★ ` ⊰ wishclan - a clan reborn ⊱ closed

[mirrors.]

✦▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ＳＫＩＰＰＥＲＣＬＡＷ
-------------( warrior- for now ) ( no crush ) ( tags; Liontail, Waspleaf, Splashpelt ) ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔✦

The great ginger warrior sat close to the base of a tree on the fringes of the fourtrees clearing, spine rigid and jaw set, facing the direction of the decimated ThunderClan camp and staring unseeingly on as cats from all clans began to move around him. The red-gold glow of flames still danced before his mind's eye, so terrible and beautiful, rapidly overtaking the green of the forest and leaving nothing but grays and browns and blacks behind. He held his breath as the memory of the thick, suffocating smoke still stung his nose and eyes and a renewed searing pain started up in his paws as he mentally retraced his steps over the red-hot coals of what had once been the forest floor of the ThunderClan territory. He was tall, intelligent, and muscular, a hallowed warrior, and yet all he could do when the fires struck was stumble and choke and desperately hope that his clanmates had been as fortunate as he was to escape.

The grass was cool against his scorched pads, though, and the nip of a comparatively chilled breeze brought him forth from his mind. A shiver that had nothing to do with the temperature wracked Skipperclaw's spine as he inhaled a breath of the crisp, clean air; it had been long enough that the majority of cats should have found their way to fourtrees,the only logical place to go in such a widespread crisis, and the number that stood before him was pitiful. Of the four clans, there were maybe enough left for one. His eyes traced them carefully, recognition sparking within him at many of the faces; the observant tom had frequented gatherings, but while he could put faces to clans, he could not remember every name. He saw with some relief that Liontail, the medicine cat of ThunderClan, and one of the other medicine cats- Wasp...leaf? -had made it out of the fire, but he could not find any of the previous leaders or deputies. With his knowledge of what cats were like when there wasn't anyone to calm them down- unless StarClan would finally decide to make themselves useful and actually help the clans, but at the rate they were going, he doubted it -everything was bound to be utter chaos.

Skipperclaw's impassive deep amber eyes snapped up to the dark, starless night sky as it let out an angry rumble, almost as if it was responding to his thoughts, and fat drops of rain began to fall to earth. Then, as he looked back down to avoid getting rain in his eyes, a calico flash- Splashpelt, he realized with a small flash of warmth toward his clanmate -streaked by a few tail lengths in front of him to shelter herself beneath the convenient ferns about three fox lengths to his left. He considered perhaps finding one for himself, as it was a smart move on her part, but after casting one more glance at the ferns he decided against it. While they were large, he was probably larger, and how ridiculous would he look crouching under them? The cooling rain felt good as it soaked into his short pelt anyways, so he decided to embrace it...

Just in time for it to stop. Skipperclaw tilted his head to take in the sky again, bemused, only to continue staring in open shock at the vast array of stars that sparkled innocently down on the clearing as if the rain had never happened. Even if it was just a brief shower, logically, the sky should not have cleared that fast; his thoughts were echoed with a slight, barely audible gasp so perfectly that for a moment he was scared it was him. However, he glanced to his left again to see Splashpelt's eyes fixated on the sky as well, wide and dark with wonder as they reflected the twinkling of the distant stars.

Skipperclaw wasn't a very spiritual cat, tending to want a real, logical explanation for everything, but perhaps he had doubted StarClan too soon.

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-------------------------( apprentice ) ( no crush ) ( tags; none ) ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔✦

Silverpaw sat in the midst of a whirl of cats, his mind still reeling as he tried to wrap it around the entirety of what had just happened.

His mother had found him instantly, her wizened silver face alight with terror and her normally soft green eyes blazing with determination as she awoke him from his early slumber. "Get up, Silverpaw," the typically passive and gentle she-cat ordered, her voice cracking across his consciousness. Silverpaw had rolled out of his nest, fully prepared to crack some sort of night owl joke or something, but the words died on his tongue as he saw the wall of brilliant flame that was raging across WindClan's plains. He followed his mother without question, streaking after her, but not without looking back at all the cats who were still calling for loved ones.

"Where's Dovepaw?" he asked, a sudden, overwhelming spike of concern for his sister zinging through his stomach, but his mother didn't falter in her pace or turn back. Instead, she marched steadily on, her eyes sweeping the plains to no avail. Silverpaw slowed a bit, glancing back, but he was only greeted with the wall of flames... which had somehow already spread to cut them off from the camp, obscuring his clanmates from his vision. After that, he followed his mother without looking back again, the eerie heat of the fire and the noxious smoke enough to encourage the small silver tabby to continue away from all of it. As he had only ever been to one gathering, Silverpaw didn't even recognize where they were going until they were practically there, the majestic stability of fourtrees rising up before him.

His mother turned, her green eyes too bright as she took a moment to really look at her son. "You make me so proud," she said, her voice strong but for one crack over proud. She pressed her nose to the top of his head, lingering for just a moment, and then she was gone.

But he couldn't think about it. Silverpaw shook the thought from his troubled mind, sealing it far away. Instead, he cast his expressive copper eyes around the clearing, the need to be close to someone overwhelming his needs for anything else. He just needed to talk to someone; there were so many cats around him, but they were all wreathed in so much horror and confusion and pain. His father had died when he was young, but up until the fire, Silverpaw had led a life of relative ease. He had never been so brazenly confronted with emotions on this scale; it was too much, the frowns and blank faces and flat-out heartbreak. It was like he could feel it all just by looking at them, all the different flavors of pain, and it twisted inside of him like an ugly dark beast. All of his own feelings cast aside for the moment, Silverpaw wanted nothing more than to make them feel better.

