ThunderClan: Life Before 2023's Sinkhole

[Moxie Foxy]

Beastwatcher Blinked "Sparrowstar? Twolegs? This Is Terrible!!!"

[WinterMara]

| Softsky of Thunderclan - Thunderwillow - Thunderclan Meeting | CLOSED

As Roosterflame began to explain what happened, her heart sunk. . .Sparrowstar was, actually gone. Of course, she was never close to the molly, but seeing Roosterflame try to contain himself hurt. And then, the lightning striked.
Oh starclan, let this end, cats were panicked, their leader was gone, hell, no one even seemed to be on the same page, it just reminded her of her apprenticehood again.

So, Softsky just remained silent to keep her cool and wait until she actually knew what to do.

[beau]

Wolfpaw watched warily as Roosterflame began speaking. Answering questions, soothing others. It was all building up - a tension so thick it was as if Wolfpaw could feel it. Anxiety bubbled in his stomach as time dragged on. What could be so terrible? Why was a child screaming, over there by the suncat and that scarred she-cat? Why did his claws dig so deep into the dirt? Why was his fur standing on end? And then, Sparrowstar was gone.

Gone where?

KRAACK

Sharp, blinding light sliced through the clearing as lightning split the sky in two, followed closely after by a deafening clap of thunder. The after-image of the strike lay seared into Wolfpaw’s eyes, and suddenly rain started coming down in sheets as he tried to blink it away. The heavy smell of rain was now accompanied by the pungent scent of ozone, something Wolfpaw had never smelled before.

The rain had reduced every blurry form out past a one foot radius into smears of color and sound. Screams and cries echoed across the clearing. Wolfpaw’s fur still stood out on end. He slid down against the the side of the den’s entrance, resting his full weight on it as he tried to steady his trembling legs.

[ still technically open ]

[Abyssopelagic]

(Enjoy the Sorrel trauma at the end)
Sorreldust had originally been going to ignore the call from the Willowtree, but as her own little trouble makers ran outside to see the commotion, it automatically became her business to see join as well. They might be 2 moons shy of being apprentices, but she'd rather they weren't in that large crowd by themselves.
They'd seated themselves right in the thick of the mass and she had to squeeze herself through the crowd the two little ones seemed to have no problems navigating.
When she finally reached them, there was embarrassment that flooded through her as she heard the silly things her kits her saying. She coughed and wrapped her tail around the two.
"I know Roosterflame isn't the cat we're used to seeing on the Willowtree, but he's called us to say something important and we need to listen just like we would if Sparrowstar was up there."
Speaking of..... the leader was noticeably not around and the sight of blood on her fellow warrior was..... concerning to say the least.


[ @Lilacquartz ; @Eaglet ]
She turned her head to Quailfur, her thoughts on the matter set to the backburner as she heard the warrior growl at her daughter.
However, given that Quailfir was comforting Thrushfur, she left her sentence simple.
"I understand what Russetkit said was inappropriate, but I would appreciate that you didn't growl at my daughter, please."
She turned to Thrushfur himself.
"I'm sorry for my daughter's comment, Thrushfur. I know things have been rough for you lately and you have my sympathy. It won't happen again."


[ @daenerys ; @lio ]
As Sandkit stepped in to defend his sister, she leaned down towards the two, deciding to teach them that their words should be chosen more carefully at a later time.
"Quailfur means well. We should not react with anger at the moment. Something has happened and we need to listen."
Soon enough, she received her answer of what had happened. Sparrowstar gone, and twolegs had taken her. She couldn't shake the way her fur stood on end at the news. Just, something about the situation made her queasy.
Would a search party be sent after her?
She wasn't sure herself whether or not that would be a good idea, but she did hear others mention the idea themselves. But in the meantime, what did this mean for the leadership of ThunderClan? Thrushfur was still mourning and likely wasn't in an emotional state to lead.
Her thoughts her interrupted when her stomach lurched again, more painfully than when the nausea began and a single flash of lightning reflected in her eyes, coming towards the Willowtree.
In a moment, she re-lived when she'd seen fire dance and spread in camp, greedily licking up the Dens and consuming everything in it's path.
Fear struck her and Sorreldust covered her children with her body as she watched the struck branch shatter at the end and and tumble to the ground, so sure the falling limb would crush her and her kits, a familiar panic and ache in her heart as she shielded Sandkit and Russetkit from an enemy that wasn't there.

