i'm checking my vital signs - EVACUATION #1

[emberstar]

"WE ARE THE BROKEN ONES, WHO CHOSE TO SPARK A FLAME"​

A cough racked Emberstar's tiny body as she charged through the smoke and smog that had choked the camp all day. It went ignored. There was no time for that, not now. While she had rushed about camp trying to help her clanmates however she could, the fire had crept dangerously close. Her focus on the smaller problems, the ones she thought she could fix, had distracted her from the real danger. She needed to get everyone out of camp as fast as possible.

Their home was no longer safe.

With a single, deft movement, she leapt atop highrock. "Thunderclan!" she shouted, loud enough to make her aching lungs sore. Not a single soul in camp could afford not to hear this call. "We are leaving! Stick together and everyone head for-" A moment of hesitation, where could they go? It needed to be in the opposite direction from the fire, and safe from it's spread. "-the river, down by Sandy Hollow. Queens, kits, and elders to the front. Apprentices behind them. Warriors, help whoever you can, but keep yourselves safe too! If anyone falls behind I'll be taking up the rear, lending aid to any who need it. So, count on me to take care of that and - whatever you do - keep moving!"

For a moment she stood atop highrock still, watching as the camp burst into motion. An ache crept into her heart. This had meant to be their home, it had meant to be safe. She had promised it would be.

Her eyes drifted upward, tracing the trail of smoke and smog, where over the treetops an ominous orange glow lit the sky. With horror she realized that flames had begun to creep along the highest branches of the treetops above them. One snapped. "Look out!" she cried, wincing as the branch impacted the ground, scattering the organized evacuation into chaos. She leapt down from her perch. If fire was already falling down upon them, then she had no more time to waste with words. Winding her way through them as she headed in the opposite direction. Toward the back of camp. While they all filtered out she was going to check each nest in turn, no one was going to get left behind, not if she could help it. Once they were all safe, then she would worry about herself, she had lives to spare after all.

If it kept her clan safe, she would spend them all.

//the fire is creeping toward the camp, and emberstar has finally given the order to evacuate! this thread will just be the escape from camp. though the fire is not in the camp at ground level, it is above and nearby outside, so escaping cats will need to contend with smoke and fire. this thread is first of three, next two will be posted in coming days.

///link to thread 2​

✦ ★ ✦​

 

[Flycatcher]

Smoke from the fire now surrounded the camp. It had been growing steadily worse and now it was dangerously close, threatening to snuff them out before their clan had had time to truly blossom. When Emberstar calls out to the clan from the highrock, Flycatcher naturally comes to hear what she has to say. He listens as best he can, trying to ignore the stinging in his eyes from the smoke, and the desperation to cough. She tells him they are fleeing to the river and his brows crease in concern. That seems like a safe bet, but he hopes they won't have to swim. He already knows he's not a good swimmer and he can't say much for the rest of his clanmates either.

As the clan began to move around after the evacuation order there was a sudden snap above them and Flycatcher briefly managed to look up in time to watch a branch tumble down from above, scattering the already panicked crowd. Flycatcher hastens his movements after that, falling in with the crowd of fleeing cats as they head to the back of the camp and beyond to the river. "Stick together everyone!" He calls out in reassurance to the cats around him.​

 

[HOWLINGSTAR]

Ever since her patrol discovered the fire earlier that morning, things had only gotten worse. Smoke now lingers along the rims of the camp, inching closer to the cats within. Coughs begin to echo throughout the space, voices become raspier. When Emberstar leaps atop Highrock, the tabby thinks she can guess what it will be about. Her head swings around, eyes locked onto their leader as she calls for an evacuation. A harsh swallow precedes a firm nod in understanding, green gaze narrowing in determination. ThunderClan would survive this - they'd all get to the river and be just fine.

She begins to turn around and aid her leader in clearing out the dens and making sure everyone is out when she hears a snap! She jolts as a flaming branch crashes into the center of camp, drawing out yowls of fear from her clanmates. Howling Wind looks up; the tops of the trees are on fire. "Run! Everyone, run! Now!" She shouts, now running towards the apprentice's den to make sure everyone is out. What had begun as order has now sprung into chaos as every cat leaps into a frenzied panic to escape.​

 

[LITTLE WOLF]

Things had been off for a a couple of days now, she was either too hungry or not hungry enough. She was tired. She was restless. Her nest no longer seemed comfortable enough or big enough. Maybe a visit to the medicine cats den was in order but thought of Emberstar laying lifeless on the ground pop up in her head and prevent her from doing so. Perhaps it was just the smoke and it would pass with the weather. But the smoke was not going away, it was steadily getting closer, thicker, making it difficult to breath.

