discussion / forms thread ➢ ceremonies ➢ herbs ➢ version one
nettlestar watched as more rain hurtled down from inside his den. he huffed, knowing that cats would complain. it was night fall, and cats had snuggled into their nest destined to dry their cold, wet pelts. the bronze-point brute dug more into his soft, warm moss nest. he watched as lighteningpelt sat at camp entrance, guarding camp in the rain. this made nettlestar feel bad, although knew that it was for his own clan. he closed his eyes, placing his tail on his wet, black nose.
he woke up with a start as aspenlight poked him. "the apprentice den is leaking." she meowed gently. nettlestar raised his head, seeing all eight apprentice out side of the den. the top had smushed down to the bottem, so the denw as ruined. he instantly shot up, and padded out. he winced as hard rain splashed on his fur. he could see large puddles of water on the ground. when he looked up all he could see was the moon highest in the sky. it was only moon-high, fernclan will have a hard, rough night if the storm continues. he padded swiftly over to the apprentices. "go into the warriors den, go bunk with your mentors." he meowed quickly, not wanting any of his cats to ketch green-cough. he could see their hesitation. "I said go!" he meowed sharply. they all pelted off towards the warriors den, along with aspenlight. he stopped the she-cat. "trade places with lighteningpelt, or he will get green-cough." he meowed, making his voice louder over the rain. he could see the she-cats disappointment and hesitation, but he ignored it.
he watched as lighteningpelt bolted off towards the warriors den with a thankful nod to nettlestar. he could hear aspenlight's mumbles of rage though couldn't make them out. probably for the better. he tucked back into his nest with a sniffle. he washed his soaked pelt, though knew that it wouldn't do. this would continue for much longer, he could already tell. he looked up. "starclan help us." he whispered. he couldn't hear himself over the rain but knew that he had whispered it. he stuffed his nose in the moss on his nest not wanting to smell the rain water.
the next morning the rain was worse then ever, with lightening and thunder popping in every few seconds. once he gathered his clan he walked out of the camp, wincing at the harsh of the rain beating down on his brown fur. as he padded on, he always looked back making sure that all cats where following him. when he passed a group of rocks he swearved to the side. it was too late.
he watched as it fell, crushing cats. "cat out of the way!" he yowled, though they couldn't hear him over the thunder. he watched cinderpaw's large gaze as one rock fell onto him. he shut his eyes, shaking his head. "starclan why?!" he yowled loudly out of rage and sorrow as more cats died. the remaining group hurtled away with tears, saying goodbye to lost friends and family. once he saw a rather large badger den he pelted to it, finding out that the scent was stale. he called the rest of his clan mates in. they were out of the rain, safe and sound... for now.
they tucked in, snuggling close to each other for warmth now. it was now two days later, it was still raining but not as hard. the ground was water-lodged and packed with the water. some times so deep that you had to swim. nettlestar waiting till all cats where crossed on the thunder path. as he passed he spotted dead at the middle as he watched a monster lurk closer. "nettlestar, move!" they yowled, though their voices where almost completely hushed in nettlestar's mind set. time seemed to slow down as he took in what was really happening. it's my time. it can't be! starclan, I need to lead my clan. he wailed desperately in his mind.
he could see his mother, father, and little sister standing away, their pelts dotted with stars. he smiled, then the cat hit. he flopped to his side then closed his eyes feeling blood rush out. he still had the smile as his eyes landed on his dead family, now dotted with stars looking happy. his eyes went blurry then it stopped all together.
[ three days later - roseheart's view ]
they had buried nettlestar one day before and most cats where still sorrow. she watched as softer rain fall came. she frowned but kept going. she sunk down with a warning yowl, she kicked her legs and re-surfaced realizing it was just a sunken ground filled with water. "you have to swim through here!" she yowled out, though cats could hear her exaction through her voice. she could feel herself getting more and more tired through her swimming. once she reached solid ground she flopped down, pulling her back legs up out of the water. she watched as cats crossed. their clan, now a group, had gotten tinier and tinier each few days. oh nettlestar, what do I do? she asked, or begged, in her mind. she trudged on, now realizing that her group was safely crossed with a huff of exhaustion.
[ seventeen moons later - narrator ]
fernclan had found a large cave to sleep in, though most cats died through out that period of time. they had a new deputy named silverheart and new cats such as medicine cat, and medicine cat apprentice. some cats lived on, but not many. roseheart had passed away due to illness and some other cats died of green-cough as well. bluestep, badgertail, and hailclaw had died in a flood with some other cats. they had mourned over them. but that was ten moons ago. now they have a new life. a new beginning. will it end up being good, or will they have to move again?