[Pitou]

**Blackfir**

The subject of this meeting was growing increasingly clear, Sparrowstar. The blood seemed to run cold through his veins. While he’d been only a kit when Aspenstar’s death had rocked his clan, he remembered the tension and chaos and heartache in the following days and moons. Feeling the heaviness in the air and the threat of bad news surrounding his leader brought all those memories flooding back through his mind. He felt suddenly nauseous and when Roosterflame finally got around to delivering the news, it was followed by a flash of chaos erupting through the clearing in a dramatized fashion befitting the mood. His pelt electrified and the fear seized his muscles. He couldn’t tell whether the blast came from some supernatural force or his panic within himself. Thrushfur’s display which had since drowned into the background of the chaos in his mind surely played into the panic as their very deputy was at a loss amidst the situation, so what hope was there for the rest of them?

**Petalflight**

The dark calico watched blankly, taking in the tension evident in the air. Her eyes were drawn in so many directions as cats posed frantic questions and offered wild predictions, but most of all it was the persistent, stagnant depression. Through near hysterics, Roosterflame dropped the news that Sparrowstar had fallen into a trap and been taken away. She’d liked the cream she-cat well enough, it felt a shame that she was likely gone. Though Petalflight was now curious what would come next. Before her musings could go far, a deafening crash blinded her senses then another crashing shook the ground. Her green eyes flew above Roosterflame to the massive willow tree where a smoldering nub was all that remained of one of the great tree’s branches. Her breathing was deepened from the jolt of the near danger and her eyes wide but her senses were heightened as she took everything in, thirsty in her desire for assurances that the danger had passed, the previous news effectively forgotten for the moment.

[lio]

RUSSETKIT
tiny, fluffy she-cat with red fur and yellow eyes.
she/her

A growl in her direction made Russetkit flinch, taking a step back briefly. Her ears flattened, tail lowering against the ground. Oh. She was just trying to help. Why wasn't it good to help? Her Mama always helped her stay clean and nice smelling, so she thought this cat would want to smell nice as well. Russetkit frowned, moving even closer to Sandkit and brushing her fur against his.

"I guess they don't want Mama to help them smell good," she whispered, a dejected expression on her little face. With no intention of moving from where she was, Russetkit simply nuzzled into her brother's fur.

With her Mama's arrival, Russetkit smiled, though it quickly faded as Sandkit was scolded. "We were just trying to help..." she mumbled.

With the next words out of the tall cat, though, she stared at him, her eyes widened with pure confusion. He seemed to struggle to get out his words, only to say that Sparrowstar was... gone? She hadn't known the leader very well, but she knew that Sparrowstar was a good leader after hearing others talk about her. Where had she gone? Russetkit didn't understand why the leader would just go anywhere. Why couldn't she just come back? Her lips pulled into a frown once more, unable to wrap her little mind around the situation. Maybe she'd ask Mama what was going on.

She opened her mouth to question it, only to squeak with shock as a loud crack rang through the clearing. All of Russetkit's fur stood on end, eyes flying wide with surprise. She pressed as close to her brother as she could, flinching with the loud thud that the fallen branch made against the ground.

"What was that?" she squeaked, staring up at her Mama, "That big sound was so loud! It sounds like Sandkit snoring!"

