We Must Rebuild(Event)

[Nighthunter]

Shadowclan is suffering from the loss of the snow. Now the rains have come and with the melted frost the streams and rivers have made the camp flood badly. Shadowclan camp is not a mud bath. The ground is very soggy, and hard to get a good foothold on, and many deep pools of water remain. The brambles and branches protecting the camp were mostly washed away. This is the state of the camp, its need to be rebuilt, and prey needs to be caught. The rains have made the forest hard to traverse, but with a little luck and skill things in Shadowclan might start looking up. Many cats died in the flood, however, and it has left Shadowclan weaker.

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[Deleted]

A white, lithe figure lay upon the fallen tree trunk over the water-logged camp of ShadowClan. His paws were lazily hanging over ithe dead bark's edge, and his pale eyes were listlessly staring out over what used to be a proud and mighty center. A pit of discouragement made Icestar's body unable to rise, and his racing mind made him cringe at the idea of trying to organize what few cats were left into all the things that would need to be done. Playing for time before he would have to inevitably call to his Clan, the tom forced himself to a sitting position and began an attempt to clean his pelt. No longer did dry dust faintly coat his fur; now a moist, sticky mud clung to his belly and paws in such an unattractive way that made him want to screech in frustration. After a fruitless few minutes, Icestar gave up completely and rose to a stand with the click of his tongue. Time to start the long, grueling progress of rebuilding.

"Every cat not water-logged enough to stand, gather for a clan meeting." he called, voice dull and rather lackluster compared to his usual vibe. ShadowClan was a mess. What few cats were left would have to be ordered into what seemed to be a thousand tasks, and where to start was a mystery. Hunting and den cleaning seemed to be vital, but without border patrols suspicions would rise from the other Clans. They still needed to give the impression of strength or pride, or they'd be doomed without even a few brambles to defend camp.

Though, despite all of this, the ShadowClan leader was able to give a wonderful facade. He stood tall, icy gaze stern and looking determined as ever as he glared out over his Clan. His mind may be racing with stress and barely sewn together plans, but he seemed just as prepared as ever.

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[Nighthunter]

Raggedtooth

A glint of green lit up the dark passage from the elders den. A bulky frame covered in mud, his dark fur blending in the the thick wet dirt, and his tabby markings nearly undetectable. Upon his back lay the form of Boulderfoot, his father, though the body of the once strong proud tom was disheavled and water logged. It lay limp, still as stone on Raggedtooth's back, and his eyes were glazed with a sheen of film as if they were looking into an abyss. Trudging through the mud, his paws leaving a sloping sound with every step, he made his way out to the center gathering area of the camp. His eyes blazed with loss, but in there depths he was furious that the old tom had died this way, in the comfort of his own camp in his nest. It was not the way a warrior should go, it was not the way anyone should go. Pride and his emotional stability kept him from showing what most cats do once they have lost a loved one. He was stoic, and unyielding to the general sense of woe.

Glancing about, he looked to Icestar in acknowledgement, and also to confirm that the old cat was indeed dead, with a glance. Then sweeping his gaze around the camp, he took in the murky littered remains searching them for the clanmates he knew so well. Many bodies were moving around, and the camp was practically decimated by the floods. His deep and gravel like voice rang out. "Ratpaw! If your not floundering around in the water like a drowned namesake then present yourself so that I can see you yet live." It wasn't concerned, it was filled with contempt at having to chase after the young tom. Rainshadow had been his first apprentice, and that cat had turned out well, until he had an emotional breakdown. The dark tabby was going to be much more vigilent with Ratpaw. He spoke again this time louder."Ratpaw!"

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[Eden]

It was morning. The rays of the early sun peeked shyly through the growth of trees over-hanging the camp but it did not may the day bright. No, instead the day was dark with worry and depression. A terrible flood of ice water and rain has raced down into the Shadowclan camp, injuring and killing fellow clanmates. Sleep never came and to hunt was like being in a circus show; every where you set paw, you sank deeper into the thick and moist mud. It was dangerous for everyone, you either broke your foot trying to hunt or just endure the day without a meal.

