Currantstar's Legacy ▶︎ The Name (Book 1)

Chapter 6

Crystalpaw's eyes shot open. Sootpaw was prodding her side, looming over her like a hawk. "Crystalpaw! Wake up!"

"I'm up," she groaned. "What do you want? Is it even dawn?" No light was illuminating the medicine den. It was only lit by an ominous blue glow.

"It is past dawn," Sootpaw replied urgently. "But it's pouring rain. And we still haven't found Stormpaw. Beechstar deemed him lost."

"Lost?" Crystalpaw shot up in her nest, her eyes no longer sleepy. Had she heard her brother correctly? Was Stormpaw really still missing?

"And he made mention of evacuating the camp," he added. "The barriers and tunnels are getting washed out. It's becoming dangerous all around us. The river level is rising."

Crystalpaw bounded up to the main part of the den, trying to see out into the camp. The entire area was blurry, as rain was creating a sheet of moisture in every direction. Its evil roar drowned out all other sounds.

"Stormpaw will die out there!" she hissed, digging her claws into the moist ground. A droplet of rain thudded onto her head, and she realized that parts of the rocks were leaking. Even the dens were wet. The moisture was devouring all of ReedClan's territory.

"Beechstar was going to organize patrols, but thought it would be too dangerous." Sootpaw sat down next to Crystalpaw, allowing their fur to brush. "I woke you up to make sure you wouldn't be left behind."

"Thank you," she replied absently, trying desperately to see something past the den. With a pang, she thought of her mentor. She hadn't been in the sleeping area with her when she had awoken. "Where's Lilystream?" she burst.

"She's probably gathering herbs," Sootpaw replied, obviously not putting thought into his response. Crystalpaw assumed that his biggest concern was Stormpaw's safety.

"In this rain?" she pressed, her voice tight. "Sootpaw, I'm not so sure about that."

"I'll bet she's fine," he meowed. "At the moment I'm more worried about Stormpaw."

Crystalpaw nodded. "I want to help look for him. Lilystream, too, if she's out."

"Beechstar won't let you," her brother replied right away. "I already asked if I could go; there's no way he'd send a medicine cat."

Crystalpaw nodded to acknowledge her littermate's statement, but refused to accept the fact that she couldn't help Stormpaw. She had to do something.

Suddenly, a large brown shape was forming in the rippling torrent. A cat was drawing near. Soon, Beechstar's large body was inside of the medicine den, dripping onto the soft sand.

"Good; you're up," he meowed. "I'm evacuating the camp. Everyone must report to my den, as it's the largest and most dry. Further instruction will be given then, when all of the cats are in one spot."

"What about Stormpaw?" Crystalpaw pressed. "He's gone! What if he comes back to an empty camp? What if he drowns and no cat is here to help him?"

"I've considered those possibilities," the leader replied, gazing calmly at the apprentices. "My plan is to take refuge just across the riverbank under the canopy of the forest. There is a small cave that we can stay in. Right now, our biggest worry is the river."

"You still haven't told us your plan about Stormpaw," Sootpaw interjected. "We can't just leave him."

"Of course," Beechstar meowed. "Two warriors will be guarding the cave entrance at all times. They will be watching for three things: the water level of the river, the rain's power, and, of course, Stormpaw. If anything is seen, it will be reported."