THUNDERCLAN CAMP

The wind had picked up its speed so quickly on their way back from the hunt it was almost unbearable for the cats to put one paw in front of the other without swaying.

Bravepaw was very grateful when they entered the medicine den and Redpaw ceased leaning on him and lied on the earth-packed floor.

Bravepaw moved his shoulders back and forth to bring the blood flow back into them from where Redpaw had been leaning against them.

Dewdrop the elder was in the den as well when they arrived to discuss with the medicine cat.

Elmfur turned swiftly at the sounds of the cats entering her den, "Oh my! Redpaw, what happened?"

"I stepped in a rabbit-hole while trying to catch a squirrel." Redpaw meowed embarrassedly."

Dewdrop looked at him with sympathy, "It happens to the best of us." She leaned in closer so only Bravepaw and Redpaw could hear her as she whispered, "I remember a time when Bladestar was an apprentice he was trying to catch a squirrel too. He charged up a tree after the prey and fell out of one of the branches, twisting his paw, and look at him now, he's our leader."

Bravepaw smiled as he meowed quietly, "You never told me that story!"

Dewdrop flicked her tail happily, "I haven't told you all the stories I know! When you're not too busy with apprentice duties and want to spend time with an old hag like me, I'll tell you some more."

"You're not old!" Bravepaw exclaimed.

Dewdrop smiled briefly at him.

Padding over to Redpaw, Elmfur had him lay out his injured leg as she gently probed around the sore footpaw. "Well, thank goodness nothing is broken. I believe you just twisted it."

Turning back to Dewdrop she meowed, "I'll come and check on Oakfang as soon as I can, Dewdrop. I'm glad you came and told me how his cough has gotten worse, it's a little late in the season for Greencough, but we don't want to take any chances."

Elmfur went to her stock where she pulled out some long leaves and started bandaging his leg tightly. "It shouldn't take more than half a moon for it to heal."

"Half a moon!" Redpaw exclaimed. "I can't miss training for half a moon! I'll fall behind!"

Elmfur just shook her head. "I'm sorry Redpaw, you're just going to have to stay around camp until it heals."

Redpaw lowered his head in defeated submission at Elmfur's words.

"Don't worry," Bravepaw nudged him gently, "I'm sure if you stay off it, you're paw will be better in even sooner than half a moon!"

Redpaw did not look comforted.

So Bravepaw continued, "And I'll come by every day and show you whatever I learn so you won't fall behind."

Redpaw's ear pricked happily at the sound of that. "Thanks Bravepaw! You're the best."

"You'd do the same for me." Bravepaw replied cheerfully then paused as he asked, "Right?"

Redpaw gave a slight meowr, "Of course I would!"

Ashnose then intervened, "Okay Redpaw, let's get you into your den so you can rest."

The two of them headed out of the medicine den and practically blew back in from a large gust of wind, they turned back into the den as Bladestar entered the den with a worried expression his face. "The wind has gotten much worse." The ThunderClan leader commented.

He then turned towards Grayleaf and meowed, "I'd like you to go and make sure that all the cats know to stay in their den's until this storm has passed."

"I'll go right away and tell them." Grayleaf meowed.

As they left the medicine den, Bravepaw heard Bladestar lower his tone as he meowed to Elmfur, "The sky has turned pale green!"

Now half way to the apprentices den Bravepaw looked up at the swirling clouds and noticed the odd green tinge Bladestar had mentioned moments ago.

No one was out in the clearing and Bravepaw could see why any-cat wouldn't want to be in this weather!

I wonder what this means! Bravepaw thought.

Redpaw lowered himself slowly into his nest, "What happened to new-leaf! The sun was just here a moonrise ago and now all we've had is wind and cold!"

Bravepaw lied down next to Redpaw and the two of them sat listening to the wind howling. It was only a few moments before the wind stopped suddenly and a still quiet came over the camp and Bravepaw felt a weird change in the atmosphere.

What is going on? He thought.

