DuskClan | The Skytrees

"Pretty, yeah. Also dangerous," the tortoiseshell grizzled and sat down. Willowpaw licked her paw and dragged it over her ear, even while eyeing the newly formed breaks in the land. 

"Robinstar!" Scorchthicket sent a panicked glance to Ebonyrose then darted to the side of the leader, crouching beside her. "What happened?" He mewed, worried.

Ebonyrose joined Scorchthicket at her leader's side, panic in her eyes.

"We should ask Robinstar if we can explore it!" Fallowpaw mewed, flicking her tail.

Robinstar coughed a few times, catching her breath. "No, don't... there's too much dust in the air."
"Lucky the wind isn't blowing this way then," Tulipsnow, having slipped up behind the other cats, moved through them to look at the leader. "Sit still, you're not injured are you?"
Robinstar shook her head, and a small amount of dust poofed into the air as she moved.

Coldfoot joined Tulipsnow. "We need to get her to the medicine den," he mewed, trying to sound authoritative.

"Fallowpaw, no. Like Robinstar said, there's too much dust." Willowpaw gestured with a paw to the air surrounding the newly formed breaks in the land. Though, the idea of going off and exploring did excite her, and she almost wanted to agree with her sister. 

Scorchthicket glanced toward Coldfoot and nodded. He moved to support Robinstar. "I'll help you," he mewed

Fallowpaw's head drooped. "I guess you're right," she sighed.

Basilpaw pressed against Sootpaw. "I'm... I'm okay," he mewed, failing to hide the shock in his voice. He wanted to walk over and help Robinstar, but everything had just piled up on him. It was too much for the young cat.

Scorchthicket had helped Robinstar to the makeshift medicine den, then moved to continue gathering branches for dens. He dragged them toward the temporary camp, glancing repeatedly toward the dust filled lands outside of the trees. A shake of his head, and the tom began first on the nursery. 

Willowpaw nudged her sister, jutting her head toward Emberpaw, and the other apprentices. "We might be able to explore later," she whispered, amber eyes wide with excitement. "By night fall, the dust should have cleared enough." 

Dawnflower shifted her paws against the ground and looked toward her sister, eyeing the pained look on Palesmoke's features. "He'll be okay," she mewed, looking toward Sootpaw. 

Palesmoke simply shook her head. "I don't know if he will be, Dawnflower. He lost his mother, after all." The sandy tabby looked toward Dustmask and Fallenash, nudging her sister before padding to join their brother and father.

Robinstar managed a hoarse 'thank you' to Scorchthicket, coughing a few more times.
Tulipsnow gulped, looking at Coldfoot. "We need to get the deputies to hunt," she mewed. "No apprentices, no injured cats are to go out."

Coldfoot nodded. "Scorchthicket, Tigerstorm!" he called, "We need to get cats out hunting."

Hawksky looked over at Robinstar, eyes rounded with concern.

Fallowpaw's stomach gurgled and she suddenly felt aware of how hungry she was.

Scorchthicket looked up and nodded, the loud growling of his stomach deciding to happen right then. He glanced around, rolling his shoulders back. "Ebonyrose and Riverswoop, you'll be coming hunting with me," he called, looking nervously toward the dust covered territory.

Ebonyrose nodded, nervously padding toward Scorchthicket.

The ground rumbled and quaked, shaking the cats atop it. Scorchthicket froze before he could lead his hunting party out. He glimpsed the wave of water rushing over WaterClan's territory. "Everybody run!" He yowled, scooping up Kitekit as Kindleflame struggled to balance, dust getting into the queen's eyes, nose, and mouth, making her cough and hunch over. 

Willowpaw shrieked, darting after Scorchthicket. "Fallowpaw, come on!!"

Fallowpaw let out a cry of horror at the sight of the water and ran after her sister.

Coldfoot saw the water then turned to Tulipsnow. "I need you to go. Now." he ordered.

Hawksky ran to Tulipsnow's side, ignoring the stinging in his chest.

Ebonyrose began running, then felt the ground collapse beneath her paws. She tumbled into the hollowed out remains of their old territory, attempting to rouse herself when she finally stopped rolling.

Bramblepaw ran to his mentor, glancing backwards for his older brother.

Coalpaw yelped and ran. "Willowpaw!" his call died out as he pushed himself to go as fast as he could.

Scorchthicket nudged Bramblepaw to go faster, watching as Willowpaw's dust covered pelt streaked past him. "To the border with FrostClan!" He glanced wildly around for Robinstar, but pressed on when he didn't see her. 

Kindleflame coughed ever harder as dust invaded her lungs and blinded her. She only vaguely spotted the wave of water, curling around Wisteriakit while calling for Riverswoop in her panic. 

Palesmoke was frozen in terror, refusing to move even as her sister begged her. The pair were swept up by the water first. 

Softecho darted toward Palesmoke and Dawnflower, trying to catch them before the water hit.

Basilpaw froze, his eyes wide with terror. Then he felt things again. "Sootpaw, come one, we gotta run!" The small cat started to run, pulling his littermate along.

Larchmask coughed. He  scrambled to his paws and started to follow the fleeing cats, fearing for his clan. But with his old age, how could he help? He couldn't carry anyone, he could barely carry himself. His heart broke at the wails of his clanmates, but he had to keep moving.

Daisypaw pushed Sootpaw and Basilpaw, but twisted her ankle painfully. "You two, run!" She sobbed as she fell. SoulClan save them, she thought, waiting for the wave to end it all.

Tulipsnow's fur was fluffed with anxiety. "You're coming too," she demanded to her mentor.

Sootpaw's eyes widened. "Daisypaw..."

Riverswoop ran to Kindleflame, his eyes only on her. "You need to move."

"I can't see, Riverswoop!" Kindleflame struggled to her paws, thankful that Scorchthicket had grabbed Kitekit from her when the dust began to hit.

Fallowpaw followed behind Willowpaw, heart beating so fast it felt it would burst from her chest.

"I'm your mentor and I'm giving you an order," he stated, "You need to protect your Clan."

Hawksky nudged Tulipsnow. "He's right, we need to go," he pleaded.

"That's your duty too!" Tulipsnow tried not to shriek. "Please!"

Riverswoop licked her cheek, picking up Wisteriakit. "I love you," he vowed, the dust growing thicker as he tried to follow the faint scents of his Clanmates.

"I love you too," Kindleflame vowed back, attempting to stumble after her mate, only to be swept up by the water. She knew she wouldn't have been able to catch up anyways, and closed her eyes to accept her fate.

"Tulipsnow, now!" he snarled, amber eyes glinting.

Tulipsnow nodded, licking his ear. "Thank you," she mewed softly, before following Hawksky as he ran.

Coldfoot watched her go, then closed his eyes with a sigh, letting the water take him.