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Ramen Noodle
| He/him | Kittypet | Moons 15 | No purrks |

Ramen Noodle was having a peaceful dream, laying in his bed, nice and cozy in his home. Dreaming about Rainpaw, and what the other had told him about the clans and the world outside of his home and into the first and wild! It was something that he had always spent time dreaming about, both actually and daydreaming, but they have gotten so much more vivid. Both wonderfully and scarily enough for him. After all Rainpaw didn't have his scars for no reason. Though little did he know that he was going to match soon. Well, match and then some probably... Though there he snoozed, unaware of the panic. Then just as you would expect the fire alarms started first!

Ramen Noodle hopped to his paws in fright, folding his ears against his skull as the sound ricocheted through his mind. Wide blue eyes whipped around the space for any reason why the sound was blaring when he had never once heard such a thing before. Sure he's heard beeping and odd sirens, but those were always distant and from cars and stuff, but he was in his home! And the sound was everywhere! What was going on?! Ramen Noodle dropped from his bed on the window sill and looked around for any signs of his twolegs, but he already knew they weren't going to show because they had already left for their daily patrolling and hunting or whatever it is that housefolk did during their day.

Smoke. He has smelt the ashy tartness of smoke before but only when his housefolk were making themselves food and something went wrong, never like this? Never so strong and potent and everywhere? His eyes traced the smoke and it was coming from a place he couldn't even tell. From under the door, from the windows... oh geez. Ramen Noodle backed up slowly, not sure of what he was doing and unable to think any one coherent and sane thought through all of the red flags and alarm bells ringing just as, if not more, loudly than the literal alarm still blaring. It was warm. Then all at once, an instinctive and primal fear and understanding awoke in him. Fire. There was a fire and it was burning down his nest, and it was... going to burn him down if he just kept standing here.

The tom whipped around towards the window he always uses to get out of the nest and races towards it. The head was ever imposing at this point, almost overwhelmingly so. Ramen Noodle crashes through the window and out onto the stairs out of it. Oh no. His eyes tracked the flames movements and it was apparent that the bottom of the stairs were laced in the flames. Housefolk built up trash and stuff in the alley was caught up and sending the flames growing at the bottom of the stairs. Okay, well its through the flames and maybe make it out or it was die anyways so uhhh... Ramen Noodle began the descent down the flight after flight. Hoping to whatever was watching above, Rainpaw wasn't at the roof of the building right now.

Okay, running through fire, there's a first for everything and Ramen Noodle hoped to everything holy that it would only happen once, Ramen did not need that to- He cried out, a sudden flaming chunk of wood - a widow silly perhaps? - dropped down and collided with his head, burning the fur as well as you know... knocking his head really hard. Ramen Noodle swayed a bit, crying out and tripping straight into the flames before he was ready to dash through. Wow, today is really not his day. Pain seared through his paws and the slightly dazed cat half ran half-toppled down the rest of the staircase. Landing at the bottom with a trip onto his face. He couldn't even feel like half his body right now... but he needs to get away. But he couldn't get his paws to move. Was he going to die here, like this? With flames so close behind him and probably half barbecued. What a silly way to go... man, he really should've kissed Rainpaw when he had the chance beca- His thoughts came to a stuttering stop and his consciousness was forcibly dragged into darkness as he passed out.

Seastone was sleeping as she heard screams from the humans and kitty pets, she got on high alert and got out of her home to see what was happening. As she looked around she felt her tail start to burn, she looked back at it and saw fire. "MY TAIL IS ON FIRE WHAT THE HELL!?" she yelled as she ran, getting the fire to go out by the wind, she would let it heal on her own, she knew she would have a bob tail now which would be unique and something she would remember.

She sprinted out of her home, seeing her humans outside yelling for her, with a slight purr she ran to them, seeing that the mailbox beside them was on fire, it scared her, and her owners didn't even know it was on fire, so she sprinted away, not looking back. She spotted some cats running away, one with a cat in their maw sprinting out. She had never seen that cat before, but she recognized the one that was being carried out, I think their name was ramen noodle.

