Birchswirl's Promise

Birchswirl stared with round eyes at Omenstar, who just grabbed a mouse and went into her den. "I think something's wrong with Omenstar." 

"Yeah." Badgerpaw, his apprentice grumbled, shifting in his nest. 

Birchswirl flicked his green tail-tip. "Let's go check on her."

Badgerpaw groaned. "Can I please rest? I've been up all night treating Apenswirl's cough!" he batted Birchswirl playfully. 

Birchswirl called to him as he pushed out the den, "That means I'll go check on Omenstar myself!"

"You do that!" Badgerpaw yelled back. 

Birchswirl jumped up the rocks to the leader's den. "Omenstar! May I come in?" he asked loudly. 

"Can you wait until Sunhigh?" Omenstar's mew was slurred with exhaustion. 

Birchswirl felt a prick of worry. Usually, Omenstar would be up early, and with much energy. "I think you're sick. I'll come in to help you."

"Okay." Omenstar sighed.

Birchswirl pushed through the bramble wall, the thorns scraping his pelt, and saw Omenstar's creamy pelt in her nest. She lifted her head wearily, her green eyes glittering with exhaustion. 

"You can tell me what happened. Even if it's a secret." Birchswirl encouraged, whisking his tail in the air. 

"Okay." Omenstar turned in her nest. "I had a vision. Many cats were playing and chatting, and the warm sun shone, but then I saw Destinyheart! When he told me that he would show me a vision, the sun suddenly disappeared behind a huge, dark gray cloud, and a storm was coming! But it was no ordinary storm. A big tidal wave appeared, and swallowed me whole! I couldn't get out, and I lost all my energy, and then I woke up."

"So that's why you were so tired today!" Birchswirl broke into a relieved purr. He paused as a thought struck him. "I think I know what it means."

"What?"Omenstar struggled to her paws and stared at him, her eyes brightening with curiosity. 

"I think, that one moon, the lake will flood, and every animal or cat there who doesn't escape will be drowned! We must prepare!" Birchswirl explained, his mind whirling. 

"We must set a guard." Omenstar sat down and licked her paw, and ran it along with her ruffled chest fur. 

"How?" Birchswirl frowned. 

"Remember the cliff we used to get to this forest? It's full of ledges. There will be two guards, the two swiftest warriors will be on the cliff top, and they can see what the lake is going to be like."

"Good idea!" Birchswirl let out a mrrow of approval. "We should tell Adderdream."

"I'll announce it now." Omenstar brushed past Birchswirl and leapt onto the Survivor Rock. "May all Survivors gather around me to hear what I have to say!" she cried into the air. Many cats gathered around her, their eyes dark. Birchswirl padded next to Omenstar and sat down. "You all noticed that I am very tired today." there were many murmurs of agreement from below her. "It is all because of one vision that kept me awake last night! Destinyheart, my beloved mate, has shown me a terrifying vision: A huge wave engulfing me whole and killing me!" every Survivor gasped. She nodded to Birchswirl, and the confident tom stepped forwards, his green tail-tip flicking to and fro. 

"I have predicted that there is going to be a flood! A tsunami is coming to destroy us!" He roared. But, he softened his voice. "Anyways, we have thought of ways how to defend ourselves from the tsunami! Two cats will go to the top of the cliff-" he pointed with his tail at the huge cliff. "-will keep a lookout. If they see the tsunami coming from the sea, they will go down to alert us! Do you think this is a good plan?" he scanned every Survivor's face. 

Eusthuasitic yowling pierced the air. Every Survivor was cheering. 

"Okay! We will start choosing which cats will go first!"Omenstar stepped up and looked at the cats. After one moment, she meowed, "Ambercloud! Orchardbreeze! You two go first!" she nodded at the two she-cats. 

The two Survivors dipped their heads, and then pelted towards the exit of the camp. 

Finally we have warned them, and we have prepared! Good!

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