Ratpaw decided he wanted not to break his paw and possibly never become a warrior so he went through the morning without breakfast. His stomach rumbled quietly and it irritated him, the always noticeable empty feeling in his belly. But no other cat had anything to eat either so it made him feel a bit better. There were a few scraps of frog and mice which were divided among the meager survivors. Ratpaw felt sympathy for his clan. They were weak, no doubt. Even the arrogant male knew that much. A bitter thought crossed his mind. Windclan and Thunderclan were strong and they wasted their time showing off their speed or their ability to hunt through dense undergrowth, shouldn't they be lending a paw?

Of course not. To Ratpaw, they were selfish and fox-hearted fools. Besides, Shadowclan didn't need help from fat, stupid felines who spent their days lounging freely in the sun while Riverclan and Shadowclan actually did their jobs. Especially those half-blood cats that call themselves Thunderclan. The hairless tom had grown to Icestar's idea of hating any half-clan and kittypet warriors. They were a poison to the forest, in his mind. Good for nothing but catching a slow mouse, any task another clan apprentice could do. They were nothing but pathetic. He sat in the broken and dim-lit apprentice den. Or what was the apprentice den. Now it just looked like a scrap of twigs and debris, held together only by the little strength of wet soil.

Pushed from his thoughts, he heard his old badger for a mentor called strictly for him. "Mouse-dung.." Ratpaw had foolishly spent too much time lying around in the pile and got up coolly, still arranging himself to look proud and faultless. So what if he spent just a little too much time sitting? He was working pretty hard for a new apprentice. Ratpaw held no shame and walked proudly to his impatient mentor. While openly boastful and overly happy with himself, Ratpaw did prize having a respected senior warrior for a mentor, even if he did remind him of a lumbering old badger. Still, he taught him a lot already.

"Ratpaw! If your not floundering around in the water like a drowned namesake then present yourself so that I can see you yet live." Ratpaw snorted. Annoying, as ever. Emerging from the apprentice's quarters, he walked across the camp to Raggedtooth, who might as well had their tail twitching if it weren't for the stern look upon his face. Cats were gathered around Icestar and by the serious look on his face, he must have called a meeting not too long ago. "Mouse-dung..." He'd never heard the end of it and, mustering up his courage, decided to get it over with. Ratpaw wouldn't bother with an excuse, he was smart enough to know that they'd never work with a warrior who's been through it all. Instead, he mustered up the sincerest apology he could. "Sorry, Raggedtooth."

Ratpaw saw the monstrous mess behind his mentor and sighed sadly. The camp used to be such a beautiful, proud sight to Shadowclan cats. But now it was even more of a reason for the other clans to make fun of their home.

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[Nighthunter]

Raggedtooth[/size]

His scowl only deepened as he took in the sight of his mud covered apprentice. The hairless young tom was bold as ever, and though he might make a grand warrior some day, Raggedtooth would be damned if his apprentice were missing a clan meeting while he was still in camp. Besides he was in no mood to deal with the brazen tom, he had just lost his father, and now the camp needed fixing. Lifting a heavy paw to glance at it, he frowned at the amount of mud caked on his fur. It was going to take a long time to move around in mud as thick as what was in camp. Half his fur was plastered to his body already from it, and its mass added weight to his bulky form.

The camp would take along time to build and it would be dangerous doing it. Slipping and injuring yourself could happen easily in these conditions, and he would have to worry about Ratpaw and himself. Though he paid attention and Raggedtooth was sure his apprentice would watch his footing, he was worried about his size. Ratpaw was still growing like all apprentices, and the mud would probably be more dangerous for him. He flicked his ears at the apology. Ratpaw was sometimes hard to read emotionally in his sincerity. The other warriors told him about how much Ratpaw boasted, word gets around quickly to mentors. Though he liked the eagerness of the pride at his apprentice's approval of his mentoring, he needed to teach him to be more humble. "Pay attention, Icestar is about to speak, and do watch your footing in this muck, we are training later and I need you in one piece." He spoke matter of factly, though he did betray the care in the tone of his voice once he had said for him to be careful.

