Rise

Prologue

"GAHHHHHH!" A blood-curling shriek echoed across a lakeland territory. Thunder rolled ahead, and lightning strikes down on the open land.
"Breathe, Bluemist, breathe. It's going to be alright, i'm right here." A black tom cat hissed through gritted teeth.
The sight in front of him was petrifying. A birthing mother in screeching pain, flood water rising from outside the den, and white electricity crashing down. Blood sprayed over the floor of the small nursery. The tom could vaguely see the water inching closer from the corner of his eye.
Another wail sent shivers down his spine. "Doepaw, go scan the camp for injured cats. Make sure everyone gets up the mountain safely, stay clear of high water!" He ordered his apprentice.
The light brown she-cat nodded and scurried off to to her assigned task.
Bluemist yowled in unbearable pain. She bit down on a stick the tom gave her and he watched as it splintered under her razor sharp teeth.
"Good, good. Now push!" He urged her, biting the sack that held the kittens.
The rain pressed down on the mountain side, he cast a nervous glance at the water, just as a tiny feature slid out from her mother's womb.
He smiled in delight once he made sure she was breathing and moved the kit to the side. He felt her stomach and purred. "Two more."
The mother cried out as the second kit came. He picked up the kit by the scruff and felt of pang of sadness when he didn't feel the breathing motion of the kit's chest. The little kit did not make it. He laid him somewhere far from his sister, and focused again on the queen.
"Last one." The tom meowed, his heart still heavy with grief.
Bluemist pushed hard as the last kit tried to make its way into the world. A thunder as loud as a cave-in sounded from above, signaling a new life.
"You're done." He sighed in relief, and laid a paw her, healing every ache and pain in her body in an instant.
She perked up, happy to be relived of the pain. When she saw the kits her eyes lit up. "Crowfur, they're beautiful!" She gasped and began licking them.
Crowfur dipped his head and looked at the one kit who did not make it. "I'm sorry, Bluemist. This one did not make it."
The queen turned her gaze to the limp kitten on the nursery floor. "No!" She cried, her eyes radiating grief.
The two living kits snuggled closer to their grieving mother, sucking the milk she provided.
She continued to wail, and Crowfur exited the den to look for her mate. With a jolt of shock, he realized her mate was not waiting for her. 'He must be helping the other cats.'
The over-flowing lake steadily rushed towards him and the nursery. Lightning flashed in his eyes and he ran back inside. "We have to get out of here. The water is going to come inside."
Bluemist hardly looked up from her kits. "Take the kits."
Crowfur faintly nodded and picked up the kits in his jaws. He assumed she would bring the not so lucky one
to have a proper burial after the storm. "Let's go." He meowed through a mouthful of fur.
The female followed reluctantly and gasped at the rushing water coming their way. She didn't know which way to go.
The tom looked up at all the cats on the cliff, waiting for them to join them where it's safe. He began to climb his way past all the dens. It was slippery, and becoming increasingly hard to hold on.
Bluemist hesitated before jumping on the cliff side behind him. She started to climb.
"You can do it! Come on! Use your claws!" The tribe cats yowled at them in encouragement. The rain slammed out their pelts, but everyone refused to give up.
Crowfur reaches the top with a huff, and sat the kits down on the wet grass. He licked them until they were warm, then peered down to check Bluemist's progress.
She was almost them, close enough to see the blades of grass around the edge.
That's when she claw came loose on the slippery rock. She yelped as she began to fall into the now flooded camp. Crashing waves would soon greet her, followed by death.
"No!" The cats screamed. A red tom linger over the edge, and grabbed her in his jaws before they could fall. He hurled her onto the grass and fell down next to her.
She panted and felt the mushy ground under her. A dozen eyes bored into her pelt. She looked at the tom who saved her from death. "Thank you." She breathed.
He nodded respectfully, and passed out beside her.