Knowing that ramen noodle was safe, she went to check on him. So she sprinted towards the other cat and ramen noodle, approaching the unknown cat she flicked her tail in a faint hello. "Hey! Are y'all ok? I was sleeping! My sleep was ruined!" she said in a soft tone, as she was sprinting beside the other cats, trying her best to keep their pace, she looked Infront of her seeing the woods, she knew she would know the way back, so her humans didn't have to worry because she has went to the woods before and came back, this is just to get away from the danger until it's not dangerous anymore.

{ @Bean | @Oliver }

Max trotted through the woods, the scent of flowers surrounded him. He was soon gleefully prancing through the undergrowth, his nub of a tail twitching with excitement. A mouse scampered into his path and he crouched down, wriggling his haunches as he prepared to-

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Max yelped and scrambled out of his bed. His Twolegs were groggily waking from their big bed but soon they started yowling and stomping about in a panic. Max was still trying to catch his breath among the chaos. What in the world- then he smelled it. Smoke...smoke! With a screech of panic, he pelted out of the den and down the steps to the ground floor. In his panic, he ignored his Twolegs shouting for him with outstretched hands.

He jumped through his special door and pelted to the edge of his garden. He crouched down and leapt at the white wooden border that lined the edge of his garden, but in his rush he misjudged his jump and had to scramble for the top. Once he got to his perch, he heaved a sigh, thinking he could relax. Until something unfamiliar reached for his fur. Hungry, hot flames roared from the space between his garden and the neighboring one. With a cry of surprised he hurried along the top of his border. Behind him, the flames lapped at the wood and continued to spread.

Max made his way to the side where the river was, hoping he'd be safe by the water. Once he could see it, and found a safe place to land, he leapt from his border and landed ungracefully with a grunt. Panting, he ran for the river as fast as he could. He didn't turn back until he reached a tree next to the river, feeling that he had put a safe distance between himself and the fire. But when he turned, fresh dread settled in his belly. His Twolegs had made it out safely and were running along the hard path they often went on with those big scary monster things. But he could hear their shouts of despair and panic as the fire spread to their den.

Max watched on in horror as his home began to catch fire, the glow reflecting off the white border and giving off an eery light. But there was nothing he could do... He could only sit there, shoulders hunched, and wait.

His ears swiveled when he heard another familiar sound rise above the chaos, one that set his blood running cold. One of the dogs from a nearby garden got loose. Without thinking, Max let his paws fly and carry him towards the woods. He could hear the dog barking in the distance, and just wanted to get away before it noticed him. He had traveled some of these woods before, he should be able to find his way home. Maybe... But he couldn't focus on that right now.

His heart plummeted when he saw other cats, no doubt also escaping from the flames, headed towards the woods. "RUN!" He shouted. "One of the neighbor's dogs has escaped!" He slowed as he neared them, panting heavily. Two of them looked injured. His paws danced up and down in place as he panicked. "It's still far away, but we need to hide! Quickly!"

@PINTO BEAN
@Oliver
@Bean

Seastone was still sprinting as she heard another kitty pet yell about a dog that they need to hide from. So she ran away from the kitty pets, running to a big oak tree with a hole in it that was her den. So she ran towards it and went to the entrance. Flicking her tail to tell the other kittypets to get inside. "Get inside my den! It's plenty of room! The hole can open and close so it's like a door! The perfect hiding spot for hiding from that dog!" she said, as she watched the kittypet run inside her den.

As she was sitting in her den with the other kittypets she remembered another kittypet who was no where to be seen, raider. So she ran out of her den without saying anything, running out of the woods, not seeing the dog. She sprinted towards raider's house, she saw his humans outside, watching her run in. She looked around for him, while flames touched her flank. "RAIDER IT'S ME SEASTONE! I'M COMING TO GET YOU!" she said as she kept looking around until she saw a cat hiding in a corner. She sprinted towards him grabbing the cat by the fur and sprinting out while flames touched her back legs, she was hurting like crazy but she had to get this kittypet to safety.

She looked at the cat's humans and ran away, not seeing the dog. She sprinted for her den, paws getting pricked by splinters, she winced but she had to get raider to her den. As she got to her den she pushed the door open, running inside to the other kittypets and sitting raider down, shutting the door.

