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Chapter Text

“Is every cat here?”

Blackclaw sat next to Mistywing, his gaze lowered with fury. The flood had been terrible for them; Podleap’s body was swept away, the dens were destroyed, and to top it off they had lost several clanmates.

It couldn’t have happened at a worse time; the amount of queens in the nursery was absurd, and almost every kit had been lost. Pikekit, Reedkit, Dapplekit and Dawnkit were all missing; Perchkit, Robinkit and Woodkit were found, but were all dead. Primrosekit was the only kit left.

The kits weren’t the only ones affected. Tanglewhisker and Ottersplash were found dead as well, and Stormstar had lost a life, saving Primrosekit from the flood. Pouncepaw and Algaepaw were also found dead near the nursery; they must have drowned trying to save the kits.

Not only that, but every sense of Riverclan camp was gone. It was washed away in the one thing Riverclan cared about more then anything else.

Everyone seemed to be in bad shape. Salmonpaw was slumped over next to his mentor, Clifftail, sniffling softly. Ivypaw slowly made her way over to him, and the two sat together, trying to comfort each other.

Lakeshine slowly limped over to Mudfur, who was looking over Rippleclaw and Whitefang. It seemed the flood had given several cats injuries.

Mistywing was lying with Primrosekit, holding her close and trying to hide her grief. Blackclaw didn’t leave her side, he didn’t want to lose her too. He couldn’t deal with another loss.

“We’re missing all the kits except for Primrosekit..” Blackclaw turned and saw Leopardleap walking around, checking on everybody. She seemed to be given Stormstar info, who was sitting nearby next to Mudfur and the other injured cats. “Greenpaw and Shadepaw are missing, and so is Applesplash and Mallowtail.”

Timberfall limped over, his fur soaked and eyes lowered. “I can’t find Lilystem and Troutclaw either.”

“What are we supposed to do?” Skyheart cried. “Our camp is gone. We have no food or protection. We could get ambushed at any moment, and this is no place to bury our clanmates.”

“I won’t have my kits be buried in such a dirty place.” Vixenleap mumbled, looking at Pouncepaw and Algeapaw’s bodies. “It’s so far away from camp.”

“And just what do you think we’re supposed to do?” Owlfur stepped over, snorting. “We can’t just pull dry bedding out of our ears and make the fish multiply in this type of weather.”

Mudfur was the next to speak. “Hush, Owlfur. Your comments don’t help matters, and Skyheart is right.” He turned to her, sighing gently. “I have barely any herbs to treat these cats. We could all get whitecough out here.”

Leopardleap sat next to Stormstar, the two having a whispered conversation before the leader cleared his throat.

“We have to find some place to shelter.” Stormstar slightly stood up, a sense of compassion in his eyes.“Then we can focus on the herb and prey problem, and we can have our vigil for our clanmates.”

Blackclaw’s eyes widened, and he sat up, not being able to hold his opinion back anymore. Stormstar was being ridiculous! “But what about the kits?” He rebutted, looking furious at Stormstar as he padded forward. He wouldn’t let him get away with this. “We can’t just leave them out here, they’ll starve! How can you abandon them?”

“And what about Mallowtail, and Lilystem?” Dawnbright called out, Blackclaw nodding at her support. He knew she must be worried for her siblings. “We can’t desert our clanmates. They won’t be able to find us if we move.”

A look of misery went over the leaders eyes, and he looked at the two cats. “It is not a decision I want to make lightly. But we can’t stay here, Blackclaw.” He lowered his head and for the first time in a long time, looked guilty. “I don’t want to bury another one of my Clanmates.”

Although Dawnbright seemed to accept this, for some reason she did, Blackclaw snorted at Crookedstar’s hypocritical excuse. “What if that cat we have to bury is one of my kits that could have been saved!?”