It didn't help that it had also begun raining somewhere in his numbness, drenching his surroundings and some of the cats, such as himself, who either hadn't cared to shelter themselves or were too shocked to notice. He still felt the itching urge to distract himself with conversation, but in this land of forlorn strangers, he was having a hard time of deciding who to approach. Maybe it was just because he was shorter than the warriors immediately around him, but he didn't recognize a single cat that passed him; he was sure that he wasn't the only WindClan survivor, but everything was such a blur of chaos around him that he hadn't even realized that the rain had stopped.

[xayah]

ＨＡＷＫＳＴＥＰ
.: courageous .:. impulsive .:. loyal :.
↞↞________________________________________________________↠↠
.: Riverclan warrior .:. at Fourtrees .:. mentions- Splashpelt ; tags- Waspleaf :.

Hawkstep raced across the grassy expanse of Riverclan's territory eager to escape the disaster that was the fire. The cries of Kestrelpelt still rang loudly in his ears and the image of her pleading face engraved itself into in his mind. For a cat that prided himself on his immense courage he felt utterly powerless in that moment. Every ounce of strength left his body and his senses became numb. He had tried to free her legs from the fallen branch, even resorted to gripping her paw in his mouth and pulling. But his sisters fate had been decided. He cursed the cats of Starclan for damning them. The only thing on the warriors mind now was finding someone- anyone - and figuring out what had just happened.

The smartest solution Hawkstep could come up with was to head to Fourtrees. Surely others would have the same idea? He could only hope as he trudged along the well-traveled path generations of cats had taken to the gathering place. With each pawstep his shoulders felt heavier. What if no other cats were there? What if he was the sole survivor of Riverclan? Of all the clans! Hawkstep was startled from his thoughts when a sharp pain shot up his left forelimb.
He stopped to inspect his paw only to find a gnarly looking thorn embedded between his toes. "Great!" He yelped. "Just great. Thank you, Starclan." Without delaying Hawkstep continued on, caring his paw in the air.

Upon arriving at Fourtrees it had just begun to rain. The light drops landed on Hawksteps creamy pelt and he welcomed them for it reminded him of his days as an apprentice just learning how to fish. At first he was surprised to see so many cats had the same plan as him. But that surprise soon faded as he surveyed the clearing realizing how few cats had really made it out. And not just from his clan but from the remaining three as well. A pang of sadness clenched his heart as Hawkstep recalled the many gatherings he had attended here. He smiled fondly at a clump of thick bushes he and his sisters claimed each and every time. As the rain let up he took a moment to gaze skyward and admire the clearing of the dark clouds. The stars seemed to brighten for only a heartbeat and Hawkstep felt a strange twist in his stomach. Almost a pull.

A barely audible gasp caught Hawksteps attention. He caught sight of Splashpelt- a Thunderclan warrior he'd met at gatherings before - as she hid beneath some ferns. He met her eyes and twitched his ears in greeting. He knew her to be a rather kind molly but nonetheless fierce. If the remaining clan cats came together he was glad she was among them. He promptly turned around, eyes searching for any Riverclan cats. Even one familiar face would lift his spirits but it didn't look promising. For now he'd have to wait and simply hope against all odds somebody else made it out okay. It was then he spotted Waspleaf, the medicine cat of Windclan, and remembered the current state of his paw. Hawkstep bounded over to the older molly, dipping his head slowly. "Ah, um-" He stuttered noticing her troubled expression. "Waspleaf? I managed to step on a thorn in my hurry to get here. I know, rather clumsy of me. But, uh, you can help, right?" He mewed softly gesturing towards his dangling paw.

ＬＥＡＦＰＡＷ
.: distant .:. lonely .:. prickly :.
๑๑________________________________________________________๑๑
.: Shadowclan apprentice .:. at Fourtrees .:. mentions- Splashpelt, Skipperclaw :.

Leafpaw had been returning from a hunt when the fire started. As she approached the Shadowclan camp several apprentices whizzed past her. Leafpaw stopped momentarily, the smell of fear especially strong as she neared the camp. Just as she was about to return a senior warrior crashed over her. "Wha- Leafpaw!" the cat yowled in surprise. "What are you doing? We have to go!" Without wasting another moment they sped off in the opposite direction. Leafpaw stood there, confused, and shook her head. Then it hit her. The intense smell of burning grass. Her yellow eyes widened when she saw the black smoke rising into the air. Leafpaw spun on her paws and took off, the crow she'd caught earlier forgotten. The frightened calls of cats could be heard in the distance coming from all directions. Leafpaw came to a sudden halt when she reached the Thunderpath. She'd only passed by on border patrols but never crossed it! She recalled the massive monsters that tread the path and were known to cost full grown warriors their lives. Looking in either direction she couldn't see any monsters approaching and yet her paws would not move. The flames grew large enough to see above the trees and Leafpaw knew it was now or never as she stretched her paw out onto the sticky surface.

