#tornflake

Whelp, that streak of good luck ended.  The greenleaf rains hit hard, and, being underground, the camp is prone to flooding.  ElementClan also doesn’t have many water-blessed cats (only Cilantro-69-and Silverpsots-26), so they are at a serious disadvantage if their were to cave flood.  Which, of course, it did.  Lightheather (25) was the first one to sound the alarm that the waters were rising.  In the aftermath, he can’t help but wonder if tragedy would have been prevented had he had acted sooner.  The nursery, where Cypressbadger (74), Cilantro, and the kits were hanging out, was hit hard.  Lotuskit (4) and Rubblekit (4) didn’t know how to swim.  Cypressbadger was able to get Rubblekit out, but, when she went back to try and help Cilantro and Lotuskit, she found that Cilantro had hit her head on a treebranch, sinking to the bottom of the cavern with Lotuskit in tow.  Cypressbadger tried to save them, but was unable to and drowned as well.  Fry (114) helped Chiku (142) to safety. He regretted that he never had the chance to confess his feelings before he succumbed to the waves.  Timberarch (125) tried to help Tornflake (35) and Glowquake (44), both of whom were injured, to safety, but the waves took all three of them. After the floodwaters recede, Chiku lies next to Fry’s body as the Clan sits vigil for him.  His world has ended with Fry’s.  Chiku never considered the possibility that he would one day be without Fry and wishes that they had had more time together. Primcrest (50) and Wildcave (91) are devastated by the loss of their father.  Primcrest wails when she sees Fry’s body, laying still and cold.  If she were more talented with her water magic, could she have saved him?  Once the vigil ends, Primcrest curls tightly in her nest, her throat raw from crying.   For Wildcave, Fry was his last tie to his life before the Clan.  Losing him feels like losing a tail, or a limb, or his shadow.  Wildcave relied on Fry, trusted him, and contemplating moving on from the loss seems impossible.  He and Primcrest hold each other close, taking comfort in their sibling bond.  Primcrest also lost Glowquake, which tears at her.  Primcrest takes comfort in Rubblekit.  Despite they’re rocky start, he reminds her a lot of Cragpaw. Then there’s Frecklestone (35), who lost her only surviving family member.  And little Rubblekit, who lost his mom. He doesn’t really understand what happened, so Creekstar (62) tries to explain it to him.  It’s hard.  She can’t help but blame herself for how the Clan is faring.  How could she do better?  The Clan has known so much loss.  Will it never end?  

All of the romance brewing in the Clan made Poolbounce (34) feel confident enough to confess his feelings to Tornflake (25).  And he got rejected.  Tornflake does like Poolbounce, romantically, but he just isn’t ready for a relationship yet. In the wake of this, Poolbounce finally turns to Cypressbadger (64) and gives her the attention she’s been craving.  He complains about his struggles with his feelings for Tornflake.  Cypressbadger does her best to be sympathetic, but is really just excited that someone is coming to her for advice. Unfortunately, Freedusk (77) couldn’t beat redcough.  It was hard watching the good natured cat waste away in front of them, and the Clan mourns what could have been.  Creekstar (52) has also been spending more time with Cragkit (1).  It’s actually making her want to have kits of her own with Wildcave (81), when he’s ready.  Glowquake (34) is still being a doting father.  He always makes sure to spend time with his kit and check in with how he’s doing.  Wildcave is excited to have a young cat in the Clan and tries to set a good example for Cragkit.  

Cats are starting to recover from the hardship that struck the Clan.  Primcrest (30) and Glowquake (24) are feeling like they can keep on living without their loved ones and have bonded over their shared grief. They have a sweet bonding moment when Glowquake tells her that he sometimes feels like he doesn’t have anything to say or that the words trip coming out of his mouth.  Primcrest tells him that she doesn’t think he needs to change anything about how he talks or acts-she likes him just the way he is. Tornflake (15) is also feeling much better and is ready to get started on his warrior duties, but Creekstar (42) has been working herself a little too hard and has come down with whitecough. On the plus side, the Clan has a new apprentice!  Silverpaw (6) has been made a mediator apprentice and is excited to get to work.  Without a mentor, Silverpaw is having a bit of trouble managing client confidentiality as a mediator.  Fry (95) decides to try confiding in him and Silverpaw responds by telling him that Chiku (122) has a crush on him.  Oops.  It turns out that Wildcave (71) may have some feelings for Creekstar afterall.  He knows which fresh-kill is Creekstar’s favorite and saves it for her.  Aww.  The Clan understands that it’s important to put up a strong front during challenging times, so Chiku and Tornflake heckle another Clan at the gathering together.  What a great bonding experience.  Cypressbadger (54) feels like Frecklepaw (15) is being too serious, so she’s hiding behind a bush ready to pounce on the Healer apprentice.  Frecklepaw is still stressed being the only healthy Healer, but she’s glad that her brother is doing better, at least.  With Creekstar sick, Primcrest has been busy.  She’s sad that she doesn’t have more time to spend around Lightkit (5).  She’s come to enjoy her down time around the Clan’s younger members. 

It’s not even leaf-bare yet and everyone in the Clan is sick.  Poolbounce (23) has come down with whitecough, leaving Frecklepaw (14) as the only working Healer.  She’s not ready for this responsibility!  There are more sick cats than healthy cats in the Clan at this point.  And she doesn’t have a strong enough earth-blessing to heal all of them.  In a spot of bright news, Tornpaw (14) has become a warrior!  He’s given the name of Tornflake in honor of his compassion.  He’s still injured though, and he’s impatient to get out and assist with the Clan’s desperately needed hunting and border patrols.  Wildcave (70), knowing what it’s like to lose siblings, is checking in on Glowquake.  He tells the younger tom to count on him when he needs help. He also notices that Glowquake is shivering in the leaf-fall chill and warms him up with a small fire. Creekstar (41) is distracted and hasn’t been noticing cats she normally spends time with.  She doesn’t even nod when Fry (94) says hello to her.  There’s too much she needs to step up and do for her Clan.  Being the only remaining kits, Lightkit (4) and Silverkit (5) are bonding.  They need each other to get through these hard times.  They’ve also been getting into the healer's den to spend time with their dad, and Frecklepaw has to chase them out.