Chapter 78: Rock in a Storm
Things were starting to drift back to normality. I was allowed to take my apprentice out again and go on patrols, but Fireheart and Bluestar still disallowed me from arranging patrols for now so they could get Fireheart's paws wet with maintaining the clan's order. The soft humus soil under my paws made running with my leg that hadn't yet made a full recovery easy. There was only nine days until the moon would be full. I knew Tigerclaw was a problem on the horizon, but for now, I could ignore it.
Speaking of ignoring things, apparently Cinderpaw has been treating some sick Shadowclan cats that dragged themselves into our camp on the sly. Based on how they said they got sick, I hinted to her that the origin was likely fleas or ticks, which marshland breeds like mad. I've seen her hauling herbs out that way, but I let her by without harassment. As the acting deputy, it is my duty to ensure the goals of my clanmates are completed as long as they don't actively harm the clan. I'd step in the moment she got the slightest sniffle.
That evening apparently those Shadowclan cats got better, and Cinderpaw was named Cinderpelt by Yellowfang. The next night, they made their journey out to the Moonstone. Things were peaceful, until that storm came rolling in. The storm appeared to be a boon, finally quenching the drought besieging the clans. Unfortunately, rain did not greet us with the overcast sky. Instead, a thunderstorm brewed.
The midday patrol had just returned. With the lessened patrol schedule around Riverclan, we had a full camp for a couple of hours. Cats had retreated into their dens to hide from the coming rain. Only a scant few of us remained outside monitoring the camp. Then a tremendous boom sounded. A blinding flash of white lightning struck down not far from us. It was about a three second delay, so it was less than a mile. At first, it seemed to have just been a scare, but an orange glow started to appear in the distance. A fine black dust was carried in from the wind, beginning to power our coats. That could only mean one thing. Fire!
"Fire! We've got to evacuate!" I called out to the camp, sending them into a panic. The milling masses acted fearfully, each trying to push past each other. Thankfully we still had time, so I could instill order. "Stop!" I yowled. "We will evacuate properly. Panicking will solve nothing. We are warriors! Now, if you see a kit, grab it. If all the kits are accounted for, either grab a piece of prey or see the medicine cats to help move what herbs we can. We'll also need escorts for the elders. Fireheart, can you oversee evacuating the kits and elders?" I asked. He gave me a firm nod, so I continued. "We have some time before the fire is upon us. We'll be heading to the river and crossing into Riverclan territory at the Steppingstones. We'll deal with Riverclan when we get to it. Those are your orders, now move!" I commanded.
At least now we had a form of organized chaos. Cats still wanted to leave as fast as possible, but the elders and kits had already been removed from the camp. The fresh kill pile was already gone, having been picked up by our fleeing cats. Only the medicine cats and a few brave warriors remained. A few herbs couldn't bee seen to, but Cinderpelt and Yellowfang bundled what they could. I grabbed a bundle myself before realizing the fire had moved faster than I'd hoped. It didn't make sense. There wasn't dry grass to catch, until I remembered the soil. Humus is a pile of decayed plant matter. It also burns extremely well. I pushed Cinderpelt out of the camp as quickly as I could. Unfortunately, the camp entrance lit up at that moment. I think my fur singed a bit as I passed, but Yellowfang hadn't made it out. The camp was a ring of fire, the only boon being that it was a bowl and hadn't gathered much humus like the rest of the forest. Theoretically, one could survive in there should they shelter somewhere wet or fire resistant. The leader's den would likely become an over, but it wouldn't be on fire, so that was Yellowfang's best bet. I could only hope she'd think of that.
As I guided Conderpelt out, I witnessed Fireheart carrying Bramblekit, who had somehow been missed in the initial kit roundup. He was rather big, so maybe in their haste they mistook him as an apprentice. Luckily, we reached the river without issue. The smoke was blotting out the sky, but it hadn't sunk low enough to worry us yet. I stepped into the river, just downstream of Cinderpelt should she be sswept off her paws. Despite the handicap, Cinderpelt made it across the river better than I did. I personally blame my low build frame. I had a wider surface area for the water to hit while Cinderpelt had long enough legs to cross without wetting her underbelly. I reunited with Ashpaw and Ravenfeather who had been worried about my late arrival. We did a brief headcount. Besides Yellowfang, one cat was still missing. It was confirmed to have been an elder who was particularly hard of hearing. If he was in the camp when the barrier caught fire, there was nothing we could do. Almost to mock us, the sky finally let loose the rain the forest desperately desired, too little too late. We were cold and wet watching our home burn. It was a somber event. Riverclan let us be, likely knowing the pain we were feeling at this moment from the flood that hit them before.
Eventually the fire and rain receded, leaving a scorched land we called home. The trees, while stained black with ash, hadn't actually caught fire in the blaze. Grey leaves still fluttered on the wind. The undergrowth wasn't so lucky. There was scantly a bush to be seen. The ground was fluffy with warm ash, and the river ran slightly grey. Fireheart sent some patrols out to scout the territory and find out how much of it actually burned. We were lucky that the wind had been fast because only half of our territory was hit. Hunting for food would be daunting but doable for a while, until the undergrowth could regrow. Fires, by nature, are forces of destruction, but destruction isn't always a bad thing. It had consumed the undergrowth that had choked out their competition, making way for new growth. Within a few moons, the forest would seem more vibrant than ever, but he had to deal with the consequences of the present.
Bluestar ordered us to return to camp. We couldn't keep abusing Riverclan's hospitality, and we at least had the remnants of our fresh kill pile to help tide us over until we figured out how to hunt with less viable territory. Unfortunately, we confirmed our suspicions of what happened to our two missing cats upon our return. The elder, in a strange twist of luck, had dashed himself on the base of the leader's den, breaking his spike and causing an instantaneous death. Yellowfang was not so lucky. She'd hidden in Bluestar's den, but the air had been thick with smoke. The other dens had caught fire, causing a lot of smoke to flood the camp. Yellowfang was baked and coughing black spittle, but she still lived for now. Through sheer willpower, she hung on long enough fore Ciinderpelt and Fireheart to see her off.
That faint rage of failure sparked up in the back of my mind, but I could not afford to act on it. I had done all I could. I was not the only cat who had managed the evacuation, and the fire had crept up on us. Looking at the ball of spite who taught me to heal brought on a feeling of melancholy. I was sad in a muted way. I would miss her, but I had to remain strong. Fireheart was grieving and Bluestar was in a state of whiplash. The clan needed a coolheaded cat to lead them for now, so I'd soldier on so they could have something to stabilize them. For now, there was no time to grieve. I was here to be their rock. I would not fail them.