@Bean
@Oliver
@constellation
@Luna16

Bayberry had been sleeping. Not a useless house toy, mind you, the 36 moon old was a self sufficient beast, fearless and proud. So take that. Green eyes stung behind her eyelids, and a familiar smell hit her nostrils. The cooking gray fumes had her leaping to her paws. Smoke. And where there was smoke, there was her worst enemy.

Fire.

But without thinking Bayberry found herself hurdling toward the scent, instead of away. She wasn’t sure why. It was clear that there was a disaster going on. Fire. Screaming, from both cats and two legs alike. Crap. A thin his escaped from her slightly parted jaws, breathing in the hot smoky air and holding back coughs. A small squeal caught her attention however. Raising her head and ears perked, alerted by the sound. She flicked her tail to and fro. It appeared she was a tad older than most cats on the scene. With a thin snarl, she realized the sound was a kitten. Stars dang it! Kits didn’t belong here. Not in a twoleg nest nor in a fire. The bengal then glanced around. Nobody else moved in retaliation to the cry for help. Idiots. And so, Bayberry was dragged into the problems of others. Again. Barreling toward the flames, her green eyes narrowed against the smoky sting. Up the burning hot rock steps. Toward the sound.

A queen. A loud groan from above. Raising her head, the feline saw a bit too late the brick falling. No, no, not the queen, not the queen! Bayberry was about to ram into the feline but the brick was falling a mouse length away. Good. She directed her fiersome gaze at the struggling queen. “Where the hell are The other ones?” She hissed, tail lashing. “Just go. Down the steps, they’re hot so watch your paws. I’ll get the kits.” if surviving on nothing else it appeared her sheer willpower was All it would take. “Anyone else in here?” She yowled around the commotion and the cannibalistic flames licking around them.
___________________
@/SeongwhaBerry [OPEN TO THOSE WHO MEED RESCUING FROM THE BUILDING]

Seastone sprinted out of her den again, staring at the burning homes seeing a cat yelling for help because of her kits she sprang into action, despite her injuries she would save any cat. So she sprinted as fast as she could towards the house that the yowling was heard from, she barged through the burning door, burning her fur off, leaving a bald spot in the process.

As she saw the mom she heard kits crying. She nodded to the she with respect, sprinting through the burning house, seeing a dead kitten, she looked away with a tear in her eye, knowing that little one couldn't be saved. She kept looking, spotting two little kits, she sprinted to them, full speed. She got to them and grabbed them both by their fur, sprinting through the house not seeing anymore she sprinted out, pushing the mom out of the house safely.

"Follow me to my den! Everyone is there!" the she said as she sprinted to her den, looking behind her to make sure the she was following her every step of the way. As she got to the den she walked in and went to a corner with some moss, beckoning the she with her tail to come to that spot where her kits were.

{ @SeonghwaBerry }

Seastone huffed and puffed as she got to the den, she couldn't save anymore cats as it was to late for alot. So she sat down on some ferns as she saw the tom who followed her to her den sit down his kit Infront of her. She looked at the kit, seeing injuries of all sorts, she heard the kit coughing, it broke her heart, but she knew this kit was lucky to be alive, and that it was all that mattered. She looked back up at the cat who's name was mango. "I'm Seastone, nice to meet you. Your kit seems like he will live, maybe a little bit of smoke in his lungs, it shouldn't hurt him enough to kill him, I will take care of him, I promise he's ok with me. I cant go out and save anymore cats as I'm out of breathe. So this is a good way to relax." she said with a grin.

She grabbed the kit and put him closer to her pelt to get warm, then she started to lick him on the spots where he was wounded. She felt so bad for the little kit but also was happy that he was safe, unlike his other sibling who unfortunately died. She kept licking the kit softly, as the kit finally started to calm down and knew it was safe with her. "Dont worry little one, your safe and sound with me." the she said with a soft tone as she was looking down at the kit.

{ @SeonghwaBerry }

The cream-colored tom sat with his tail laying across his paws on the plush seat of his Twoleg's nest (couch). A warm purr thumbed in his throat as his watched his Twoleg peacefully drift off to sleep. She had been leaving him alone more frequently and she had been coming back more exhausted than ever. He was worried about her. Often time she'd stay up late staring at her glowing box (TV) or her none glowing box (book). Tonight had been no different. She still had so much to learn. Duck felt a tinge of pride as he watched her. She seemed to have grown up an awful lot since she had first rescued him from his catnapers. He shook his head as he laid it down on his front paws. Taking care of a Twoleg was a lot of work.