Now Leafpaw sat among a cluster of cats staring down at her trembling paws. When she'd managed to cross the Thunderpath she knew nowhere else to go but Fourtrees. Being only ten moons old Leafpaw had not yet been lucky enough to attend a gathering. The area in which the four clans would meet peacefully under the full moon was surprisingly underwhelming. She'd only heard about it from her fellow apprentices and warriors and they made it seem so royal and elegant. Yet now it was merely a safe haven for those that escaped the flames. Perhaps it was because of such circumstances that the great gathering place seemed no different than an ordinary cluster of trees.

Among the scrambling of cats Leafpaw recognized practically none. The scents of all four clans mingled in the stuffy air making it hard to identify anyone. She scanned the clearing several times, occasionally spotting a mass of fur she thought she knew. "Oh Starclan..." Leafpaw mumbled lifting her eyes to the barely visible stars. So many questions raced through her head the most prominent being: Why? She had been living an ordinary clan life causing as little trouble as possible yet suddenly their ancestors had decided to punish them. Just as she questioned the cats of Silverpelt the sky roared and a light rain began. Leafpaw let out a lengthy sigh as the droplets came down. How ironic. Couldn't have sent the rain a little sooner? She laughed to herself. Just then a fluffy calico molly sped past her to take cover under the foliage. Leafpaw considered sharing her idea and taking refuge herself but the rain was oddly calming. Instead she sat still and let the rain wash the dirt from her pelt taking with it her burdens.

But the moment was too good to last. Within a few heartbeats the rain had already ceased and Leafpaw found herself willing its return. There was a chill in the air now and she flicked her tail impatiently. A silent glow in the sky caught her attention, however, as she peered up curiously. A sign? She'd only heard nursery tales of prophecies and messages sent down from the cats above never having witnessed such a phenomenon in her short lifetime. Leafpaw glanced to the side catching sight of a rather large ginger tom. It seemed he noticed the brief light as well. She wondered what he thought, if anything, before settling back down to groom her chest. For now she'd wait and observe (and silently pray for the arrival of a Shadowclan cat).

[crash the mode]

CLEARMORNING
────────────────── warrior ───────────────────
where riverclan/windclan border, fourtrees · with survivors · feeling exhausted, fearful

indentIt was hard to say where or when the fire started, but RiverClan had heard it roaring before it fell upon their camp. It being moonhigh the clan had been well into sleep, and the noise was just bringing them out of their slumber before the fire was upon them. By the time they saw the flames it was too late to flee. In a daze cats had called for each-other, tried to organize an escape, but it was no use with the world crashing down around their ears. A few managed to get themselves out of the camp, but she didn't know what had become of them after. Clearmorning had been trying to usher cats away, had been leading Sleekdown, another warrior up a rocky slope and towards the moors when a branch had fallen between them and blocked the other's path. Clearmorning, devastated but in a whirlwind of panic, had turned her back on her clan and run. She didn't stop until she hit the far tree line, lungs and legs burning. What she found on the moor was only more damage, burnt grass and pillars of smoke rising to the heavy clouds, where they were slowly dissipating. Her heart sunk, and the action was mirrored by the sky above which opened abruptly and began to pour rain onto the fields. She watched with her heavy heart as the rain brought the smoke steadily back to earth and put what still burned to rest, but the damage was done. She cast a glance back over her shoulder to the trees and in the direction of the RiverClan camp, but could see nothing.

indentShe held back her mournful wails as she followed the border between the two territories, eyeing the forest and the moors in equal part in the hopes of seeing some living bodies. Once she saw a flash of movement out the corner of her eye, but before she could be buoyed by hope it was gone again and she was alone.

indentClearmorning followed the border to where the clans' territories met. Fourtrees was untouched by the flames, still leafy green even under the cover of night and the downpour. She climbed the slope down into the clearing proper, where she was relieved to see a small number of cats were already gathering. 'Gathering' may not have been the right word in this case; cats had arrived at Fourtrees but stuck mostly to themselves, waiting to see if others of their own clans would arrive no doubt. She could see a small number of RiverClan cats but Clearmorning turned her eyes down, knowing with certainty that Sleekdown wouldn't be coming.

indentAs soon as it had come the rain stopped. Clearmorning lifted her head and blinked owlishly at the stars, wondering if by some miracle this meant that StarClan was still with them.

LIONTAIL
───────────────── medicine cat ─────────────────
where thunderclan territory, fourtrees · with survivors · feeling tired, harried, a little empty

indentIn the heart of the ThunderClan camp there had been no time to organize thoughts or actions, and most of his clanmates had scattered in an attempt to escape the fire. The smoke still lingered in the air and it caught in his throat, his run petering out into an aching walk as he cast his gaze through the trees. A few scents lingered of clanmates who'd come this way, but underneath the smell of burnt wood, grass, cat, it was too tasking to try and pick them out. He padded through the trees without a clear destination in mind, though his pawsteps seemed to be leading him to Fourtrees. While he walked it started to rain, and it kept raining, and it started coming down like it meant to drown the forest. He kept pausing to swipe water out of his eyes.

