[Abyss]

Waterstep

28 moons | She-Cat | Rainclan

[smear:#deeeff]Things were getting worse. Dark clouds were slowly covering the valley, beginning to block out the sun. The rains, previously just occasional sprinkles, were starting to fall harder and more frequently. The waters that pooled within the rivers and streams of Rainclan were slowly rising, just barely beginning to flow over their shallow borders. These were all changes that the cats of Rainclan needed to be wary of in case the land began to flood.

There was now a constant patrol out of camp, it seemed, keeping a close eye on the slowly rising waters. Each time that the water would reach a new “checkpoint”, if it should be called that, a cat was sent back to camp to report it and to get some rest. And the water had reached a new checkpoint.

Vibrant sapphire eyes watched as the last little bit of the Sand Bar disappeared beneath the water, the sands slowly drifting through the running stream and away from its natural resting place. The pretty calico turned her head to the overseer of the current patrol and the Deputy, Lilygleam. Feeling Waterstep’s gaze, all Lilygleam was required to do was nod her head for her order to be given.

Nodding in return, Waterstep stood and turned, beginning to run back towards camp. As she reached one of the many branching streams of the territory, she leaped forward, making it about half-way across the stream, and began to swim. In any normal situation, this stream would have been easier to jump across. Normally you could easily get more than half-way across, but with the rising waters came a farther distance to leap. After reaching the other side, she climbed from the chilly water and continued to run, soon reaching the river that surrounded the clan’s camp.

Once she had crossed her pace slowed to a trot, slightly out of breath as she climbed over the hill into the camp entrance. As she came through the entrance, her eyes looked around the camp for one cat in particular. When she did spot him, her tail curled behind her and she began to approach.

He had been near his den, as he usually was. She could only assume that he was watching the skies just as equally as his mother had been watching the rivers. The two of them had this in common, as she had discovered. Very observant.

“Silverstar, ” she called calmly, dipping her head in respect before taking a seat not too far from him.
[/smear:#7abaff]

Justice || 417 || Notes

[Justice]

He'd been concerned with the amount of water that had been dropped on the valley in the last few days, the water rising much higher than it had in some time. If it didn't stop soon so that the water cold recede, then they may have to abandon camp to save the clan. At least until the waters went back into their banks. It was worse case scenario, but one he and Lilygleam had already planned for. She would lead the clan, he would give the order and follow at the end to make sure no one got left behind.

He'd been getting reports periodically since the rains had begun, and had long since given up on having to make them ask to enter his den. "Speak Waterstep." He told the she-cat calmly, taking a deep breath and letting it out without removing his gaze from the sky. There was enough going on that he could listen and watch the skies at the same time, and it didn't matter to him if she thought him rude for not looking at her while he listened to her report. He wasn't rude to she-cats under most circumstances, but this was the edge of a disaster, and he had to remain vigilant.

Abyss

[Abyss]

Waterstep

28 moons | She-Cat | Rainclan

[smear:#deeeff]At Silverstar’s given permission to speak, Waterstep lifted her gaze to land on the fluffy tom once more. He hadn’t looked at her, though she didn’t expect him to. Even though the likelihood of the sky and the clouds changing within a few moments was not high in the slightest, she did not require his full attention. He wanted to keep an eye out on the distant skies in case of a larger-scale storm, which was perfectly acceptable and understandable.

“The rising waters have now covered the Sand Bar completely. With the amount of rain that has been falling the last day or two, the rise has been slow, but steady.” Once her brief report was finished, her gaze remained on the Leader for a few moments, her head ever so slightly tilted. Her head then turned and lifted, looking up to where his gaze had been locked for an unknown amount of time.

Sights like these were unfortunately common: dark clouds looming overhead, threatening to drop even more rain down upon the cats of Rainclan. Flooding was something that the clan had dealt with many times, likely even more than she could count if all of the times previous to her own birth were included. Would it happen again? Was a flood just waiting for the perfect time to strike at that moment?

“Do you believe there will be a much larger storm?”
[/smear:#7abaff]

Justice || 234 || Notes

[Justice]

His attention never wavered, but his ears did flick towards the she-cat at his side. "It wouldn't be the first time we've faced flood waters, nor will it be the last. The point is to be ready when and if the water passes the banks." He finally dropped his head, shifting so that he was facing the younger cat.

"Another storm is on the wind, the sky darkens and barely lights during the day, and the sun has been obscured for too long. Rather it will be bad or not only StarClan can say, but it is definitely coming. All I can do is make sure we are prepared."

He had already begun the preparations, made sure nests would float well so that they could be floated to help both with moving kits and with giving weaker swimmers something to hold onto to keep their heads above the water should their strength wain.

"Regardless, RainClan is strong. We will be ready."

Abyss

[Abyss]

Waterstep

28 moons | She-Cat | Rainclan

[smear:#deeeff]As her Leader turned to face her, the calico slightly lifted her head, posturing herself more properly now that he was facing her. She curled her tail around herself and perked her ears, listening to each word that the tom spoke.

She knew that they would be ready. Rainclan had faced many floods before, and they were all quite strong. If any clan would survive a flood, it would be them. Silverstar would make sure of that. At his statement of Rainclan being strong and ready to face any storms and floods that came their way, she nodded promptly. Her gaze shifted back to that of the sky.

Looking up to the skies that would soon grow dark and heavy with rain, there was one question that came to her mind, one that she knew her Leader likely had an answer for. If he didn’t, then she could only hope that she could help him find it. Her blue gaze turned back to the light tom, a slight hint of curiosity in her sapphire pools.

“Should the rains bring a major flood in their wake, where will we relocate to?”
[/smear:#7abaff]

Justice || 190 || Notes

[Justice]

There was so much going on in his head right now, and having to consider the lives of everyone in his clan was paramount with a possible evacuation on his paws. So it was reasonable that Waterstep wanted to know where they'd go if things took that turn.

"We'll head for the mountains, into higher ground until the flood waters recede. Depending on the level of the storms and if anyone gets injured we will stay there for a few days to recover then I'll catch a patrol from Skyteller's group and petition to allow the clan to stay with the Tribe until we can go home."

It was the best he could come up with, even though he was still unsure as to the welcome he'd get from the unknown group of cats. They seemed genuine, if their leader was anything to go by, so he had to believe things would work out.

Abyss