. He's however ordered his clan to run to highstones, or farther if needed.

If Lousekit hadn't waken Beetlekit, the terrified yowls of cats from around fourtrees surely would have. Waking up to the sight of their sibling wasn't uncommon for Beetlekit, but the added distress to their voice added a sense of urgency as they jolted up from where they laid. "What? Louse, what's going on? Where's mother?" The kit wasn't bothered by much, but the absence of their mother's warmth caused them discomfort. "Where did she go?" The shadow of a Twoleg loomed over the kit. Panicked, Beetlekit jumped. "We have to hide! Come on Louse!" Dragging Lousekit by their bobbed tail, Beetlekit scampered under the heavy paws of Twolegs as they neared the edge of Fourtrees, diving into the hollowed out base of a tree. Their tiny chest heaved, and they shrunk back into the depths of the hollow every time the reckless stomp of a Twoleg passed by it's opening. "Where's mother? Did you see where she went?" The kit turned to their sibling, blue eyes wide with concern.

The cries of alarm had sounded as the vibrations beneath their paw continued, bringing with it the sounds of strange voices and the rumbling of monsters that were not on the thunderpath as they should be. Everything had happened quickly, and Flamegaze... Hadn't been quick enough in following his clanmates away. His heart hammered in his chest as the lumbering twolegs swept through the clearing, pale ginger paws momentarily frozen with fear. By the time he'd managed to move, it was too late. "Let me go!" Flamegaze thrashed in the twoleg's grip, claws extended as he struggled against the hideous, furless paws that had scooped him up, but his struggles were useless. The twoleg was simply far too large and had a much too strong grip. And then he was being shoved into a strange contraption that he'd never seen before. Long tendrils of something that almost looked like blades of grass, except they were gray and hard and cold when Flamegaze's pelt brushed against it.

---

Brackenwing had been sitting awkwardly, her still-healing leg held carefully to avoid putting weight on it, when the yowls and cries of other cats split the air. Fur bristling on instinct, for she had heard the rumbles of the strange voices and felt the vibrations in the ground as they approached, she stood, limping towards her own clanmates as quickly as she could. Adrenaline had kicked in, it seemed, dulling the pain in her leg for the moment as she forced herself to move, wide green eyes searching the crowd for more familiar faces. They all needed to get out of here, and quickly.

---

Harechaser's eyes widened as the twolegs approached, and without a second thought the ginger and black she-cat spun. Her paws were shaking, her heart was pounding, but she forced herself to move. Fourtrees was supposed to be safe, it was said, but it wasn't. How many times would Shadowclan have to flee their only refuge? Were the stars truly so set against them? Nightstar's voice offered welcome guidance, and she would follow it. She'd never been to highstones, but she knew the medicine cats went there on the half moon, and apprentices were supposed to go as part of their training. Maybe, just maybe the twolegs wouldn't follow them there.

She glanced behind her, checking to see where some of her clanmates had gone, and Harechaser's heart dropped into the pit of her stomach. "Nightstar! Look out!" She yowled a warning, but it was too late. He'd been caught, and Harechaser was too far to do anything. All she could do now was try and help her other clanmates, and avoid capture herself.

Two kits smelling of Shadowclan seemed lost in the fray, and Harechaser lurched over to them on shaky paws. "I don't know where your mother is, we'll find her, don't worry." She mewed, just a bit too fast and hardly projecting an aura of calm. "Lousekit, Beetlekit, come on. We have to get out of here. Follow me." She mewed, praying that the kits would listen.

---

"Twolegs!" Wolfblossom spat, eyes widening as she spotted the lumbering creatures heading towards fourtrees. Turning, she darted back toward her own clanmates as quickly as her large paws would allow, searching for her siblings and clanmates alike. Skyclan had been lucky to not have too many injuries from the earth's tantrum, but the injuries that they did have were severe, and the medicine cats couldn't be the only ones in need of help. Nearly running into one of her clanmates, Wolfblossom didn't stop as she dodged them - barely. "Move! Before the twolegs can grab us! Help who you can!" She called, continuing on. Instinct told her to run, and that was absolutely the wiser option, but she needed to make sure her clanmates got out of here safely, too.