His head shot up, ears twitching a hiss escaping his throat. Shock reached creeping cold fingers around his mind. Fortunately, old warrior instincts worked their wonder and forced him to his feet. He felt his Twoleg shake and move underneath him. She pushed him off balance and he landed with a thump on the floor. “What is that!” The sound made his voice seem so small that even if she had been able to understand him Duck doubted she would have.

His Twoleg swept him up by the scruff and began carrying him out. At this point in his kittypet career he was used to being picked up by her, but never had she held him so tightly or moved so fast with him. He felt her heartbeat rapidly. This mousebrained noise was scaring her! He purred and licked her hand, two things which usually helped but she didn’t even look down. His tail flicked back and forth as he trained his green eyes on her worried face. What did this noise mean?

He didn’t have to wait too long for an answer. When his Twoleg opened the door to their room thick hot smoke came rushing in. It took up space greedily trying to force its way down his throat. Duck coughed and choked. He heard his Twoleg doing the same. One word entered the scrambled mess that was his mind. Fire. His Twoleg fell to her knees. Pain flared up his back but he ignored it. You can’t stop now! You have to escape! He wriggled in her grip and started licking her face. “Get up! Get up!” She wheezed something at him in Twoleg and then set him down. He felt weight on his collar as she began to crawl. He suspected she meant to drag him with her, but he trotted alongside her so she never got the chance. “We’re going to make it.”

They crept like that down the hallway. Duck checked their surroundings, but he couldn’t see the source of the blaze. The pressure on his collar slackened, she needed both hands to keep going now. Her labored breathing made Duck forget about his own. He brushed his tail along her side. “Just a little more I promise.”

They made it to the Twoleg slope (stairs). Duck knew that after descending from these, getting out would be as easy as walking forward. They truly were almost there! As they made it to the first step, Duck felt hope begin to rise in his chest. They could do it! Crack. Duck swung his head toward the source of the sound. Crack, crack. His Twoleg looked down beneath her as the old wood of the slope was beginning to give way. She tried to scramble forward, but it was too late. Crash! There was a sickening thud and a yelp as his Twoleg fell downwards. He was left staring blankly at the empty spot in the floor.

No no no. “No!” He rushed to lean in and, peering through the hole, he saw his Twoleg rubbing her head, and getting up. She looking shaky, but she seemed alright.

Relief washed over him like a waterfall. He rushed down the slope, faster even then he ran when he heard his kittypet food being poured. Be ok. Be ok. Be ok. He made it to the bottom and whirled around the corner. Red hot pain seared his paws. He stumbled back yelping and gasping for breath. He had just walked straight into fire. The pain didn’t stop. He looked down expecting to see himself on fire, but he didn’t. He fell back onto his rump the pain subsided a bit but didn’t stop. He looked towards the inferno that stood between him and his Twoleg. How could he save her like this?

His eyes drifted towards the front door standing inches away. He couldn’t leave but, maybe if some Twoleg or cat heard him they could come to his rescue? He grit his teeth. It’s for her. He got up on his feet with a yelp, and scurried towards his door (the cat door). He stuck his head out. “Help! Help!” He yowled as loud as he could. He just hoped any passerby would be able to hear him over the constant noise.

Max fought back panic, but he nodded at the other cat and followed, trying to help the other cats as much as possible. Once they were settled, the cat that led them there raced off again. He jumped to his paws but stopped. Someone needed to stay and guard their hiding spot, and the injured cats who sheltered there now.

He let out a quiet hiss of frustration. This whole thing made him feel useless. He slashed at the ground with claws unsheathed, then took a breath. He looked to the other cats in the hiding spot. "Is everyone here in one piece?" He asked. He could hear the barking in the far distance, but it sounded like Twolegs were running after it to try and control it again. It may not end up being a threat in the first place, but it would probably be best to remain hidden until it was controlled.


