DuskClan Camp

Jadestar, upon hearing her name, sprinted over to the WaterClan cats. "SoulClan, what's happened?" She mewed worriedly and looked them over, green eyes wide. 

Swiftwish skidded to a halt, gasping. "Gator," he rasped.

Honeyflight nodded, pricking her ears as the warrior spoke of a gator. " Yes, but it does seem like they are a clan associated with an alligator." The fur along her spine raising as she stood to her paws, glancing at Smokeheart worriedly.

“Alligator. Sandstar sends his desperate pleas, out lives depend on it.” Aquatail said, panting from the run.

Heathermoon had gotten up as Aquatail burst into camp, and walked over. "Wait, what? Alligator?" she asked, confused.

Sparrowpaw had just been about to go join the other apprentices when she saw the Waterclan cats race into the camp. She scurried over to her brother, Rabbitpaw, and whispered, "What are they doing here?"

Rabbitpaw jumped a little at his sister's sudden appearance. He had just finished taking care of the elder's nests and was planning on going to see if Willowfeather wanted him for anything. He gave a timid glance to the Waterclan cats and simply shook his head in response to his sister's inquiry.

Sparrowpaw sighed before heading over to the other apprentices, wondering if they knew anything.

Cloudpaw stepped in front of her sister instinctively as the cats burst into camp. She narrowed her yellow-green eyes, flattening her ears. She turned to Sparrowpaw cautiously. "Who the heck are they?" she murmured, catching snippets of conversation and her alarm growing at the word "alligator".

Aquatail’s gaze fell over the agitated clan. “An alligator. I know you guys don’t know what an alligator is, but it’s a giant slimy lizard thing that has driven us out of our camp and eaten several of our clanmates.” She said, remembering Otterpaw with a pang of sadness in her chest. “...Like... Like Otterpaw.”

Cloudpaw's eyes widened in fear. "Eaten your clanmates?" The thing sounded like a monster. Her breathing quickened as she looked to the the older apprentices, trying to follow their example.

Sparrowpaw narrowed her eyes as she focused on the cats before looking at Cloudpaw to answer her question. "Waterclan," she meowed with certainty. She recognized the clan's scent easily. Her ears perked up at one of the words. "Alligator?" she echoed, her eyes clouding with worry at the explanation of the creature. "If it's a lizard then we can defeat it, right?" she asked, not bothering to keep her voice quiet. She added excitedly, "And then you can eat it."

Rabbitpaw remained by himself, watching his clan and the other clan cats with wide eyes. A giant lizard that can eat cats? He never wanted to meet it. He winced at his sister's question, knowing her well enough. She would charge at the beast without a second thought if the Waterclan cats said it can be stopped. He was sure it could be- anything really could- but he didn't know how many lives it would take in the end.

Cloudpaw curled her lip. "I don't think you can kill it that easily, Sparrowpaw. Not if it's driven Waterclan out of camp, at least. But I would like to get my claws into it," she said vehemently. She lashed her tail, adrenaline powered by fear still racing through her veins. Her fear was hidden by layers of excitement now.

Jadestar nodded and glanced at Heathermoon. "Find some warriors to accompany me to WaterClan territory. No apprentices, and preferably our best fighters," she stated smoothly and flexed her claws into the dirt.

“I will go Jadestar.” Dragonmoon said, a bit tired of being in camp almost all day. His claws flexed into the dirt.

Aquatail dipped her head. “Thank you so much, WaterClan is debt to you.” She said, a sigh of relief escaping her mouth.

Jadestar, instead of saying her response, gently rest her head against Aquatail's. "SoulClan wouldn't have made the clans if we weren't supposed to aid each other in times of need," she meowed and looked to Dragonmoon. "Alright, thank you Dragonmoon. I need about seven warriors, we're going to help drive out this gator." 

Talonstep padded forward with the flick of his tail. "I'll come with," he meowed, glancing at the WaterClan cats with an anxious expression.

Cloudpaw's ears pricked at the sound of her mentor's voice, and a silent wave of anxiety washing over her made her shiver. "Be careful!" she called, then licked her nose. She looked to her sister for some sort of comfort.

Sparrowpaw dug her claws into the dirt, slightly annoyed and hurt that apprentices couldn't go with them. She looked over at the other apprentices and meowed, "Don't you think we should be allowed to go? Our size could work to our advantage?"

Rabbitpaw shook his head at his sister, even though he knew she wasn't looking at him.

Scarletpetal perked her ears up as Jadestar mentioned a patrol of warriors. “Can i go?” She asked her leader, her claws flexing as she wanted to get out of camp.

"Just listen Sparrowpaw. If you go against the leader, you'll be left in trouble. Not to mention that gator would chomp you in half," Creampaw hissed and lied down. "Plus if the warriors die, Jadestar will have even less to protect the clan. We need to stay so we can keep training in case the worst happens."

