Moon 126-Leaf-fall
The Clan cannot escape tragedy. Although the war with ChaffinchClan seemed to be winding down, the weather decided to take a turn for the worse. A flash flood washed through camp, destroying dens and taking lives. Gentle (113) was ill from the poison, and couldn’t move fast enough. Gardeniapaw (9) and Midgepurr (23) were trying to help him to safety, but all three of them perished. When the nursery flooded, Cressfreckle (42) and Graysong (39) tried to get Airclaw (68) and Gladekit (2) to safety. Unfortunately, being so close to kitting, Airclaw didn’t have the endurance to make it. And Graysong had never been a great swimmer. The two of them drowned, but Cressfreckle managed to get the kit to safety. Luckstripe (63) also perished, but got all three of his kits to safety. Flightkit (5) and Lilykit’s (5) untrained water magic may have helped them survive. Bushmask (136), being an elder, required a lot of help to get out. Flinttooth (27) and Timberfleck (23) were trying to save him, but all three of them drowned. The last founding member of the Clan was gone. Stonefreckle (109) saw them go under and tried to swim back to help them, but was hit up against the rocks by the current and died. Finally, just when the rest of the survivors had almost made it to safety, Cressfreckle saw Faiththrift (47) reaching for Yuccastar’s (105) paw. Yuccastar stepped back, and let the other star-blessed cat get washed away by the flood. The entire Clan is in grieving-they all lost someone-but Chervilcry (105) is especially impacted by it. She wishes that she could have done more to stop the flood with her water powers. But she is just one cat. Maybe if Shardfrost were alive she would have been able to turn the tides. But Chervilcry has never been that powerful. Frostheart (29) and Needlepelt (29) seek comfort in each other, as the only survivors of Brightfalcon and Bushmask’s kits. Cressfreckle curls up with the bodies of his mates one final time, vowing that his loves’ memories will live on through him and Gladekit. And that he won’t let Yuccastar kill again. Peakspots (95) is shaken by the loss of his brother. He seeks out the company of the kits and begins to feel safer with the powerfully star-blessed Lilykit around. Steppepaw (9) has been made a Healer apprentice instead of a warrior apprentice. With the loss of two Healers, the Clan will need more. But she can’t help but feel like the Clan is trying to replace Gardeniapaw.
Meta: Yes, Airclaw was supposed to have her kits this moon. She died before she had them. Also, since Gentle was Steppepaw's mentor, he died and then she became a medicine cat apprentice, her new mentor is Needlepelt.