@Oliver
@constellation

Seastone was still worked up, happy to feel a kit on her fur. She then let out a little disappointed purr in protest of the kit being took away from her, she knew it was someone else's, and she knew she had basil. so she looked over at overwhelmed basil in the corner, so she called out to her. "Basil! over here, everything is ok." she said with a firm tail flick, beckoning basil to come to her. She didnt know most of these cats, so she was protective of basil because of how many cats there were, it probably got basil's anxiety all the way up to skyclan.

@rubberRatroom
@Luna16
@constellation

What the hell? APPARENTLY, some weak little kitty whiskers was basically immune to fire and took the kit before she could. What the... no time for that. The fire Scorched her fur, singed her paws, scraped her paws, hurt her nose. But she couldn't get out from here. Hungry flames blocked the way. All the ways. Except up. Jacking ferociously, she climbed up the scorching stairs, ignoring the pain. Her eyes stung horribly, and her pelt was covered in soot. But that didn't matter right now. She had to find a way to get out. Had to help the cats still in the building. Had to help. Her thin breaths couldn't stop her, it was like she was undaunted by anything around her. She just had to get up. Third floor. "Ay! Whose left in here! I'm here, let me hack help you!" Her rough and Scorched voice broke off in a chorus of coughs and hacks. But she wouldn't be helped. Wouldn't accept it. She was a lone wolf. She didn't need anyone. She was able to help herself. And others. Thay was it.

A yowl caught her attention. Her narrowed watery eyes flicked toward where the noise was coming from. A yowling. Limbs tense, she approached the stairs. The flaming stairs. Okay, uhm... preparing herself, Bayberry leaped onto the hot metal stair rail. She raced down, ignoring the searing pain. Toward a yard. But there was fire blocking her path. Oh, dear. What was she supposed to do? Panting hard now, Bayberry closed her eyes and managed by some miracle to jump to the side and ricochet around the flames, rolling in the grass until until halted beside the kittypet. Alright, uhm. Figure it out. "Oi! The names hack cough wheeze Bayberry! Trust me. I'll get you out." Her green eyes faced the burning fence. Approaching it, she shoved each post that wasn't on fire at the base. Nope. Nope. Nope. It moved! But moving it would cause the whole fence to fall... alright. Sucking in a breath, she turned to the cat. "slam into the fence. Go in front of me. The fence will fall, and you're too weak to deal with it, ya get me? So do as I say and you'll live."
____________________
@constellation Open to those who need rescuing!

Eaglepaw
Outsider
she/her | 10 moons
[Golden and white tuxedo tabby with green eyes and a heavily scarred face]
Purrks: Dreamwalker, Herbal Knowledge T2
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽ The Star ☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
· · ────────────── · ·
[Rushwater - @redshiftreign ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Being limited in her movement sucked. Though, Nathaniel's family visited her semi-frequently, and Rushwater was always around to entertain her. Eaglepaw had never known him to be very expressive--hell, she hadn't really known him at all due to him being missing for her entire childhood--but he seemed intent on keeping her spirits up. She had a suspicion that it helped him too.

Eaglepaw had been enjoying a quiet night outside of the den, watching the new members of their little... place, or whatever it was. She refused to interact with them, since they were also displaced RiverClan cats. She wanted to avoid RiverClan whenever possible. Her dream with Dusklion still haunted her, both positively and negatively.

It started slowly. The sky gradually changed color; from a deep blue to a sickly grey and orange. Eaglepaw watched it, brows furrowed in confusion. Was this a thing that happened in the Twoleg place? She had heard that the stars didn't come out as often, since StarClan was hiding from the Twolegs. But she had never seen this before. It took several heartbeats, but eventually Eaglepaw's large ears picked up a strange noise in the distance, coming from the many buildings that closed off one side of the green-space Nathaniel's healing den was in.

Beep. Beep. Beep. ... Beep. Beep. Beep.

