Moving Day [OFFICIAL PLOT THREAD]

[Cloverstar]

(This is the official RockClan moving thread. Everyone post here.)

The morning had dawned crisp and clear, the air leaving a lingering chill on Cloverstar's short fur as she stepped out. The sun was barely peeking out over the horizon, nearly hidden by a veil of clouds. She glanced around the currently quiet camp, flicking her tail somewhat anxiously before stealing a quick glance up at the cliffs above. Maybe it was just her paranoia at work, but she could have sworn that one part of the rocky overhang had been bigger yesterday. More crumbled pieces of rocks and stones seemed to be scattered around across camp.

It was time.

She leaped up onto the Stonefang and let out the loudest, clearest yowl she could muster. "RockClan! Evacuate the camp immediately!" she shouted. "Today, we leave! Form a single file line at the camp entrance!"

There was a momentary pause as Cloverstar thought of what to say next, but nothing came to mind. That was the basic gist of it. Hopefully she'd gotten attention with that screaming, at least.

[Redfern]

Redfern's ears pricked at Cloverstar's call. The she-cat wanted to sigh in exasperation but held it in, keeping her expression calm. There was no sense worrying the clan with yelling sudden orders and calling their move an 'evacuation'. If the camp had been standing the past few days enough for them to live in, it would remain standing for the extra hour or so it would take to leave it behind. She hoped her leader's yelling didn't cause too much fear, the emotion would be unnecessary and make her job only harder.

With a flick of her tail she made her way to the entrance, calling the clan to her. "I need volunteers to carry some of the younger kits," she called calmly. Redfern was grateful Rockclan had no elders now, of all times. It would have only made things harder. "Mentors, your apprentices are your responsibility. Keep them close to you at all times." A large clan traveling out in the open would be easy pickings for the hawks that circled their clan and she didn't want anyone being carried away as they went. It was going to be a long journey.

[Flintpaw]

Flintpaw listened to both the leader and the deputy, then narrowed his eyes. They'll never make me leave. He stayed where he was, sitting by the apprentice's den while he waited for more cats to appear and follow orders. It's not that he wanted to disobey Cloverstar and Redfern, he just wanted to stay where he was born.

When Redfern mentioned the mentors, he snorted. Yeah, mine will be looking for me real hard. He rose to his feet and when he thought it was clear, he slipped behind a rock that was big enough to hide himself.

[Icepaw]

Icepaw hadn't slept since the last clan meeting, eyes bloodshot and plastered wide. He couldn't sleep, not with the threat looming quite literally above their heads. He stiffened in panic when he heard Cloverstar's call for evacuation. Was the overhang falling down already? Not wanting to find out firsthand, Icepaw dashed out of the apprentice's den and skidded to a halt in front of his leader; pelt ungroomed, ears flattened against his his head. He listened to her intently, being the first to line up at the camp's entrance, ready to leave at a moment's notice, his head hunkered down and staring at his paws. The pale apprentice managed to look up long enough to glance towards the nursery. He had lived in the confines of the nursery for nearly all his life, he had only had the courage to step out of it the day before his apprentice ceremony. The tom's tail tucked in between his legs, scared and sad at the prospect of leaving his home behind.

[Raccoonkit]

Raccoonkit exited the nursery. She had awoken to the sound of falling rocks and had barely heard Cloverstar. The kit was still a bit sleepy, but she saw the entire clan moving about. So this is the big day we're moving. The move itself made her nervous though she didn't want to linger on it. Nothing could stay the same forever. Safety of the clan as most important. Instead of wallowing in fear she tried to think of the positive. Maybe there would be more prey, more dens for the clan, more ways to sneak out of the other camp.

Her eyes found Icepaw and she padded over to him. Her fluffy brown tail lingered on his shoulder. He looked exactly how she felt. It reminded her of the time they went outside of the nursery. Raccoonkit looked up to the bigger apprentice, "Let's watch out for each other on this journey."

The brown tabby's mind went to Weaselkit and Rainpaw. She was hoping they would make it safely to.

[Icepaw]

Icepaw hummed quietly to himself, remembering a nursery song his mother used to hum to him and his littermates when they were still all together. He wondered where Poppynose was now? Hopefully somewhere safe... the pale tom jumped, not noticing Raccoonkit approach until she spoke up. He immediately relaxed, well, relaxed as much as he was capable of doing, when he recognized the kitten's familiar face. "H-H-Hi," he mewed softly, wondering if she had heard his humming. His silver-blue eyes brightened when the tabby kitten offered to look out for him. He knew that he should be the one looking out for her, after all he was older, but he felt safe knowing that someone had his back. "O-Okay, I g-got your back!" Icepaw tried to sound confident, but fear was obvious in his voice. He couldn't shake the foreboding feeling in his bones.

[Deleted]

Bluebellkit was a younger kit, and she had no clue what was going on. Something about moving? She imeadiatly followed the leaders and got in the line, her eyes slightly widened. If another warrior tried to carry her though, she would not accept their help. There were other cats to carry and even then, warriors had trouble on long trips, even on their own. If they could handle it, then she would to. After checking around to make sure every warrior she knew of was acctually in camp and not out hunting, she ate a quick mouse to prepare herself for the journey.

