"Fox dung!" Mintcloud hissed.
She rested on higher ground, herbs resting at her paws, though it was obvious she wasn't able to save all of it.
Lionkit and Sorrelfur had followed her, the latter trying to calm her daughter down as Oakstar and Ashfoot tried to figure out the safest way to retrieve Whitekit. Her father stayed a safe distance, silent and still, as if shocked about the turn of events.
The warriors, followed by Sparrowpaw and Snakepaw, joined the two she-cats. Everyone huddled together and formed a mass of different colored and patterned fur, flattened ears, and stiff tails. Every once and a while, one cat would shake out their pelt to rid their coat of the rain water that had accumulated there.
"Well this is just great," Flintcreek griped from beside Sorrelfur. Blue eyes narrowed at the sky, still heavy with rain.
Hareclaw shifted to glance at the she-cat. "Hopefully it will be over soon."
It was evident that the entire Clan was itching to do something. How could they simply sit there while StarClan knows what was happening to Whitekit? Nonetheless, it would be irresponsible to try and go after her without the word from the leader or deputy. But as if on cue, Oakstar approached.
"I'll go," Buzzardtail offered immediately, stepping forward with his head high.
"Pebblesnow, Onetalon, come with me," he began in a level voice, seemingly ignoring the tom altogether.
"Ashfoot is in charge while I am gone."
Oakstar turned tail, the two warriors following suit. Once a little deeper in the territory, he relayed more detailed instructions. "Pebblesnow, try down near the GorgeClan border. Onetalon, head toward StreamClan territory. We meet back here at sundown."
Both cats gave a stoic nod and peeled off, the Clan leader going his own way. Whilst the rain had drowned out most of any traceable scents, he kept his eyes open and ears alert, following the direction of water flow. It seemed to go on forever. Surely a white pelt in the midst of rich browns and greens would stand out- where was she? Growling, he made his way up a tree and tried to scan about. Nothing.
Wait! He could hear yowling. It sounded like a she-cat. Could it be?
Back at camp, Lionkit's agitation was only growing. "She's going to be alright, right? They'll find her? Why did she go after the freshkill!?" she growled under her breath to her mother.
Sorrelfur felt a pang of dread herself. All of her questions were viable. "I know they'll find her," she replied instead, looking over to Buzzardtail.
Lionkit was five moons old now, her mother knew she wasn't a mousebrain. But she had to keep hope.
In the forest, the yowling had been discovered to be Pebblesnow, who stood at the GorgeClan border. Once Oakstar and Onetalon joined her, they saw what she had made the commotion about: a GorgeClan cat held the limp form of Whitekit in their jaws.
It was the deputy. "Hollowstripe," Oakstar meowed.
"Whitekit was swept down here during the flood," Onetalon explained hurriedly.
Oakstar raised his tail to silence him.
As though natural, Pebblesnow moved just as Hollowstripe set her down, leaving the she-cat to pick her up. She dipped her head in thanks before returning to their side of the border and heading to camp; or what was left of it.
When leaves being kicked up by frantic paws were within earshot, the entirety of ForestClan turned to get a good look.
"She's getting a little big to be...carried," Pebblesnow managed, her voice muffled.
Onetalon, who was the only one who heard the remark, could only smile and nod, happy they were able to get their Clanmate back safely.
Mintcloud was the first to the kit when she was set down, pressing a paw to her side and lowering her head to her muzzle to make sure she was breathing. When it was affirmed that she was alive, Ashfoot herded everyone away so the medicine cat could do what she needed to do.
Sorrelfur and Lionkit were allowed to stay a little closer.
The grey tabby she-cat massaged her belly and throat to coax out any excess water before dressing the scratches on her back she must have received from the rough ride down. After that, she tried dangling pungent herbs to her nose to try and startle her awake. It didn't seem to work.
Lionkit couldn't take it and left her mother's side, pressing her nose to Whitekit's ear. "Wake up! You're safe now, you're back at camp. You have to get up," she whimpered.
Heartbeats seemingly equivalent to an eternity passed before pale green eyes opened. Finally..!
"Thank StarClan!" Sorrelfur heaved, rasping her tongue between her daughter's ears and over her cheeks.
Mintcloud seemed to visibly relax as well, beckoning an also very perturbed Buzzardtail over.
"I'll say it again since you didn't hear me the first time: you mousebrain!" Lionkit added, offering a weak laugh, which her sister mirrored.
Her father sat behind his daughter, shielding her from the rain. He was sure she'd had enough of the water by now, and licked her between the ears before pressing his nose to her shoulder. ForestClan seemed much less on edge, though Ashfoot couldn't help but to now stare at his camp, decimated by the surge of water. It would take some time to repair fully, but with luck, it would be livable in a day or so.
Oakstar approached the shaken family, nodding to his own sister and nieces. "Thank StarClan indeed, that everything is alright," he mewed.
"Thank you, as well. You were the ones to find her," Sorrelfur replied.
