I'm sorry for the long wait. Here's the next chapter! All will be summarized and some things explained when I update the allegiances soon!
The mountain of water filled her vision, towering higher than the tallest tree. It swallowed up the land as it came, moving at a terrifying speed. Mistyfoot pushed her legs faster. She had to outrun this menace, or she and her Clanmates would be dead. We should have gone with the other Clans! The one thought sent shivers of despair through her, but Mistyfoot forced it from her mind and kept going.
The rumbling of the water became apparent to her. The forest was silent, except for the yowling of frightened animals. Mistyfoot felt her own terror urge her to yowl with them, but she had to be strong for her Clan.
She saw the silhouette of the camp in the distance and gulped up air for one long, panicked yowl. She couldn't hold her terror in. An answering yowl came from the camp, which was bustling with activity already. Pebblequake and Minnowstream must have seen the water she thought. We'll save time.
Mistyfoot skidded to a halt on the riverbank. She glanced in the direction of the mountain-water, and saw with horror that it was coming closer every second. Should she cross the water and help her Clanmates?
Leopardstar's voice slid across the water to her. "Stay where you are, Mistyfoot! You need to lead the Clan!".
Mistyfoot struggled to hold down her terror and meow in agreement, but instead she yowled desperately "Hurry! We need to go!".
She trembled with terror as the ominous gurgling of the mountain0-water increased in volume. When would her Clan reappear? She was torn between loyalty to her Clan and self-preservation.
She had nearly surrendered to her instincts and was preparing to take flight when the Clan appeared. Leading the cats was Leopardstar, her unusual golden tabby coat bristling with terror, but her eyes soothing and calm to her Clan. Mistyfoot could see the leader struggling to hold her emotions in, and followed her example. Her face became a calm mask, and she meowed encouragingly to the cats as they began to swim across. She acted as though there wasn't certain death rumbling toward them, and in turn this calmed down the Clan.
Once terrified eyes glazed over, no longer looking frenzied; the Clan was becoming steadfastly determined to survive. Mistyfoot kept track of the mountain-water's progress.
It seemed to take forever for the Clan to cross, and once they did Leopardstar immediately broke in a sprint with her Clan following immediately, trustingly.
As Mistyfoot ran, she realized she could practically taste the desperation of her Clanmates to get out of there. She swiveled her head back and watched for a couple seconds. The elders were being supported on the warriors' broad shoulders, and beside them the heavily-pregnant queens were trying their best. For once, it was good there were no kits to carry. All of their eyes were full of determination.
This is the spirit of RiverClan. When threatened we will rise up and face it all together. We will die together or live together. There is no in-between. Mistyfoot quietly felt proud to be the deputy of such a Clan, but then a warning yowl came from a warrior at the back.
"It's gaining! We need to find higher ground!". Mistyfoot recognized Reedwhisker's voice and pushed herself faster. The tom had excellent survival instincts. She had mentored him, and knew this as well as she knew how to use her claws.
Leopardstar acknowledged the tom with a flick of her ear. She swerved suddenly, and led them towards a hill. The hill was sheer, and the only way up was jumping from rock ledge to rock ledge. Where is this? Mistyfoot questioned herself, then realized the obvious. We've run straight off of RiverClan's territory.
The deputy debated whether it might be wise to tell her leader to find a different spot to escape, but it was too late. The ground was starting to slope beneath Mistyfoot's paws. She sighed and went with it, but slowed down to let the other cats pass her. She wanted to make sure no cat was left behind on the perilous climb. It was what Leopardstar would have done had she not had to lead the Clan at that moment.
She glanced behind her. The mountain-water was frighteningly close, the rumble always increasing in volume. It was only maybe a mile away. They would need to run faster.
The silver-blue she-cat nudged a thickset tabby tom encouragingly. "Come on Heavystep! Only a little farther!". The elder was huffing and puffing, out of warrior fitness now that he was in retirement.
He nodded and took a deep breath before quickening his pace. A brown tabby she-cat appeared – Willowpaw – and the medicine cat apprentice meowed continuous encouragement even though she was panting so hard. Mistyfoot accelerated and nodded to Willowpaw. "I'll take it from here,". The apprentice nodded and quickened her pace to run beside her mentor.
Mistyfoot realized the pace was slackening after a bit, and guessed that they were at the rock ledges. She bounded to the front of the line and helped Leopardstar guide the cats up. The RiverClan leader was calmly nudging them up the ledge, when suddenly the smoky black tom leading the warriors up froze.
"I can't find a way up!" Blackclaw called down, his normally gruff voice void of all emotion except terror. Mistyfoot glanced up, and immediately saw a route.
Leopardstar must have seen the knowledge fill her eyes, because she hissed "You must lead the Clan up! You know what to do! I have lives to lose, you do not!"
Despite her fierce words, Leopardstar looked strangely sad. Her eyes were glazed over with indecision, and she sighed. Mistyfoot looked at her curiously, but didn't question her. Instead, she jumped one bound and landed on the first rock ledge.
Then her mind became focused on the task. Ledge by ledge she made her way up to Blackclaw's side, and then took the lead. She found the easiest route using sharp eyesight, and got there using her muscular legs. All the warriors were going up with ease, for swimming built a lot of muscle in their bodies that the other Clans didn't have. The elders were the only ones having trouble.
A terrified yowl rose from the back. "Oh, Great StarClan, no!"
Mistyfoot paused. She looked down, and saw Minnowstream staring into the distance. With a gulp, Mistyfoot raised her blue eyes and saw that the mountain-water was nearly upon them.
"We're nearly there! I'm picking up the pace!" she yowled, and then definitely picked it up. The elders started lagging, but she couldn't slow down, or she would risk the loss of RiverClan.
She was panting as finally she collapsed on a plateau, then stood upright to help her Clanmates up. She managed to get every one, when suddenly the gurgling sounded louder than before. She raised her eyes and saw with horror the water rushing straight for the high cliff.
It was below the cliff, but the cats who hadn't gotten here yet would die if they didn't get up in the next five seconds. Mistyfoot threw herself into the task.
She helped Beechfur up, then Graymist and Icewing. It was only the three elders who needed help. Leopardstar was nudging Heavystep roughly up the face, and Mosspelt was nudging both Stonestream and Swallowtail.
It happened very quickly. The water reached the RiverClan cats. It smacked into the cliff like the killing blow of a warrior's paw. The shrieks and yowls of RiverClan filled the air as icy spray splattered onto them.
Mistyfoot had closed her eyes, praying to the remainder of StarClan that all five of the cats still coming up had made it in time. Her heart beat against her ribs furiously, and her fur was bristling with sheer terror. She could smell the fear-scent of all her Clanmates around her.
She opened her eyes, and saw her entire Clan cringing into the ground. All of them looked shocked. But had the five survived? Her gaze flew to the entrance to this plateau, and she yowled in mournful agony.
Only one cat stood there.