As she stared at the sparking branch, however, Russetkit felt a sudden sting of pain in one side of her face. She gave a quiet hiss, flattening herself to the ground and rubbing at her eye furiously. Her ears flattened against her head, confused as to why she had this feeling. Mama had protected her and Sandkit. She hadn't been hit by anything, so why did it hurt? There was nothing wrong! The pain faded as quickly as it had arrived, though a faint tingle still remained. Russetkit huffed, glaring at the branch.

Dumb branch.

She pressed against her Mama, grumbling to herself quietly.

@daenerys @Lilacquartz @Abyssopelagic

[Moxie Foxy]

Spikystalker- male

The Yellow Tom Growled at this News. Sparrowstar Dead? What In Good Heavens was Wrong with Starclan? why did they insist on taking thunderclans leaders too soon? this peeved him greatly. He Sighed deeply, He Didn't Know What he Could Do, But he Wasn't Going To Stand by and Do Nothing. Short of Killing all Twolegs, even he knew he couldn't do that, He could at least Help out in The Clan.

Darn this Lightning, Just what they needed. he thought sarcastically "Thrushfur @Eaglet , I Can Go, Try And Move The Branch if your alright with that. Best to Get It Out of here in case a Fire starts from the stupid lightning. and knowing how... stupid kits can be at times, it would be unwise to leave it were they could climb it and get splinters" He Meowed Confidently.

Beastwatcher- Male.

Beastwatcher Shook His Head Sadly at The News and Nearly Jumped out of his Skin at the lightning crackling overhead. Turning to see even more kits running out of the nursery that tom gestured for the two kits to come join him, So he could keep an eye on them. he'd be on edge till this storm was over and wanted to keep an on the Younger ones. "Roosterflame has had some sad news to share little ones. Sparrowstar has, lets say gone on a long trip" he didn't know what else to say or how much should be told to the young ones, he didn't want to upset them @CreeperLover649

Turning to rainfall He Meowed "I'd like to Help Keep an Eye On the Kits Right now if its alright with you?" he meowed softly tilting his head.
@Le Batteur

Zyon- male
The Young Tom Blinked, More Dead cats? He Started to Tremble hard. he didn't like death, it was to frightening, to close a reminder of what had happened to him, when he faced that alfoul tom Jack.

the Young Tom Turned and Burried His Face into Spikystalkers spiky yellow fur as sobs and whimpering took control of him in his panicked state... this new cat... Thrushfur... would he make him leave?

[bells_n_whistles]

After hearing the news, a wave of sorrow passed over Midnightkit. Who would lead their Clan now? She didn't know the full rules of how Clans worked yet, she believed it was the previous leader who had to pick a new one. But if Sparrowstar was gone, then who?

[SpiritedWarrior]

Flameheart

@Willowfern @Eaglet

Right now, everything was going wrong. The sky had started to cry, and for a reason Flameheart could only guess was some sort of sign from the starry ancestors. It wasn't often it rained in leaf-bare. It mainly snowed! Roosterflame was very uncomfortable and she could tell just by looking at how he reacted to everyone's comments and reactions to him being the one to call the Clan forward instead of Sparrowstar. Once Thrushfur arrived, she noticed a scar that looked to be fresh- not even a day or two old. Looking around, the young Keeper realized that a few of her Clanmates were going into the medicine den with injuries similar to the deputy's. Had I missed a big fight? I wonder who they all fought... but I have to focus. That's not important right now.

Thrushfur was calling for Sparrowstar in a tone she had never heard from the tom. Something happened to Sparrowstar... she's not here, not going to the medicine den... not anywhere in camp. She's- gone... but why is she gone? If she was dead, her body would have been brought back. But then again- if she was killed, all of her lives had to be ripped from her. She's not dead! But then... where is she?

Nothing made sense until Roosterflame began speaking again, this time throwing some sort of light-hearted insult Thrushfur's way. Her brows furrowed in contempt as she bit her tongue to refrain from lashing out and defending her deputy and adoptive father when nothing has really been explained quite yet. Everything is awful? Okay- something definitely happened. But... what?