indentLiontail was soaked to the skin, his tail thrashing in his distress behind him, when he finally slipped across the logs and down the slope into Fourtrees. The gathering place wasn't empty, but it was close, and he scanned the clearing for... he wasn't certain what he was looking for. The camp he left behind was full of the dead, and it was pointless to hope for any one cat in particular, not that he'd know even then. He allowed himself to feel self-pity for a moment longer, and turned his eyes up when he heard the sound of another cat crashing through the underbrush. There appeared to be very few survivors, and not a single clan had been untouched. He recognized many of the other survivors, and was relieved to see Splashpelt, Skipperclaw, and a pair of ThunderClan apprentices among them if only because they offered some normalcy in the face of what would be coming next. And what would be coming next?

indentThere was little time to dwell on it. While he stood there blinking rainwater out of his eyes and considering the future there were a number of exhausted, smoke-addled cats he could have been helping. He had no honey or coltsfoot, doubted there was any left in the burned-out forest-- no herbs at all, most likely --but if they could move to the stream everyone could drink and clear the smoke from their throats. No, nobody will come. He thought, Not while so many cats are still missing. He wouldn't start to bustle again so soon. Even as he told himself this he fought against it, but Liontail kept a hold of himself.

indentHe didn't notice when the rain stopped, already too wet for it to matter or physically effect him, and was alerted to the fact only when Splashtail gasped. The clouds were already gone when he looked up, an impossibility given their thickness just moments before, and the stars shone so brightly he was struck dumb. A full-body shiver wracked his wet frame and he chose not to study the happening but to stand and start busying himself. If he let himself be overcome by exhaustion now he wouldn't be of any help later.

[centrifuge]

ｒｏｗａｎｆｌｉｇｈｔ
warrior // formerly shadowclan // mood: anxious // tags: at fourtrees
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The soft pitter patter of the rain helped Rowanflight calm her nerves. Crouching under a shrub, she was shaking heavily, her breath in shambles. She watched the monsters roll on the Thunderpath, shaking the ground beneath her. They roared angrily before disappearing from her view. Then, there was silence. The she-cat's ears turned in every angle as she listening very, very closely for the monsters. Nothing. Just like her clan. The damned fire took over their territory in less than a day. The sycamore where the apprentices trained was one of the first places affected. The tree was already old and dried up. Like a wick, it caught instantly on fire. The short, dry grass around it soon followed. Compared to the other clans, ShadowClan had the less bountiful territory. Her native clan was already suffering a prey shortage, and in under a day, all of the prey was gone. Kits were crying, wondering where the food went and why it was so scorching hot. Many elders and warriors fell victim to the diseased rats of the Carrionplace, rendered slightly insane by malnutrition. The warriors sent out on patrols came back with scorch marks. The dark, thick smoke suffocated everyone and everything. The fragile elders' lungs collapsed under the pressure of the smoke. The kits coughed like mad. Soon, all the herbs growing in the territory could no longer be used. The medicine cats, rendered useless, could do nothing but watch the clan suffer. The warriors, weakened by various diseases and injuries, could no longer hunt. The queens, empty-bellied, could barely provide for their children. The apprentices, once happy and full of life, had sadness etched on their young faces as they watched their home get destroyed. There was no more laughter. Only embers. The fire was slowly circling around them, taunting them. What else could they do but run? And that's what they did.
The molly could hear no more monsters. She took this as her time to shine and she peeped from the small opening there was. She checked a few times to see if the coast was clear, and, thankfully, it was. The watched the rain bounce off the dark asphalt of the Thunderpath before racing across it in a fury. Rowanflight's long claws made a horrible, sharp scratching noise against the ground that made her wince. Once safely arrived on the other side, she took no hesitation on sheltering herself in the shade of some lone trees. She turned around and gazed at the wasteland that was her home. No, she thought. That's not my home anymore. It's gone, Rowanflight. Accept it. She sighed heavily and turned back around, heading for Fourtrees. Hopefully, things would be better there.
It didn't take her long to reach the meeting grounds. She was familiar with the territory surrounding it. Even with the rain, she could smell the flurry of scents that hung on the cats. The first scent she recognized was ThunderClan, then RiverClan, then WindClan.
I guess all the clans had the same problem as us. Was it as bad, though?
She simply shrugged and hopped over some fallen branches. Her muscles were already sore from her running. Her lungs felt devoid of life. She could feel tiredness growing on her, but she had to push on. Soon enough, she reached fourtrees, the seemingly only logical place that she could run off too. Well, it was that or the Carrionplace, but frankly, Rowanflight much preferred Fourtrees. Like a blanket, the warm atmosphere of Fourtrees surrounded her and she felt much more at ease knowing she was safe. She scanned the meeting grounds for her clan. There were scarcely any cats. Those she recognized, with the exception of Spiderfur, which comforted her, knowing she wasn't alone, were from other clans. Reality settled in and hit Rowanflight straight on.
What are we going to do now?
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ｐｕｄｄｌｅｐａｗ
apprentice // formerly riverclan // mood: sad & scared // tags: at fourtrees
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Puddlepaw likes to think of himself as a very calculating cat. He didn't calculate this happening, however.
The fire was very sudden. The young tom, anxious by nature, was worried out of his mind when we noticed the embers eating away the trees on ThunderClan territory. He had asked his elder warriors what was happening, but they simply shrugged it off, not wanting to stress out the little tom.
Why didn't I try harder? He thought while running across the dense underbrush of the ThunderClan-RiverClan border. Why has StarClan done this?
Puddlepaw noticed rather quickly the flames enclosing on their camp. And before he knew it, they were trapped in a vortex. Trees came crashing down. Smoke filled his lungs quickly. He could only hear coughing and the cries of his clanmates as they mourned for those that had fallen. The elders went down like flies. Some warriors and apprentices jumped in the river, wanting to swim away from safety, only to get crushed by falling trees. He tried helping his loved clanmates escape, but everyone seemed to be frozen in place. They didn't budge. His clanmates seemed to be made of stone. They were statues. There was nothing he could do for them. His legs, stiff and paste-like, moved incoherently, against his own will. Like a puppet, his limbs moved loosely and without intent. Flames swirled around him as he ran. He thought about jumping in the river, but he remembered what had happened to those who had tried. That was not his fate. He didn't look once behind him. He didn't want to. He knew what was in store for him. He chose to run instead. His throat on fire and a patch of fur missing, he gained quickly on interclan territory. Here, he could not get attacked. Here, he was safe. He felt slightly relieved when the rain started pouring. He stopped, momentarily, enjoying the cold drops falling from the sky, and continued his journey to Fourtrees. Puddlepaw had never been to Fourtrees. He had only learned about it from the older apprentices. He had listened with sparkles in his eyes about the tales of other clans and other cats.
Look for big trees, Puddlepaw. He kept repeating to himself, trance-like.
While running, he went over what had happened. Suddenly, a sharp pang of loneliness hit him. What if I'm the only one left? He hadn't seen anyone else running away. He didn't remember. His brain was filled with smoke and the adrenaline made him forget most of the things that he had witnessed.
He snapped out of his thoughts and stared, marveled, at the sight of the towering trees he assumed was Fourtrees. The mix of scents verified his guess. He had arrived. Safe and sound, hopefully.
Wasting no time, he entered through an opening in a bramble. He was surprised at the lack of cats in the clearing. He connected two and two together. I don't think a lot of cats made it.
Relief flushed through him when he noticed Hawkstep and Clearmorning. They had made it. He wasn't alone. Not everyone was dead.
Determined to stay hopeful even in his pitiful situation, he glanced upwards, the stars glimmering brightly.

