The Raging Storm

Violetshine shook out her fur as her thoughts returned to Tree. Why had he stayed behind? If he’d truly loved her, he’d have come. The thought clawed at her belly. Pushing it away, she braved the rain and looked up at the hillside. The storm lashed her muzzle as she recognized the gorse-covered slope. Alder trees dotted the hillside, and, halfway up, a dip opened in the heather. This is where I first met him! Her heart ached. She remembered how cocky he’d first been, flirting with her even though she’d been distracted by her search for Needletail. And then he’d reunited her with her dead friend, before she’d gone to StarClan. Nostalgia gripped her heart. She suddenly felt overwhelmed by loss. Was every cat destined to leave her?

Reedclaw nudged her shoulder with her nose. “Violetshine?”

“What?” Violetshine wanted to be alone with her thoughts.

Reedclaw flinched. “Sorry to disturb you.” Raindrops streamed from her whiskers. “But we’re heading up the slope.”

Surprised, Violetshine saw that her Clanmates had veered from the muddy track at the bottom of the valley and were heading toward the heather.

“Hawkwing persuaded Leafstar that we should rest for a while in that dip.” Reedclaw eyed her nervously. “I just thought you should know.”

“I’m sorry I snapped,” Violetshine mewed guiltily. “I’m just in a bad moood.” Thinking about Tree was making her sad. She glanced toward the jutting rocks. “We should tell Sunnypaw and the others that we’ve changed route.”

“I’ll go.” As the small tabby she-cat hurried away, Violetshine caught up to her Clanmates on the slope. She wondered whether Tree’s scent would still be on the heather here. Don’t be rabbit-brained. His scent would have disappeared moons ago.

“Violetshine! Plumwillow!” Reedclaw’s terrified yowl cut through the wind.

Plumwillow jerked her muzzle around. Violetshine turned, alarm sparking through her pelt.

Reedclaw was racing through the rain, her fur on end. “Sunnypaw is stuck in the mud! She’s sinking!”

Tinycloud and Sparrowpelt broke from the group. They raced downslope, their paws slithering over the wet grass. Violetshine pelted after them. She was hardly aware of the rain now. Sunnypaw was in trouble. “Are the other apprentices safe?” she called as she caught up to Reedclaw. Tinycloud and Sparrowpelt ran on, their paws splashing through puddles as skidded around the rocks.

“I think so.” Reedclaw’s eyes were wide. “They’re trying to reach her, but the mud’s too deep.”

“Come on.” Violetshine hared after Sparrowpelt. Tinycloud had already disappeared. As Violetshine slewed around the corner, the valley opened into a wide stretch of mud. She could see Nectarpaw and Quailpaw teetering at the edge, their pelts bristling. Gravelpaw and Palepaw were standing just behind them, tiny claws digging into the earth.

“Help!” Sunnypaw’s terrified wail echoed around the valley. Violetshine could make out her ginger head straining above the slick brown surface. She reached a muck-covered paw upward, her claws outstretched as she grabbed at air. Violetshine’s heart lurched. The apprentice was sinking deeper as she struggled. Tinycloud had reached Quailpaw and, pushing past him, plunged into the mire.

“Stay back!” Sparrowpelt grabbed her tail with his teeth. The tom was still emaciated after his illness, but strong enough now to drag Tinycloud away from sucking mud.

“We have to save her!” Tinycloud turned on him, eyes wild.

Violetshine scanned the valley. There had to be some way they could reach the drowning apprentice safely.

Paw steps thrummed behind her. Hawkwing pulled up and shook the rain from his fur. He followed her gaze, his tail twitching. “Find a stick!” he yowled. “A long one that can reach her.”

Nectarpaw blinked at him for a moment, then hared up the slope to a small grove of trees clinging to the hillside. Quailpaw and Sparrowpelt raced after her, Hawkwing at their tails. Violetshine hurried to where Tinycloud was leaning over the mud. She squeezed in beside the white she-cat, feeling with her paws for firm ground beneath the mud slick. Digging her claws into hard earth, she ventured forward, fixing Sunnypaw with her gaze. “Don’t struggle!” she ordered.

“But I’m sinking.” Terror sharpened Sunnypaw’s mew.

Tinycloud pressed beside her. “Stretch your paws out wide,” she called. “Make yourself big as though you’re facing a fox.”

Sunnypaw stared desperately at her mother. Slowly she reached out a forepaw and rested it on the mud. She gritted her teeth as she struggled to lift another free.

“Sparrowpelt is fetching a stick,” Tinycloud called. “We’ll have you out of there soon. Try to stay calm.”

Violetshine could see the young cat struggling against panic. Determination glittered in her frightened gaze. “You’re doing great!”

Plumwillow and Bellaleaf charged around the jutting rocks. They reached the edge of the mud, their Clanmates at their heels.

Leafstar pushed past them and stared in panic at Sunnypaw. “Can you reach her?”