The panic that grips her when Emberstar calls for evacuation is palpable. She has never been this close to flames before. Her heart races as she looks around the camp with wide, terrified eyes. She doesn’t feel right… Her panicked gaze lands on her mother, running for the apprentice den. “M-mom” she calls out with a hoarse voice before running after her. “Mom I-something is wrong with me” she says before she leans over and retches, vomit hitting the ground in front of her. What was wrong with her? Why was she like this.

Suddenly the pieces fit together in her head. Everything makes sense. “I’m pregnant” she says in a breathless gasp. No. This couldn’t be happening. Why now? She loves Blazestar she really does but she was so scared. What would she do if she lost these kits to the smoke curling it’s way into her lungs? What would she do when Cinderfrost was the one who was going to be the one delivering her kits? When there was a chance Blazestar would not return from his long journey into the heart of twoleg place? Fear grips her in place as the worst case scenarios run through her head.

// @HOWLING WIND ​

 

[Sunfreckle]

He is frozen, paralyzed, horrified by the sudden crackling outside the elder's den and green eyes wide as he watches a burning branch shatter against the ground and scatter into ember and ashen bits of bark. Despite the urgency of the voices ringing out, he does not move; he's too scared and Rabbitnose is not here. His stomach tightens into a knot as he shuffles back further into the corner as if that would protect him but the smoke is already filtering in and his eyes water. The silver and white tom is out on patrol now, he knows, he saw him leave this morning, but where he is now he has no idea. Sunfreckle is terrified, he wants to run but can't force himself to, wants to call out for the other knowing he was not there or he would have come to fetch him already.
If he goes will Rabbitnose know where to find him, will he come back to this inferno of a camp to seek him out not knowing he has already escaped. The idea of it settles into the back of his mind and he moves his lone foreleg to drag the clump of damp moss he has been keeping nearby close; Cinderfrost said it would help, just shove your nose in it, but he doesn't know how that works or if that will even do anything with how thick and enveloping the smoke is now.
​

 

[BERRYHEART]

Tears and smoke stung his olivine gaze, though which was which he could not tell. Before him blurred shaped, colours- the pitter-patter-thump of paw steps and tumbling, creaking and cracking from wherever direction. With his ungraceful gait, any attempt to herd youths away were clumsy but made. It was so much;, too much as a branch tumbled from the heavens, kicking up ash and ember. Asymmetrical eyes searched frantic for anything familiar- but he measured himself, he had to, involuntary hackles flattening back down again. Panic would do him no good, even as smoke crept its malevolent route to his lungs. It was not overwhelming, but... there. And now there was stuff in his way, and everyone had scattered... he had to keep going.

He'd be no use going on like this, though. Ears ringing, or that might have just been the din, he felt his breathing struggle against the murky air, eyes squeezing shut from the irritation of it. Before him he thought he could see the pelts of Big Mama and Shady, striped and night-soaked, but... in this state, Berryheart would simply be a burden to anyone, to them. He just needed... a second. A breather- ironic, he thought, haunches collapsing to the ground. Inhalations fought tooth and nail against his ailment, breath rattling in his throat, shallow sounds of hoarse wheezing. Deep, deep, deep breaths. Slow breaths. If he calmed down- if he sorted it out- he could keep going. Just a second. Just a second. ​

[ PENNED BY PIN ]​

 

[Rabbitnose]

He is frozen, paralyzed, horrified by the sudden crackling outside the elder's den and green eyes wide as he watches a burning branch shatter against the ground and scatter into ember and ashen bits of bark. Despite the urgency of the voices ringing out, he does not move; he's too scared and Rabbitnose is not here. His stomach tightens into a knot as he shuffles back further into the corner as if that would protect him but the smoke is already filtering in and his eyes water. The silver and white tom is out on patrol now, he knows, he saw him leave this morning, but where he is now he has no idea. Sunfreckle is terrified, he wants to run but can't force himself to, wants to call out for the other knowing he was not there or he would have come to fetch him already.
If he goes will Rabbitnose know where to find him, will he come back to this inferno of a camp to seek him out not knowing he has already escaped. The idea of it settles into the back of his mind and he moves his lone foreleg to drag the clump of damp moss he has been keeping nearby close; Cinderfrost said it would help, just shove your nose in it, but he doesn't know how that works or if that will even do anything with how thick and enveloping the smoke is now.
​

Rabbitnose was having a Time. Smoke everywhere, fire about to be everywhere, couldn't find Sunfreckle, this was shaping up to be quite a day. He raced back into camp. First things first, he had to find Sunfreckle.