[Lady Masquerade]

Spiderfur
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{ tom | sc warrior | thirty-six moons | leafpaw ; rowanflight }




Spiderfur had been dreaming during it all, lost in a distant sleep that he had earned after doing a nightly patrol to make sure that ThunderClan hadn't gotten confused over where the borders truly settled. The night had been cool, with crisp air that ruffled his fur and left him feeling energized from the darkness of the shadows they slipped through. After they had secured the borders, it had been Spiderfur's idea to hunt along the swampy ungergrowth for a few extra pieces of freshkill. With their silent methods of stalking and careful consideration of technique, his clanmates were sure that they would be successful. Yet, there was no sign of any prey to be found.
This was a shock, but not something completely painful for the cats. Their prey had been short for several moons now, but usually a few frogs would come out at night to croak by the streams entwined among the reeds. It hadn't been right for the territory to be so scarce, but Spiderfur had just assured the patrol that they would go out again tomorrow to make up for what they weren't able to catch tonight.
It was a sign..I should've known something was wrong. The prey probably sensed it.
He had woken up to the shrieks of terrified cats, as well as the stinging smell of smoke and ash. For a few heartbeats he was paralyzed in his nest, too stunned to realize what was actually happening around him. Then he heard the calls of his apprentice from outside, and ran to try and do what he could to make sure his clanmates could get out safely. Thick smoke covered the few of the few trees scattered around the camp, and he stared at the mass of running cats in horror. Try as he might, there was no easy method of gathering everyone out and bringing them to safety. He faintly heard the deputy yell "Every cat for themselves!" before running off. The black tom lashed his tail in fear and confusion, scanning the rest of camp and darting into the various dens to make sure no one had been left behind. His ears rang with the yowls of his companions, and Spiderfur tried to run towards the sound as fast as he could before realizing that it was all around him, drowning him along with the burning sensation of the smoke in his nose and eyes.
After running from falling branches and tripping over various brambles scattered along the flaming path, he came to an abandoned fox den and crept inside, curling up at the very back and willing himself to wait out the fire. Camp was long gone now, but there was a chance that a few of his clanmates would be passing by this way and also recognize the shelter the fox den might offer. I'll just wait here to see if any of them come.

None of them did, of course.
Spiderfur had decided that Fourtrees would be the best place his paws could take him until a better plan could be created. It seemed likely that his clanmates would travel somewhere that symbolized peace and safety among all the clans. Pain stabbed his art and twisted inside his belly as the tom wondered how many of his clanmates had made it out alive. Pushing his way through the burned undergrowth, he quickened his pace as the scent of cats from all clans drifted along his tongue. ShadowClan! The black cat would've run if it meant bringing him to his clan quicker, but his paws were scorched from running along the burning ground and each pawstep sent a sharp sensation along his body. The cats gathered among the trees eventually came into view, and he recognized the forms of many different clan cats, all of which he had a vague idea of.
One cat stood out to him most, a small gray she-cat that seemed too young to be a warrior. "Leafpaw." He meowed, not wanting to draw attention as he made his way to the apprentice and gave her head a gentle sniff. "Thank StarClan you're alright. Are you hurt?" Concern rang in his voice as he spoke, looking along the cat's body in worry. After a few moments, a russet colored she-cat came into view. Blinking with surprise and slight happiness at seeing another familiar source of life, Spiderfur flicked his tail in welcome to Rowanflight, beckoning for her to come join them. So far there were only three ShadowClan cats here among the chaos, but it was better than none.

