Chapter 13: The Storm.
The sun slowly fell behind the horizon, its glorious white flare slowly vanishing as its beams stretched above towards the clouds. As Night fell and the Stars came out Frostpaw, restless, padded out of the den. Not a single apprentice (With the exception of Graypaw, who had fought in the battle and sustained surprisingly minor injuries) was actually asleep. Many tossed and turned in their mostly ruined bedding, and Dawnpaw and Viperpaw were talking to Ravenheart, the medicine cat, near the corner of the camp.
As Frostpaw padded to meet them, he looked towards the sky. It was filled with bright points of light, that being the Stars, shone brightly. He heard tales from Elders passed down through Generations of Cats that once the Stars were hidden by Twoleg Lights which clouded the sky with their own brightness. Now, with Twolegs gone, the great Sky Divide was Visible (What the Reader Would call the Milky Way) and the stars were too many to count. Legends said Starclan showed all their Warriors once the Twolegs were gone, and as he gazed he saw a Flash of Light streak across the sky before vanishing against the horizon, a fallen star. A Warrior of Starclan visiting the Earth.
Frostpaw finally reached the gathering cats, he realized his paws were sore, and was saddened by the fact he was unable to sleep. When he came near Ravenheart the Medicine Cat turned quickly towards him and spoke.
"Frostpaw, we were just talking about you." Ravenheart said, making a gesture at Viperpaw.
"You were?" Frostpaw asked, following Ravenhearts gesture where his eyes settled on Viperpaws White and Black Fur.
"Er, Yes." Dawnpaw said, covering for her brother, "Viperpaw was just saying how he thought they had a better hiding place than us during the apprenticeship exercise" She told him.
"Really?" Frostpaw said with a sarcastic tone, "Viperpaw, if your hiding place was so much better then why did we win, and why did you NOT win?" He asked, the simple question must have gotten to the apprentice, for he had no comeback. The Truth was simple, Frostpaw and Dawnpaw had indeed won for a reason, they had a more distanced spot, and a more concealed one. Infact, the only reason they were found so quickly was because their fur contrasted so heavily with their surroundings. Had they a pelt like Brambleheart and Brackenstar, it could be possible that they would not be found at all.
"Well, uhhh…. it's because Shrepaw told them where we would hide to get out of the hunting patrol tomorrow!" Viperpaw said, and Frostpaw sighed.
"Viperpaw, we haven't even been told to hunt yet." Frostpaw said with disappointment, "And my brother wouldn't do that either."
"Are you sure…?" Viperpaw said, and Frostpaw laughed, "I've known him my whole life, I know exactly the type of cat my brother is Viperpaw!" He said, Frostpaw took a brief mental pause before continuing, "And you've known them for just as long, Viperpaw, you know exactly who my brother is."
Viperpaw sighed, "You're right, I guess."
"Anyway, is there anything you need Frostpaw." Ravenheart asked.
"Do you have anything to help me sleep?" Frostpaw meowed, he hoped to Starclan that Ravenheart did.
"Sadly no, Poppy Seeds can do the trick but I used them up on all the warriors." The Medicine cat said, "All the Cats that were injured had to take one, and to Think I considered I had enough for anything." The Medicine Cat mumbled
"You had enough for almost anything." Came Brackenstars voice came, and Frostpaw nearly jumped out of his fur when he heard him. The Thunderclan Leader had snuck up so well that Frostpaw thought Brackenstar must practice doing that surely. Brackenstar had a calm and reassuring voice when he spoke next. "Ravenheart, you have done all you can to help the Warriors of Thunderclan, no Cat could have predicted this would have happened a few sunrises ago, and you saved lives today with your quick thinking and foresight to prepare." Brackenstar said with a reassuring tone and smile.
"I know." Ravenheart sighed, "Still, If I had just gathered a few more poppy see-" Ravenheart was cut off by Brackenstar.