"Sunfreckle?" He called out.

"We need to go- where are you?"

Everyone else was evacuating and he wanted to make sure his three legged companion made it out okay. He knew he fared well on three legs but.....He still worried. A lot. Sunfreckle was....Soft and squishy. The kind of cat you would protect with your life. And he was going to.

 

[Sunfreckle]

His ears pricked upward at the sound of his name, oh thank the stars above. The red tabby gave a wheezing, hacking cough before he forced himself up from his huddle in the corner of the elder's den and inched hobbled his way ahead to the entrance. Both green eyes darted around the burning camp warily before he spotted the dappled silver form and he gave a startled mewl of distress, "H-here!"
Sunfreckled crawled forward on his belly, ears flat and shoulders hunched in fear as the camp was set ablaze, the flecks of orange and yellow embers drifting through the air like motes of light might have been pretty had it not been the remnants of burning trees and destroyed dens.
Shrinking even lower to the ground he closed his eyes tight in horror before forcing himself to stand so he could reach the other warrior and bump his head into the taller cat's shoulder.
"Emberstar said to go to the river? Will you be okay?" It was no secret how Rabbitnose felt about the water and he found the anxiety gnawing at his stomach more intently at the thought of getting swept away by the rushing current, but if he had to pick a way to die...water seemed far kinder than this.
​

 

[sloestride]

THIS WEIGHT ON MY NECK MAKES IT HARD TO CONNECT​

Embers had drifted through the camp like a deadly snowfall all morning, their amber glow deceptively soft. When the building smoke bundled them up in fiery squalls however, they plummetted through camp in an act of war. Flames cracked the boughs of trees and tore the skyline. Sloepaw was strung to Howling Wind's flank, for once willingly, as he tried to hold his nerve. The forest fire terrified him, but the clan had chosen to stick their ground and he wouldn't jeopardize his position now.

The moment their leader calls for their evacuation, the apprentice bolted. "Oh, I'm running!" he responded. Smoke swallowed his lungs, the smoulder cracking his breath as he made his way to the camp's exit. Behind him, a fox length from the cropped bob of his tail, a branch billowed into the clearing. Wreathed in flames, the twigs snapped and popped. Sloepaw twisted mid-step, paws shimmying away from the tree's lost limb. Through the ashen smog, so thick it stung his heavy-lidded eyes, he caught sight of his mentor beside the apprentice den.

Uncertainty swayed the tom and, antsy to keep moving, he let out a trill of impatience. But he didn't want to leave without her. Black legs rooted to the earth, Sloepaw waited for Howling Wind to catch up.​

 

[HOWLINGSTAR]

Howling Wind is in the apprentice's den herding out a previously-napping tom when her daughter's voice cuts through the panic. Her head swings around to look over her shoulder, fear striking her as she watches Little Wolf wretch her stomach contents onto the ground. Her horrified announcement halts her in place, her own jaw gaping open in shock. The moment of surprise took too long. Another branch crashes towards the ground and the deputy launches forward towards the ebony she-cat, yowling her child's name to get her to run but they're too late. The branches tumble, blocking them in against the apprentice's den and Howling Wind freezes, taking a terrified step back as she watches the flames with wide eyes, fear-stricken. With her ears flat against her head, she can spot her apprentice's pelt through the smoke. "Sloepaw, run!" She shouts before her body is racked with coughs.​

 

[Rabbitnose]

His ears pricked upward at the sound of his name, oh thank the stars above. The red tabby gave a wheezing, hacking cough before he forced himself up from his huddle in the corner of the elder's den and inched hobbled his way ahead to the entrance. Both green eyes darted around the burning camp warily before he spotted the dappled silver form and he gave a startled mewl of distress, "H-here!"
Sunfreckled crawled forward on his belly, ears flat and shoulders hunched in fear as the camp was set ablaze, the flecks of orange and yellow embers drifting through the air like motes of light might have been pretty had it not been the remnants of burning trees and destroyed dens.
Shrinking even lower to the ground he closed his eyes tight in horror before forcing himself to stand so he could reach the other warrior and bump his head into the taller cat's shoulder.
"Emberstar said to go to the river? Will you be okay?" It was no secret how Rabbitnose felt about the water and he found the anxiety gnawing at his stomach more intently at the thought of getting swept away by the rushing current, but if he had to pick a way to die...water seemed far kinder than this.
​

[/justify]

Rabbitnose, relieved, licked Sunfreckle's head. That's one problem solved.....Now there was just the matter of getting away. He wrapped his tail around him in a comforting gesture, best he could having barely half a tail.

