SUNNINGROCKS
Bravepaw looked at his Clanmates from the shelter of one of the rocks where he was sitting closely with Redpaw. Every-cat was huddled closely together with their Clanmates. Bravepaw could still see the fear in their eyes and their ruffled fur as the winds started to die down.
Elmfur was the first to realize the danger had passed. "Is everyone all right?"
Bladestar shakily rose onto his paws and turned toward the members of his clan. "Every cat come and gather beneath-… he paused as he realized they weren't at Thunderclan anymore, he had to remember, they were at Sunningrocks now, there was no high-rock, no dens, no nothing. He jumped up onto one of the bigger rocks. "Please gather around me," He finished, trying to salvage as much of the situation as he could.
The cats surrounding Bladestar looked up toward their leader, their faces displaying the worry inside them, as they looked now to him for a solution to what would happen to them now.
Bravepaw helped Redpaw by supporting him with his shoulder as they stood on the edge of the circle next to Elmfur, who was beside Bladestar's rock.
"What's going to happen to us now?" Sunblaze asked shakily.
A lonely gust of wind tore gently around them as the clouds started to separate, clearing the sky.
Bladestar gave a defeated sigh. "I-I don't know…"
The cats stared around at each other as they noted the downcast look of their leader.
Elmfur jumped up on the small rock beside Bladestar and rested her tail tip, comfortingly on his shoulder. "We received a message from StarClan, before the great whirling wind came. They said 'Wind was rising, beware of wind.' Until now, we thought they were speaking to us about Windclan and how they wanted to destroy us. We see now though, that they didn't mean that at all. I'm sorry, for not being able to warn you of this terrible storm before it happened. I had no idea…"
"There was no way you could have known something like…that was coming, Elmfur. Not even from StarClan's warning. There was nothing anyone of us could do to stop it," Bladestar meowed as he glanced at ThunderClan medicine cat.
Bravepaw still felt an icy chill around his heart as he mentally flashed-back to the savage swirling winds and the huge crashing sound of the tree limb coming down as it thudded down on Dewdrop.
He could hear the own desperate sound of his meow as he asked Bladestar, "What about Dewdrop's body?"
The leader lifted his head with a determined look. "Dewdrop died valiantly, saving her Clanmate and thinking of others before herself. She had been my mentor, and I will always remember and admire her strength and courage in everything she did. We will bring her body back here for a vigil where we may all say our good-byes to her and bury her properly."
This seemed to give the cats purpose as they slowly nodded their heads, determined to honor their fallen Clanmate.
Bladestar hopped down from his perch. "I will take any warrior who is willing to come with me to retrieve Dewdrop. I need some to stay here though and make some makeshift dens, anything that we can use for shelter."
"Especially for Briarnut, she may have her kits anytime now, and she needs more shelter," Elmfur added.
Bladestar dipped his head. "Of course, Elmfur, you're absolutely right. We don't know how bad the camp has been damaged and we might need to stay here awhile before we are able to go back to the way things were. If any of the cats staying has any questions about the dens, ask Elmfur, she's in charge while we're gone."
Bravepaw guided Redpaw to one of the nearby rocks. "I'm going to ask Bladsestar if I can go with him back to camp. I want to be there."
Careful not to bend his twisted paw Redpaw meowed, "I know. I would want to go too if I could. But I probably wouldn't be any help with this stupid sprained paw of mine! I'll stay here and see if I can help with making some of the dens."
"Don't worry about making too many dens! I'm sure we'll be back home before you can say mouse!" Bravepaw called back as he padded over to Bladestar.
"Eh-hem!" Bravepaw cleared his throat politely.
Bladestar turned around to look at Bravepaw, surprise on his face. "Yes, Bravepaw, did you want something?"
"I want to go with you back to the Thunderclan, if I may." Bravepaw asked, trying to puff out his chest to make himself look bigger."
Bladestar's eyes softened. "It won't look like home anymore Bravepaw. Besides, I'm sure Elmfur can find something useful for you to do here."
Seeing the disappointment on Bravepaw's face, Sharp-Eye suddenly intervened, "Please, Bladestar, let him come. He was very close to Dewdrop."
Bladestar glanced from one to the other. "Oh, alright, if you really want to."