[ser]

ＢＡＴＰＡＷ
apprentice | four-trees | @open

Batpaw blinked in the night, welcoming the darkness that coated the clearing - a surprisingly relaxing view, absent of the burning, blinding lights that had enveloped his home just hours prior. He sat glued to his brother's side, refusing to look towards any; instead, just facing the ground, embracing the conflicting stillness. This forced lack of stimuli allowed him to regather his thoughts, and to calm his thumping heart, which had pounded with thunderous force, and fueled his escape from his crumbling clan. Now, lessening to a quick, anxious beat, the adrenaline drained from his system, and his form collapsed more and more into Russetpaw. Batpaw began to notice his true exhaustion, and the results of the devastation that occurred prior.

His muscles ached, weak and weary, for they had carried him a great stretch across Thunderclan's forests, and barreling towards four-trees. His paw-pads had cracked underneath the heat and general disregard for debris along the ground, and his normally glossy coat had been transformed by the strange mix of rainwater and soot, an unappealing sludgy mess. Yet, he refused to think about the other, non-physical tolls of the fire, being the lives it took. He was here, alive, with Russetpaw, and a plethora of other cats, and that seemed to matter most at the moment. After all, there was still a chance the rest of his clan made it; they could still arrive, in great spirit and liveliness, and take him home to a new land with old comforts. Batpaw blinked his eyes wearily, the dream of this possibility a warm comfort to his tired mind, as he drifted in and out of consciousness, soaking in the rain.

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apprentice | four-trees | @open

Russetpaw studied the other cats gathered at four-trees, his eyes narrowed and ears flattened. The rain pelted his ruddy coat, and he mindlessly flicked his tail and ears to rid himself of this dripping water, soothing, but still annoying, no matter the miracles it had performed. He didn't care to reminiscence about how he ended up here, only recognizing the primary facts - a fire had destroyed his clan, an unknown amount of Thunderclan cats had survived, and he was here, in approximate safety, with his brother Batpaw. They sat in the relative corners of the gathering, Batpaw a heaping black mess of legs curled into Russetpaw's torso, wherein Russetpaw sat rigidly to support his brother's weight. His shoulders ached and his stomach growled, but for now, he felt fine, a placid ignorance calming any possibility of anxiety or fear.

He recognized a few Thunderclan cats, but in doing so, realized that perhaps the devastation was more severe than originally thought. He looked to Batpaw, who now seemed to slumber, and felt a pang of pity. Russetpaw wasn't sure if Batpaw knew who was and wasn't alive, but surely he would not take such knowledge well. Russetpaw, on the other hand, coolly accepted it; a time to mourn would take place later, and with it, a time to question Starclan. For now, he sat vigilantly, simply watching the confused procession before him, feeling the rain drizzle - every drop, until, it ceased.

[honey,]

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( she-cat )xx( nine moons )xx( distraught )xx( with all )
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sootpaw followed distant minded along the path, her heart beating fast in her chest. her mind raced but her eyes stayed focused on the ground. how many others survived? so many were lost, she knew that. she knew her beloved mentor was gone, along with her sister and those she held dear. all the young she-cat knew is that there had to be answer to why this happened. they must have done something wrong, they must have been punished for something. but what, what was so terrible that star clan would punish them in such a way. she inhaled sharply, her body aching and begging to rest but she knew she had to go on. the energy from her body was drained, she wanted to rest but she couldn't get lost. she was familiar of the path from past gatherings, but with her mind running rampant she couldn't focus on much else.

she had to keep asking herself why, questioning and prying, wondering how something like this could happen. her eyes lit up when she reached the clearing, her body shaking and eyes tired. she sat down, steering away from others. she looked around, searching for cats from her clan warily. she still hoped to see her mentor, scanning every face she saw she prayed to see him. she ignored the rain as it fell, and finally quit searching, lowering her head to stare at the soaked ground underneath her. that night, she had been out searching for herbs when she smelled the distant smoke, and at first thought nothing of it. until it became stronger and stronger, with flames approaching she fled to her camp to find it engulfed. cats fled the camp, as did she, leaving others behind. she identified the riverclan cats who survived, but couldn't bring herself to move. she looked at clearmorning, glad to see she had made it out. she noted that only three or four cats from each clan were gathered, realizing the devastation was much greater than she thought. she let out a quiet whimper and looked back down at her dirt covered paws, trying to distract herself.

sootpaw hoped this was all a bad dream. the smell of smoke stung her nose, denying her wish and replacing all hope with fear. what trials were to come next, what had they done wrong? she couldn't stop questioning. she slowly closed her eyes and breathed in slowly trying to calm herself. she didn't know what was to come, but she knew that she was thankful at least some had survived.

[fawn,]

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[ warrior . feeling shakey . tagged gathered cats ]

The calico molly felt a warm feeling spread through her as Hawkstep greeted her and returned the greeting with a dipped head and a shy smile, she was facing a lot of conflicting feelings at that moment and she found herself for feeling guilty for taking that small flush of happiness from the minuscule interaction with the tom. As she looked around to find something to contribue her energy to, she saw Russetpaw and seconds later Batpaw who rushed towards him and curled against his side. Splashpelt felt a pang in her heart at the sight as she watched her apprentice seek solace with his brother. She hoped he was okay, Batpaw was a sweet little cat, who was eager to learn and the most perfect apprentice she ever could have hoped for.

