A Broken Clan

▂▃▅▇█▓▒░𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟹░▒▓█▇▅▃▂

Alderpaw padded next to Jayfeather to the gathering island. They had slept until sunhigh and decided to instead of going to each clan apart for help to just go attend the gathering. Every full moon there was a gathering between the four clans. Luckily, the next full moon was a day after the great flood. "Do you think the clans would help us, Jayfeather?" Alderpaw muttered, he was already thinking about how the clans would react. "It depends on their situation. Riverclan territory is probably flooded too, with all their water and rivers. As for Shadowclan and Windclan, I am unsure." "Right, if their camp is flooded they won't take any refugees from other clans..." Alderpaw dropped his head defeated. "Maybe, if the clans won't take us in, we can go to Smoky and Floss." Jayfeather mewed, on a reassuring tone. "Maybe Daisy has fled to there too." "Yes, you're right, but first we will experience this gathering." Alderpaw looked at Jayfeather with a thankful expression.

They arrived last. Rowanstar, Onestar and Mistystar sat already in the tree, looking over the gathered cats rather confused. As he skimmed the big group of cats Alderpaw realized with terror in his eyes that there weren't any Thunderclan cats. He looked at the tree. No Bramblestar. No Leafpool. No Squirrelflight. His heart ached at the thought of his mother. "Jayfeather, where is Thunderclan?" Mistystar was the first to notice the two. "Alderpaw, could you please climb the tree and tell everyone what happened?" The blind medicine-cat asked. Alderpaw guessed it would be difficult for him to climb, but he was just an apprentice! He shouldn't stand on the spot great leaders usually stand! "Alright..." Alderpaw muttered trembling and padded towards the tree, he dug his claws deep in the wet bark. And climbed onto the lowest branch. Alderpaw nodded awkwardly to Mistystar as he began to speak: "You all have noticed the heavy rain." He paused, taking a deep breath. "The rain has caused the river that streams down the Moonpool to flood. It was-... It was so much water, that it had flooded Thunderclan's camp in no time, together with most of our clanmates. I-It's unknown if there are more cats still alive besides me and Jayfeather." Alderpaw looked to his paws and let out a soft and grieving yowl. "We ask you for shelter, only for a while." Jayfeather looked up to the clanleaders. It was quiet for a while. Then, out the crowd there came soft mews of terror and grieve. "Silence!" Onestar's voice sounded. "Windclan can't help you. Half our territory is flooded too." "I'm sorry, Riverclan's streams are flooded, which makes it dangerous to fish for us." Alderpaw looked at Rowanstar hopefully. "I guess every clan is affected. Shadowclan is currently too busy in repairing our dens." Alderpaw felt as if his heart became so heavy that it dropped on the branch he crouched on. "But-." "Come on, Alderpaw. It's no he to stay here." Jayfeather growled, clearly angry at the leaders. Alderpaw climbed down the tree and sprinted towards the blind medicine-cat. "Wait!" A familiar voice sounded from the crowd. Then, a gray tabby she-cat padded forward, she carried two small bundles of fur in her mouth. "Lilyheart?!" Alderpaw looked at the queen in disbelief. "Oh no, I am so sorry. Leafkit, Larkkit..." Lilyheart put down the lifeless bodies of her kits. Her eyes full with grief. Honeykit stood next to her, looking at Alderpaw and Jayfeather with big round eyes. "I want to come with you." Lilyheart cried. "So that we can protect Honeykit as a clan." Jayfeather sniffed the lifeless bodies carefully. Then looked up to the gray queen. "You are a good mother, Lilyheart. You did what you could."