"Thanks!" Bravepaw meowed.
Bladestar then continued, "Join the patrol, next to your mentor."
Bravepaw spotted Grayleaf and went to join her. "Are you coming too?" She asked.
"Yes, I checked with Bladestar already, he said I could come."
Bravepaw looked ahead at the cats in the patrol, Bladestar was obviously leading, he was closely followed by Velvetfoot, Blackraven, Sunblaze, and his apprentice Willowpaw, and then lastly, Grayleaf and himself.
That left only Oakfang, who was an elder, Ashnose, Hazelfur, Shinepelt, Briarnut, Redpaw, and Sparrowpaw at Sunning-rocks with Elmfur.
Without Edgeclaw and the rest of the cats, we barely have enough cats to do anything! How will we have enough to do patrols, hunt, and defend ourselves if Windclan does decide to take advantage of us and attack?! I hope Briarnut has her kits soon. We could use a few more apprentices, thought Bravepaw.
Bladestar then gave a confident yowl, "Let's be off!"
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Bravepaw shuddered inwardly as he stared at their old camp, one of the big nearby acorn trees had been up-rooted and fallen only a few tail lengths from the camp, massive tree limbs were strewn everywhere, many of the rocks and most of the grass had been torn up, leaving their young shoots lying on the earth. He could barely see what used to be the warriors den, it was crumbled to shambles. He couldn't even see any of the other dens because they were covered under the masses of branches.
Then there it was, the large limb that had robbed Dewdrop of her life, her beige pelt still barely visible beneath its massiveness.
The patrol stopped for a moment, speechless, observing the destruction. When Bladestar eyes also caught sight of Dewdrops body, he took a deep breath to calm himself then called out "Alright, let's all try and see if we can push this thing off of her."
Every cat took a stance as they struggled and moaned as they tryed with all their might to push the limb off Dewdrop's body. Bravepaw could feel it slowly moving as his footpaws pushed against the torn up soil along with the others.
The cats paused for a moment catching their breath as they prepared to give the large branch another big push.
"Bravepaw," Bladestar walked up, "Do you think if we could push the limb one more time, you could slide under quickly and drag her out?"
Bravepaw was stunned for a minute that he would have to be the one to drag out Dewdrop lifeless body.
"I know you might not want to do this," Bladestar continued, seeing Bravepaw hesitate, "But you and Willowpaw are the smallest. None of us would fit, and I don't know if Willowpaw would have the strength to pull her out."
Bravepaw nodded his head resolutely. "No, I'll do it."
It's the least I can do for you, Dewdrop, after all you've taught and done for me.
"Let's give it one last shove. Every cat, time to give it everything you got," Bladestar instructed, "Ready, set, now!"
Bravepaw quickly ducked under and grabbed Dewdrop's pelt in his teeth and dragged her out from under.
How small she looks now! He glanced down at her hard cold body, and her eyes that had always been so warm and welcoming were now glazed over, almost as if that's how they had always been.
"We will take her back now and sit vigil with her. Tomorrow we will come back and begin repairing our camp."
Bladestar and the deputy Velvetfoot carried Dewdrop most of the way, after a while, Sharp-eye switched with Velvetfoot. Shinepelt offered to relieve Bladestar, but he insisted on carrying his former mentor the whole way.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
The stars shone brightly in the dark night sky as all the cats circled around Dewdrop's still form as the cats paid their last respects.
Sharp-Eye lied down next to Briarnut. "She saved my mate, and our kits. We will never forget her, or what she's done for our family."
Bravepaw felt like he had to say something, anything to show how much she had meant to him. But how can I? Before he even realized what he was saying he added, "Dewdrop, was always there for me, she told me stories and would play with me. She accepted me for who I was, even though I wasn't born in Thunderclan, she always made me feel like I belonged."
There was a short silence and then Bladestar voice was heard as it carried strongly over the night air, "Dewdrop taught me everything about what it means to be a true warrior. She helped make me who I am today. I only hope I will be half as great as she was. We will honor her memory always."
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Author note/ So here's another chapter back at Thunderclan! I'd like to give a Shout-out to Waycaster for following my story!:) And as always reviews are welcome