AN: So, one review. Thanks, that person.
This is one of my favourites. Quite long, too.
Coalstorm: Yeah, I can expect suffering if it's long.
Me: Yup!
Coalstorm: Great... So long as I get to see Darkleaf.
Me: Don't worry, extended time with Darkleaf coming up!
Coalstorm: Yay!
Coalstorm POV
I was out walking with Beechnose. Since Sugarbreeze became an elder, she's been so much nicer to me. We were walking out by the river, when suddenly I smelt three things at once; smoke, fear scent, and Darkleaf. "Stop!" I told Beechnose, and I looked out into RiverClan territory.
Smoke was rising in thick plumes, and through the blur of trees and smoke, I saw Darkleaf run out of the forest, doubled over in coughing. "Coalstorm... Get help..." He rasped.
I looked pointedly at Beechnose "What have I missed here?" She asked curiously.
"Never mind that!" I hissed "No one will believe me when I say RiverClan's on fire, so go!"
Beechnose nodded and sprinted off towards camp, as I ran over to my mate.
"Darkleaf, are you okay?" I asked desperately, quickly searching his body for scratches.
"Do I look okay?" He asked weakly "Mistyheart's in there! So's my sister!"
"Don't worry. My Clanmates are on their way. They'll find your mother." He nodded gratefully.
The rescue of the RiverClan warriors was hectic. Mosspool and I had to work together to help the RiverClan cats to camp. Well, I did the helping, she did the healing.
From what I could tell, a fire had been started by twolegs. Right in the camp. Darkleaf was the first to be woken by the flames, he alerted the deputy and rushed to WindClan, who were much more likely to help RiverClan than ThunderClan were.
I counted cats as they came out due to Darkleaf's account.
A few senior warriors came first, sent ahead to organise their Clan as more cats arrived.
Next were two of the four elders, one of the ones left was almost blind and the other was their mate. Hazelface had a nasty burn from a fallen tree.
Next came the only apprentices in the Clan, Lilypaw and Dustpaw. Dustpaw was gently helping her by letting her lean on him. He looked at her with love in his eyes. Lilypaw smiled weakly as she passed me, and I smiled back as they headed into camp.
Then came their mentors, Fishfoot and Sorrelflight.
A few warriors trickled past, including the deputy, who was helping the two coughing elders.
Just the two queens, one kit nd several warriors left.
Half of the remaining warriors and a heavily pregnant, wheezing queen.
"Darkleaf." I mewed to the tabby tom. "Has Mistyheart come through yet?"
"No. Neither has my little sister, Tigerkit, or Mistyheart's mate, Leopardwing." He mewed back, looking worried.
Finally, a golden spotted cat came through, and Darkleaf ran up to him. "Leopardwing! Where's Mistyheart and Tigerkit?"
The tom, covered with burns on one side of his face, managed to wheeze "Hailstar... Is helping them. No one else... Left to come."
"Come on, Leopardwing." I said kindly to the older warrior "Your mate and kit will be fine. You need to get to our camp, Mosspool will help you there.
Me and Darkleaf waited alone for many minutes, sitting in tense silence.
The smoke was billowing out of the forest so thickly I could hardly see the fire. "Darkleaf, you stay here a moment. I'm going to ask Beechnose or someone to stay here while we search along the river for Hailstar, Mistyheart and Tigerkit."
He nodded as I ran to camp.
"Beechnose!" I called, and sighed in relief when she came up to me. "Me and Darkleaf are going to search the RiverClan border and river for his mother and sister and Hailstar. Could you watch for them at the border?"
She nodded, and we both left for the border.
When we got there, me and Darkleaf headed off along the river. Beechnose gave me a knowing look, but I pretended I hadn't seen it.
Long story short, we found the remaining members of RiverClan. I was so glad at the look of relief on Darkleaf's face as we found them.
And the RiverClan cats are staying at our camp for a while. I can spend a long time talking to Darkleaf all day.