[Foxtwist]

Foxtwist exited the Nursery, looking over her home of many moons sadly. She hated that they had to leave, and worried about her kits' safety over the journey. Her green eyes scanned the camp for her kits, and for Icepaw. She saw the white tom from far away, and noticed he was talking to Raccoonkit. The sad look drained from her eyes, and she stood up straight.

"Icepaw! Get over here," she ordered. Redfern had said that warriors were responsible for their apprentices. That meant that Foxtwist had to not only babysit her kits, but also her apprentice.

[Silentdust]

Sulentdust was alone in these times, and that didn't change when it was announced that it was time to get going. She didn't like change, so she wasn't too keen on the idea if leaving the only home she had every known. Her throat started to feel dry and she looked around, trying to see if she could help in any way. She didn't know where her own apprentice, Bearpaw, was, so she couldn't go find him.

The black warrior joined the group of cats that were leaving, she looked around incase she was needed. Where were her parents? Hailspirit? Anyone she actually knew? She was probably going to be worrying about that the whole time.

[Raccoonkit]

Raccoonkit purred to reassure Icepaw. Everyone needed a bit of encouragement. She hoped he wasn't offended by her offering for them to journey together. To her, it would make sense if everyone had a buddy to pair up with; especially if warriors and apprentices were paired with kits. The older ones needed to watch out for the littler ones.

She jumped when Foxtwist yowled to Icepaw. It caught her completely off guard. Her belly burned with embarrassment. Suddenly Raccoonkit felt vulnerable. Her long fur seemed to cling to her smaller frame for a moment. She tried to shake off her feelings with a few chest licks.

Amber eyes glanced around the camp. Others were coming to and fro. She saw cats she hadn't met yet and she saw a kit eating a mouse. Raccoonkit instantly felt silly for not eating herself. She trotted over to the other kit and asked, "Do you mind if we share this mouse? I didn't realize how hungry I was until I saw you eat. I'm Raccoonkit by the way."

[Rainpaw]

Rainpaw thought that she would have more time in this place, but it seemed she was wrong. The black and white she-cat looked around, terrified that someone would get left behind. Mentally, she made a list of every cat she knew- Weaselkit, Coyotekit, Raccoonkit, Scorpionkit, Thymekit.. And that was only a fraction of the total cats in RockClan.

She felt no obligation to stay with her mentor, Dapplecloud, as Rainpaw had not yet met her, and her priority was to take care of her clan. Rainpaw, standing near the edge of camp, did not move, her eyes darting around the area, attempting to see if anyone was in need of help.

[Foxtwist]

Foxtwist turned as she saw her daughter, Rainpaw. She looked a little lost. Foxtwist scanned the camp for her oldest daughter, Flickerpaw, but saw no sign of her. She did see Bluebellkit, but none of her other children. Worry crept into the back of her mind.

"Rainpaw! Bluebellkit!" she called. She suddenly noticed another kit, the one that had been talking to Icepaw. This other kitten looked afraid, and Foxtwist decided that she could watch her for the journey unless her mother stepped up. "Raccoonkit, come here too, please."

[Icepaw]

Icepaw's coat fluffed up as he heard his name called. "Yes, F-F-Foxtwist!" the pale tom chirped back, nodding a goodbye to Raccoonkit before rushing over to his mentor. He let a short sneeze along the way. Being up all night had done nothing good for his health. "I-I-Is there a-anything I c-c-can do to h-help?" the tabby pointed tom asked his mentor, shifting a bit and gazing warily up every once in awhile. He'd like to think that he asked because he wanted to help, but Icepaw knew he just wanted a distraction. Needed a distraction. Visions of the stone ceiling above them crashing down and squashing them all like ants could be seen anytime he closed his eyes.

He subconsciously shifted closer to his mentor as she called over her kits, more comfortable when Raccoonkit was called over as well. They hadn't known each other that long but he considered the younger she-kit his friend. "W-W-We m-meet again," he mewed in a shaky but lighthearted tone, trying to be at least a little funny. Comedy wasn't one of his strong points.

[Rainpaw]

"Y-Yes, Foxtwist." Rainpaw turned to see her mother, and faltered. So many cats needed help, and she could not possibly be there for all of them. If someone got hurt, or worse, killed, Rainpaw would blame herself for not being there. A real RockClan cat would protect their clan-mates, and assure their safety in situations like this one.

Her paws felt like stone as she dragged them from her spot, padding over to join the small group that had formed. Rainpaw's midnight blue eyes were clouded with worry, and she barely acknowledged her mother, Raccoonkit, or the other apprentice, just nodding at them before turning her head back once more, searching for a cat in danger. 

What if there was a cat who was trapped by brambles, or a stone that had fallen early, and Rainpaw had not seen them? Cloverstar would banish her, and every cat would hate her. 

The tuxedo she-cat was unable to put on the confident and friendly front she usually had, drudging alongside Foxtwist while her chest tightened with overwhelming dread, taking away her ability to speak.

[Deleted]

Bluebellkit heard her mother's call and made her way over. "Hi mom." she greeted. "Is there anything I can do to help?" she added as her gaze traveled worriedly through the camp.