"EVERYONE BE QUIET! PLEASE! ROOSTERFLAME NOR THRUSHFUR NEED THIS CHAOS!" she yowls and stood up, her towering form to face the rest of the Clan. Clearly, there was a lot of emotional turmoil, and whether her Clanmates liked it or not, Flameheart was going to be a little bossy to keep the chaos as low as possible. No one deserved the disrespect that was starting to be tossed around, and the young Keeper was intent on keeping the peace.

For once in her life, the whole of ThunderClan would be seeing her do her job, which Flameheart believed needed to happen. There were too many cats questioning her, and if she was supporting her Clanmates, perhaps they'd get the hint that she was just doing her job as one of the five Keepers in ThunderClan. She then turned and walked over to the orange, white, and ginger tom and sat next to him. Her eyes peered at each of her Clanmates as she curled her large and long tail around her massive paws. "I'm here if you or Thrushfur need me," she murmured in the older tom's ear, keeping her gaze on ThunderClan as they digested each part of Roosterflame's speech like a piece of rotten fresh-kill.

The news of Sparrowstar's... disappearance, which happened to be caused by twolegs, set her teeth on edge. If she was just as big as a twoleg, she'd fight them all and get Sparrowstar back. But, unfortunately, that would only be a forever dream that would never come true. Whether the Clan liked it or not- Sparrowstar would not come back for who knows how long. It could be a moon or even twelve before she makes an appearance in the forest again. Heck- Sparrowstar could never return. ThunderClan needs me now more than ever. My father needs my support. Roosterflame, Sparrowstar's best friend, needs my support. I need to take care of ThunderClan for Sparrowstar. To honor her, even if she might not be dead.

Just as the news that Sparrowstar was gone came flying out of Roosterflame's mouth at the speed of light, a loud crack of thunder, louder than she has ever heard in her life, sounded like it was just overhead. The orange and white tabby Maine Coon's fur stood on end as lightning came plummeting down and struck the tree, creating a deafening noise of snaps, a boom, and then... a crash. By then, Flameheart had turned around and had her tail sticking straight up in the air. Sounds like StarClan is very upset with our leader's catnapping... It was Sparrowstar's branch, the branch she stood on when giving announcements, that had fallen out of the tree. They must be confirming she's no longer our leader... that means- Thrushfur is in charge now. But- how could he lead...? He's been a wreck ever since his daughter and apprentice died! StarClan, what are you planning up there?

"It's alright everyone! It was just the branch that fell, please don't freak out!" Flameheart yowled after the sound of the thunder and lightning dissipated, her attention going back to the Clan. Her green, fiery gaze moved to Roosterflame and Thrushfur, giving a nod to each of them, urging both toms to stand down and relax the tension that probably built up when they heard the branch snap and separate itself from the Thunderwillow. I guess they don't call us ThunderClan for anything...

Crowpaw

@littlelove @Wingnettle @Abyssopelagic

Everything was going by too fast. As per usual during announcements, multiple ThunderClanners showed up. But something out of the ordinary was happening. Some of his Clanmates were... going to the medicine den. And if Crowpaw hadn't been watching everything go down, he would have missed seeing his father barge into the clearing calling for his leader like he was calling for his mother in the middle of a forest. If Crowpaw had more energy, the young tom would have forced Thrushfur to sit down and watch the impromptu meeting. While his father was whirling around, scouring the clearing for any sign of Sparrowstar, the brown tabby squinted his eyes and noticed a few drops of blood come from the feathery-furred tom's shoulder. He's injured... why is he injured? Did he get into a fight?

He probably did. That ambitious ego he seems to have is finally getting him into trouble. Crowpaw rolled his eyes, but when the sharp green orbs landed on his mother waddling into the clearing and growled at a kit, everything- all the noise- had drowned into the background. Suddenly he was back in the nursery, as Crowkit, groveling at his mother's feet and shedding tears like there was no tomorrow. His three sisters were there comforting him and convincing Quailfur he was just a curious kit who snuck out of the nursery to be a spectator at the meeting when Cindersky stepped down and promoted Sparrowstar. Without even realizing it, he had shed a few tears. It was hardly noticeable with the rain coming down.