She tried to settle down and calm her nerves and just watch the cats interact around her, she spotted Liontail and felt a wash of relief over her, she was glad that the Thunderclan medicine cat was around, seeing cats from her clan made her feel just that little bit safer here. Though surprisingly she felt no animosity in the air, all of the cats gathered seemed to be experiencing pain in their own way and nobody was interested in causing any conflict or unrest. However, Splashpelt still could not relax, she felt as though something needed to be done, she was unsure of standing up herself as she was only a warrior, though it didn't seem that any leaders or deputies had actually made it to fourtrees, should she address them? At least try to steer them into a discussion?

Splashpelt's ears flicked back as a nervous energy bubbled away inside of her, she didn't know what to do, she just hoped someone would take charge and try and organise the assembled cats if she did start a discussion, she took a shaky step towards the middle of the clearing and cleared her throat quietly, "Excuse me every cat!" Her heart was racing and she was shaking lightly but she felt as though they needed to start off in the right direction. She closed her eyes for a brief moment and steeled herself, determined to face her nerves. "I think we need to decide on a plan to move forward from here. If you feel you are able to travel I believe the best course of action we could take would be to get further away from the fire just in case any sparks reignite.." Splashpelt gazed around at the gathered cats and hoped that no one would react negatively towards her. She knew she was shaking and with her fur plastered against in certain patches due to the rain she probably looked incredibly dishevelled, but the she-cat suddenly felt as though what she was doing was right. "I believe we should all travel together, there are not enough of us to remain separate and I fear we would not survive if we stay divided." she finished her sentence quietly and waited for a reaction.

[razzberry]

( ☁ ──── 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐙𝐄𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄
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⟦ former wc warrior ⟧ ⟦ tom ⟧ ⟦ apprentice: leafpaw ⟧ ⟦ loc. fourtrees ⟧ ⟦ tagged. waspleaf, splashpelt, silverpaw, skipperclaw, hawkstep, ⟧

There was nothing like the sight of the home you had held dearly in your heart consumed by raging flames that could sober someone up to the cruel reality of life they way it had done for Breezefire. His body was rigid, jaw set firmly with teeth clenching against each other in silent grief. The fire that had ravaged the entire territory had wiped out every last piece of his heart. His family, his home, and his trust in Starclan. Had the clans done something to deserve this kind of monstrous fate? Was Starclan angered with the cats below for some reason? The bicolor tom could not draw up a reasonable conclusion, no matter how much he racked his brain for one.

His paws were heavy when he shifted his body into motion. Breezefire knew that keeping so near to the greedy flames was perilous action and could only result in fatal consequences. So he forced his nerves into action, shaking his body out of the somber state the realization that all he had loved was destroyed by the fire had put him into. All he wanted to do was grieve for his parents, whom had still be so young yet were taken from him so quickly. The idea of curling up to let his sorrows overtake him was surprisingly distasteful to him. Even in moments of grief and sorrow Breezefire would not display an ounce of vulnerability. Maybe that was why others often wondered if he was capable of feeling emotion - because they never saw him display it too often.

As he loped through Windclan territory, his home land, the warrior's thoughts of revenge festered within his mind's eye. He wanted so badly to make whoever or whatever was responsible for today's disaster pay dearly, and perhaps with their life. Though amongst all the anger that coursed silently through the sleeping bear's veins came the though that it was not what his parents would have wanted him to do. Soon enough Fourtrees fell into view and in the distance he could see as well as smell the distinct scents of other cats from the other clans. Breezefire wondered if any of his clan mates had been fortunate enough as he to survive the fire and whether they had made it here to safety. The last couple yards until he reached the gathering place seemed like they took ages as exhaustion began to set into the sleek warrior's body, yet the tom refused to heed attention to it simply pushed it aside. With partially parted jaws,
Breezefire drank in the scents around him as his sharp blue optics did their part in taking in the crowd of survivors gathered. Out of the remaining cats, the tom recognized some from the others clans.

From Thunderclan there was Skipperclaw and Splashpelt, a firmly built ginger tom and a long-furred calico molly, as well as their medicine cat Liontail. His eyes flitted to the next cat nearest to the Thunderclan survivors and he recognized Hawkstep, a rather formidable warrior of Riverclan. There were multiple apprentices as well, though he didn't recognize any of them as ones he had encountered before. Though the one apprentice who's silver printed pelt he recognized was Silverpaw, a Windclan survivor like him and suddenly the tom felt a wave of relief wash over him. Not shortly after his gaze fell on another clan mate of his - Waspleaf. He was glad the elder warrior had survived, glad that there would be cats he could find himself trusting amongst the survivors from the fallen clans. Breezefire's attention was drawn to the calico molly he had seen earlier, Splashpelt, who had spoken up and called for the attention of the gathered cats. The Thunderclan warrior spoke of the impending danger that the fire still posed and would continue to pose the longer they stayed. He knew that they would have to leave, they would have to find somewhere safe enough from the fire to sort out what was to become of the fallen clans and their survivors. However, as Splashpelt suggested they travel together a heavy feeling of apprehension settled in the pit of Breezefire's stomach and brought a sour taste to his palette.