"Birdchaser!" Blue eyes scanned the crowd of fleeing cats, searching for her injured sister and deputy desperately. She wasn't going to let any more of her family be taken from her if she could help it.

---

Stonekit grumbled as a cacophony of noise woke her from her half-asleep state. Unfamiliar noises, frightening noises, if not by their unfamiliarity, than by how loud and sudden they were. "Mistkit, look!" She flattened herself against the makeshift nest as massive, lumbering paws shook the ground. It felt like no time at all had passed, and then the massive, lumbering, bright-pelted monsters were in view, only obscured as cats darted around the clearing, Stonekit not exactly tall enough to see over them. A shiver ran down her spine, and she lied to herself that it wasn't fear. Cats were still yowling to each other, and the two-legged invaders were reaching, grabbing at them with strange paws.

"Come on, we have to get away from them!" She mewed, a sudden sense of urgency, doubtless born from fear and uneasy (not that Stonekit would ever admit it) propelling the smokey kitten to her paws.

Brackenwing is fleeing as fast as she can limp.
Harechaser is fleeing, and despairs at her brother Nightstar being grabbed. She's found Lousekit and Beetlekit.
Wolfblossom is searching for Birdchaser and told a random Skyclanner to help who they can and get out of here.
Stonekit is with Mistkit, trying hard to stay calm.
Flamegaze is captured.

It all happened so fast. Thalia had tried to run, even abandoning her pelt where it lay (pelts could be replaced, she had learned; cats could not), but she wasn't fast enough; the thing that grabbed her lifted her into the air and shoved her into- into something. It was hard, and not comfortable, and she couldn't balance, but in some small way it reminded her of the Asylum's thorny cages that had once littered the very sacred ground on which she had just stood.

Fourtrees was cursed, she decided in that moment. The Clans' honored ground, their place of peace, had been marred one too many times with blood and slaughter.

Thalia has been kidnapped by Twolegs.

---

The commotion was loud and unexpected, but Leopardsun had been on edge with the relative peace of Fourtrees. It wasn't that she'd expected it, exactly; more that something always seemed to go wrong as soon as she let herself relax. The peaceful days she'd enjoyed had come to a screeching, halting end with the yowls of cats from every Clan. She shouted a single word as she broke into a dash, grateful that Nightstar had called his orders; something solid to grasp onto and to follow. That gratefulness was followed by the realization that he was gone when she dared to look back.

No, no, no- not like this! I wasn't ready-!

There would be time to panic. That time was not now. Instead, she reiterated her leader's final order: "ShadowClan, to Highstones!"

As she moved faster than she could remember going in her life (something she attributed to the adrenaline of the moment, and highly doubted she could ever recreate), she looked for her mate; something that had become second nature to her in moments of crisis. "Echomist! Echomist, please-!"

Leopardsun is fleeing in the direction of Highstones at Nightstar's orders, and is searching for Echomist.

---

Nightdancer was listless, as she often was, but she spurred into action along with her Clanmates; the crashing and yowling was loud enough to rouse any cat and made her feel remarkably present in the moment. It was too loud to hear herself think, and while some days dragging one paw in front of the other felt like a chore she felt as if she could have run all the way to the mountains of the elder's tales, far past Highstones, if only it would put an end to the noise and the chaos.

Nightdancer is fleeing Fourtrees!

---

Mistkit was easily frightened, a shy and nervous bundle of mist-grey fluff that hid behind her sister more than anything. Stonekit's voice roused her with an urgency she couldn't recall hearing before, and she could only tremble slightly. Her gaze followed the braver kit's, and-

Stonekit was right. They couldn't stay, they had to get out of this place.

"O-okay," she whispered, voice soft and shaky. She wasn't sure she was brave enough to run, but she certainly wasn't fearless enough to stay where she was. "Lead the way..."

Mistkit is following Stonekit's lead!