He wasn’t expecting someone to argue against him, but was surprised to hear a yowl as Emberdawn sat up. “At least you have a kit left, Blackclaw!” She snapped back to him. “Some queens weren’t so lucky, if you didn’t notice.” She gestured to Mosspelt, who was huddled back with her brother, Mudthorn, looking miserable. “She’s lost more then you can ever think.”

Blackclaw had never seen the a young cat be so so angry in his life. Emberdawn stepped forward and shoved her muzzle against Blackclaw’s own, making him back up. “I’ve lost my whole litter to the storm, they could be out there, they could be in Starclan by now. But you don’t hear me arguing with my leader like a spoiled magpie! So shut your jaw before I drag that pike out from the river and shut it for you!”

Blackclaw seemed to be stunned from that, opening his mouth but nothing came out. He had no idea how to reply, and despite his anger, Emberdawn was right. He quickly closed his mouth, backing up and sitting back down next to Mistywing.

“You didn’t have to do that, you know.” His mate softly murmured, looking him over. “Stormstar wouldn’t just leave them. Once we find a place of shelter, he would probably send patrols..”

Blackclaw blocked out the noises of everyone and focused on Mistywing. She looked skinny, exhausted.. And he did too. The poisoned lake had left everyone weak.

“I’m sorry.. I just don’t want to lose them.” He mumbled, shuffling closer to her. “I want to find them..”

Mistywing purred a little and nuzzled his cheek. “They will be okay.. We have to hope.” She looked up to the sky. “If we don’t hope, then all we have left is giving up.”

As he lied his head onto her shoulder and licked her pelt, he watched Primrosekit’s chest rise and fall. He promised in his head to never leave her and Primrosekit. No matter what happens.

Chapter Text

“Dad! Can I play moss ball with Dapplekit?”

Blackclaw turned and saw Primrosekit hobbling over to him, looking with baby doll eyes at him. “Mom said I could, but she wanted me to ask you to..”

“Of course you can, I would never say no to that.” He licked her head softly, before ushering her off with a flick of his tail. “Go have fun with her, I’m sure Emberdawn will be happy to have Dapplekit occupied.”

Primrosekit smile bright, before running off to the back of the cave where the queens where.

Mallowtail was watching the scene, and smiled. “She’ll be a good warrior one day, Blackclaw.”

He nodded, sighing softly. “When her other siblings come back, they will too.”

Greenpaw, Mallowtail and Lilystem had thankfully returned, along with Dapplekit, who Greenpaw had saved from being swept downstream.

However, it brought tragic news with it. Greenpaw had seen Shadepaw and Applesplash being swept away in the flood, and Mallowtail tried to drag Troutclaw’s lifeless body to camp.

However, Pikekit, Dawnkit and Reedkit were still missing. He could hear the murmurs of others that they should give up, but every day, he went out. He found prey, he helped make dens for his clanmates, and most importantly he searched for his kits. He wanted to find them, dead or alive. He didn’t want their fate to forever be a mystery.

They eventually had no choice but to bury their clanmates bodies, in a small area of grass near the cave. The vigil was cold, and long. He could still remember Mosspelt’s sobs as she huddled around the bodies of her dead kits. He regretted saying anything the day the flood took them away.

For the clanmates that their bodies couldn’t be found, they did a silent vigil, but Blackclaw had refused to have a silent vigil for his kits. If there was no bodies, then he couldn’t believe they were gone.

Even when the flood was over, there still was a risk of cats dying. Leopardleap, Piketooth, Harepelt and Echomist had all caught whitecough, Mudfur’s worries of sickness are finally rearing their head.

Sighing softly, his ears perked up as he saw the morning patrol coming back. Clifftail, Swanheart and Vixenleap walked over, Salmonpaw following behind. Clifftail was holding a large trout in his jaws, while Swanheart had a couple of seagulls. Salmonpaw was carrying a few mussels.

“Go give the mussels to Emberdawn. Dapplekit will need some prey.” He told Salmonpaw, watching him walk off before turning back to the older cats.“Did you find anything?” He asked, looking nervous and slightly frustrated.