"The GorgeClan deputy returned her to us; we will be sure to thank them at the next gathering."
"Seems appropriate," Buzzardtail chimed in.
The leader departed.
Surprsingly, it was a little before moonhigh before the waters had receded. And so, cleanup began.
"Buzzardtail, take Pebblesnow, Hareclaw, and Onetalon to take out the old moss from the dens," Ashfoot instructed.
The four cats nodded and hurried back down the hill into camp.
Oakstar, alone, ran a patrol to remark borders once the rain had stopped.
Once the first group returned, old, wet moss tucked under their chins and clamped in their jaws to be discarded, the deputy's voice rang through the territory again.
"Reedstorm, Crowdusk, Stonetuft and Sparrowpaw, go collect fresh moss from the cave."
More bodies filed out of their temporary holding spot to follow orders.
"...Flintcreek, Snakepaw, come with me. We're going to hunt."
Now with Ashfoot gone, Oakstar returned.
"Buzzardtail, Hareclaw, go with Mintcloud so she can restock the herbs," he meowed.
Lionkit sat and listened, intently checking on her sister every now and then, even though she was only a few foxlengths away. Sorrelfur took her father's place since he was occupied. And she thought it was a good time to talk about the future, about becoming an apprentice and doing a lot of hard work, learning the traditions of the Clan and becoming a productive part of ForestClan. She almost rolled her golden eyes but resisted that urge, simply nodding instead.
How could she think about that in a time like this?
By now, no cat had any idea how close to sunrise it was. The dens were repaired, the moss was dry, and there was prey, now kept in the otherwise vacant elder's den. Whitekit, however, was advised to stay her night in the medicine den. Just in case. But it didn't much help that Crowdusk came running in later in a huff, begging Mintcloud to come with her to check something.
The exhausted kit just trying to sleep didn't pay much attention to the ordeal, but realized she didn't need to when the medicine cat returned. "Looks like you'll be getting a new denmate once you get back," she sighed before yawning and falling silent.
Hm. She wondered who's they were, but didn't speculate too much before sleep claimed her tired mind.
The next day, Whitekit felt back to her old self, and was frankly growing sick of the smell of herbs. Lionkit came to visit her and keep her entertained, thank StarClan. Sorrelfur had been told to go on the dawn patrol but to take it easy.
The sisters guessed it was because they were due within half a moon to become apprentices. Their mom would go back to being a warrior, so they were trying to get her acclimated to being more active again.
"Lionkit, if you're going to stay here, could you not sit right in the entrance?" Mintcloud huffed with a playful smile.
The tabby's ears went back. "Oh..! Sorry," she chuckled.
But the medicine cat stood silent, looking at them. "In fact- you seem fine, Whitekit. Now both of you get on! Just come back if anything feels off, alright?"
With a mrrrow of amusement, the white she-cat stood and nodded, trotting back to the nursery, where Crowdusk lay. Lionkit nodded in greeting to her.
"Oh..!" Whitekit gave a small gasp, having forgotten the previous night's events.
The dark she-cat gave a small laugh and curled back up.
Deciding to occupy the clearing, the two sisters chatted away and, as always, began to play fight, tumbling about and earning a mock-disappointed head shaking from Mintcloud.
"Who's kits is Crowdusk expecting?" Whitekit inquired between play blows.
"No idea," Lionkit responded, ducking and smirking as she gained the upper hand.
The dawn patrol soon returned, and Sorrelfur hurried to gently scold the pair for getting themselves dirty. Uh oh. Sparrowpaw and Snakepaw had warned them of this phase, where their mother always wanted them clean and presentable looking, and acting more mature. Psh. Play fighting would never grow old!
When Oakstar saw everyone had made it back, he smiled and sat, waving his tail.
"Every cat old enough to catch their own prey, gather to hear what I have to tell you!" he yowled.
All noise from sharing tongues had ceased, and soon, he had everyone's undivided attention, for no one could guess why he had called a Clan meeting. There was no patrol to be sent out, and yesterday's happenings had been dealt with. Or so everyone thought.
"Today we welcome two new warriors, who yesterday, in the face of adversity, showed tremendous courage, heart, and relentlessness to help their Clan in any way they could, and in every way asked of them."
Lionkit was a little taken aback in awe. Her uncle sure had a way with words. How cool would it be to be leader? She smiled, her whiskers twitching as she listened.
"Snakepaw, Sparrowpaw, please step forward. Buzzardtail, Reedstorm, please join them."
The brown tabby kit sighed with yearning, her heart beginning to thud a little in her chest, which swelled with anticipation. Someday, this would be her.
A/N: Well well! Guess who's back! I really hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and please, because I enjoy interacting with my readers, as I think it makes a better experience for you guys and authors alike, tell me:
Who's kits is Crowdusk expecting?
What will Sparrowpaw and Snakepaw's warrior names be?
If I like them enough, I might use them!
Until next time! :)