"I hate it when Warriors, Medicine cats or anyone says that, 'If' you had gathered more poppy seeds you might not have enough catmint for leafbare, for you would have wasted time gathering those." Brackenstar said, "And even if you did, how would you have known? You could apply 'If' to just about anything, and you have no need to beat yourself up about it, if you want to hate any cat over this hate Oakstar, he started this whole ordeal." Brackenstar told the medicine cat.
Ravenheart simply looked at his paws, a defeated expression on his face, "The Clan has not faced this kind of crisis in so many moons, No Cat in the Lake was alive last time a fight like this occurred, I am scared, Brackenstar."
Frostpaw was put into shock over that last sentence, medicine cats could get scared? He always thought of them as the bravest in the clan for having to stare at blood and wounds for their duties, yet Ravenheart was scared? It was bone chilling, and the other apprentices looked just as shocked.
"I know you're scared Ravenheart, I myself am Uncertain of this clan's future." Brackenstar said, and now Frostpaw was even more shocked, he had thought Brackenstar to be the wisest, all knowing cat in this world, yet he was uncertain? He thought Brackenstar knew everything, yet still he could be uncertain? As he pondered this new reality Brackenstar spoke again. "But I know Thunderclan will make it through this patch as it has all other patches, if the stories of past wars are indeed true- it simply means we have gotten through it in the past, and I will do my best to make Sure Thunderclan makes it through this conflict, this…War as well." Frostpaw had heard the 'War' Word before, the elders had told him of 'War' in stories and he knew it was associated with conflict, yet he had neither bothered to learn this word either.
"Brackenstar, what is war?" Frostpaw quickly asked, and Brackenstar turned towards him.
"War, Frostpaw, is something I wish you didn't have to learn." Brackenstar sighed, "A War is a conflict, a long one, filled with many battles, the most disturbing part of war is that there are no winners, at best you simply don't lose." The Thunderclan leader said, his voice seemed to halt for a moment as if he was wondering what to say. "Our clan, nor has any other, experienced such a war in moons, it can be fought over anything, old tales say Cats died for useless stretches of land, others that it was fought for more valid reasons, but it is something that must be avoided at all costs….and we've been doing that for Hundreds of Moons, but it looks like Skyclan just forgot honor and decided 'War' was the answer to their problems." Brackenstar said, and Frostpaw nodded, shivering not because it was cold, it may have been a bit chilly, but what scared him was the new reality that 'War' would bring to the clan. He looked around, gazing at the dens that were damaged, the destroyed and battered nursery which had been turned into such wreckage as to require Foxstep to sleep in the medicine den. He looked to his own home, the apprentices' den, which had holes poked and prodded into it with quick repairs that Dawnpaw had made. He looked to the Elders den, the vacant area requiring its own occupants to also sleep in the medicine den through its extensive damage. He looked at all the carnage, the devastation, and thought of the 6 cats on the patrol, His Father among them, that had been slain without mercy on Thunderclan's own territory. There had been hardly 3 battles in this 'war' yet it seemed so much death and destruction had been brought by it that Thunderclan camp was halfway in shambles.
"Just how many battles will be fought in this war…" Frostpaw said, and although he didn't mean it as a question, but it didn't take long for Brackenstar to answer.
"That's for Time and Starclan to tell, but from the tales it could be a few…or it could be many." Brackenstar sighed.
"When I was a kit myself my Mother would tell me stories the Elders had told her, that Thunderclan and Skyclan had once fought a war just like this one, and that it went on for nearly 20 moons." Brackenstar said, "Thunderclan and Skyclan both had several Dozen Warriors on their side, and mind you this occurred just after the Twolegs vanished. My mother told me that this war started because one clan wanted a stretch of land that had better prey, and what followed was so brutal each Clan lost nearly Two-Thirds of their warriors, and that the Scars took even longer to heal." Brackenstar told him, "Legends say that nothing came out of this war, that the hunting grounds became so repulsive by the corpses buried there that no prey lies there anymore, when I was a Warrior My mother took me to the sight, and it feels so dark, like you can sense the evil and I swear if you listen hard enough you can hear the cries of those fallen ancients."