[ottie]

Flicking tiny droplets of water from her ears, Lilystem carefully made her way closer to where Icestar was standing to address the clan. Her pelt was caked with mud. Some of it was dry and some of it was wet. It was going to take her a while to make herself look halfway decent. She noticed her clanmates looked as muddy as she was, some were even worse. They had yet to find relief from the soggy ground. Lilystem also noticed how helpless many of them looked. Afterall, the entire camp was destroyed and it wasn't going to be easy rebuilding it. Lightly jumping over a puddle, she wove her way through the scarce amount of cats. She frowned, noticing how many they really lost in this natural disaster. She sent a silent prayer up to Starclan, hoping that surely not that many had died. She also asked for a little help and guidance in this time of weakness. As a Shadowclan cat, Lilystem should never admit to her clan needing help for they were strong. In part, yes this was true. Shadowclan would overcome this tragedy, however Lilystem had no fear of asking for help. She knew that every cat needed some at one point or another. 

She let out a soft breath as she moved closer to Raggedtooth and noticed his father's lifeless body lying with him. She wanted to say something, anything to Raggedtooth, but she could not find the words. Her head felt dizzy as she tried to stop the flashbacks from happening. Dipping her head in respect to him, she quickly trotted a few tail-lengths away. Her mind refocused onto the issue at hand. The clan meeting where Icestar would probably discuss the plan of action for the clan. Finding a rock sticking just above the mud, Lilystem cautiously jumped upon it to sit somewhere partially dry. She sat down and gave her chests a few licks. The tip of her tail dropped into a puddle and she quickly removed it, flicking the water from it. Lilystem curled her tail around her chilly toes in hopes of keeping them a little warmer. She waited patiently for Icestar to begin speaking.

[Eden]

""Pay attention, Icestar is about to speak, and do watch your footing in this muck, we are training later and I need you in one piece." Training?! Yes! Ratpaw's ears immediately perked up at the tom's instructions and his mood quickly escalated to a feeling of glee. Straightening himself to look presentable, he followed after his brute mentor. While he pretended to listen intently on what the leader might be saying, he was deep into the thoughts of what Raggedtooth might be planning to teach him next. Ratpaw was still a new apprentice but the tom very deeply wanted to learn training. Especially early on now with the clans facing all kinds of trouble, there was sure to be a lot of tension and tension never sat still for long. Plus, a lack of fur meant a better canvas for scratches and easy targets. It was almost unfair how the other apprentices always teased him about that but his blunt words managed to shut them up and have them crawling away back to their friends. Ratpaw truly prided himself in that. He knew how to defend himself unlike others... with words, anyways.

Lilystem seemed to appear from thin air for his thoughts were broken when she came into view, next to Raggedtooth. He wondered then froze. Oh... that's right... his father... And just like that the tom felt sorry for his mentor. He wouldn't know what to do if his father was killed, especially in such a tragic event. Quietly he padded next to Raggedtooth and looked up at him with wide eyes. The tom was acting so strongly, even in the death of his father. It impressed Ratpaw and he touched noses with the body. Lilystem dipped her head and made a hasty retreat, causing Ratpaw to tilt his head. Was she embarrassed. He could kind of see why. He wasn't too sure himself what to say to Raggedtooth but he shrugged it off. His mentor was one of the strongest and best warriors in clan, emotionally and physically. He was confident in him, especially with the promise of training later. Ratpaw wondered idly how that would play out.

Ratpaw grumbled, still impatiently waiting for Icestar to speak up. Cats were slowly making their way to the center of camp. The sound of mud sloshing around constantly as paws set down and up again almost made the young apprentice sick.He had been hearing that for days and it seemed almost like a part of life now.