Warrior Cats; Clans Without Honour

Epilogue

Rushstar awoke, the sound of rumbling filling his den. He gazed around wildly as rocks started to fall around him. He jumped out of his nest as it got crushed by a chunk of the ceiling. He ran outside into the clearing. Keeping his composure, Rushstar called out to his clanmates.

"Spottedtooth?" He yowled, summoning his deputy, who was helping an elder evacuate thier den.

"Yes, Rushstar?" The red tom replied, "Are you hurt?" He sniffed the leader politely, looking for injuries.

"I'm fine, thank you. Almost got crushed by my own den." Rushstar managed to say with a hint of a purr. "Where did everyone go? And how many are left in the camp?"

"I already sent some of the warriors to help the elders, queens and kits. And the apprentices are helping Rowanleaf gather his herbs" Spottedtooth meowed quickly.

Rushstar nodded, and ran off without saying anything else. He heard a cry of pain, and whirled around to see Icefoot carrying a kit in her jaws. She was trapped by a boulder, and was stumbling on the shaking ground. The cry came from behind her, however. Littleleap hissed as a tree came crashing down, almost crushing her and the kit wobbling under her paws. Rushstar ran towards them, scooping up the kit and helping to push the queen over the tree to escape. He tossed the kit, and ran back to see if anyone was left. Icefoot, thank StarClan, had managed to make it out alive. Curlfoot was the only one left. She was a new queen, having only recently announced her expecting. He noticed her tail was stuck under something. He called out, hoping someone would hear him over the earthquake. Hawkfur, an elder, hopped over the tree and padded towards them.

"Hawkfur! You should already be out of camp!" Rushstar exclaimed.

"I'm not that old, yet. 'Can still help out 'round here" Hawkfur rasped.

Saying no more, the two toms managed to push the fallen log off of Curlfoot, and help her get out. Rushstar sent the two vulnerable cats off together, hoping they would make it out. Another violent shake sent Rushstar straight to the ground. He looked up, hearing a soft creaking. He flattened his ears and closed his eyes, waiting for the falling tree to impact him and take his remaining life.
StarClan, please. Make this as painless as possible.
Although, death never came. He could still hear the rumbling of the earthquake, but when he opened his eyes, Lostwhisker was standing over him. She pulled him up, tears falling down her face.

"I thought I almost lost you!" She cried.

Rushstar felt ever so grateful for his littermate. Before he could reply, a lighter toned voice sounded behind Lostwhisker.

"Um, are we going to escape to safety now?" Talonpaw mewed. She had a paw on some leaves, making sure they didn't blow away.

"Yes, let's get out of here" Rushstar said. The three of them pelted for the exit to the camp, which was a trail of large stepping stones. On the other side of the water, Rushstar called out to everyone.

"Do we have everyone here?" He yowled over the noise and panic.

All the DewClan cats made themselves known, and the clan ran through the still shaking forest. They headed southwest, towards FallowClan. A pale ginger tom with white paws padded out of the camp, followed by a smaller, black and white she-cat.

"Shellstar, Redleaf" Rushstar mewed, dipping his head respectfully to them.

"What brings you to our camp?" Shellstar asked. His voice was deep, and although not hostile, he wasn't entirely friendly either.

"Our camp has just been destroyed," Rushstar started. "We seek shelter until the earthquake has died down"

Shellstar looked thoughtful for a moment, his ears twitching every so often. Redleaf looked up at her leader with slight concern.

"Shellstar, if I may?" She ventured. He nodded, and she continued. "We have too many mouths to feed at the moment, and there has been a sickness going throughout the clans recently, aswell. It would be unwise to allow DewClan to stay here, even for one night." She glanced over shoulder at the FallowClan camp, her brow furrowed slightly.

"Yes, but we have not caught the sickness! And we can hunt for ourselves." Rushstar mewed a little bit too desperately for his liking. Spottedtooth padded up behind him, settling himself down after checking on the clan.

"We would be gone by morning, if you so wish." He put in. "You would hardly even know that we were here."

Shellstar seemed doubtful of their claims. He narrowed his eyes and replied.

"How do we know that your warriors aren't sick? You could be lying to make us weak! You're probably trying to take over our territory and drive us out!" His ginger fur, now glowing in the cold dawn, was bristling. "StarClan knows! You might even be lying about this 'earthquake'. I'm sorry, Rushstar. I cannot help you."

Rushstar started at him with dismay. He thanked the FallowClan leader and deputy, and lead his clan away. It wasn't until sunhigh that they finally made their way to ThornClan. They were accepted, and given their own miniature camp and territory for the time being. In return, DewClan owed ThornClan a moons-worth of prey.

It's worth ever morsel, if I can keep my clan safe. Rushstar thought.

They settled in to their new home, and a half-moon later, they returned. Only to find a family of foxes had moved in! One of the ThornClan warriors, Longwhisker, helped to drive them out by himself. However, he died in the attempt. He was hailed a hero throughout all four clans. And DewClan returned home to start rebuilding.