"So that's gonna happen again…" Frostpaw muttered, his voice shaking with fear. He didn't want to die, he didn't want his friends to die either. He glanced at Dawnpaw and Viperpaw next to him who had much the same thoughts as him, Brackenstar glanced at the 3 of them with knowing and understanding eyes.
"There is no guarantee, and I promise you I will do everything in my power to prevent it from turning into such a war." The Thunderclan Leader said solemnly.
"Besides, The War started differently." Ravenheart said, "All conflicts, according to the tales, differ from the cause, so since they aren't from the same origin they surely won't be the same."
Brackenstar nodded, but Frostpaw could have sworn he saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes.
"It's best you three be off to bed, try and get some sleep." Brackenstar said, and Frostpaw nodded. His eyes were finally dropping and with a low head he slowly walked to the apprentices den, followed in Tow by Dawnpaw and Viperpaw. He shouldered through the torn and patched Brambles, and tried to get cozy in his spot. He looked at the sky as the Other apprentices began to curl into their dens, half the stars in the sky were gone as clouds overhung them, distant and dull bangs of Thunder were heard as the storm approached them. As he began to drift to sleep, he saw a Bright Star slowly get covered by Darkness as he was overtaken by the cold yet comforting embrace that was sleep, something he so often desired.
—
He awoke to what he thought was nothing. It was pitch black outside, and he was confused? Why was he awake? Was he dreaming? Was he having another nightmare? As his thoughts slowly raced he felt a drop of cold water hit his head, followed by a loud crack. It was Thunder, and it was particularly loud. He looked to the hole in the roof of the den, the stars were gone, replaced by the darkness that was the clouds. Another droplet hit his head, followed by yet another. As they continued to come down the light thrum of rain began to start, and despite still being immensely tired Frostpaw pulled himself up, sticking his head out of the den and fully into the drizzle of rain. He could hear some speaking in the dens, some warriors must have been woken up by this too, and as Frostpaws thoughts whirled away another loud crackle of Thunder nearly sent him to Starclan right then and there out of fear. He had never heard Thunder that was that loud before, nor in that quick succession.
The Thrum of rain grew ever louder as the drizzle became though ever slowly a true storm, the other apprentices were wide awake now, their pelts slowly getting soaked by the drops of water leaking through the den.
"Is it storming?" Viperpaw asked, and Frostpaw was about to answer before his own brother beat him to it.
"Of course mousebrain!" Shrewpaw said, "What did you think it was, a loose rabbit?"
As they bickered and argued, Warriors began to run about through the Darkness, tiny puddles began to pool at the bottom of the camp. The lower areas became soaked and drenched as the rain began to hammer down with ever more force as it increased in intensity. He looked and Saw Brackenstar and Applefern discussing something with Ravenheart, a bright flash lit the camp as lightning flashed above, followed in a few seconds by a Crackle of Thunder that made Frostpaws ears ring. As that happened Brambleheart rushed through the puddle near the bottom of the camp, which was starting to grow and expand with the arrival of more water.
He saw Brambleheart run up to Whitepelt, saying something to the white she cat as they ran for cover under a ledge in the rain. As his ears continued to ring he heard Dawnpaw say something to him, although he didn't make out what it was. The Rain was starting to pour by now, that puddle at the base of camp was starting to engulf more and more territory, like a trees roots it expanded, quickly overtaking patches of mud and turning small rocks into islands which vanished quickly under the rising water.
As his ears decided to work again he heard Brackenstar say something, he was most shocked by what the Thunderclan Leader said next.
"All Cats of Thunderclan, to the Catmint place!" Brackenstar yowled, "The Camp will flood, evacuate NOW!" As soon as he said that Warriors began to pour out of their dens, and as Frostpaw exited he wondered why they were taking such a rash action so quickly, as he stared at the rising water he realized how dire it was. The Water was already lapping at what remained of the Nursery, and as Frostpaw watched began to spill into the den. As he followed the Cats Lightning lit the sky again, followed by the Crackle of Thunder that so followed it nearly every time.
