Turned Upside Down [Sitewide]

❒ Despite the relatively normal and peaceful start to the day, Briarrose had awoken feeling... off. She couldn't quite put her paw on it but no matter what she did, said feeling refused to leave. It unsettled her—something wasn't right. She debated on telling her mother but decided on keeping an eye on her clanmates for a bit while she wandered around Fourtrees. Perhaps that would help soothe her tenseness... She should have known better.

❒ It started off as an odd, deep growling that seemed to be permeating from all sides. It echoed around, occasionally vibrating within her head. She was instantly on alert. What was that? She felt her fur rise and her heart began to beat faster. Soon, the ground began to tremble. It wasn't the powerful shaking that had forced the clans to take refuge at Fourtrees. No, it was a horrid, low-pitched rumbling that sent shivers through her legs and into her belly. It was surrounding them. She needed to hurry back to where he clanmates were stationed. Something was definitely not right.

❒ The smell. There was an awful, putrid stench that suddenly wafted into her delicate nose. It was making her eyes water. She scrambled away. The sounds were getting louder but now, she could hear extra noises that resembled growling and grunting. As she ran, she turned her head to take a peek at the edges of Fourtrees. The huge, menacing shadows that slowly extended their reach over the cats had her heart stutter. The moment the monsters were in sight was the moment she knew that they were all in trouble. "RUN!" was the only thing she was able to cry out before all chaos broke loose.

❒ There were twolegs that came from all sides—they were surrounded! Monsters that towered above them all loyally followed behind and beside them. Everyone was scrambling, yowling to each other over the loud sounds of the twolegs and the beasts. She instantly thought about her family, her apprentice, and her friends. Her eyes darted around as she maneuvered around some and darted passed others. Where were they? Where was her mother? Echopaw? Was he with his mother? How about Acornpaw? Crimsonpaw? Her mind was working faster than ever. She needed to find everyone and fast.

❒ She froze in the middle of her search. Terror gripped her chest as she heard a familiar voice cry out. Echopaw! She pushed her legs to run faster. "ECHOPAW!" she called out with a panicky tone. Her heart leaped into her throat as she came across twolegs covering the horrible-looking contraption that Echopaw was stuck inside before beginning to walk away. "ECHOPAW!" she cried. Fury—cold fury—washed over her as she snarled caught up to them and tried her best to slice at the twolegs' long limbs. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" she spat, eyes wild. She bit and scratched whatever she could. They tried to snatch her up but she evaded them as she rolled and sprang around in an unpredictable manner. She had to get them to let go of that movable den in whatever way she could. The growls and pained yowls the twolegs let out gave her grim satisfaction. However, that was short-lived the moment one of them sent her tumbling away. She hissed and scrambled back up onto her paws. Her heart leaped as she noticed them hurrying away. "NO! COME BACK!" She sprinted over with a snarl and latched onto the leg of the twoleg holding her apprentice captive. She sank her claws into its loose pelt, even managing to latch far enough to sink into its skin. She tried to scale up it like a tree but the other twoleg growled and grabbed her scruff. She hissed and thrashed around, effectively making it drop her. She grunted when the air left her. She dizzily stood back up. She couldn't let them get away!

❒ The twoleg that wasn't holding onto the den stood in front of her, preventing her from reaching their partner. No matter which way she went, it put a stop to her movements. She watched in horror and guilt as the other twoleg disappeared from view, taking her apprentice. "NO! ECHOPAW!" She nearly collapsed in grief but she forced herself to retreat. The other twoleg was still there and she couldn't allow herself to be taken. She had to help her other clanmates. However, she allowed herself one last glance back. She allowed her eyes to express the hatred she currently felt toward the twolegs and their monsters. Shakily, she hurried away with a heavy heart and a hollow feeling in her chest.

❒ Briarrose stumbled over to where she noticed Fawnshine's pelt among the fleeing cats. She couldn't see Crimsonpaw, Nightdancer nor her mother—she prayed for them to be safe—but Comfreyheart was there alongside Acornpaw. A smidgen of relief was all she felt seeing them safe. Her mind was mostly plagued by Echopaw. If only she had been faster... if she'd been stronger...

❒ She nodded toward the medicine cat. "Where are we headed?" she asked softly. While she awaited the she-cat's reply, she turned to address Comfreyheart and Acornpaw. "I'm sorry," she croaked. She didn't notice or care that she was speaking "informally". None of that mattered now. Not when Echopaw was gone. He must be so afraid, so alone... Would he hate her for not rescuing him? Only the thought of that made her sick and distressed. She felt like a failure.