"I'll be fine, it's better than burning. I'll deal with it." He said.

He was afraid of water, ever since being swept away and nearly drowning as an apprentice. But he knew what had to be done, and he knew he had to be strong. He had no choice.

"Are you ready? I'll be right here with you. We will get through this." He spoke with confidence.

He had to be strong.

[/justify]

 

[Hollow Tree]

Chaos quickly engulfed the camp just like the smoke. Hollow Tree felt like her lungs were on fire as she emerged from the warrior den. How did this happen so quickly? The brown tabby wanted to question things and figure out the answers. But there was no time for that. She needed to help her clan mates and family get to safety. Through the smoke she could spot some of her kin; Berryheart, Little Wolf, and Howling Wind. But where was everyone else? Had they already escaped.

Where was Cricketpaw.

Her heart sinks at the thought that her only kid was in danger. Did they already leave the camp? Were they trapped somehow? Snapping out of her thoughts as another branch crashes down. She could feel the heat of the fire as it continued to approach. If they stayed here for much longer they would surely be swallowed by the flames. She was working her way to the apprentice den when she saw a branch was now blocking it. Were there any cats behind it?

“Cricketpaw! Stagpaw!” she calls out, her apprentice entering her thoughts as she had yet to seen the grumpy tom. ​

[ well i didn't tell anyone, but a bird flew by . tags ]​

 

[Tybalt [Stagstrike]]

Emberstar called for them to flee, but rather than falling in line with the other apprentices, Tybalt had wordlessly taken to checking every den to be sure they were empty. He was, at present, half out of the nursery trying to convince a cowering kit to move. “I don’t wanna go!” the tiny molly wailed, scrambling further back into the smoke filled den.

“Yeah, we’ll I’m sure you’d be far less enthused about bursting into flames!” the laperm mix called back over his shoulder. He reached a paw in in an attempt to drag her towards him, but she squealed and hopped out of his way. His ears swiveled towards his mentor as she called to him, but he didn’t turn to look.

“C’mon kid,” he said, his patience beginning to wear. “We gotta move. You have to—“

A creak sounded above him, and his eyes grew round as he saw a flaming branch break and go hurtling down towards the nursery. “MOVE!” he finished, reaching his neck out and grabbing the frightened kitten roughly by the scruff. He swung around and leapt towards the exit, letting out a hiss as the flames singed his tail.

He barreled through the camp to the group of fleeing cats and shoved her roughly to the nearest queen before turning to look back at the flaming camp. His feelings towards most of his clanmates ranged from tolerance to loathing.

But I can’t let any of them burn.

He dove back into the burning camp, resuming his search for anyone trapped in the smoke.

 

[Flamestar]

The smoke had been bad for awhile, but all of a sudden it seemed to be much worse. Flame padded out from the warrior's den to ask if it were just her noticing the smoke, but then Emberstar's orders called from the High Rock. Fear caused her stomach to twist, and she let out a raspy cough. She winced as her raw throat burned from the sharp exhale. Everything seemed to be going well, until the crackling from the tree tops began, and a branch fell, sending the clan into chaos. She spotted an opening, and quickly hurried towards it. Emberstar had ordered them to head towards the river...where was the river again? She'd just follow the other cats...

As she was about to dip her way into the tunnel, she heard a faint voice call out.

"Night!"

The voice was laced with fear, and it was simply something she could not ignore. Her clanmates had saved her when she needed it, she would return the deed, no matter how terrifying it was right now. Taking in a deep, painful breath, Flame turned around and shot back into the camp, looking for the cat who had let out the desperate cry. An ember from above would fall from the branches, and land on her shoulder. She let out a cry of pain, then pursued farther into the camp.

//
@koko ​

[ IT DOESN'T HURT ME ]​

 

[salamander]

Preventative measures fought valiantly against the fumes. Originally, the drenched moss worked as intended; it retained and filtered the solid particles the smoke dispersed. The encroaching fire, however, brought forth toxic chemicals that couldn't be properly absorbed. Wishful thoughts believed the storm would drown the fire before it consumed the camp.

StarClan granted the medicine cat an ominous warning regarding the fire. And her potential future: their heavy disappoint and eerie threats directed toward the path she tredded. They'd placed her into this situation and assigned her broken heart under one of the cats who helped shatter it.