( ❦ ──── 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐏𝐀𝐖
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⟦ former sc app. ⟧ ⟦ molly ⟧ ⟦ mentor: palefrost ⟧ ⟦ loc. fourtrees ⟧ ⟦ tagged. spiderfur, leafpaw, rowanflight ⟧

An eerie silence had settled over the forest as the small black apprentice loped through the last parts of Sahdowclan territory that hadn't been ravaged by the flames. The ground was covered in soot, as was Shadowpaw's body. The white markings on her face and paws were not distinguishable by the thick layers of soot that were plastered onto her pelt. The rain had come quickly and soaked her bone, chilling her to the body. Shivering, the apprentice pushed through the foliage in the direction she had scented cats in earlier. Perhaps there were other survivors like her. Surely cats from other clans had made it as well? The thought of being the only survivor petrified the molly and she would soon rather curl up and accept her fate then endure a world where she was the sole survivor of this tragedy.

It hadn't taken her long reach Fourtrees and it also hadn't taken long for her to twist a paw in her eagerness to join the other survivors. With a throbbing paw, Shadowpaw limped into the clearing that she soon realized was filled with numerous cats from the fallen clans. A cacophony of scents bombarded her all at once, rendering her disoriented for a brief moment before she managed to regain her composure. Riverclan, Thunderclan, Windclan.... what about Shadowclan? she pondered as her large optics scoured the clearing for any of her clan mates. She recognized numerous of the distinguished warriors among the other clans as well as a handful of apprentices that hailed from Thunderclan, Windclan and Riverclan. The mollies heart began to thump in her chest when she couldn't spot a single Shadowclan cat. Please Starclan...don't let me be the only survivor from my clan.... Shadowpaw silently prayed to her ancestors. Almost instantly, as if somehow Starclan jumped on the opportunity to grant the wish of the apprentice who appeared pitiful in the moment - drenched to the bone, covered in soot, and bearing a twisted paw, she spotted the small cluster of her clanmates. Spiderfur, Leafpaw, and Rowanflight were gathered together near one side of the clearing.

Shadowpaw let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding and half padded half limped towards the group. The young molly did her best to hide her limp, out of fear others would pity her even more than they probably already did due to her haggard appearance. Her pride would not be able to handle the pitiful glances that would be thrown her way, nor would her temper allow it. "Thank Starclan... I was beginning to think I wouldn't see another Shadowclan cat" she breathed out in a rush before her tired limps gave way and she slumped to the ground, content with being able to lay her body to rest for the time being.

[Shippe]

✧ 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐅 !!
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xxxxshe-cat. med cat turned warrior. 58 moons. feeling; stressed, scared. location; Fourtrees. mentioned; Splashpelt. tagged; Hawkstep.
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From her vantage point at the edge of the Fourtrees clearing, Waspleaf could see all the cats as they gathered around. While she could see them, they were faded movements, marring her field of vision but never registering as any individual cats. After the possible sign from Starclan that captured every cat's attention, Waspleaf had been sent into another anxious state, rehashing the events of the fire and what she could have done.

Being a slow-thinking medicine cat had always been Waspleaf's greatest shame. She knew she was a good medicine cat, in theory, but in practice the she-cat found herself frequently succumbing to the pressure of a situation. While she would do what was needed to be done, it always took a few moments too long to remember the steps she needed to take. This was not always that much of a problem, because fortunately the issues she needed to deal with typically were not that large. When it came to higher pressure situations, such as a border patrol's occasional skirmish with a badger that resulted in wounds that needed to be healed, Waspleaf would fumble, causing her clan mates to be in pain longer than they should. Waspleaf was proud of being a medicine cat, and more often than not proud to have her status signified in her name, but on bad days the medicine cat would view the "leaf" in her name as something given to her out of pity, not out of recognition of her dedication.

As thoughts of her inadequacy combined with the crushing pain of losing most of her clan flooded her mind, Waspleaf felt as if suspended from the world, eventually unaware of feeling the dirt under her paws. The medicine cat was yanked back to the Fourtrees when Hawkstep addressed her, causing her to start- she hadn't registered him approaching. As a result, his words barely registered, and it took a few moments for her to process his problem. At least she could blame her slowness on the shock this time, she thought bitterly. Shaking herself to improve her focus, Waspleaf rose to her feet. "Of course, Hawkstep..." she replied, turning her attention to the paw. To do anything for his pain, she would need herbs that she didn't have. All my usual sources of herbs are probably gone... Waspleaf realized with a sinking feeling in her stomach, as are my stores, likely the ones in the other clans too... With what was available in the Fourtrees, the medicine cat couldn't do much to help Hawkstep's pain. She told the tom as much before turning to one of the trees and plucking up some moss with her mouth. After gently removing the thorn in the Riverclan warrior's paw, she applied the moss to help the wound heal. "There you go," she told Hawkstep, unable to put any energy into her words, which instead sounded like she was giving him bad news. She shook her head, and added with some hesitation, "It's good to see that you made it out."

When Splashpelt spoke, Waspleaf quickly turned her attention to the warrior, immediately agreeing with the she-cat. Not only was it dangerous to stay in the area, the cats around her could have lung problems from inhaling the smoke, among other things. Though she was feeling too stressed to focus on the proper aid for damaged lungs, she knew it required herbs that were likely no longer available in the forest they all called home.