"ECHOPAW!" It hadn't taken long for Acornpaw to hear her friend's echoing cry for his mother - barely making his pelt out within one of the strange creatures' silver logs. Fear hammered in her chest as she watched helplessly, claws digging into the ground before she squeezed her eyes shut. She...She couldn't help him - she couldn't face these things! But... Her eyes snapped open as she quickly scanned the crowd of panic, feeling cats as she looked for a familiar pelt. Finally, she saw her - Comfreyheart. If she couldn't help her friend, then she wouldn't let his mother be taken either! She threw herself from her bush, paws barely skimming the ground as she weaved between fleeing cats and the terrying twolegs - that was what these creatures had to be, wasn't it? - to Comfreyheart's side. She pressed herself against the warrior's injured leg, eyes flashing in concern. "L-Lean on me, we need to go now!"

Upon witnessing Echopaw's capture, Acornpaw has bravely returned to the clearing to help Comfreyheart escape.

Snowpaw froze in place as Fourtrees was invaded. Her chest heaved and her heart pounded as a thousand sounds, sights, and smells overtook her mind. But instead of Twoleg monsters, she saw monsters of another kind. Instead of the deep rumbling of their paws, she heard cries of pain, fear, and despair. And while the Twolegs made off with her clanmates, she saw cats struck down by bloody claws. “Ratrunner! NO!” she suddenly yowled, staring at the spot where her brother had fallen many moons before.

Suddenly, a hip-check startled Snowpaw partly back into the present.
“We’ve been ordered to evacuate! Head for Highstones!” Lighttail hissed.
“Loudnose! Ratrunner!” Snowpaw cried out again. A sharp yank to her scruff snapped her fully out of it.
“Highstones!” Lighttail repeated. Finally seeming to understand, the older she-cat turned and ran after the other fleeing cats. Lighttail followed, bringing up the rear to make sure nobody lagged behind too much.

A brown-and-white blur streaked across the makeshift ShadowClan camp as Sunkit made a mad dash for his mother’s side. “Mama, what’s happening?” he whimpered. “I’m scared.”

On the WindClan side, Blazefang wasn’t doing much better than Sunkit, but unlike him Blazefang was a warrior with responsibilities. In a flash of red fur, she planted herself in front of Russetpaw and Sleepypaw. “Don’t move unless a Twoleg tries to grab you or a high-rank says so,” she hissed.

At the sound of another voice right in her ear, Russetpaw let out a high shriek that, in any other circumstances, would’ve been horrifically embarrassing. Today, though- right now, she was just so, so relieved to find Sleepypaw next ta her. She skidded to a stop, nearly colliding with her friend- nodding furiously at her words- Blazefang appeared out of nowhere, barking orders, but one thing and one thing only mattered, right now-

Silverwing.

“I’m so sorry-“ she choked out, nudging Sleepypaw towards Blazefang and hoping desperately that her friend wouldn’t follow her- or maybe that she would- selfish, selfish, selfish- but Silverwing- Sleepypaw was safe, but Silverwing- Silverwing had been the first cat to- to be kind to her, to treat her like- like a cat that mattered- and though she valued Sleepypaw’s friendship more than the stars themselves- Silverwing- Silverwing was- was like a motherly older sister to her, someone she could trust, and confide in, and though she’d left her behind once, in the scramble to escape from camp- she wouldn’t- no, she couldn’t do that again. Never again- the pain was clear in her eyes- she wasn’t choosing between Sleepypaw and Silverwing, she knew Sleeps was safe, and Silverwing could be hurt or lost or even taken- but it felt like she was- was abandoning Sleepypaw, her first and foremost and best friend- hopefully Sleepypaw wouldn’t feel the same way-

And so Russetpaw took off once more, evading any attempts to grab her scruff, looking for her mentor- her friend- careening recklessly straight across the clearing and cutting through the chaos, searching desperately for any glimmer of a silver pelt.


Dawnfeather and Hartstep have been captured.
Russetpaw is defying orders and is searching for Silverwing.
Frondkit is still huddled in his nest, not knowing what to do.