But, for the moment, the cautionary tale was dismissed and deemed irrelevant. Rather, her spinning brain focused on the fact that she had forseen this. She'd confessed what occured in her dream (excluding her private message) to Emberstar and Howling Wind. It hadn't been enough, though. Were the precautions a waste of time? Instead of trying to reinforce the camp, had StarClan implied that they evacuated before it became this overwhelming?

She failed again and again and again: tarnished the legacy of her parents, tore apart two tightknit brothers, and lost the life of a mother's only child. No more. Everyone close to her either perished or were cursed with unfortunate events.

She froze, blood causing her body to shiver despite the heat.

Roe! Desperate eyes scanned the camp obscured by thick, dark clouds. Survival instincts begged her to close her red and moist eyes. It was as if as wasp had attacked them given how awful and deep they stung. "Ro-Roe?!" she wheezed, coughing as her lungs inhaled more of the deadly smoke. Panicked eyes and rushed feet searched and searched.

Legs buckled as her head spun. She needed to retreat yet she couldn't. Not when their were others still in camp - not when Roekit, Yarrowtongue, Bear, and even Howling Wind in her family remained. Her duty beckoned her to stay despite the dangerous circumstances and the many, many risks.

StarClan, spare them.

On swaying paws, she stood near the camp's entrance: an area supposed to keep dangers out but now trapped them in a boiling gas chamber. Heads were counted and names marked down. Anyone who needed help, or looked as if they did, was escorted by the medicine cat. Once reach the relative safety of the outside (excluding the actual fire), she returned to her unofficially assigned spot.

You can't leave, she reminded herself, not until the rest are safe. ​

 

[koko]

Shes petrified as Emberstars voice cried through the camp, evacuate! She's up on her paws in a flash, a wheeze coming from an aching chest- the smoke inhalation had not been good for her. Her body feels like lead as she shoves past an NPC, face full of terror as her eyes drift up to the murderous flames licking the treetops. She stares, her paws rooted to the ground and oh my stars what is she supposed to do? Theres a sudden shove to her side and her tail puffs up as tears begin to trickle down her cheeks. "NIGHT!" her voice rises in a scream, horrified, shes doing her best to search through the sea of writhing bodies but she can't see anything and the smoke burns her eyes.

I am powerless. The realization is cold.

Shes full on hysterically sobbing now and paws fumble over themselves and she almost trips as she turns tail to run. She wants out, theres too many people, too many, shes terrified, shes gonna die, she keeps pushing till all of the sudden she finds herself next to a lichen wall. Its a dead end, just her luck. "NIGHT! PLEASE! I need you!" the rolling blanket was too thick to see through far enough to spot him now, shes gonna die alone and afraid and its gonna hurt. Theres a crack above her and immediately she begins to shake again and lowers herself to her stomach.

Her savior is not Night but an orange pelted knight whose rushing towards her and she cannot move but her eyes light up as she coughs once more. Shes so, so dizzy, so dizzy, just... A bit more...

Please, she mouths in desperate fashion, she literally cannot move, her body has betrayed her. Her chest hurts, everything hurts and the sobs come out silent now. Theres another crack.​

[ BENEATH THE SAME SUN ! ]​

 

[Flamestar]

NIGHT! PLEASE! I need you!

She wasn't Night, but she was help none the less. Everything around them was nearly pitch black from the horrible smoke. Her lungs ached and she desperately tried to breathe. She felt weak, but she was determined to help. The smaller she-cat was pressed against the ground, and Flame would attempt to grab her by the scruff. Her heart was racing as she frantically looked around, trying to recall where they were. Her legs were trembling as she tried to find the strength to drag Koko towards the exit. Suddenly a crack erupted from the trees above. Without hesitating, Flame gathered up all of her strength, and thrust Koko and herself into the Elder's den. Moments later the ground beneath them shook as a large branch fell, blocking their only exit from the den.

Oh no..what have I done?! Flame thought in horror. Had she just sealed their fate? Her entire body was shaking in fear, but she didn't want Koko to know just how terrified she was. The fiery tabby let out a raspy cough, then stood over Koko, attempting to shelter her from any stray embers that would enter the den. "We'll....we'll...be okay..." she rasped, her voice unintentionally sharp with panic.

/
@koko ​

[ IT DOESN'T HURT ME ]​

 

[ROEFLAME .]