Eaglepaw pushed herself unsteadily to her paws, putting limited weight on her injured front left leg. Now that she was moving out from under the wooden bridge over the stream, Eaglepaw could see just how light the sky had gotten, as though the sun was rising early. But the acrid, cloying scent that drifted over the park foretold danger. Eaglepaw had never seen fire before, nor smelled smoke. But it didn't take experience to know that something was wrong. Very, very wrong.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The wailing from the Twoleg dens grew louder as more and more alarms went off, the fire licking up gasoline-painted walls and consuming the soft, dry insides of the apartments. Eaglepaw stared in horror at the dens, watching the flames climb higher and higher. Twolegs were running around, giant, bright red monsters with blinding lights screaming down the small Thunderpaths towards the dens. Eaglepaw shrank back as Twolegs raced by, wailing in unfamiliar tongues.

Then she saw the cats. Covered in soot and burns, they rushed for the bridge. Eaglepaw gasped, stumbling back a step before making a beeline for the den. She tore the blankets--that's what Nathaniel called them--from her nest, dragging them out onto the dry bank of the stream and laying them out. She cleared the den of the larger blankets, making room for Nathaniel to work while creating a broader space outside where they could accommodate more cats. She didn't dare touch his herb storage. She had been trhough this twice before. Crises, that is. She knew what to do.

Eaglepaw limped out of the den and up onto the bridge, taking a deep breath to steel herself against the pain coming. "OVER HERE!!" She cried, voice cracking from disuse over the last moon. "IT'S SAFE HERE!" Pain bloomed across her heavily-bandaged maw, and she gasped as stars sparkled in her vision. But she pushed past it. "UNDER THE BRIDGE!!"

Purpose. She had purpose now. And she wouldn't let it go to waste. She hadn't been able to follow her dream of becoming RiverClan's medicine cat apprentice, but she could help the kittypets and outsiders.

[ANYONE WHO NEEDS HEALING GATHER UNDER THE WOODEN BRIDGE. Eaglepaw will work with Nathaniel [ @Rani ] to heal anyone who needs it!]

He didn't have to wait too long before two cats approached him. He could feel the heat building behind him. Duck stared wide-eyed at the brown cat as he spoke. This cat was trying to lead him away! They didn't understand! He stayed firmly where he was, trying to ignore the pain in his pads. "I-I can't leave! My Twoleg! She's still in there!" His voice was cracking and wheezing. The effort it had taken to call over the sound mixed with the smoke he had inhaled was wearing it down.

He looked at both cats with large pleading green eyes. "We can't leave her! You have to help me save her!" He turned his head around, trying to go back inside to save her regardless of what the other two did. He yelped and stumbled back through his door (cat door). The fire had gotten closer than he had expected. It was almost completely engulfing the entrance of his house. He wracked his brain. There was a way to save Lily. There was. He would find it. He just had to think.

Crash! He yelped. It sounded like parts of his house were caving in. The thought, made tears begin to well up in the edges of his eyes. It really was all being destroyed. He shook his head. There was no time for that now! He turned back to the other cats. Panic was causing the fur along his back stand on in. "Th-that's ok! We-we don't have to go through the front! We can go in through the back!" He began to lead them to the back, but had to stop and grit his teeth. His pads were blazing with pain. "No...no!" He forced himself to take another step. He had to ignore it! He had to go on! He wouldn't leave her.

smoke. casket smelled smoke. fire, flame, and smoke. it was a pungent, acrid scent, almost unfamiliar to him except the occasional sniff that had blown over from other forests or deep within twolegplace's tall fences and imposing buildings. caudesus place was safe, relatively from the more frightening things patrolling the twolegplace. monsters rarely roved here, and twolegs themselves were scarce and easy to avoid.

but smoke, smoke was new, and penetrated everything. it thickened, scorched the air and filled the sleuth's lungs. casket had been sitting in melancholic apathy had been watching two kits of nathaniel's, rowan and fog, when the smoke stung his lungs and he surged to his paws; protected by a wave of resolute calm. fire. fire meant death and pain. fire meant there were cats in danger-

oh stars. the kits. the kits! snowdrop and ginger were still at their twoleg home. nate and rhiannon were likely already on it, but he wasn't going to just sit on his ass and wait around to find out if they were okay.