Jadestar nodded to Scarletpetal, tail-tip twitching anxiously. "Yes, you can. I appreciate your help."

Honeyflight flicked her tail, padding up to Jadestar, dipping her head slightly. " I will go too, Jadestar." She mewed, glancing over her shoulder at Smokeheart after she finished speaking, wondering if he too would go.

"I'd like to defend the clan, but Jadestar knows best, I think. Besides, I know I'm definitely not experienced enough to take on a giant lizard that eats cats," Cloudpaw meowed evenly.

Sparrowpaw let out a short puff of breath, flicking an ear. She remained quiet for a moment before nodding in agreement grudgingly. 

Rabbitpaw watched the warriors calmly, wondering if his mentor would help in fighting the alligator.

"Soulclan, I hope they all return. This alligator thing sounds terrifying." Cloudpaw took a quick breath. "We're lucky to have our clan in order. It seems like we're the only ones who've had good fortune at the moment."

“I will go.” Heatherdawn said, standing up by Jadestar. “I think I can be of some use.”

"Dragonmoon, Heatherdawn, Talonstep, Honeyflight, and Scarletpetal, let's go." Jadestar called and looked to Aquatail. "We'll help as much as we can, but if it comes down to it, I will be required to protect only my own clan." She stretched out and sighed. "Lead the way."

Swiftwish paced anxiously, his claws unsheathed as he waited.

“Thank you.” Aquatail said and bounded off, almost tripping in the unfamiliar landscape. “I had an idea” she said to Jadestar. “I belive we can end this by destroying the eggs. The apprentices tried and failed, but it was a good idea.”

Scarletpetal followed after Jadestar, but let Dragonmoon be second as she went through the entrance of camp.

Heathermoon followed after them, wanting to help against the alligator anyway.

Honeyflight padded after Heathermoon, stretching her claws as she trotted out of the camp, worry biting at her belly as she processed what she would be fighting. If a whole clan can't fight one of them, how huge is it? 

Riverswoop watched the patrol leave, his eyes narrowed, then almost jumped out of his pelt as tiny claws dug into his tail. "Hey! Wisteriakit!" He purred, poking at the kit with a sheathed paw.

Vixenlight watched from the nursery, purring softly as her fluffy tail swayed. She'd grown to love Wisteriakit as she did her own. "Don't hurt him too badly. He might not be able to handle it," she called, her tone teasing.

Wisteriakit bared her teeth, her own tiny tail flicking in playfulness. "Nobody can ever withstand the wrath of Wisteriastar!"

Vixenlight laughed and padded over to them, crouching playfully and nudging Riverswoop to get him to follow along. "Oh but can she stand up against two fearsome rogues?" She asked and growled playfully.

Riverswoop purred in amusement, then squeaked as Wisteriakit launched herself at her father, also purring.

Tulippaw looked around for Hollyblaze, silent for the first time in a long time.

Brambledusk fluffed his fur out as a chill summery wind blew through the camp. "All right. I suppose we should do some hunting, then." He realised neither of the deputies were there, so padded over to Littleflower. "We should organise some patrols."

Vixenlight sat down and watched with an amused expression, fluffy tail flicking while she purred and wriggled. "I think she likes you a bit, Riverswoop," she meowed and laughed, licking Wisteriakit's ear as Lunarpaw and Mistypaw bounded over to greet their adopted sibling and their mother. 

"Mom, Creampaw, Skypaw, and I went hunting earlier with Willowfeather and I caught a squirrel!" Mistypaw meowed happily and bounce, fluffy tail waving excitedly. 

Lunarpaw groomed one of his grey paws softly. "I've been waiting to go hunting with Brambledusk," he mewed and curled his tail round his paws.

“Brambledusk!” Dragonmoon called and trotted over. “Could you send out a hunting patrol? Newleaf is here and prey is great.” He said.

Brambledusk glanced at the full fresh-kill pile, then back at Dragonmoon. "Okay..." He flicked his tail.

"I can go! Talonstep is away on the battle patrol... but I could use some practice," Cloudpaw said, her tail swaying excitably.

Viperkit scrambled out of the nursery den, turning back before she left. “Vixenlight! I’m going outside!” She said. Last time she went out, she was bullied because of some dead guy, and now she was going to try again to explore camp.

Littleflower padded out of the medicine den, a slight limp having just gotten a thorn plucked out of her paw. She became up to date on the news and growled, setting herself in front of the entrance and curling her tail around her paws. "Jadestar, you mouse-brain. You never take both deputies at once. You can't just take them because you're being friendly." she muttered under her breath, letting the breeze ruffle out her fur.

Sagenose noticed Littleflower's discomfort. Must be rough on her, watching Jadestar and her new deputies go to work. She cocked her head, padding over to where she sat gently, taking a squirrel from the full fresh-kill pile. "You alright?" she asked, her olive green eyes flashing in the low lighting.