He had never been to the catmint place, he had heard from elders and his own Father alike that the Twolegs made it before Cats came to the lake and abandoned it before they vanished all together. They said that the Twolegs made it to grow Plants, although who knows what they truly made it for. Thunderclan used the Garden in it to grow Catmint, and thus they didn't need to go trekking across Windclan territory to Riverclan to ask for it.
The second use of the Catmint place was for emergency situations, when Fires or Rainwaters came roaring through the camp the Catmint place was where they went. Its stone foundation and tall wooden walls had stood the test of time, and as they ran towards it the Dark Brown Outline came into view.
As they filed in between the Rectangularly shaped entrance, he stared with awe at the tall walls which were easily 10 Tail lengths high, he saw that items were scattered about the floor, covered in cobwebs and dust. They were remains from the Twoleg era, a bygone time, so far in the past it was more myth than reality.
He touched on the items with his paw, it was very hard to the touch, but yet light. He was ushered on and took his place with the other apprentices near the rear of the Den. Brackenstar stood at the entrance as the whole clan crowded into the Structure. It was a tight fit, but they managed it. The Thunderclan Warriors were sitting between the Apprentices and the entrance, as if protecting the near defenseless cats.
He saw Aldergaze, Brackenstars mate, move towards him and mutter something into his ear. Brackenstar nodded, as if agreeing with her. It seemed like they were discussing something to do with the camp, since he heard the word be thrown around a few times. Dawnpaw was breathing loudly next to him, Shrewpaw wasn't much quieter, but the warriors were dead silent, and the loud noise of rain drowned nearly everything out. Frostpaw felt like the sky was crashing down on him, it was like the Lake itself had been transported into the air above Thunderclan and been allowed to drop in miniscule droplets of water. It seemed endless, as the moments grew longer it continued, he saw Lightning flash through Square holes in the wall, their sharp edges giving way to the darkness of the forest.
He saw Applefern comforting Dapplefur, who seemed distraught about something. He wondered what he was meowing about, since he always seemed so aggressive. Nettlepelt was also speaking to another cat, which he recognized as Flamewing, they were having a discussion about prey, he could tell that much, Brambleheart was with whitepelt, and he couldn't hear a word of what they were saying to each other. The Other Warriors weren't talking about anything at all, just sitting in silence waiting for the rain to end.
Frostpaw tried to drift off to sleep, as did so many warriors. But the noise of the rain made it impossible, no matter how hard he tried he couldn't sleep. He stood awake, watching over the mass of huddled cats. Some were still talking, others were still in silence, and the noise of rain had grown ever louder. It was hard to imagine that the rain could somehow get worse, but it seemed to do just that. As the hours stretched on, it was almost impossible to even get rest. He looked at those square holes in the walls, through them he could see flashes of lightning and heard the onslaught of Thunder, which grew ever worse as time went on. Trees creaked as the wind picked up too, and he could hear their branches cracking and leaves rustling as the storm brought forth an endless battle against them that seemed to be violent and merciless just as the War of the Clans was.
It was like Nature was fighting themselves just as the Clans were, and the idea of even more violence made Frostpaw feel even more uncertain. It was as if the World was taunting him, bringing all his fears against him at once to make him break down, and it was working. Despair worked itself against Frostpaws mind as natures destructive tendencies were brought upon Thunderclan in force.
He heard Brackenstar and Aldergaze speaking, he could have sworn he heard Dapplefur mention the word 'Not again' in his conversation to Applefern, and he wondered if this had happened to Thunderclan before. He saw Fernleaf sitting near him, and to his best of his ability he walked towards her.
"Fernleaf, has a Storm like this happened before?" he asked.
"Well, Tales from the Elders of my day speak of Bramblestars storm." The Old Cat said, "It's probably one of the Oldest Tales I've ever heard, but legend says right when a Cat named Bramblestar became leader a Great Storm struck the camp, killing and sweeping away cats with it. When the Waters finally retreated it isn't known how many warriors died, however many cats that would be lost to time, but Thunderclan took moons to recover from that disaster, and I fear it may be happening again, although no cat was hurt this time."