But something hit him in the back of the head like a rock, though when he turned around, nothing was there. His eyes were still on Quailfur. Shaking his head to get rid of the raindrops getting in his ears and blinking away the tears that were making his eyesight in his left eye worse than it had already become when he got attacked by that fox, Crowpaw noticed something he hadn't noticed the last time he saw his mother around camp. She looks like a queen! Oh- OH! OH NO! OH FLUFF IT! HECK NO! NO, NO, NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! NO ONE TOLD ME THIS!!! NO ONE! WHY?!

If no one was around to criticize him, Crowpaw would have marched on over to his mother and given her a piece of his mind. Maybe more, since Thrushfur had also failed to tell him that Crowpaw was once again going to be a big brother. I'm- I'm not ready! MY SISTER DIED NOT EVEN TWO MOONS AGO! I CAN'T BE A BIG BROTHER AGAIN! I JUST CAN'T! Young Crowpaw shook his head, hoping this was just a horrible nightmare. But nothing seemed to disappear. He didn't wake up. This was real life. This was happening. Tears began to shed in a faster pace as he looked down at his paws for the first time since Quietpaw's death. The blood, the overwhelming noise, the secret his parents had kept from him... it was too much for him to bear. He felt light-headed, but he fought to stay awake and not pass out. His breathing was getting faster and faster as he tried his best to digest this information.

"C-cind-" he began to croak out as he subconsciously fluffed his fur and watched as light split through the sky and took Sparrowstar's tree branch along with it. Crowpaw instantly flattened himself against the snowy ground. He was now sobbing uncontrollably and could barely get a word on the tip of his tongue as the past caught up with his present. "CINDY!!!!!!!" He yowled as loud as he could before his throat ached with a yearning to be coddled like a kit. He didn't care that he wanted to be treated like a kit again, just as long as he had his best friend there by his side to comfort him just as she did when he had his nightmare the night after he witnessed his sister's death.

His breathing was just like it was when he was searching for his sister in the camp. His sides were beginning to ache, but Crowpaw didn't care. Right now, he was too overwhelmed by everything going on and that was his top priority at the moment. Sparrowstar? Catnapped. His father? Injured. His mother? Pregnant. The sky? Splitting in half. "Please... s-somebody..." he whimpered and put his paws on his head before shutting his eyes tight and burying his head into the cold snow. T-this is too much... somebody... please.

[poppy]

No. No. No. Shut up. Shut UP.

Fireflykit felt a scream bubbling up in her throat, and the scrawny tortoiseshell fell back into her limp, messy nest with a small sob escaping. Sparrow was gone. The only cat who knew she existed, the only cat that showed an ounce of compassion towards her was gone. Gone. Gone. Letting out a despairing wail, such a loud and broken noise for someone so tiny, she was silenced temporarily by the flash of lightning, and the massive tree limb that crashed to the ground. Staring at it, sparks flashing, and the rain began to pour, she stared, heartbroken up at Chickencat for a long time. The kit's soaked fur felt heavy, and she lowered her head to look at her nest. It was soaked, ruined. She had no place to sleep now. Moving away from the warrior's den, she didn't know what to do.

Until she did.

Fireflykit did the only thing that her mind could conjure up. She fled her nest by the warriors den, and sprinted to the leader's den, where pieces of splintered bark and broken twigs littered the ground all around it. Her paws began to sting as she stepped on sharp pieces of the tree-limb, blood mingling on the wet ground and hidden by the mud, but she ignored it in a mad scramble to get to the safe place. And if no one intervened, the kit would dive to the safety of the leader's den, tears pouring down her face in a desperate, lonely feeling.