After waiting a few more minutes, Bravepaw looked over at Redpaw sleeping serenely beside him. He then arose and poked his head out of the den and stared out across to see Bladestar and Elmfur looking up at the clouds as well. Though they had no idea of his presence, they were looking with both their heads raised toward the sky.

Bravepaw suddenly looked up to see what they were staring at. The winds then, just as suddenly as it had gone reappeared this time much faster, and Bravepaw had to squint his eyes just to see.

Out on the near distance a large cloud descended, like a long shape making a spiral from the sky and the wind was tearing around it savagely in rapid circles.

Bravepaw felt his paws go numb with fear at the sight. He heard Bladestar race out to the clearing yowling loudly, "Every-cat out into the clearing now!"

Realizing that even though Bladestar was yelling at an ear-deafening volume the wind was so strong he was barely being heard.

Bravepaw yowled at Redpaw to wake up and ran out into the clearing. He dug his claws into the earth, so as not to be swept away as he raced out toward the other dens yowling with Bladestar. "Come on! The wind is tearing up the earth! We have to leave!"

Many of the cats were in the clearing by now in a panicked frenzy, and Bladestar was shuffling them in the direction of Sunning-rocks, "Follow me! We need to seek shelter!"

Sharp-eye was helping his mate from the nursery when Dewnose ran up to him from the elders den and cried, "Oakfang is too weak to follow by himself! I need your help to bring him to Sunning-rocks!"

Sharp-eye gave a glance to his mate's swollen belly, reluctant to leave her side.

Briarnut, pushed One-ear away with her tail. "Go get Oakfang, I'll be fine! Dewnose will help me."

Sharp-eye paused for a moment not sure whether to leave his mate or go help the Clan elder.

"We don't have time for this. I'll be alright!" She meowed reassuringly.

He quickly pushed his muzzle affectionately into her shoulder. Then he yowled, "Bravepaw! I need your help! Quickly, come to the elders den!"

Bravepaw ran to catch up with Sharp-eye, as they charged to get Oakfang, Digging their claws into the earth as they ran.

The ferocious spinning cloud was coming toward them fast now and small branches were starting to get pulled off from trees and whirling around.

Dewdrop and Briarnut were on the edge of camp, when Dewdrop paused to look back, scouring the camp for Oakfang, Bravepaw and Sharp-eye. She could see that they were almost caught up with them now. As she turned back to Briarnut, who was a couple paces ahead, she heard a loud cracking noise from up above as a huge branch split from the one of the massive acorn trees and came crashing down, with Briarnut standing right beneath it!

"Briarnut!" Dewdrop exclaimed as she charged right toward the pregnant queen cat, she shoved Briarnut with all the force in her aged body and sent her sprawling a few tail-lengths when the limb suddenly hit full force onto Dewdrops body, her beige pelt barely visible beneath the massive tree limb as it seemed to envelop her with its branches.

Bravepaw was on Oakfang's other side shouldering half of the tom's weight as he let out an anguished cry, "NOOO, Dewdrop!"

Sharp-eye supporting Oakfang with his body, raced up to Briarnut where she was whimpering from fright, and staring shocked at Dewdrop's lifeless body. "Sh-She saved me…" Briarnut cried.

Bravepaw was at a loss for words, Dewdrop who had always been there for him, had told him stories ever since he was a kit and always taught him to believe in himself.

A deep pang of grief struck him hard in his chest as he looked at the small figure of Dewdrop. "Help me get her out!"

Another tree limb landed a few tail-lengths away from them. "There's no time! We have to go!" Sharp-eye yowled over the wind. "She's gone, Bravepaw. There's nothing we can do. She's with Starclan now!"

They tore off after the others toward Sunning-rocks, as the wind beat unmercifully at their camp, tearing at the earth, devastating the place that had always been their home.

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Author note/ Thanks everyone for reviewing! I really appreciate it! I also need some kit names for Briarnut's and Sharp-eye's kits! So if you have any suggestions, I would love for you to tell me in a review! :)