As Fernleaf finished speaking there was a great Flash of lightning and suddenly the Loudest Crackle of Thunder yet sounded, its boom traveling through the air like a Fire through a Forest, it scared him immensely and he shrunk into his fur. The Lightning, the flashes, it was all much for him to handle. He could tell it was getting to the other apprentices too, since they were cowering in masses at the Corner of the Structure that was the Catmint place. He slowly crawled towards them and joined the pile.
The Hours dragged on, and the rain showed no signs of stopping. It seemed like Nature was seeking to punish Thunderclan for its victory, or Perhaps it was punishing Skyclan for its defeat and Thunderclan was getting caught in the Crossfire. Whatever the case was, the Rain went on, and on, and on. It didn't relent, it didn't die down, it simply kept going. Frostpaw saw warriors getting nervous now, and he was wondering when this attack of water and Thunder would end. The irony of that sentence, a Thunderstorm bringing about such destruction to Thunderclan, was also working upon him.
Then he began to notice a change, the clouds began to brighten although the rain did not stop, the Sun itself was being kept away by the Power of this storm. He saw the clouds shift to become a Gray color as the hours dragged on, but even as the Rain went on he knew he wouldn't be getting more sleep that night, and it was just now he realized how tired he was. Perhaps it was because he woke up too early from the rain, but he hadn't gotten enough. The Night ended and the Dim light of the sun was trying to pierce through the clouds, but it failed to fully do so, and the rain continued to do its work, soaking the whole forest in its embrace as it still soldiered forth, delivering more floodwaters upon the lake.
It took hours more for the rain to even lighten, but even as it did that it failed to stop, Brackenstar was still at the entrance, and Frostpaw admired how he hadn't left his spot once, although he did sit now.
When at last the rain was deemed light enough- and light was a overstatement, it was still heavy rain, but it was light enough for a cat to walk through, Brackenstar then told them he and Aldergaze, along with Flamewing, would scout the Camp to see how bad it was, Frostpaw felt relief, the nightmare was nearly over he thought.
When they came back he was proven wrong in this regard, apparently according to Brackenstar the whole camp was underwater, they couldn't even go through the camp entrance, everything and absolutely everything in Thunderclan Camp was fully underwater, a lake unto itself. Frostpaw felt dread at their account, Water lapping at the Torn Brambles of the Camp entrance. He imagined that, for the Home he had grown up in to be an alien underwater world with no chance for habitation, but as he did that he saw Dapplefur tell something to Ravenheart, the Thunderclan Medicine cat stiffened and spoke to Brackenstar, whose eyes went wide with horror. The Leader quickly peaked their head out the den, looking at something before saying something to Ravenheart, whose head and tail drooped.
He wondered what they were speaking about, but he couldn't hear a thing for the rain was still too loud. Ravenheart seemed down by what Brackenstar said, and so did Brackenstar himself. The Rain continued, and as it did Viperpaw told the apprentices that he wanted to learn how to swim, to which Frostpaw agreed it was a great time to learn that since their home belonged to the fishes for now.
It took hours for the rain to finally slow to a drizzle, and by now it must have been Sunhigh, for it was bright outside even with the clouds. Brackenstar let out a sigh, which was comforted by Aldergaze, who was silent but layed a gentle tail on him. Whatever it was that had Brackenstar down was taking its toll on the Thunderclan leader, and he wondered what it was. He was sure Skyclan was laughing at them, if they could see him that is. As his mind stayed on Skyclan he imagined them attacking him, and Thunderclan would be cornered in the Catmint place if they did. It was a dreadful thought, Disaster after Disaster, something Frostpaw wanted not to dwell on. But that too worked on his mind, and he eventually relented and went to Fernleaf.
"Do you think Skyclan will take advantage of this?" He asked Fernleaf.
"No, No, They are weathering the same Storm as us." The Elder said, "Their camp may be flooded too, but they won't be in shape to attack us surely for another Moon or so."
He sighed in relief and went back to the pile of apprentices. As the Sun began to set upon the sprinkling clouds he thanked Starclan he still had them at least.
I do believe this is my Longest Chapter I've ever written for a story actually, neat.