❒ Briar winced. "I tried- I-I almost had him... I wasn't strong enough..." She didn't meet their eyes. She didn't want to see their disappointment or their accusations. She was Echopaw's mentor. She needed to have tried harder. She needed to have saved him. At least, that's what she told herself. Her mind was in disarray. She didn't feel as put-together as she always was. She swallowed thickly but forced herself to straighten up. No, she couldn't lose hope now. She was better than that. She was supposed to be better than that. They'll get him back as well as everyone else who was taken. For now, they needed to get to safety. They couldn't lose any more clanmates. "We'll get them back," she said to nobody in particular, a hard glint in her eyes. "I'm not losing hope."

❒ There had been little time to even react before the brief time of peace that had settled among the Fourtrees refugees was torn away—rather violently. Brookstone was startled awake from her nap by the loud rumbling noise that had taken over the whole area. She sat up, ears swerving as they took in each and every sound that was worryingly getting closer, and eyes narrowed in suspicion. She carefully got up and surveyed the area. However, before she could even move, from the edges of their temporary camp, a group of monsters followed by quite a few twolegs crashed through. "Sweet Starclan!" she cried as she scrambled away so as to not get crushed. Panic coursed through all the inhabitants as they tried to get away from the twolegs that were suspiciously getting closer and closer. Why can't they ever have a moment of peace that lasts longer than a moon?

❒ First thing that rushed into her head was to find her family. "Serpentpaw? Sprucebark?" she called out as she dodged a Thunderclanner. "Stormdance? Rowanpaw? Sandypaw? Where are ya guys?" She was starting to get nervous. She wanted to have everyone close by. Stay calm. She needed to stay calm. "Popp-" before she could even call out again, yowls were beginning to resonate all around her. She whipped her head around and her eyes widened. The twolegs were trapping everyone! Alright, now she was definitely in extra panic mode. "Little fishies??" She bit her lip harshly as the cries of Rowanpaw reached her ears. "Stormdance!" "ROWANPAW!" She could see Stormdance fighting a twoleg that had taken Rowanpaw. Anger and terror flowed through her. NO! They needed to get their nasty paws off her little fishy! "OI! LEAVE HIM ALONE YOU DUNGFACES!" she snarled as she leap into the action to help but she was too late. She panted, dismay and horror etched onto her face as she watched them carry the young tom off.

❒ There was an intense ringing in her ears. Everything felt like she was underwater. No... this couldn't be happening. She felt cold and agony, the same feelings she had felt when she thought she had lost Sprucebark and Hawkshriek. She dug her claws into the earth below to ground herself. She wanted to scream—cry for the injustice and for those all around her that were being kidnapped by those fox-dungs. She felt the need to tear them apart. She wanted to shred them, trap them like they were doing to everyone. It hurt that she couldn't. It was painful.

❒ She lifted a shaky paw and in a blink of an eye, dug her claws into her forearm. It wasn't deep but it was a necessity. She had to wake up. She couldn't stay frozen. She needed to help evacuate the others. Serpentpaw, Sprucebark, Sandypaw... Oh Starclan, Stormdance. Her eyes flicked over to where he'd dropped down. He was devastated. She swallowed thickly and began to pad over but was beaten by Woolywing. She paused before turning around and beginning her search for the others. Woolywing will help Stormdance.

❒ Poppyshine was the first she came across. She was ordering her kits to flee to safety. The tabby warrior nearly turned away—Poppyshine seemed to have things covered—but Spruce's sudden faint startled her. "Spruce-ter!" she scrambled over and prodded him gently. He was out cold. Her heart clenched but she couldn't let her feelings overtake her. "You're okay, you're okay. Hawk will keep ya safe." She needed to maintain a clear head. She helped Hawkshriek balance Sprucebark. "Hawkshriek. Be careful! Keep your senses open and stay safe." she instructed urgently. "Hurry!" She watched as the tom led Sprucebark away from Fourtrees before turning to address Poppyshine, "I'll find Perchstar. I'll also help find the others. Call for me if ya need any help or if ya spot my apprentice, Serpentpaw, anywhere."

❒ Perchstar's voice among the panicked yells had her stopping. "Perchstar! I'm here! Poppyshine is over there! She needs your help with Hickorypaw! Hawkshriek has taken Sprucebark to safety!" she called out. When she finally got to where she heard the leader's voice come from, she nodded at Perchstar. She then noticed that Stormdance, Woolywing, and Sandypaw were there. Good. They were safe. Thank the stars!