"eagle!" rushwater, not casket, rushwater barked, voice hoarse and sharp and more urgent than it had been in moons. "watch rowan and fog, and. . . keep doing what you're doing. get everyone in who you can. if the fire comes through, it should scorch over, not under the bridge. there's so little brush and folliage down here." a brief pride flickered behind indigo eyes at his daughter's quick rise to action, but he tucked it away for later. he had to help out his found family.

his muscles stretched, joints popped, teeth gritted as he darted quickly along the path, stopping momentarily by the pond to douse himself in sopping water. anything would help stave off a flame, he supposed. anything to keep him from burning alive. if he could save at least something, at least someone, and make it back out, he'd have done well. turning, he leapt up the short rockface that lead up to the main road, paws hitting sun-hot asphalt. the acrid smell of gasoline hit his nose like a truck, alarms blaring and making his head spin. focus, sleuth, focus. dig your claws in. wrenching his claws momentarily in the asphalt, the pain a sharp reminder, he moved like a rolling river. unstoppable and unforgiving.

"this way! this way! go down, into the park! under the bridge or in the pond, the flames won't scorch where there isn't any fuel! c'mon! faster now, GO!" the blue-grey tabby called to any fleeing cats before steeling himself onwards.

he knew the path well by now, retreading old steps. hellfire rained down from buildings, flickering debris and embers littering the ground and streaming through the sky. if he didn't know better, he would have thought he'd be buried under all this flame and turned into a memory. but still, despite the heat, water dripped from his pelt and he pressed onwards.

all the water in the world couldn't douse these flames, he thought, praying silently for a rainstorm.

he wouldn't hold his breath on it, though. seconds passed, feeling like hours. a powerline, taken down by some stray debris had fallen across the street and was flickering with flame. he pressed himself low and flat, crawling underneath before springing forwards. their home was within reach. fire engulfed it, licking dangerously at everything.

it was then that he practically stumbled upon rhiannon and ginger, a horribly relieved breath escaping him. "oh thank the stars." he breathed, then pinpointed in on her stare fixated at the still-smoldering apartment.

don't be a hero. he warned himself, but his muscles were already wound up to spring. "you're hurt," he said briskly to rhiannon, though worry seeped in, "so is ginger, it looks. go. go to the bridge, eagle is there- she. . . she can heal, too, at least first aid. i'll make sure nate and snowdrop get out- or, i'll try, at least. but you can't wait around, the twoleg dens are liable to collapse like dry trees, and your wounds need immediate care-" he was talking too much. shaking his head and clearing his throat, "go, be safe. don't be a casualty, rhiannon."

rushwater paused for only a heartbeat before he plunged himself into the building and low, diving under the worst of the fire as he took note of the window to the balcony seemingly flame free- fresh plants took to flame much slower than the dry, flammable wood and drywall of the house. he reserved that thought for later.

[agatha kitty used to identify an escape route]

"NATHANIEL!" he roared, almost deafened by the crackling flames as he pushed himself sharply away, breaking free into a pocket of relatively unscathed building. it wouldn't last. he needed to find nate, and quick. he was not going to lose nathaniel this soon. he had just sunk his claws into the tom, just grown accustomed to him. he was not going to let him go. not without a fight. rhiannon needed him. ginger, rowan and fog needed him. rushwater needed him. most of the water from his pelt now dry, almost crisping at the ends, he snarled under his breath and looked for any disturbed ash. upon finding some clear skid marks in the debris, he followed until he broke through into the room with the healer and kit, an ember still flickering on his shoulder, disregarded.

"the balcony window. it's not one-hundred percent clear, but it's our best shot."

The chaos around him was almost as tangible as the heat on his tongue. He felt his breathing become more rapid, blood pulsing in his ears, as everything seemed to cave in around him. He just wanted to shrink up into a ball and wait for everything to be over... No! Max forced himself to stand straighter, and tried to get his to lie flat. This is not how the forest warriors would act in a crisis. He took a breath, trying to steady himself. He, and the other cats hiding out here, were safe for the timebeing. He padded up to the opening and pushed his head out.

It seemed unlikely that the fire would come this far, at least for now. And as more and more of the Twolegs left with their kits, things were starting to quiet down. Now the loudest thing Max could hear was the roaring flame-

"Help! Help!"

Max's ears perked in alarm. Somecat was still trapped! He pelted out of his safe hiding spot without thinking and moved towards the voice. "Where are you?" He called out. He's been practically useless so far, but maybe this was a cat he could help.