It was now new-leaf. Every cat had been horrified to see the water rising day by day.
Mosspelt was napping in the warriors' den when she heard a yowl. She trotted out of the den to see the water rapidly rising.
"We'll have to move to higher ground," Crookedstar yowled.
Mosspelt ducked into the elders' den.
"Graypool!" Mosspelt meowed urgently. "The water's rising, we're evacuating the camp!"
Graypool sighed, but got up. Mosspelt followed her into the clearing. Crookedstar was gathering with the rest of the Clan. Mosspelt helped Graypool follow the other cats as they walked to higher ground. Finally, Crookedstar stopped in a clearing surrounded by bushes.
"We will stay here until the water goes down," Crookedstar meowed.
Mosspelt saw Mistyfoot with two of her kits.
"Mosspelt!" Mistyfoot meowed. "Will you find another cat and go get my other two kits?"
Mosspaw nodded and turned around.
"Silverstream!" she yowled, calling to the first cat she saw. "Will you come with me to get Mistyfoot's kits?"
Silverstream nodded and the two warriors raced back to the camp. The water was already at their paws. They trotted into the nursery. Mosspelt felt a pang of shock. The whole floor of the nursery was washed away, and there was no sign of the kits.
"We'd better go tell Mistyfoot and Crookedstar," Silverstream meowed.
Mosspelt and Silverstream raced back to the Clan. They stopped in front of Crookedstar, panting.
"Mistyfoot's kits are missing!" Silverstream meowed.
Crookedstar opened his mouth to answer, but was distracted by the sight of the patrol. Leopardfur, Blackclaw, and Stonefur had gone out early that morning.
"Leopardfur, up here!" Crookedstar yowled.
"What happened?" Leopardfur demanded.
"The camp is flooded," Crookedstar replied. "We've had to move up here."
Mosspelt saw to her surprise two ThunderClan warriors following Leopardfur. It was Fireheart and Graystripe! And they were soaking wet.
"And what have you brought us?" Crookedstar asked. "ThunderClan spies? As if we didn't have enough trouble."
"They found Mistyfoot's kits," Leopardfur told him. "They claim they pulled them out of the river."
"I don't believe a word of it!" spat Blackclaw. "You can't trust a ThunderClan cat."
"Mistyfoot's kits went missing when the camp flooded," Crookedstar remarked. "How do you come to have them?"
"We flew across the river," Fireheart mewed sarcastically.
Mosspelt pinned her ears.
Mistyfoot raced over to them. "My kits! Where are my kits?"
She licked them furiously.
"Tell us what happened," Crookedstar ordered.
Fireheart told them how he and Graystripe had seen the kits and rescued them.
"Since when have ThunderClan cats risked their lives for us?" Blackclaw meowed contemptuously.
"Quite, Blackclaw!" Crookedstar hissed. "Let him speak. If he's lying, we'll find out soon enough."
"He's not lying," Mistyfoot meowed. "Why should ThunderClan steal kits when all the Clans are finding it hard to feed themselves?"
"Fireheart's story makes sense," Silverstream observed. "We had to abandon the camp and shelter in these bushes when the water started to rise again. The whole nursery floor had been washed away. They must have been swept along the river to where you found them."
"In that case, we're grateful to you," meowed Crookedstar.
"Yes," mewed Mistyfoot. "Without you, my kits would have died."
Mosspelt felt her hostility fade. Maybe these cats weren't so bad after all.
"Is there anything we can do for you?" Fireheart asked. "If you can't go back to your camp, and if prey's scarce because of the flood-"
"We need no help from ThunderClan," growled Crookedstar. "RiverClan cats can look after themselves."
"Don't be such a fool," Graypool meowed. "You're too proud for you own good. How can we feed ourselves, even with the thaw? There are no fish to eat. This river's practically poisoned; you know it is."
"What?" Graystripe exclaimed.
"It's the fault of the Twolegs," Graypool explained. "Last newleaf, the river was clean and full of fish. Now it's filthy with Twoleg rubbish from their camp."
"And the fish are poisoned," Mudfur added. "Cats who eat them fall ill. I've treated more cats for bellyache this leaf-bare than in all the time since I've been the medicine cat."
"Then let us help," Fireheart urged them. "We'll catch prey for you in our territory and bring it to you, until the floods have gone and the river is clean."
"Would you really do this for us?" asked Crookedstar.
"Yes," Fireheart meowed.
"And I'll help too," Graystripe promised.
"Then the Clan thanks you," grunted Crookedstar. "None of my cats will challenge you in our territory until the floods go down and we can return to our camp. But after that, we will fend for ourselves again."
He turned, and Mosspelt followed him back into the bushes. Mosspelt brushed past Mudfur, who turned to look at her intently.
"Congratulations," he meowed.
"What?" Mosspelt asked in confusion.
"You're expecting kits," Mudfur meowed. "This will be a blessing for the Clan."
Mosspelt blinked in surprise as Mudfur walked away. She looked around for Heavystep.
"Heavystep!" she meowed quietly. "I'm expecting kits!"
Heavystep widened his eyes.
"Congratulations," he purred. "I'm sure they'll be wonderful kits, just like you."
Mosspelt felt herself relax as he wound around her. She would soon be a queen! She thanked StarClan that her mate was so supportive and caring. She knew her kits would be the best in the Clan.