❒ "Andy! Storm! Wooly!" She meowed with relief. "You're all goin' back to camp? If ya spot Hawk and Spruce on your way there, please make sure they're safe. I need ta go find Serpentpaw and anyone else who's missin'. I'll catch up eventually. Don't worry." She straightened up. "Stick together, please. Keep each othah safe." She then padded up to Sandypaw and gave her a quick lick atop her head. "I'd rather ya stick with them but I'm not sure if Perchstar needs you for anythin'," she glanced up at the leader questioningly before looking back down. "Stay safe either way. I believe in you, little sister." The warrior looked back at Perchstar. "I can look for Rushingpaw as well. Go to Poppyshine."

❒ The she-cat stepped away and gave them all a half-hearted smile—more of a reassurance for herself than anything—then rushed away. "Serpentpaw! Rushingpaw!" She called out for her clanmates, eyes peeled for any sign of them. She was especially worried for the apprentices—Rowanpaw was fresh on her mind. She couldn't let anyone else meet the same fate.

❒ Forestbreeze wasn't able to truly relax since the moment they arrived at Fourtrees. Many things were stressing the tom but the most prominent was his missing apprentice. Batpaw... She had disappeared sometime during the initial shake and their move to Fourtrees. He felt helpless. She was so young and still had much to learn. She could've gotten lost and most likely didn't know where they had gone. He was itching to get up and go back to camp and start his search from there. Sadly, it just wasn't possible. For one, it wasn't safe to go back just yet. Secondly, he still wasn't healed from the injuries he gained courtesy of a very unlucky encounter with some foxes. Thankfully, both he and Iceheart had survived. Despite how thankful he felt to be alive, that still didn't stop the frustration from leaking out of him. He was antsy and it showed.

❒ Forest didn't blame anyone else for coming up empty-pawed in their brief search for Batpaw. No, he only blamed himself. He should've kept a closer eye on her. His first apprentice... gone... He didn't want to lose hope. He felt like she was still out there. She would come back to them and once she does, he won't be letting her out of his sight for a long while. He wanted to be a better mentor. She deserved better and he was adamant to be that for her.

❒ The only thing that still held him together was that Iceheart and Honeylight were still by his side—Iceheart hadn't left it much since they'd arrived. It made his chest swell with warmth. Sometimes he felt like he didn't deserve such loyalty and care but he shot those doubts as soon as they reared their ugly heads. No. They promised each other that they would never be apart. They'll always be there for one another. She was everything to him and more. Perhaps... perhaps everything would be alright.

❒ Or perhaps not... Forest and Ice were both awake and softly speaking with each other the moment terror struck once again. Twolegs! Twolegs and their terrible monster partners had barged into Fourtrees with very little warning beforehand. His mouth went dry and his head was spinning. Starclan! What was going on?? Why was this going on??

❒ He was immediately jolted from his thoughts when he felt Iceheart grab his scruff. He grunted in agreement—he couldn't quite trust his voice at the moment—and forced his shaky limbs to turn up the pace. They needed to hide! They needed to flee as soon as possible. He glanced around and felt the air rush from his lungs as he witnessed many cats getting captured by the invading twolegs. Oh, Starclan! No!

❒ The grey-and-white warrior snapped back to attention when they neared some bushes. A hiding place! A brief moment of relief was all he was allowed before he noticed a twoleg looming over him, spindly paw outstretched toward him. Terror flashed in his amber gaze before he flattened his ears atop his head and he began to hiss and spit. "GET AWAY!" His fur fluffed up and his tail lashed from side to side. He unsheathed the paw on his good limb to have a chance to somewhat defend himself but Iceheart—bless her—came to his aid instantly. She fought the tall creature and forced it to retreat. Once she rushed back to him, they both huddled deeper in the bushes. "Honeylight!" he called out with Iceheart. His heart pounded and he held his breath as he watched the younger tom dodge around twolegs and only allowed himself to breathe once Honey had joined them in the bushes. Sadness and fear filled him again as he could only watch while some of his clanmates were snatched up. Nightstar, Thalia... They were only some of the many who were taken away. They were taken away from their clans, their friends, their families...

❒ Highstones. Shadowclan was to head for Highstones. It was Nightstar's last order before he had been kidnapped. Forestbreeze let out a shaky sigh. He nudged Iceheart gently. "W-We have to get out of here," he rasped. "To Highstones..." His eyes never left the scene in front of them. Oh Starclan, let them all be safe... wherever they are being taken.