Cactopus: OCs for my story. Unfortunately, I'm running out of creativity. I need mostly kittypets and rogues, since that will be what Emberpaw encounters. Thanks for reviewing!

Water rolled over Emberpaw like the maw of a monster.

Rapids seemed to tear her pelt off, while liquid invaded her lungs.

Emberpaw wondered if she would meet the gray cat with stars in his fur in StarClan. P

ain shot through her right paw, which was covered in blood. Rocks battered her from all sides. Suddenly, she stopped.

Emberpaw looked up. A brown-gray tabby had buried his claws in her fur.

"Hang on!" he gasped. Emberpaw anchored herself on a rock.

"Okay, I'm ready." The tom dragged over a branch and dropped one end in the river.

Emberpaw slowly detached her left paw and grabbed the stick. The tabby started pulling her up the steep incline.

Finally, she dropped onto the bank. "Thanks," Emberpaw said, breathless.

"No problem." he said, smiling. "Did you come from the big group of cats upstream?" When she nodded her assent, he continued.

"Then why didn't they try to save you?" A pit opened in Emberpaw's stomach. She hadn't thought of that before.

"I-I don't know." she admitted.

"Okay, you're obviously tired. And look at that!" he gestured to her paw.

Emberpaw looked down. No wonder it hurts so much, she thought. My paw-bone's in splinters.

"Oh- my manners. I'm Eastbound, but you can call me East. What's your name?" The tabby tom questioned.

Emberpaw knew she wasn't Clan anymore, nor was she a rogue. But in order to survive here, she'd have to grow up.

"Ember," she said. East nodded.

"Hello, Ember. Where are you going?"

"I don't know," she said truthfully.

"Why don't we travel together?" he suggested. "I can take you to my friends. Maybe they can help you."

"Okay," said Ember, relieved.

"But first," said East, "we'll have to take a look at that." he nodded towards her paw.

"Cobweb." Ember directed. "And marigold."

"Okay. I'll get those for you, then," East responded. "Wait here."

"I'm going anywhere."