Storm: The Storm That Poured

Chapter 11:

        "Cedarstar!" Waspflight called through the rain.
        "If this is about the flooding, yes I know." Cedarstar's voice came from the top of the tunnel leading to his den, which was inside the tree the High Branch rested on.
        "I think cats are going to get sick and drown, we need to get to higher ground." Waspflight meowed.
        "Go tell Icepool and Mistcloud to get their herbs, and Lightshine go tell the queens to get their kits and get to the center of camp, I'll let the elders and apprentices know." Cedarstar meowed. 
        Within a second their leader was off, unable to see him because of the rain. Suddenly, Waspflight wasn't there either, so she had to make her way to the nursery on her own. When she finally got there, she shivered as the warmth of the den touched her fur. 
        "Oh, Lightshine! You're soaked!" Twilightnose came over to lick her fur, but she nudged her away.
        "Cedarstar has orders to come to the center of camp, with your kits." Lightshine looked at the kits, who were in their nest trying not to let the flooding water touch their paws.
        "Kits, come along now," Twilightnose used her tail to guide them along. 
        The water touched their chests, halfway up Lightshine's legs. She shivered at the coolness of the water. She could hear the harsh wind blowing outside. She used her tail to protect the kits' faces, rushing them to the center of camp.
        "We have to get to higher ground, and shelter!" Cedarstar yowled over the wind.
        "We're back!" Minnowpelt's voice rang through the heavy rain.
        "Order every cat to get in the High Cave!" Cedarstar shouted.
        She grabbed Alderkit, climbing up the rocks leading to the High Cave. The rocks rubbed against each other, making it hard to get a good grip. She slipped, almost screeching because of the pain, but remembered to keep her mouth shut because of the kit in her mouth. Her leg went in between the rocks, scraping.
        She went back down, through the pool of fur. She had to find Waspflight. When she reached the bottom, no one was there, and she couldn't hear or scent any cats, only the ones the went up and made it up. She lifted her paw up, wincing from the pain. As she made her way back up, the rain started pouring. She felt fear get caught in her chest when she heard the crashing of water. She could see a wave of water crashing through camp, coming toward her. 
        She scrabbled her way up the rocks, trying to get up as quick as possible. That's when she saw a flash of white and red fur, Brightkit's small squeaks coming from the flood. She jumped back in, her injured paw hanging loosely in the water. She dove underneath the waves, struggling to bring herself back up. When she did, she blinked the water out of her eyes. Brightkit was now in front of her, the small kit coughing up water. 
        "I'll get you back to your mother," she mumbled through fur. 
        She nearly gagged, but kept her jaws clenched around Brightkit's scruff. She could see the High Cave, no one outside of it. She threw Brightkit onto the ledge, her paw painfully paddling to keep her head above water. Lightshine could see black dots edging her vision. Her whole body shook, her paws running numb. She paddled until black consumed her, making it seem as if she was falling.

        "Is she awake?" Lightshine could barely move. 
        She didn't know who just talked, but she didn't care. Her paws were starting to get feeling back into them, her chest painfully tight. She opened her eyes, pain rushing through her head. Maplepuddle and Mistcloud over her.
        "Oh! She is awake," Mistcloud poured some herb juice into her mouth. 
        "Why isn't she moving?" Twilightnose came over.
        "She must be really cold," Mistcloud explained.
        Lightshine painfully got to her paws. "I can move."
        Maplepuddle came up and licked her ear, "Thank you for saving my kit."
        She could still hear rain pouring heavily outside, and the wind harshly blowing.
        "I couldn't leave her," Lightshine coughed, water splashing out of her mouth.
        Waspflight came over, whispered something to Mistcloud, and everyone but Waspflight was gone. 
        "I'm glad you're okay," Waspflight murmured into her ear. "You're so brave, and I hope you pass that on to our kits, someday."
        She could hear coughing, and looked over at the source. Icepool was caring for ill cats. Greencough must have decided to come earlier than expected.
        "I couldn't leave you," she whispered.
        "Good, because I couldn't live without you."
        Lightshine sighed, letting her eyes close. All good things come to an end, yes, but good things can still happen. She let Waspflight's tail curl around her, his warmth coursing through her legs. She smiled, her life complete.