I TOLD YOU ONCE, I CAN'T DO THIS AGAIN​

---

The squeezing of her chest had only just waned, and though her breaths still rattled in her throat, she was beginning to feel safe once more under Cinderfrost's careful watch.
That is until, smoke turned to flames.
Then, before her mind can even begin to process her sudden awakening, she is upright, scrambling after an ashen tail as it seemed to be getting further and further away.
Smoke stung at her eyes, and the prickle of fear raced along her spine as her chest cavity began to restrict once more, unable to take a steady breath.
"Mama… M- Cinderfrost!" She wailed as she tried to toddle on, blinking blindly against the muddied grey haze.
Snap!
Burnt eyes are cracked just wide enough to see something falling from the sky, a branch aflame.
She stumbles back, barely in time to miss her paws being roasted. Taking, a tumble, panicked breaths are exhaling from her maw before she can control them, and her world is becoming dizzy.
A trembling paw bats at her eyes in a feeble attempt to clear them. Clanmates are turning on their heels and running back, nearly trampling her in their hurry to find their loved ones.
Her name is called somewhere in the haze, but the child cannot pin point it, and she is lost in the chaos.

[ Emberstar will be attempting to get her out of camp ]
"speech."​

 

[emberstar]

"WE ARE THE BROKEN ONES, WHO CHOSE TO SPARK A FLAME"​

Flames dance on the branches above her as Emberstar wound her way though camp. Every den she ducked into seemed to reveal more scared faces pleading for her assistance, and each time she pushed them toward the exit she hoped they were the last. They never were. The evacuation had begun to quickly, too many cats had been left behind from either fear or confusion. She couldn't be everywhere at once, but she had to try. There was nothing else she could do but try.

A momentary distraction pulled her from her task. A brown pelt barreling past her, deeper into the camp. She whirled toward it. "Tybalt!" she hissed, and winced at the sound, even now. "Get out of here! I will handle this, get yourself to safety!" Her tone was stern, commanding. Utterly unlike her. She hardly recognized the sound.

Her attention was torn away once more as another massive crash rung out. She rushed to the entrance of the elder's den. A massive branch sat at its entrance, too large for her to ever hope to move. There were voices within, she could hear it, and her heart sunk. "You're going to be alright!" Emberstar called out encouragingly to whoever was trapped within. "I'm going to come back with help and we're going to get you out of there, you will be okay, I promise!"

How many promises had she broken now?

Don't think about that.

There were too many things happening. She turned back around and Tybalt had vanished into the chaos. Everyone needed her help at once and she was being forced to choose and it wasn't fair. A cough rung itself from her body and she bit down on her tongue to stop it. A rusty taste sprung up at the action. She blinked.

A wail cut through the din. Her head turned to find Roekit, the child she and Cinderfrost had worked together to save, alone amidst the danger. Completely and utterly helpless. Her senses sharped to a point.

With all her speed Emberstar raced toward the kit, winding around fallen branches and other cats. "I've got you." She told Roekit firmly the moment before she attempted to grab her by the scruff of her neck and keep running. Getting the child out was all that mattered for the moment, once that was done she could come back to help more of her clanmates. Her eyes were affixed on the camp's exit. She pushed her legs to go faster. The scar on her shoulder ached. In that moment, a massive crack rung out.

Time slowed to crawl.

Her gaze was drawn upward to find the branch on the precipice of falling straight into her path. Momentum had betrayed her, there was no avoiding it now. Her fate was sealed. The kit between her jaws felt suddenly heavier. That was what mattered, she reminded herself, keeping the kit safe. She wanted to throw Roekit forward, get her out of the camp. Yet she feared that might send her straight into the falling branch's path.

So Emberstar tried to toss the child back, as gently as she could, as she attempted to skid to a stop. It was fruitless, she knew that. The branch crashed down on her regardless, stole the breath from her lungs in an instant. It landed across her back and shoulders and a sicking crack rang out as she fell. Her body lay limb beneath it, the embers for which she was named finding perchase in her pelt.

The life faded from her eyes for the second time.​

✦ ★ ✦​

 

[Flycatcher]

In the panic of the evacuation, Flycatcher had lost sight of his friends in the ensuing flight from camp. More importantly, he hadn't seen his apprentice for some time. He had been certain he had seen him when Emberstar called out to the clan but had not seen the younger tom since. Stars, what kind of mentor would he be if he left or lost his apprentice at the first sign of panic.

The blue tabby would briefly stop a short distance away from camp, turned back towards it and called out for him. "Smolderpaw! Smolderpaw! Are you there? Call out if you can hear me!"​