Vixenleap helped Clifftail get the trout to the fresh kill pile, before turning to Blackclaw and sighing. “I’m sorry, we couldn’t find anything, Blackclaw.”

Swanheart brought one of the seagulls over to Fallowheart, Cedarpelt and Greypool. He then turned back, looking guilty. “We tried to look. We kept our eyes out along the whole river, and there was nothing.”

Blackclaw looked at Swanheart, his frustration turning into slight guilt. He remembered how the young tom saved his life when he was only Swanpaw, helping Leopardleap get the pike off of his leg. And now Swanheart must feel terrible, not being able to find Blackclaw’s kits.

“It’s okay, you did your best, and that’s all I ask for.” He smiled at the white tom, before turning back to the prey pile, surprise in his eyes. It looked almost empty!

“Is there any other hunting patrols set up?” He asked, walking over and looking at the prey. The trout was big, sure, but it wouldn’t feed everyone. And the other mussels wouldn’t help much either. “We’re going to need more then this to give everyone a mouthful, let alone keep everyone well fed!”

“I don’t think so.” Sedgecreek said, walked over from where she was lying, and Beetlenose looked a bit interested in the conversation. “Leopardleap is still sick, and Stormstar is out in the border patrol with Lakeshine and Petaldust.”

Swanheart shrugged. “I guess they didn’t pay attention to the pile.”

“Then why don’t you lead a patrol, Sedgecreek?” Blackclaw pressured, nodding to Beetlenose. “You too. Take whoever you want and just get us prey. If there’s any sign of flooding, don’t come straight back, just avoid the area. We need prey.”

“Are you sure you should be giving out orders?” Clifftail asked, his eyebrow raised. “Leopardleap should be doing that.”

“Leopardleap is kind of sick, if you didn’t notice.” Blackclaw rebutted, looking at the senior warrior with his frustration coming back. “If nobody else is going to make sure Riverclan is well fed, I’m going to. You can thank me later when your stomach is full.”

Clifftail didn’t argue after that, and Sedgecreek and Beetlenose started to form patrols. Sedgecreek gestured Rippleclaw, Softwing and Grasswhisker over, while Beetlenose went over Boulderfang and Dawnbright, who were training Greenpaw and Ivypaw.

“Blackclaw, should I go out and try and find some more dry bedding?” Mudthorn walked over from where he was watching the elders, and gulped a little. “I don’t have to, I just kind of thought since it rained last night.. We may need extra just in case the river floods.”

“That’s a good idea.” The black tom replied, nodding softly and was happy when Mudthorn looked pleased. “Take Timberfall and Voleclaw with you. Look to see if you can find any herbs there too; Timberfall knows some of them. Mudfur needs all the herbs he can get.”

Mudthorn nodded and gathered the other two toms before heading out. Blackclaw watched them go, before starting to walk out himself. “I’m going out to look for my kits again.” He murmured to Swanheart, who gave him a nervous look and nodded.

“Blackclaw, wait!” He paused and turned as Mallowtail walked over. “Can I come with you? I want to help.”

“I’ll come too.” Fallowheart slowly made her way over, and Blackclaw’s eyebrow rose in surprise.

“Are you sure?” He asked softly, sniffing her to check for any smell of infection. “You shouldn’t leave camp, you could get hurt-”

“Of course I’m sure!” She snapped, looking frustrated, as if she knew Blackclaw would doubt her. “I’ve known first hand the pain of losing kits. Besides, It’s not like I’m a boneless pile of cat like Cedarpelt is.”

“I heard that!” The other elder called out, and she snickered.

Sure, Blackclaw didn’t want her to come.. But her voice didn’t have pity or nervousness in it; it sounded like she genuinely wanted to help him. “Sure, why not.” He shrugged, not having anything else for them to do, and started walking out of the cave. “Just don’t be a fishbrain and we’ll be all good.”